Hello, Hello! Can you think of a moment in your life when you felt fully alive and in your element? I think this is a good question to ask yourself as the answer provides insight into what truly brings you joy and which passions you can incorporate into your life for more fulfillment. My answer to this question is crystal-clear, and has been since I was 10 years old: Camp Augusta! I’m lucky to say that I was once a Camp Augusta camper (for 5+ summers). It actually feels wrong to use the past tense given my inner Camp Augusta camper will be core to my identity forever. So, here I am at 22 years old. I’ve travelled to Ireland, The Netherlands, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and more…and still my answer remains the same.
The moment in my life when I felt most alive and in my element was at Camp Augusta.
Now, what are the qualities of this magical place that made me feel so at home? What are those core pieces of my identity that come from camp?
NATURE! The closer I am to the wonders of nature, the happier I feel. I grew up taking annual backpacking trips with my cousins and was lucky enough to learn (at a young age) that the simple things in life bring us the most joy. My weeks spent in the woods of Augusta only made that truth more evident. I have visceral memories of swimming at Gypsy Falls, feeling so at peace watching the flow of the waterfall feeding the pool in which I was floating. I remember the refreshing smell of pine trees, the relief of jumping in the lake on a hot summer day, the comfort of being in a place where “getting dirty” wasn’t a negative thing, but a sign that you were having fun, and the quiet sounds of birds and nature lulling me to sleep at night. I loved looking up and seeing clear, starry night skies — an instant reminder of how incredible the world is. Still today, I spend as much time outside as I can! I grew up in the Bay Area and recently spent some time living in London.I love finding ways to appreciate nature in urban landscapes. I visit parks almost every day and am a big fan of what I call “urban hikes.” I’ll choose to walk places if it’s ever an option! Augusta taught me that nature makes me feel grounded.
CONNECTION! It’s the people that made my days at Augusta so special. At camp, I learned that vulnerability is powerful and there is no better feeling in the world than authentically connecting with others. Through the experience of living in such a tight-knit community, I began to realize how much I love building strong relationships. I was interested in other campers’ stories and finding ways to make them feel supported. It is largely this intimate time at camp that helped me realize my passion for promoting well-being. Since then, I’ve served as a peer counselor for multiple communities, helped develop a wellness program for students in Santa Barbara, and worked as a student health worker during my time at UC Berkeley. I’ve taught health curriculum, explored ways to foster healthy communities, and expanded my experience with many forms of self-care. I’ve been most inspired by the many moments spent listening to my peers open up about their challenges and having the opportunity to help guide them to the realization that we draw strength from these difficult places.
WORLDLINESS! My first exposure to multicultural appreciation was at Camp Augusta, as I got to be surrounded by the worldly and glorious staff family. I was always so excited to hear new accents each summer and curious to ask the counselors about where they came from. I needed a place to live at UC Berkeley and decided to apply to the International House (as a fully national/life-long Bay Area resident). It was the best decision I made in all of college! My application started with the line, “The person I am today is largely inspired by my former camp counselors from all over the world….”. The International House ignited my passion for learning about other cultures. I consider myself a lifelong learner and plan to keep that cultural exploration alive through travel! I think it says something that the most welcoming, efficient, and educational space I’ve ever lived in was with 600 students from more than 70 different countries. I believe our differences teach us to open our minds and ultimately make us stronger!
PLAYFUL SPIRIT! You can’t talk about Camp Augusta without mentioning the 170+ clinics and widely diverse, playful offerings. I conquered my fear of heights on the Giant Ladder and it was moments like those, 100 feet up in the air, where I developed a healthy self-confidence and the belief that I could set and crush my goals! My camp wardrobe was mainly tie-dye t-shirts because I had so much fun creating them and found that wearing so much color made me happier! At camp, I learned how many possibilities come to life when you use your imagination. Those times I spent running around from one imaginary land to the next during evening programs, and transforming into characters to put on skits, helped me find ways to creatively make my everyday life more colorful away from camp. At camp, I first tried yoga, a practice and gift that would transform my life! As I navigated my teen years and transition to college, I found yoga to be my most powerful tool for self-awareness and stress management. I am now a 200 hour certified yoga teacher and helped co-found UC Berkeley’s Student Yoga Collective, working to make yoga accessible to all students. YOGA IS THE BEST.
All of that being said, I could not be more excited to spend another summer in the magical land of Augusta!!! I can’t wait to share the nature, connection, worldliness, and playful spirit with every camper that has the chance to walk on (or ride a horse on, or zipline over, or fly above) those wood chips this summer 🙂
P.S. I also love dolphins, am obsessed with tea, am a BIG fan of Harry Potter, and think herbal medicine is magical.
P.S.S. “magical” is definitely my favorite word.
