Connecting With Kids, Even After Camp

The following is a letter from a Counselor in Ohio.  It speaks of the simple, yet powerful affect that one-week can have on kids from hard places.  The Royal memories that we help create bring tangible connections before and after we intersect their lives.

I have been a counselor for Royal Family Kids Camp for 6 years now. Each year at the end of camp I am upset to see the kids go.  Some kids go back to a good home, but some of the kids I don't know if they are going to a good place or going to be with others who love God.  

This year I was able to see a child outside of camp and was able to be one of those people that cared for them throughout the year.  I was the child's teacher.  I found a job as a second grade teacher at a Christian school.  Before the first day of school I wrote the kids a letter and sent it to them during the summer.  It just talked about what I was doing this summer and that I was excited to meet my class.  I mentioned that I was a counselor at camp as well.  

The first day of school came and one little girl was there very early.  Their family is always the first to arrive at the school.  She seemed a little shy at first.  She asked me if everything on my letter was true, even camp.  I told her it was and that I loved camp.  She stared at me for a few seconds and then asked if it was Royal Family Kids Camp.  I was shocked that she knew about this camp. I told her that it was.  The next question she asked was if I knew the songs.  I started singing the camp theme song and she joined in with me.  When the song was finished she shouted "Be right back!" and left the room.  I didn't even have time to respond.  A couple minutes later she came back with two boys.  They both had been to Royal Family too. One was her brother and the other a close family friend.  The three of them were so excited to find out I was a counselor for Royal Family.  They were all talking at once trying to ask questions and share stories.  I could have talked to them forever, but the other kids were coming in and school was starting soon.  

The next day the boys were back in my room and all of us sang some songs that both of our camps had done.  They were so excited and so was I.  The girl in my class was especially excited.  Her teacher was a Royal Family Counselor!  She brought in her camp shirt from the summer along with her photo album.  She showed me the pictures and talked about each one.  She loved her Counselor and I can tell that she is excited to have her again next summer.  

It is amazing that this girl could have ended up in any class, but she just so happened to be in mine.  She has shown me just how much Royal Family has meant to her.  The three of them still come into my room some mornings together just to tell a story or sing a song together.  Royal Family has such a huge impact on kids and they carry their memories with them even after camp is over.

Kalyn W. - Ohio Counselor