Well...My summer is over, AND I’ve officially been here a full year! It feels great to have accomplished so much in a year (writing a full summer program-theme and all, hiring an accomplished and hard working summer staff, CPO certified, partnered with an old staff member to create a pretty awesome brochure package...and so much more!) I also feel like my best days at Alta Mons are ahead of me.
Things are always shifting here at Alta Mons. We’re always growing and changing and trying to make this place the best it can be. I really believe in Alta Mons, but this year was full of decisions that were hard to make for the program and the place. Very late in the year I began working at the pool to prepare it for the season. I had never started up a pool before and believe me, it didn’t go off without a hitch. On the contrary: it was stressful and difficult. After many meetings, the crew at Alta Mons decided we didn’t have the staff/lifeguards or the time/resources to open the pool to the public. That was a hard decision that we got a lot of push back from the community about.
The decision to close the pool was a little haunting honestly. It stayed with me, and the office got numerous calls about it throughout the summer. Then one camper taught me a lot about facing hard decisions. We had to send several campers home because of lice this year. One camper in particular had already attended one week of camp and came back for a second week. When she came back, we found lice, and went through the steps we take to keep the camper away from the unit and call the parents to come and pick them up. I had two wonderful staff members stay with her and play games while we waited. I thought for sure she would be upset about having to leave camp, but when her mother arrived, she understandingly hugged us goodbye and got in the car. As she pulled away she rolled down the window and yelled out, “See you next summer!!”
This young girl accepted with gladness the decision that we had made for her. She taught the three of us that waited with her that we should be glad for the moments we have. She taught me that hard decisions are for the best.
This just goes to show, that we are learning more from these kids than we could ever imagine. I can’t wait for next summer and for the rest of this year. I’m continually thankful for this place and the impact it has on my life and the lives of everyone who comes.
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil for gladness beyond your companions.” –Hebrews 1:9
Sarah-Kate
Alta Mons: Program Coordinator
Things are always shifting here at Alta Mons. We’re always growing and changing and trying to make this place the best it can be. I really believe in Alta Mons, but this year was full of decisions that were hard to make for the program and the place. Very late in the year I began working at the pool to prepare it for the season. I had never started up a pool before and believe me, it didn’t go off without a hitch. On the contrary: it was stressful and difficult. After many meetings, the crew at Alta Mons decided we didn’t have the staff/lifeguards or the time/resources to open the pool to the public. That was a hard decision that we got a lot of push back from the community about.
The decision to close the pool was a little haunting honestly. It stayed with me, and the office got numerous calls about it throughout the summer. Then one camper taught me a lot about facing hard decisions. We had to send several campers home because of lice this year. One camper in particular had already attended one week of camp and came back for a second week. When she came back, we found lice, and went through the steps we take to keep the camper away from the unit and call the parents to come and pick them up. I had two wonderful staff members stay with her and play games while we waited. I thought for sure she would be upset about having to leave camp, but when her mother arrived, she understandingly hugged us goodbye and got in the car. As she pulled away she rolled down the window and yelled out, “See you next summer!!”
This young girl accepted with gladness the decision that we had made for her. She taught the three of us that waited with her that we should be glad for the moments we have. She taught me that hard decisions are for the best.
This just goes to show, that we are learning more from these kids than we could ever imagine. I can’t wait for next summer and for the rest of this year. I’m continually thankful for this place and the impact it has on my life and the lives of everyone who comes.
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil for gladness beyond your companions.” –Hebrews 1:9
Sarah-Kate
Alta Mons: Program Coordinator
RSS Feed