Linda has been volunteering with Bridges of Hope as a Shannon’s Hope Camp Buddy since the spring of 2022, and shows up, rain or shine. A Camp Buddy spends the weekend with a camper who is grieving a death. She has been such a dedicated supporter of our campers that when she signed up to come back for the 8th time this fall, I knew we needed to share her story!
A Camp Buddy is a person who loves working with children and is passionate about supporting a child through challenging times. They arrive Friday night, before camp starts to settle in the beach front campus at St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center and greet campers on Saturday morning. Each camper is paired with an adult buddy. These buddies help children to navigate camp by attending workshops and providing emotional support by listening, modeling, and sharing as appropriate. Buddies walk alongside their camper for an unforgettable weekend at the beach at Shannon’s Hope Camp. They do not have to be professional therapists or counselors, they just need an open heart and desire to support grieving children. Bridges provides all the training needed for the weekend at camp. Since the start of Shannon’s Hope Camp in 1989, buddies have been an integral part of what makes camp so special. We couldn’t do it without them!
We interviewed Linda about her camp experience and what follows are Linda’s words from her experiences as a buddy.
What is it that keeps you coming back year after year?
“I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to be a buddy that first time over four years ago. It was enough for me that a friend said she thought I would be a good fit for the camp and we would be buddies in the same group. I met my first camper and by the end of camp I knew I’d be coming back.”
What are some feelings you experience after you leave camp?
“There is something very special about being given the opportunity to spend a little time with children who are dealing with significant loss and be there for them. To make a connection with them. To watch them make connections with the other campers. To listen to them. To learn from them. To see them comfort each other.”
Tell us about an experience you had with a camper that made a lasting impact on you
“My camper came with her younger sister. It was the first time either of them had spent the night away from home. They were both polite but rather reserved when their mom dropped them off. By mid morning I thought I’d fill out the first part of evaluation we were supposed to do so I asked my camper how she felt things were going (ok/good/great). I remember being a little disappointed that she quickly said “ok” with no other explanation. Not to worry .By Saturday evening she was already talking about wanting to come back for the next camp. Because of their age difference she and her sister weren’t in the same group but we were all in the same cabin so I also got to see how little sister became comfortable at camp as easily as big sister. I think this is important for first time campers and first time volunteers. It’s reassuring to hear that you might not know exactly how things are going to go. Things might not start out great and that’s ok. You may not have your little sister like my camper did and that’s ok. You might not know a single other person when you first get to camp and that’s ok. You’ll have your buddy and that’s really ok. And if YOU are the buddy remember that you’ve got the rest of the buddies in your group who are there for you and that’s ok. Chances are the weekend is gonna end up pretty great!”
What would you say to someone who is on the fence about coming to camp to be a buddy?
“The beauty of this camp for me is that all the highly trained and very well-qualified professionals have done the hard work of planning the activities, organizing schedules, feeding the constantly hungry children etc. Your job as a buddy is to be there for your camper. You don’t have to worry that you won’t know what to do. I taught kindergarten for 42 years so when I found myself in a group with 8-10-year-olds I wasn’t real sure it was going to work. It worked so well I’ve asked for that age group ever since. If you are an older person like me, I think you’d agree it’s a beautiful thing being with these children. Really that’s true no matter your age. You are making a difference in their lives. You’ll know that by the end of camp by their smiles and hugs. And when they tell you they’ll see you next time.”
