20(+2) Questions with a Camper: Max
Max was in Group Y (the oldest group) in the summer of 2023, and shares the experience of his first year at The Nature Place!
Q1: What did you like best about camp this past summer?
While I really like being outdoors in the amazing camp, I like the people (campers, counselors, and staff) and the overnight trips the best.
Q2: What are your favorite Nature Place activities?
All of the overnights, mucking, and writing/getting notes from campers and staff on the last day.
Q3: Who was your favorite counselor?
I really can’t choose between Caroline and John because they were both the most amazing counselors.
Q4: How many summers have you spent at The Nature Place?
Only 1 so far
Q5: What is your first memory from The Nature Place?
My first memory is meeting my counselors and having a few of the campers come over and be so friendly.
Q6: What is your favorite memory from the summer?
Canoeing on the lake to watch the sunrise.
Q7: What advice would you share with a new camper starting at The Nature Place this summer?
Be open to making new friends and pushing yourself to do activities you don’t think you would be able to do because YOU CAN!
Q8: This or That: Swimming in the pond or Mucking in the Fairy Stream?
I’m going with this AND that – both Swimming in the Pond and Mucking in the Fairy Stream.
Q9: What was your favorite camp song?
Singing wasn’t my favorite but I would say Peace Like a River.
Q10: Who are you looking forward to seeing next summer?
I hope most of my group and counselors and staffers like Scott and Jason return next summer.
Q11: What skill or knowledge did you learn this summer?
I learned how to make fire and pushed myself in Rock Climbing.
Q12: What was the coolest thing that happened on a day hike?
We were hiking when there was a massive thunderstorm so we had to take shelter in Claudius Smith’s Den.
Q13: What activity do you want to get more into at camp next summer?
I want to do more to develop my outdoor survival skills just in case I’m on the show Survivor someday.
Q14: What is your favorite spot at The Nature Place?
The chicken/garden area was a favorite of mine because you don’t get to handle chickens at home.
Q15: Where do you think the trolls go during the winter?
They go to Florida like all the grandparents do to stay warm.
Q16: What did you like about your counselor/s this summer?
I liked everything about them. They were fun, kind, supportive, and pushed me out of my comfort zone. They were amazing!!!
Q17: What was your favorite dish at Cooking?
I loved making pesto from the garden. We picked the basil and then chopped the garlic and made the pesto.
Q18: What was your favorite art project?
I really liked the tie dying art project. I made a great bandana that I used on our hikes.
Q19: What was the most unusual thing you found in the fairy stream while mucking?
I picked up a rock that turned out to have the imprint of a fossil of a shell.
Q20: What is your favorite camp tradition?
My favorite camp tradition is autographing of the camp shirts.
Q21: Would you like to work as staff when you are older? Counselor, Pond, or activity leader, and why?
Yes, I would love to work at the camp when I’m older. I think I would like to be a counselor because I really loved when I was able to spend the day with the little kids and lead them in activities.
Q22: Do you wear your camp shirt to school? What do your school friends ask you about camp?
Because my shirt is autographed, I don’t wear it to school so it doesn’t have to be washed. When I showed pictures from camp, my friends were jealous of our overnight adventures. They still can’t believe I hiked up a mountain carrying a really heavy pack, set up camp, cooked rice and beans, didn’t have a bathroom and still have the best time ever!!!