Name: Kate Lon Ho Kee
Age: 17
Summer Camp: Juniors – Hawqua, VIC
1. Was this your first summer camp?
First time being a leader, yes. However, I was a camper when I was younger.
2. What made you sign up for summer camp?
I was talking to my brother, Joshua, and he was talking to me about summer camps coming up. He has been a camper and a leader for the past 10 years, so it was no surprise that he was going again this year. He was telling me about the lack of staff members that had signed up for summer camps this year, and that I should apply to be one – so I did!
3. Did you have any preconceived expectations about summer camp? If so what were they?
From all of my memories of being at junior camp, I somewhat expected it to be the exact same experience from what it was like when I was a camper; excited and ready for the new day, infinite energy. I expected to have a cabin of a bunch of ‘little Kate’s’… I was wrong. After meeting the girls in my cabin, I realised that each girl is entirely different and are each separately complex in their own ways. So I needed to alter my exterior for each girl to make myself seem more approachable to them specifically – to build a trusting relationship. I had gone into the experience ready to be the leader that I would’ve wanted when I was a 10-year-old camper. But they are all so different, so I needed to change that.
4. What surprised you the most?
There were a few girls in my cabin that I absolutely adored. I wasn’t expecting to have a real connection with 10-year-old girls like that. There was one girl that I genuinely found hilarious. Despite the age difference, we shared more similarities than I expected. But it was most definitely a good surprise!
5. What was your highlight?
There were a few… it was a good week. The first thing that came to mind were the night time services. The speaker and the musicians delivered a great worship. I was also lucky enough to be involved in the Drama aspect of the worship service. At the time, I found that I laughed a lot and made a clown of myself being in drama. However, I also remember finding it borderline stressful. But looking back at the drama now, it was probably one of my favourite times of the day, especially because the campers loved it. Additionally, making new friends became a massive highlight for me. Being in a rural Seventh-Day Adventist church, there isn’t much opportunity to know others of the same faith… its just the same people at my church every week. Leading at summer camp allowed me to bond with fellow leaders, especially my co-cabin leaders. I can now say that I actually have connections, of my own, throughout the Sevvie church.
6. What was your favourite experience/activity?
Looking back at all the activities, I felt like I had a good laugh or formed a joyful memory at each of them. However, I have decided that my favourite activity would be horse-riding. Ironically, before doing this activity I was feeling pretty ‘anti-horse’. I was scared to get on an alive animal that had the power to throw me off if it wanted to. Nonetheless, all of my girls were so excited to go horse-riding… so much so, that somehow it altered my mindset of me actually liking being on the horse. Overall, talking with all the girls afterwards, seeing how much fun they had, it made it one of the more memorable experiences for me.
7. What did you learn about yourself during summer camp?
Simple. When it comes to the safety or general regulation of these girls (or my own personal sanity)… I can yell. If it means that they will stop and do what is safe (or right) I have the ability to yell. Haha believe it or not, I didn’t know I could do that before.
8. What was the most challenging moment? How did you overcome it?
When night time came around, trying to get all the girls in bed was a whole decade in itself. It was probably one of the most challenging times of each day, just getting them to be quiet and in their beds by 10 o’clock. It was the time of day where my energy had run low and I was ready to recharge and sleep. I had to get more creative every night to try get them to bed. One night, we overcame this by playing dead fish. They were all forced to lay still. As they laid there, I played relaxing, meditation music… and then we gradually turned off the lights. When we finished the game, they were all tired. Kate – 1, ’10-year-old girls wanting to do an all-nighter’ – 0. My patience was challenged everyday with these girls; whether it was having to listen to the same story on a daily basis, or them asking me questions that I don’t know the answer to… or just trying to get them in bed. But overall, I grew personally in handling my own patience.
9. Would you do it again?
For sure! I plan on leading juniors (and maybe teens) again next year. I also promised my girls that I would see them again at Juniors camp – and I like to keep my promises. Although it was just 5 days, it felt like a whole month to me. I grew as a young woman every day, and I am sure that I will grow even more if I were to do it again – so, YES!
10. Would you encourage others to help at summer camps?
Of course! It is a great experience for all people involved in summer camps. Truthfully, I think everyone in those 5 days had their ups and downs, but overall, it was an amazing camp. I would LOVE to see the staff and the campers grow in size over the next few years, so then we can create more amazing memories, together in Christ.