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Thursday, 03 Apr 08
Hi Ladies,
I love your website. It seems my life since 30 has been full of "she jumps" (lost 60 pounds, went back to school to be a teacher, became a triathlete) and it is super exciting to be living a positive life. I wanted to tell you about one of the few life changing experiences. I don’t know if it will fit anywhere in your site, but if it does I would love to spread the word of this amazing camp!
I tossed the duffel in the back of the pick up, next to my road bike and camping gear. The road atlas sat on the passenger seat. My first solo road trip; my first time camping alone; my first time volunteering for a week — I was nervous. I had no idea why I was doing this. I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea who I would meet, but I stepped on the gas and headed towards Lake Coeur D’Alene, Camp to Belong, and 100 foster kids.
I had been saying it since I was 10 years old; I do not want my own children. I want to adopt, and I want to adopt older children. But all the truth to this lay in the lip service. I had never worked with foster kids. When the cabin assignments were e–mailed in May I was scared to death. Nine female campers aged 15 to 21. This was going to be the test. This was going to make or break my idea of adopting older children. And the idea of confirming what I had been saying for all these years scared me almost as much as going in the first place.
After a 75-mile road bike side trip on the Trail of the Coeur D’Alenes, I arrived at counselor training. I hated not knowing anyone. I hated being shy. I hated wondering why I was there. It was awkward and uncomfortable. By the next morning, I was being informed the next week would change my life. Along with 35 other volunteer counselors, we participated in the obligatory team building games. I wanted to get to camp. I wanted the kids to arrive. I wanted to stop the anxiety. By the end of the second day, I still doubted my decision.
Then the buses began arriving. Kids, lots of kids, shuffled through camper check in, just like they have been shuffled through the system. Brothers, sisters, some who hadn’t seen each other since last year’s camp, waited patiently, leaning, hugging, wrestling. I didn’t have time for nerves anymore. My week volunteering at Camp to Belong was the most intense, fulfilling, and exhausting experience of my life. It did change my life, and I know now why they couldn’t tell me more about this change in counselor training. Because I can’t tell you how or why.
All I know is for one week I helped siblings reunite after being torn apart by our foster care system. I witnessed all the moments I took for granted growing up with my brother and sister. I was allowed into these campers’ lives. They shared, trusted, and opened up to me and to each other. They had arrived at a safe place, with family, with peers, with caring adults. These kids understood and appreciated every moment, every gesture, every opportunity. And I can only hope to live my life with this sense of gratitude for the little things, this strength for my seemingly small life struggles, and this sense of love for one another and life.
And now I know for sure. What I have been saying since I was 10 years old is the absolute truth.
Thanks for reading! Liz Onufer
To LEARN MORE about Camp to Belong, visit www.ctbnorthwest.org.
Liz Onufer goes camping to believe
Comment on this PostHi Ladies,
I love your website. It seems my life since 30 has been full of "she jumps" (lost 60 pounds, went back to school to be a teacher, became a triathlete) and it is super exciting to be living a positive life. I wanted to tell you about one of the few life changing experiences. I don’t know if it will fit anywhere in your site, but if it does I would love to spread the word of this amazing camp!
I tossed the duffel in the back of the pick up, next to my road bike and camping gear. The road atlas sat on the passenger seat. My first solo road trip; my first time camping alone; my first time volunteering for a week — I was nervous. I had no idea why I was doing this. I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea who I would meet, but I stepped on the gas and headed towards Lake Coeur D’Alene, Camp to Belong, and 100 foster kids.
I had been saying it since I was 10 years old; I do not want my own children. I want to adopt, and I want to adopt older children. But all the truth to this lay in the lip service. I had never worked with foster kids. When the cabin assignments were e–mailed in May I was scared to death. Nine female campers aged 15 to 21. This was going to be the test. This was going to make or break my idea of adopting older children. And the idea of confirming what I had been saying for all these years scared me almost as much as going in the first place.
After a 75-mile road bike side trip on the Trail of the Coeur D’Alenes, I arrived at counselor training. I hated not knowing anyone. I hated being shy. I hated wondering why I was there. It was awkward and uncomfortable. By the next morning, I was being informed the next week would change my life. Along with 35 other volunteer counselors, we participated in the obligatory team building games. I wanted to get to camp. I wanted the kids to arrive. I wanted to stop the anxiety. By the end of the second day, I still doubted my decision.
Then the buses began arriving. Kids, lots of kids, shuffled through camper check in, just like they have been shuffled through the system. Brothers, sisters, some who hadn’t seen each other since last year’s camp, waited patiently, leaning, hugging, wrestling. I didn’t have time for nerves anymore. My week volunteering at Camp to Belong was the most intense, fulfilling, and exhausting experience of my life. It did change my life, and I know now why they couldn’t tell me more about this change in counselor training. Because I can’t tell you how or why.
All I know is for one week I helped siblings reunite after being torn apart by our foster care system. I witnessed all the moments I took for granted growing up with my brother and sister. I was allowed into these campers’ lives. They shared, trusted, and opened up to me and to each other. They had arrived at a safe place, with family, with peers, with caring adults. These kids understood and appreciated every moment, every gesture, every opportunity. And I can only hope to live my life with this sense of gratitude for the little things, this strength for my seemingly small life struggles, and this sense of love for one another and life.
And now I know for sure. What I have been saying since I was 10 years old is the absolute truth.
Thanks for reading! Liz Onufer
To LEARN MORE about Camp to Belong, visit www.ctbnorthwest.org.
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