SCC Alumni Watch: 13/14’s Nadine Hebert: ‘An Education Like No Other’

I don’t think there has ever or will ever be a more educational, life changing and blissful thing that I could do in my lifetime than the experiences I had working at Southampton Camp & Club. I grew up so much and learned lessons that most don’t get in a lifetime. I am so thankful to have been part of so many people’s lives, and to have had the opportunities that came with camp. SCC, you will forever have a place in my heart.

I grew up in a very small town in New Brunswick, Canada. Before camp, I went to University to study Psychology for a year and a half before I went in to studying Accounting. I had just completed my second year in college when I got the news that I would get the opportunity to be a counselor at SCC. It was both scary, and exciting, as the biggest change I had experienced in my life at that time was going to college.

Getting to camp, I was a little overwhelmed, because I knew only one person and I didn’t know what would come of my summer. There were so many different people from many different countries, much of them, I had no idea that I would become so close with. I made so many amazing friends that I treasure so much. But that was just the beginning…

When camp started, I got to meet some of the most incredible kids in the world. I worked with the stepping stones group, ages 2 and a half to 3 my first year at camp and then I went on with my munchkins the next year, working with ages 3 and a half to 4.

I was blessed to have parents trust me with their most prized possession: their children. I got to watch them grow in to incredible tiny humans. Even at such a young age, they learned lifelong lessons that I only learned at camp. They reminded me of the innocence that we all once had. The small gestures that you can do to make someone’s day. I was reminded to appreciate the little things in life. I still to this day have all the pictures, crafts and letters that were given to me by children and parents at camp. They are so special to me, as it is a reminder of the difference I have made in so many peoples life. Little do they know, they made the world of a difference in mine.

If you love making a difference, playing games, singing camp songs, and being appreciated; camp is just what you need! It is an experience that everyone should have, either as a camper or a counselor. It taught me so much about myself and about life. I learned who I wanted to be and grew up tremendously at camp. It is truly life changing. Camp has a way of bringing you back down to earth and
appreciating the little things in life in a big way.

I want to finish off by saying that I still treasure the things that I have learned and the people that I have met at camp. I am thankful to have had this experience. It has made me a better person, and it has shown me the difference that I can make in this world, no matter how big or small.