Seven Summers for Shelby
Hi Iâm Shelby! (On the right…) Â Iâm originally from Woodbury, New York, but I currently live in Orange, California attending Chapman University. Although Iâve had many jobs over the years, my favorite (by far!) is being a camp counselor at Timber Lake West!
I was a camper at TLW for 5 years and have been a counselor for the past 2 summers. Camp is truly my savior in every sense of the word. My camp friends and counselors have guided me and helped me through many different roadblocks in my life. Despite the distance, time differences, and months apart, my camp family has always shown me unconditional love and support â the true definition of what âfamilyâ is.
My memories and photos from each summer instantly give me the chills and put a smile on my face. West has instilled in me values that I carry with me everywhere. When Iâm not at camp, it only takes me seconds to revisit my favorite place – I literally taped a picture of the camp lake into the inside cover of my daily planner, which I always carry with me. One quick turn of a page, and there I am â back at camp!
Whether you are a camper or counselor, being at West is really an opportunity. The child you send to West will not be the child that comes home to you. Instead, you will see a significant and positive change, one that cannot be described. Yet, you will see someone who returns as a confidant and independent individual who has learned how to connect with all different types of people.
Your child will learn the true meaning of friendship and respect – Two of the eight values that we learn through the STARFISH Values Program, which is a fundamental element of âWest-lifeâ at camp. These lessons and values truly cannot be learned in any other environment. West is such a special place and a constant source of comfort to everyone who has been here.
There is rarely a person who meets me and does not know that every single summer I return to my home away from home at Timber Lake West. Camp holds such an important place in my heart and I am forever grateful for every experience Iâve had, every lesson Iâve learned, and every person that Iâve met there.
