Campfire Talk

Given on July 18, 2024 by Carter Cole

Hello everyone! My name is Carter Cole and I am a first year on Life Squad. Some fun facts about me are I go to the University of Arizona, I am amazing at spelling and crossword puzzles. And my favorite snack of all time is the uncrustable grape flavor. And this is my final time here at Spirit in the Pines this summer and potentially forever.

When writing this campfire talk I had yet to decide what I wanted to talk about. It can be challenging to come up with a topic that 9 and 10-year-olds can relate to along with their counselors who are much older than them. I thought long and hard about a topic and I finally had what my brother Connor calls the light bulb effect. HOME.

We often think of home as a place, a building with walls, a roof, and familiar surroundings. But tonight, I want to explore the idea that home is not just a place—home is the people who fill our lives with love, warmth, and meaning.

I have been coming up to camp for 11 years. 7 as a camper, 3 as a counselor, and 1 as a staff member. I remember like it was yesterday when I was your age getting off that bus for the first time and being freaked out by a bunch of grown adults being excited to see us. Little did I know that very thing was going to become my dream job.

As I got older as a camper I wanted to become a counselor because I loved camp so much that I knew I wanted to give back. That was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was something that I could look forward to every summer, meeting new campers and staff members every time I would go up.

It would also allow me to grow as a person and be closer to my faith. I didn’t understand why we had to have bible study and sing songs every night. I just wanted to run to be first in the canteen. But as a counselor, I saw the importance of campfire, and being in the moment at camp, because God is here.

I have some of the best memories of my life made up here with fellow staff members, counselors, and more recently this week having 2 of my old campers become CITs. My college entrance essay that I recently wrote was about a week that happened at camp.

You all might be wondering why is this dude talking about camp and how this relates to home.

The reason that I’m talking about camp is because I’m sad to lose it. I’m sad to lose a piece of my life that has turned me into who I am as a person. This campfire, these pine trees, these cabins, it makes up some of the best times I’ve ever had and when I’ve been at the happiest in my life.

From playing games as a camper, to writing devos as a counselor, to making campfire talks as a staff member, these are some of the most important things that I’ve ever had the privilege to do because I’ve been able to impact the lives of many people.

I want to give a big thank you to Sarah, Caleb, and Megan for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to live out a childhood dream to become a staff member even though it was for half a summer, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

Thank you campers and counselors for making this final week for me so enjoyable and memorable with you all. Camp would not be anything without all of you here.

Finally to my staff members. Thank You. Every day I love waking up and going to a job and being with people who love to hang out with each other and grow closer every day.

We always make new memories when we laugh together about the sillies things and help each other out when we need it the most.

You guys are not my coworkers; you’re my family. You are my house. You’re the reason why I get up every day with a smile on my face because you guys embrace me for who I am. I love all of you so much and I’m sad that this has to be our last time together as a family.

Hebrews 3:4

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

Thank you camp. I’m sure going to miss you.

For the final time, and all of God’s children said…

Amen.

A photo from the campfire circle at camp