Do you know what it’s like to be almost instantly loved unconditionally by someone other than your parents or God? I was blessed enough to experience this kind of love last summer during an amazing week at Camp Barnabas. Barnabas is a Christian camp for disabled kids and adults where each week in the summer caters to a different demographic: kids with physical disabilities, adults with developmental disabilities (mental retardation), kids who are visually or hearing impaired, etc. After spending an amazing week there, I came away wanting to share the story of what lead me to camp and what I got to experience while I was there.
My voyage to camp began in April of 2008 on a Sunday night as I was watching Extreme Home Makeover. On that show they were renovating the home of a family who was involved with Camp Smile, a camp for kids with cerebral palsy. They also went to the camp and did some work there. As I watched the show, I felt pulled to become part of that type of camp experience. I am lucky enough to know my strengths in life and I knew that I possessed many of the strengths that it would take to work in that type of setting. Before the evening was over, I was online looking up camps for people with disabilities. I found the website for Camp Barnabas and was thrilled to see that it was located near Springfield, MO and only 4.5 hours from me. I made the decision almost immediately that I would apply to be a volunteer for 2009. This meant that I would not be going with our church’s Sr High youth on their mission trip as I had done for the previous 2 years and was scheduled to do that summer. This was not a decision I made lightly, but I truly felt I was being called to Barnabas. I began stalking the website later in the summer and when the application went up in November, I had it in the mail within 2 days. I received my acceptance letter in early December and was so excited I almost cried. I had been put in my first choice of weeks, which was Term 1, Adult Friends Week. This week caters to adults who have developmental disabilities. I then had the long wait until May 31 when I was to arrive at camp. I also had not been told what position I had been accepted for but decided that it didn’t matter; I was going to do whatever was needed of me.
On Sunday, May 31, I loaded my car and set off for Barnabas. As I drove I grew nervous. Was I arriving on the correct day? At the right time? I knew no one, which is not a situation I enjoy being in. After a slight detour (aka I made a wrong turn) I arrived at the gates of camp. I was greeted along the driveway by groups of young adults cheering and pointing the way to where I should go. I parked and went in to register. I was told I was assigned to cabin G2 as a cabin mom and that I would be sleeping in a room under the dining hall. I lugged my stuff to my room and met 2 of my 3 roommates who were there chaperoning a group of youth from Baton Rouge. Barnabas uses 1800 volunteers a summer and most of them are part of youth groups who use this as their mission trip. The youth act as counselors (if they are over 16) for the campers or barnstormers (14 and 15 year olds) who do the scut work such as serve meals, clean bathrooms, etc. Most of the chaperones are cabin moms and dads who act as an extra set of hands in their cabin and also get the joy of doing multiple loads of laundry during the week when campers have “accidents”. Fewer of the volunteers, like myself, are there as individuals. At 5 pm we met in our cabin families and got a tour of camp before we headed to dinner. After dinner we went to our cabin where we were given the information about the 10 campers who would be in our cabin for the week. Our cabin had 2 staff members (college students who were working there for the summer), Macy and Heidi, plus 5 counselors. The counselors were to each choose 2 campers who they would be responsible for during the week. During many of the other weeks, there is a one-to-one ratio, but for the group we would be working with, this wasn’t necessary. After this time, all of the volunteers and staff headed to the tennis courts where we were encouraged to lie down and watch the stars come out while praying about the week that was to come. It was a time to truly gather ourselves and what I didn’t realize was that it was one of the last peaceful moments I would have for the next week. After a reflection time with my cabin family, I was headed for bed.
The next morning and early afternoon was spent in training sessions to prepare us for how to work with the campers; we learned about various diagnoses and how to assist with bathing, dressing, toileting, etc. We also learned about the rules of camp. At 3:45, we were all lined up along the driveway of camp ready to greet the campers as they arrived at 4. For an hour we cheered, danced, and clapped as the campers were unloaded from their parents’ cars and announced one by one. I honestly don’t know when the last time I had yelled and cheered so much was. The campers were, for the most part, ecstatic to be there. Most of them were returning campers, some who had been coming for up to 20 years. After getting our girls moved into the cabin, it was time to get ready for dinner and that night’s party. Each night of camp has a party with a theme for which many of the campers bring costumes. Our first party theme was Candyland and let’s just say M&Ms abounded. After the party the evening ended with Wrap-up where we sang worship songs and heard a brief message. It was then back to the cabin to help get the campers ready for bed, have a cabin family meeting and then go to bed.
