“Peace Begins with Me”

When you are faced with a tough situation, your first instinct is to run and hide. Children are the best instance of this theory. At the first sign of their security being tested, they cling to their caretakers that provide them with protection.
While here at Peacemakers, the security of families is tucked away at home and the kids are merged together to form new friendships and temporary families. Campers are so excited their first day that they can hardly contain themselves. Camp is a time when they don’t depend on their parents to take care of them, and they are given an opportunity to try something new and exciting. An added bonus is forming life-long friendships with other campers, and sometimes their counselors.
An activity that campers are able to participate in is the High Ropes Course. The children have the option of testing themselves physically and mentally while being supervised by certified facilitators. The High Ropes Course consists of 15 elements at 24 and 34 ft high.
There are mixed emotions from the campers as they face the biggest challenge of their young lives. Some campers easily climb up and
take the challenge head on. They realize that the Ropes Course is something that has to be done to build themselves as people.
A few, unfortunately, discover much too late that they are not ready to take on such a task. Some of these brave souls are comfortable with climbing until they realize they are 24 ft off the ground, and they freeze. With words of encouragement and inspiration from their peers and instructors, they are able to face their fears and push themselves to prove that they can overcome their fears.
As a newcomer, I have heard many stories and experiences from campers and CITs, and it’s safe to say that the experience is different for everyone. No one can tell you what it will be like or if it’s easy or if it’s hard. They can only tell you how completing the course makes them feel empowered and in charge of their world.
A word of advice to anyone that might consider taking the challenge: Don’t doubt that you can do it, and if you find that you can’t, remember there is always next year.