YOU amazing!

Written by Leah Barrington 

Working as a staff member at Camp Dakota has helped me develop interpersonal skills, and get better at building deep and meaningful relationships with kids. I have become a more confident leader through running games and activities and being responsible for looking after so many children.Not every day was easy, but I was able to learn how to work through problems with other staff and LITs in an efficient way. I also learned how significant the little things can be to the kids, whether that includes talking to them about their favourite movie, making bracelets together, or simply playing keep-up with a volleyball.

When Kristian first came to camp, he was a bit shy and I started on a mission to get to know him better. Kristian and I talked often about a lot of his interests, or he would tell me stories and get so excited that he would go on and on about the most random things - but in the best way. It was so much fun to listen and laugh with him every day and see him begin to open up to me more. Eventually he would approach me and initiate the conversation, and that made me super happy knowing that he felt comfortable enough to talk to me and trust me. 

Near the end of this past summer, Sufyan, a camper who I have built a close relationship with, gave me two drawings: one, which I could tell was done by one of his sisters, and the second, which was a drawing with a note that read: “you amazing” and “favourite staff”. With that simple gesture, all of that time, effort, and consistency that it took to build that relationship became worth it, and made me appreciate the job that I am able to do so much more. Every day I am provided with the chance to make a difference in a child’s life. No matter how small and insignificant an interaction with a child may seem, it can have a profound effect on their lives as well as mine. The fact that I could make his summer special means the world to me.