The next day began what would become our regular routine for the next 6 days. I arrived at the cabin at 7 to help get the campers ready for the day and then we headed to Inspiration Point (IP) for silly camp songs (I’m giving command performances of the Milk Song and Kool-Aid song upon request) and an inspirational message. We then headed to breakfast and then back to the cabin for clean up and devotions. We spent the week studying the parable of the sower from Matthew. While there were many good things that came out of devotion, it isn’t always easy keeping 10 adults with an average mental age of 11 on task. We would then head off for our first two activities of the day. Activities included canoeing, fishing (I baited hooks with worms for the first time, euw), parachute, archery, rifles, music, and horseback riding among many others. After 2 activities it was time for lunch and then FOB (flat on bunk or naptime). This was my one break of the day. After FOB we had our 3rd activity and then cabin free time, which was when the pool was open. After free time it was time for showers for the campers and getting ready for the party. The rest of the evening from there was the same as the first night with campers. Other party themes included Cranium (nerd costumes), Oregon Trail (western wear), and Clue (fancy dress). Often our cabin family meetings would last until 11:30 and I was falling into bed at midnight.
The last night of camp was Cross Carry. On this night, all of the cabins line the main path of camp and a five-foot cross is passed from one cabin to the next. On this cross are plaques bearing the names of any former camper who has passed away. Each cabin receives the cross, prays over it, and passes it to the next group. There are a lot of emotions tied to this ceremony and, before the cross reached our group, you could hear wailing coming from the groups before us.
The following morning we went to IP, had breakfast and then returned to the cabin to wait for the parents to arrive. Before leaving, we all gathered back in the dining hall to watch a video that had been shot during the week and then we were finished.
Telling you about camp would not be complete without some information about our campers. Sarah was one of our most loving campers. She would cling to whichever of the volunteers or staff was closest and often told us she loved us. She was definitely the most seeking of approval. Julia was one of our quietest campers and loves High School Musical sporting a HSM watch each day and using a hair brush with Zach Effron on the back. Laura and Yvette were our “Bell Girls”. They share the same last name and have known each other since preschool. One rarely was seen without the other and it was not uncommon to see them holding hands as they walked around camp. Both were fairly quiet but Yvette had a laugh that was great to hear. Whenever she would start laughing, Laura would immediately ask “Yvette Bell; why are you laughing, Yvette?” Yvette never felt the need to answer. Dahna had an understated sense of humor and would often make comments that, if you caught them, would crack you up. Brittany was our youngest camper and was very eager with most things. She was also our biggest thrower of tantrums usually revolving around what she was not allowed to eat due to her diabetes. Elaina has a very sweet spirit but can also be very flirty. She was our slowpoke in all she did. Martha was our one camper who didn’t really want to be there and spent much of her time coloring in the coloring books that she carried with her at all times. She did love to dance though and amazed us by dancing along with a drama group that came to perform in a way that made it seem as if she had rehearsed with them. Tiffany was our prankster whose pranks involved sticking a crumpled piece of clean toilet paper in your bed when you weren’t looking. Melanie was our drama queen. Everything was either “primo perfect” or she was pouting over some perceived injustice. She was also our most boy crazy with 2-3 boyfriends plus Chris, another camper who was “the one”. These little snippets don’t do true justice to who they truly are but it gives you an insight into the personalities that made up our group.
Some highlights of camp for me include going down the waterslide with Dahna and Elizabeth (one of the counselors) into the freezing cold pool, praying with Tiffany for courage so she could ride the horse and then her conquering her fear, watching the girls dance to MmmBop at the talent show, and rolling with laughter each night with the staff and other volunteers in our cabin over the various incidents of the day (most were always funnier a few hours after they had occurred).
All through the week, I pondered on the purpose of me being at camp. Yes, I was able to be helpful and I feel I left an impression on the campers in my cabin (as evidenced by Dahna’s tears and proclamation that she didn’t want to “leave Julie”) but I felt that I was there to learn something too. What amazed me about all of the campers was how they all lacked the repression of self that is part of most people’s everyday existence. They truly live the quote “Dance like no one’s watching, sing like no one’s listening, and love like you’ve never been hurt.” If music came on that they liked, they danced (evidenced well by my video of the talent show), if presented with a microphone, they sang and it never occurred to them that they may not be on key or they may have sang the same song 10 times already that week, and above all, they loved and did not hesitate to tell you so. The volunteers and staff in our cabin discussed this and all lamented how different the “real world” is, both in our fear of being judged and in the actual occurrence of the judging. There at camp however, we all found ourselves acting more like our campers. I danced and didn’t care who saw me (and was told by a camper that I was “crazy”), I prayed one on one with my campers and didn’t worry that I would sound silly, and I loved on the campers every chance I got. My best description of the experience is that it was freeing. I would love to say that, now that I have returned to the “real world”, I have continued to live this way but I’m back to a world where, if you dance to any music you hear, you will likely get some weird stares. I would like to think that I am a little freer and that maybe, when I return to camp, more of that freeness will stick. Overall, I can only describe the whole experience as amazing and one that I hope to have again in future years.
