20 Questions with an Admin Team Member: Emily
Emily spent her first summer at The Nature Place as Communications Manager during the summer of 2023.
Q1: How many summers have you spent at The Nature Place?
This was my first summer with The Nature Place!
Q2: What interested you about coming to The Nature Place?
The moment I looked at TNP’s website and mission, it felt like the right fit. I am an outdoor enthusiast and believe strongly in the values that we hold. Being with The Nature Place has met and exceeded my expectations, and I feel lucky to be among our staff and campers.
Q3: What is your favorite Nature Place activity?
My favorite activity is singing songs at Morning Share. Whenever I can, I grab my guitar and join in on the fun!
Q4: What was your favorite memory from this summer?
I was able to spend some quality time with Group P walking around the garden this past summer. While we were exploring, the activity leader handed me, along with the campers, what she had picked including tomatoes and mustard greens. Even though I did not like them, I was proud of myself for setting a good example for the campers and trying them. We also had a good laugh as my face puckered up when it was clear I wasn’t a fan!
Q5: What originally brought you to The Nature Place?
The idea that I could use skills I’ve honed over the years to bring even more families into our Nature Place community.
Q6: What is something you've never experienced before that you got to do at The Nature Place?
I enjoyed learning about the barefoot zone, and may or may not have made an appearance as The Jello Fairy…
Q7: What was your first memory of The Nature Place?
I met Jason for a tour of The Nature Place, and I remember thinking of how nice it would be to work in this beautiful place!
Q8: What are you most looking forward to next summer?
I’m looking forward to building more relationships with parents as well as campers this coming summer. As the first point of contact for many parents, I enjoyed the meaningful conversations we had, and I’m looking forward to getting to know our families even more this year.
Q9: What advice would you share with a new camper starting at The Nature Place this summer?
You will create amazing memories here.
Q10: Who are you looking forward to seeing next summer?
I’m looking forward to many of our staff members returning, especially those I connected with over our shared love of making music.
Q11: What is your favorite camp song
“Somebody Said (No Guitar Playin’ ‘Round Here)” – we got to play that one and it was really fun to get all the campers up dancing and being silly. The older campers also acted out the song behind us, which was a hoot!
Q12: What is your favorite spot at The Nature Place? (Examples: pond, enchanted forest, fairy stream etc.)
I am a huge fan of The Fairy Stream, and I try to walk over to it, be still, and listen whenever I can.
Q13: What is the first thing you do after you wake up, to get ready for your day at The Nature Place?
I like to go for a jog in the mornings before packing up my lunch and heading into camp.
Q14: What is the first thing you do when you get home after a day at camp?
I go out on my back porch and take some time to sit and relax.
Q15: Where do you think the trolls go during the winter?
I think the trolls and the bears are good friends, and that the trolls and bears hibernate together.
Q16: What was your favorite part of observing an overnight and almost overnight?
My favorite part of the almost-overnight was watching how excited the campers were to learn how to set up tents and then explore inside of them. I was with the youngest group and it was so neat to witness them discovering tents for the first time. I also spent time out at Cedar Pond with the oldest group, and I loved singing songs around the campfire with them and hearing what they had to say when asked what The Nature Place meant to them.
Q17: If you could be an activity leader, what activity would you want to lead?
I think it would be cool to be the overnight backpacking trip leader.
Q18: What was the most exciting thing that happened at camp?
There was a day when a thunderstorm passed directly over us just as we were to dismiss campers for the day. We monitor the weather and had a plan, but it was quite the adventure coordinating our dismissal that day. A true testament to our staff and leadership, everyone got home safely and without issue. (And we got a good story out of it!)
Q19: What was your favorite activity?
I loved helping out belaying campers on the ropes course.
Q20: If you had to sum up your experience at The Nature Place, what would it be?
The Nature Place is a community that really cares about one another.