Personal Narrative: A Special Recreational Leader

As every summer approaches, I am filled with the joy and excitement of returning to my second home, Eckhart Park. Over the past three summers, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most loving, outgoing, humble, and playful people I know. Being a special recreational leader at times is challenging but never the least the most rewarding of jobs. As a special recreational leader you are expected to work five days a week, seven hours a day, in the blistering heat, while also trying to keep all of my campers entertained and above all, safe. A special recreational leader is unique from a traditional camp leader in a way that all of my campers suffer from a spectrum of disabilities including Autism, Asperger, and physical impairments.
Working at Eckhart and with my campers, I have learned to enjoy life, to be patient, always to look at the glass half full, and that when life knocks you down you always get right back up. My campers are faced with what some would presume to be some of the most difficult barriers to overcome in life and yet every day they have a sense of freedom and happiness that few people are ever able to achieve. My campers have the most generous and humble hearts that through them I was taught the real meaning of happiness and joy. In return I built meaningful bonds with my campers becoming the emotional support they seek but also a friend they can count on. Every week on Wednesday afternoons, my campers call me and we speak about life, and I even visit the park every chance I have. My experiences at Eckhart has taught me to be a beacon of light in a cloudy room, as a nurse, there will be numerous patients that at the end of the day will need hope and I strive to be that hope and guidance that they need to keep moving