Michelle Welsh on Being Thankful at Camp and All Year Long

Posted By: Plantation Farm Camp Staff

Being Thankful at Camp and All Year Long

Thanksgiving is a special day.  It is a day where we all give thanks for the experiences and memories we have had, but also for the people who have been there to share in those memories and experiences.  While at Plantation Farm Camp during the summer we give thanks every day.  Each morning and evening, before breakfast and dinner, we sing grace and show our gratitude for the food we are about to consume.  We are also able to realize that food does not just appear in front of us, we are a part of the process in which it goes from the garden to the plate.  In growing and preparing the food we gain a greater appreciation for its presence. 

We are also shown how important it is to be thankful for the earth around us.  At camp we learn to be thankful for the opportunities we have to protect the earth.  Both the campers and staff learn to take care of the earth, the animals, and the people around them.  Through recycling, composting, and reducing the use of energy we are showing the earth we are thankful for its resources.  We are able to make a conscious effort to go green and continue doing so at home even after camp is over.

Not only do we give thanks for the food and the earth but we also are thankful for the animals and the people we come in contact with each day.  The animals provide nourishment for us and we learn to show them care and love.  We also learn to respect those around us and appreciate the uniqueness of others.  Each person who comes to camp brings something to share.  Whether that be a love of swimming, knitting, hiking, acting, or horseback riding, everyone has a role in life on the farm.  We appreciate others for who they are and in turn everyone supports each other. 

As I reflect this Thanksgiving I realize how thankful I am for everything and everyone in my life.  However, one of the things that I am most thankful for is finding Plantation Farm Camp.  I have been able to become a part of the group of people who I now regard as my Plantation family.  Over the past two summers, that I have been a counselor at Plantation, I have grown in ways I could never imagine. I only wish that I found this place earlier in my life and had the opportunity to be a camper.  However, being able to be a leader and role model to the campers at Plantation has been an unforgettable experience.   I will always be thankful for being a part of the Plantation family and even though summer seems far away (it will be here soon enough) I am thankful for all of the campers who come share this experience.