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It was the best experience of my entire life—also the hardest. Our group became so close, and there were many obstacles along the way. I learned that no matter what, I can do anything with my group and for myself. It was the most amazing experience of my life, and I’m thankful for it.

If I could give advice to a future camper, it would be to take time to let the lessons we experience here sink in. We often talk about our motto, “my own self at my very best,” and while it may not always resonate perfectly, I believe that if you truly reflect on it and strive to be your best, you can excel and grow tremendously. Take time to appreciate the lessons and the people around you, and you will soar.

We embarked on a long canoe trip in Canada, an incredible and life-changing experience for me. During that first week at camp, I was deeply impressed by the philosophy of the camp and its Four Fold philosophy of balanced living. That is what has stuck with me the most and left a lasting impression.

The one thing I would tell a future camper about camp is that just like you should really come because it's a place for growth and it's really fun. You can come here and grow physically and mentally in all the four folds.

I believe the physical space—the sand dunes, the water, and the surrounding nature—is absolutely what camp is about. To me, that’s Miniwanca. Nature is an essential component of it, along with the feelings and the energy we bring to this place and the energy that has been felt here for so long. I’m sure everyone says this, but Miniwanca has undoubtedly been the most influential thing in my life. It’s what helped me realize that I could make it and that I could do it.

“The most important thing I learned at camp was the beauty and the challenge of trying to be your own self, at your very best, all the time. They seem like wonderful words when I first heard them. And it took a number of years at camp to actually understand what that meant.”

“The most important lesson that I’ve learned at camp is that it’s ok to take things slow and enjoy the nature, and just take what comes your way and make the best situation out of it as possible.”

“The most important thing I learned at camp was how to step outside my comfort zone. To be bold, and try new things. And to really, whole-heartedly be my true self. You get accepted for that here. You get celebrated for that here...It is really empowering and really inspires you to live your best life here, and back at home.”

“All five of my kids attended camp here and five of my grandchildren, and I think we will have two more next year. Everything they gained from camp, and I felt I gained, was the friendships, of course, the experiences, the confidence in trying new things, learning new things, learning how to set goals, and learning how to work for something you believe in.”

“The most important thing I learned at camp was definitely to take time to my day, to pause and check in with myself. Reflection is a very big thing that we do here. … I take time to reflect on where I’m at as a way to personally grow and to make sure my actions are for the betterment of myself.”

“The day I picked my daughter up from camp last year … was the best day in the entire year. … We drove all the way from camp to our home in Long Island, and it took us almost 10 hours. And the whole way, my daughter is just talking, talking, talking, filling me in on everything that she did at camp. The things she wanted to share was not how much fun she had, but all the challenges that she overcame and the growth that she experienced.”