As I’m currently living through this time of stress and uncertainty due to the coronavirus, stuck in Quarantine (or The Q, as I like to call it), I’m reminded of how well camp has prepared me for this situation.

Camp has given me the gift of flexibility— my days are not going to look how I planned for them to look, and I must roll with the punches and adapt to the new normal. Rather than resist change, camp has taught me to embrace it, because no two days are the same at camp. It would be easy to resist The Q, to hate it, to read the dismal news articles, to be crabby and lay in bed watching Netflix all day. But, keeping camp in mind, I’ve decided to spend my days being productive as I work from home, and, most importantly, to smile and bring joy into my own life, even when I’m struck with worry about the future.

Over the summer, Susie Ma’am likes to tell our campers, “Don’t put the key to your own happiness in someone else’s pocket.”

I’m refusing to give COVID-19 the key to my happiness. Rather than being resistant to change, I’m trying to think, “How would I handle this situation if it were a day at camp?” This has led to some joyous (and very silly) moments. My roommates and I now have daily headstand contests, much to our downstairs neighbor’s dismay. I have FaceTimed with more camp friends this week than I have in the past year. I’ve sung songs out on my balcony, just to make my neighbors smile or laugh. I’m playing card games with my roommates that I haven’t played since I was a Midi at CC.

While I still read the news and worry about what the next few weeks will look like, viewing this situation through my “camp glasses” has allowed me to stay much more positive in my day to day life. While I’m not taking the coronavirus situation lightly, I’m trying my best to keep my joy and to be adaptable. I know that over the next few weeks, there will be a lot more silly songs sung, several attempts to cook new dishes (likely with mixed success), and many FaceTime dates with those I love.

I encourage you to think about the following things:

• How has camp helped prepare your family for the situation we are in now?
• How can you encourage your children to put on their “camp glasses” and bring joy into their own lives right now?