"Camp"?

When I was 13 I decided I wanted to go to sleep-away camp, and my wonderful parents agreed to send me. Four weeks away in Maine, living in a cabin, going to camp fires, being on a lake, going on excursions - a typical camp experience. Sadly, my husband will not let me claim that I've been to camp, he will however let me claim I went to "camp".

See, I did live in a cabin in Maine for four weeks - a nice cabin with indoor plumbing and electricity. That came complete with a cleaning lady twice a week. And I did go to camp fires - where they provided those cushy fold out seat thingies so we didn't have to sit in the dirt. And I definitely was on a beautiful lake - which I saw from afar as I participated in the afternoon class called "sun worshiping" (in all my years at camp, I went in the lake once - that was before I'd figured out how to get out of my swim tests). And I definitely went on excursions - we went to the Freeport Outlets to shop, we went to Camden to shop and go to the beach, and (and this one actually counts!) we went white water rafting.

It may not be what other people would want out of camp, but it was absolutely perfect for me, and I'll argue that Med-O-Lark Camp is a huge part of who I am today. Camp was where I learned I loved theatre and found out I could stand up in front of a hundred people and speak. It's where I met people from all around the world - Brazil, France, Australia, South Africa, Israel - who I never would have met otherwise (and met one of the best friends I'll ever have) And, it's where I got to have a pet pig named Scrappy.

Med-O-Lark will forever be one of my favorite places, and will forever hold some of my favorite childhood memories.