What skyline means to me!
I started coming to Skyline when I was 11 after hearing about it from one of my friends at school. I attended a camper show at her house that year and quickly became obsessed! After my parents officially signed me up I watched every camp skyline youtube video I could find and I think I started packing a month early. I remember being so excited to pick out a trunk and immediately put the camp skyline sticker on it that we received in the mail. Even though I only knew one person before camp, I was so excited to meet new people!
I still remember entering Rosey Den for the first time. Ivy McCoy, who is now my boss, was my first counselor and introduced me to the only person who got there earlier than I did on opening day, my friend Merritt Miller. Me and Merritt later became great friends that requested to be in each other’s cabin every year after that. We roomed together every year of summerplace and Riverside and were club leaders together our ageout year. We still keep in touch to this day!
After attending Skyline until my age out year in 2018 I came back as a Junior Counselor in 2019, a senior counselor in 2022, Head of Riverside in 2023, and now I am an assistant director working full time and living at camp year round! A childhood dream come true! If you told 11 year old me that my first full time job after college would be here, I would in fact believe you.
Those two summers I skipped as a counselor, I had a skyline sized hole in my heart. The good thing about Skyline is that no matter how long you leave, you are always welcomed back with open arms and have a place at the table. When I came back in 2022 as a senior counselor and head of canoeing, none of my former 4th session friends were working with me. I met all new people and I am so glad I came in with an open mind. I met one of my closest friends, Emily Anderson that summer while lifeguarding and canoeing together and I don’t know what I would do without her! Despite our school rivalry (she went to Tennessee, I went to Bama!) We still spent the rivalry game together every year of college, travelling to whoever’s town it was in and laughing the entire time we were together. I met one of my very best friends that summer as well, Taylor Wright, (who was from my home town in Tuscaloosa but we had never met) and I can confidently say we will be friends forever.
Skyline puts you in beautiful scenery, unplugged from the world, and surrounded by the best like minded people. I love being able to put my phone down and just be myself. No matter how old you are, you can play like a child and your friends will join you. This also cultivates a great environment to grow closer to the Lord without distraction. After praying for guidance in 2022 and thinking I wasn’t coming back to camp, my friend Taylor convinced me to come to the counselor recharge weekend where I was convinced to apply as a head counselor for 2023. Thankfully I got the job as head of Riverside alongside Katie Ramsbacher who is now my roommate here at camp and one of my best friends! That summer was probably the most pivotal one for me. I knew the Lord but felt like I’d been running away from him and I didn’t know what to do next. Thankfully Ella Walker was chaplain that year and poured into me more than anyone had. She truly cared about me and my well being and showed me how simple yet magnificent God’s love is. God used her that summer to strengthen my relationship with him and fully change how I viewed his sacrifice. My confidence grew as I found my worth in the Lord and learned about how much he loves me.
Camp showed me how to work with others. As simple as it sounds, working in large groups can be very hard. Our counselor orientation was one of the most beneficial learning experiences I’ve had. You get to learn about different personality styles, working styles, and how people take constructive criticism. This not only helped me get along with my co counselors at camp, but my coworkers in my jobs I had at home.
Every summer at Skyline is different. I always say it’s the people that make the place, and thank goodness for them! Every year I have made new friends at camp that I still talk to daily or visit multiple times throughout the year! My camp friends have always been the ones that know me best, the true version of me. I am so thankful that I was blessed enough to attend this place that has molded me into who I am. I wouldn’t give up this place or the people it has brought me for anything, and I’m hopeful to never have to! Skyline has taught me so many life lessons, helped me to face my fears, and helped me realize my purpose on this Earth, I will forever be grateful!
