From One Parent to Another,

It is a beautiful moment when you realize what you want to do with your life.  For me, that epiphany occurred when I first began working with children in 1998.  My first five years working with kids was in a social work capacity, which lent itself to its own challenges.  I worked my first summer at Camp Chateaugay in 2001 and instantly fell in love with it.  It was a place to work with children that promoted healthy living and healthy fun.

Those first few summer’s at Chateaugay, I spent working as a Unit Leader.  I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to work with a number of different age groups over those years (with girls and boys, alike).  I was delighted to become so familiar with each of the campers; to truly get to know them personally and to learn from each and every one of them.  It was a comfort to know that I could give the campers someone to look to for a sense of security and well-being.  That I could be there for them in times that could be challenging and difficult, while also being able to get outside and just have fun with them, was something that I thrilled at.  Someone once said, “Children are great imitators.  So give them something great to imitate.”  I have always kept those words in mind while working with children and young adults.  

I have always loved that Chateaugay is a place that encourages and promotes diversity, acceptance, integrity and self-respect.  My goal is to educate the staff at Chateaugay in the most effective way to help a child and to support them in growing these characteristics, while taking the time to get to know them.  Dr. Seuss reminds us that, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”  And don’t ‘we’, as grown people, hope that others will show us respect by giving us their time and attention?  It is all we can do to return the consideration, to pay it forward. 

As I look back, now more than ten years after I first stepped onto the grounds of Camp Chateaugay, I am still in awe of the experiences that have been given and made available to my son, Cameron, and myself.  We have both grown because of our time spent amidst the Chateaugay spirit.  It is truly a place of wonder, of joy and of acceptance.  I will always be grateful to be able to watch your children grow in this most amazing place. 

Sincerely,