Dear Reader,
I’m not exactly sure why I took this job. Prior to camp I had never built a fire, hiked to a waterfall, slept in a hammock, or done most of the other ‘outdoorsy’ things that the other coordinators had basically grown up with. I was the ‘wildcard’ this summer—the coordinator without any connection to this awesome place. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Camp Alta Mons is easily the hardest job I have ever had. There have been many back-to-back nights
with less than 6 hours of sleep and walking like a zombie to breakfast. Cooking over a fire for Unit 1 while they bombard you with questions about life. There have been many dead camera batteries, blurry photos, and I may or may not have tripped a time or two with all of my camera equipment.
When I first arrived Meredith gave me a printed job description and asked me to read over it this summer and to let her know if it was accurate or if anything needed changed. To work at Alta Mons, you need to say “Yes” to whatever comes your way:
The pool tiles need scrubbing with a brush? Sure.
Someone needs to be the test subject for the new Ropes Coordinator to zip-line at night? Why not?
Can you carry a pee soaked sleeping to the Camp Post at 6am? You’ve got it!
Jumping in the New River to get a kid's paddle that is floating away? Yes!
Hey Ryan, can you put down the camera and be a counselor for a few days? Absolutely.
None of these things are in the job description of the Media Coordinator. But do you know what else isn’t in the job description?
Watching a camper who cried when their parents dropped them off make new friends.
Listening to the chatter of campers as they all guess what a silver turtle is.
The face of the camper who has been scared all week to get on the zipline scooting off of the platform and screaming in excitement.
Sitting in the back of a wagon ride and looking up at the stars and realizing why we do all of this—for the kids.
As I leave this summer, I am leaving with the biggest smile on my face and in my heart. How lucky am I to have Googled “Summer Camps in Virginia” and wound up having the best summer of my life.
Hidy Tidy,
Ryan Vaughan
Media Coordinator
Summer ‘22
I’m not exactly sure why I took this job. Prior to camp I had never built a fire, hiked to a waterfall, slept in a hammock, or done most of the other ‘outdoorsy’ things that the other coordinators had basically grown up with. I was the ‘wildcard’ this summer—the coordinator without any connection to this awesome place. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Camp Alta Mons is easily the hardest job I have ever had. There have been many back-to-back nights
with less than 6 hours of sleep and walking like a zombie to breakfast. Cooking over a fire for Unit 1 while they bombard you with questions about life. There have been many dead camera batteries, blurry photos, and I may or may not have tripped a time or two with all of my camera equipment.
When I first arrived Meredith gave me a printed job description and asked me to read over it this summer and to let her know if it was accurate or if anything needed changed. To work at Alta Mons, you need to say “Yes” to whatever comes your way:
The pool tiles need scrubbing with a brush? Sure.
Someone needs to be the test subject for the new Ropes Coordinator to zip-line at night? Why not?
Can you carry a pee soaked sleeping to the Camp Post at 6am? You’ve got it!
Jumping in the New River to get a kid's paddle that is floating away? Yes!
Hey Ryan, can you put down the camera and be a counselor for a few days? Absolutely.
None of these things are in the job description of the Media Coordinator. But do you know what else isn’t in the job description?
Watching a camper who cried when their parents dropped them off make new friends.
Listening to the chatter of campers as they all guess what a silver turtle is.
The face of the camper who has been scared all week to get on the zipline scooting off of the platform and screaming in excitement.
Sitting in the back of a wagon ride and looking up at the stars and realizing why we do all of this—for the kids.
As I leave this summer, I am leaving with the biggest smile on my face and in my heart. How lucky am I to have Googled “Summer Camps in Virginia” and wound up having the best summer of my life.
Hidy Tidy,
Ryan Vaughan
Media Coordinator
Summer ‘22
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