Sumer Camp June 2017 an experience I will never forget. I arrived at the camp, nervous, hesitant and unsure of how it would be. 5 days of camp seemed like a lot for me, someone who loved staying at home. The first day we arrived by bus, a three and half hour drive to Gore, VA. The bus was unloaded and everyone dropped their gear at their rooms and got ready to head to the chapel meeting. Unsure of what to expect from the whole camp experience, I stayed optimistic as I listened to the camp rules and guidelines from the counselors. Butterflies flew in my stomach as I looked around and saw hundreds of new faces. 

As the day went on I began to feel a bit more comfortable. I was asked to perform my fine arts rap group for the first service and I was very nervous but excited at the same time. Performing in front of so many people seemed so scary at first, but I knew the performance would be amazing and I couldn’t wait to get on stage. I had amazing friends in my room and surprisingly I found myself becoming excited to make new friends and begin the camp games and activities. The first day of camp had an awesome kick off. We interacted with the other kids and began to play games and sports with our teams. Just after the first day of summer camp I already felt healthier.

By the time the second day came around we were jumping into even more physical activities. Still a little nervous from being away from home I was so happy to be exercising and making my body feel good. Seeing how good it feels to exercise made me realize how important it is to stay active especially for my Cystic Fibrosis. My peer support friend motivated me to participate in the games even though I didn’t sometimes want to and I’m so happy she did because my body benefitted from the exercise. The second day ended with songs and interaction with others which I really enjoyed.

On the third day of camp I felt super comfortable and couldn’t wait for what the day would bring. Rather than being lazy and tired of games I craved more physical activity and couldn’t wait to get back out on the game field with my friends. The third day games were a little tough, but this just challenged me even more to use my strength and really be involved. After the games were over everyone went back to their rooms for a quick shower and we all headed to service to end off the night. Night time was the hardest part for me since I never wanted the day to end.

The fourth day of camp was sadly already here and I knew I had to make the day count. My teammates and I painted our face blue for our team color and went onto the game field ready to win. Hollers and giggles filled the game field as we all were happy, yet still in game mode. By the time the activities were over I was so ready for a nap. Even though I was sad all the games were over, I was happy to finally rest. The day ended with a fun filled service which included skits and music performances. 

As we headed back to our rooms to prepare for bed I remembered we were leaving tomorrow and immediately felt sad. Thinking of how good I felt physically and mentally at camp made me never want to leave.

The dreaded last day arrived and we all loaded the bus with our belongings. To make the last day not so depressing, we had an end of camp service and I danced and sung like never before to the music. After service was over I said my goodbyes to the friends I had made at camp and everyone headed onto the bus to go home. On the ride home I was able to reflect on my camp experience. I realized how thankful I was to have been given this opportunity to attend camp because not only did I have a lot of fun, but I also realized just how important exercise is for me. In order to keep myself healthy, exercising regularly is a must for my Cystic Fibrosis.

 

 

 

Lauren Huffer is a 16 year old girl who lives in Forest Hill Maryland. She was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at age 4. She loves playing with makeup and following a healthy life style. She was a 2017 Recreation Grant recipient and used her grant to go to summer camp.

 

 

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