Destination ImagiNation Camp Counselor Journey: Almost homeless in Tampa!

Despite doing two four hour camps a day and taking on the new challenge of a teen camp (we're talking kids only 3 years younger than us), our camps in Tampa were definitely among the most successful! Ryan and I were both sad to leave and are already missing our awesome campers from both sessions! It was so hard to say goodbye to Macdill air force base and all the fabulous problem solving kiddos!

I was totally engrossed in my my work setting up for the second session on Friday when one of the camp staff came and told me I had a phone call. "A phone call for me??" I asked. She said, "yes man!" So I went out to the front desk very confused and picked up the phone. It was the truth. I did in fact get a call... a very mean-spirited person from the Inn where I had been staying, called to inform me I had to get all my stuff out of my room immediately because someone was waiting to check in. I tried to explain that I was staying one more night but she wouldn't even listen. Feeling very confused and upset, I had to leave Ryan alone to at camp and literally run (I didn't have the car) down the street to the hotel. I threw my things into Ryan's room as fast as I could and took off running back to the youth center. That's when I started crying! CRAP!! I really tried hard not to cry. I couldn't help it. Those of you who know me well know that when I even THINK about crying, my eyes swell up and I get enormous red blotches all over my face! Instead of running back to camp, I ran to the bathroom. When I saw my face in the mirror it made me cry harder... by this time our AMAZING POC, Loretta heard what happened and came to find me. When she saw me, she pulled me into a huge mommy-like bear hug and said, "don't you worry baby girl, I will take care of this!!"

YEP! Isn't this an awful story?? I know, right?! Well, one thing I learned is that you DON'T mess with Miss Loretta! When I pulled myself together and got my face back to a somewhat normal color I joined Ryan and the teens for an INCREDIBLE last session!

By the time I finished camp, Loretta had done her thing and unleashed her hardcore-ness all over some people at the INN and before I knew it, I was put in my own palace! Well, maybe not a palace, but I did get to enjoy a wonderful little house for my last night! :)

And our last day of camp turned out just as well as my moment of homelessness. I can honestly say that I'll probably talk about some of these kids for the rest of my life!

Some of the great memories from the week...

These guys are proud to say that they tied the knot in the rope first!

There were some beautiful pictures drawn for brain writing!

Gabby drew a picture of her and I surrounded by all her favorite challenges

I'm on the left and Gabby's on the right.

Marta's picture represented teamwork!

Megan drew all her favorite challenges surrounding Ryan and I.

I think we we're all pretty proud of our DI Wall by the end of the week! Miss Loretta loved it so much that she decided to leave it up as a reminder to the kids of everything they learned at camp!