Ashley and the Tower
At Victory Junction, our camp counselors play a huge role in shaping our campers’ experience. They push campers to look beyond their limitations and to focus on their strengths.
Ashley is a summer counselor at Victory Junction, and she believes that counselors provide campers with the tools they need to be successful not just at camp, but in life.
How long have you been here at camp?
I’ve been here for about a month and a week now.
How do you feel about your camp experience so far?
I love it here! I want to be a child life specialist. There is a lot of intentional programming and play therapy to make kids more resilient. It also helps them emotionally by providing support.
What has been your favorite moment so far?
The week that we had kids with Spina Bifida, they came to climb the tower, and there were two girls that didn’t have any leg mobility. They really wanted to climb the tower, so I got the awesome opportunity to help them climb the tower.
What I had them do was pull up with their arms, and I would move their legs up for them. One girl could support herself through her legs, she just couldn’t move her legs. The other girl couldn’t put any weight on her legs at all, so what I had her do is pull up with her arms and hold on. I support her as she rested, and when she was ready, she reached up and pulled up more. They both reached their goals, and they were so excited. Even though they were nervous and scared, it was super awesome to watch them. Before, they didn’t think that they could climb, but they tried, and they challenged themselves. It was super awesome to watch them succeed and to have pride in themselves.
What is your favorite program area at camp?
Adventure Tower because it’s more of an obvious challenge, and you get one-on-one time with the campers during this process.
What have you learned from working at camp?
You should never limit someone based on preconceptions of their disability.
What aspect of camp is the most powerful to you?
It’s amazing to see campers really blossom into themselves.
Ashley is a student at Winthrop University and is beginning her first year at Victory Junction.