summertime at camp bob

i'm currently sitting in the green sage coffeehouse in downtown asheville. i just finished a huge breakfast and enjoying my iced coffee while listening to the bluegrass music they have playing. its nice to sit and reflect, not have a worry in the world. this summer has been soo crazy. i'm currently working at camp bob which is part of kanuga confernece center in hendersonville, nc. camp bob provides a 'positive camp experience for kids who normally would not have a chance to go to camp.' we typically get kids from lower-income neighborhoods who haven't been to anything like camp before. everyday brings new challenges, but at the end of the week, knowing i made a difference with at least one kid makes it worth it. their enthusiasm is contagious. i feel like i have been able to teach them and i also have learned a lot from them. i also love when they attempt to teach my how to dance (but after 8 weeks i still don't know how to dougie..). this past week i have felt even more drawn to pursuing working with underprivileged kids. one of the volunteers from my cabin came with the kids at camp from the frazee dream center in greenville, sc. a friend and i talked with her one afternoon about some of the camper's backgrounds. hearing stories about specific kids and their daily life and daily problems at home reminded me about how important camp bob really is - this is one week for these kids to get away from all their troubles and just be a kid. it really makes me want to continue reaching out to kids from impoverished and broken homes. overall, i feel like i made the right choice coming here to work- i can't imagine having spent my summer any other way. we only have two weeks left, like most things in life its so bittersweet. i love working with these kids, but i am ready to return to sewanee and get back into the swing of normal life. i'm looking forward to my last two weeks with camp hope for kids with incarcerated parents and normal camp bob with campers from alabama who were effected by the tornados. expect a post soon with crazy camp bob stories and quotes - camp bob campers say the darndest things.