I have been lucky enough to be a member of the Rocky River family for 12 years now. I started when I was nine years old and was a shy little girl who had a really hard time making friends. This wonderful place gave me the love and attention that I needed to find myself. I went through the leadership program offered through the camp and that gave me the opportunity to thrive even further. Now, having completed my fourth summer as a counselor and entered the camp's coveted Decade Club, I see the impact that this place has on every single girl that stays here. I love working with these girls, and feel as though my RRR campers carry a large piece of my heart. All of the RRR counselors have a tendency to refer to their campers as "my girls" or "my kids," because even though we have them for only a few weeks, we love being around these girls and watching them gain the confidence only camp can give you.
Also, I have had the privilege of working alongside many other counselors who came up with me through the ranks of camperdom, as most of the staff this past summer attended RRR and went through the leadership program. These people are some of my best friends and most trusted confidantes, without whom I cannot imagine living a full life.
The ten core values of the camp stay with all of us past summer: friendship, honesty, loyalty, creativity, kindness, leadership, enthusiasm, optimism, determination and helpfulness. Each value is represented by a different colored bead, presented to campers at the end of their sessions. I wear my beads all year round as a reminder of the standard that I am held to and the bonds that I have made in my years at RRR.
This is truly a camp that runs on a sense of family, belonging and tradition. I can trace many of my personal successes in my life back to the confidence that Rue, Shanna, Skeet and the other amazing staffers at RRR have instilled in me. Their sense of caring and community is unparalleled in any other place that I have seen.
For me, and many of the people who are RRR girls, it's not just camp...it's home. read more