MILLICENT resident Kya McDougall has had the experience of a lifetime, living in a platform tent in the depths of an American forest reserve for nine weeks and coming face-to-face with a native black bear.
Ms McDougall, 25, realised her personal dream of working as a guidance counsellor for Camp Homeward Bound in New York’s Harriman State Park.
She took part in the camp across 2017 and 2018 and while the giggles and banter echoed those of any typical summer camp, the name Camp Homeward Bound reflected an element of wishful thinking among the children.
Youths came from New York city, with the vast majority from families who were homeless or experiencing hardship.
During high school Ms McDougall dreamed of working at an American summer camp but did not pursue her dreams until some years later, after she was accepted following an application process through a Camp Counsellors USA job fair in Melbourne.
“I had a list of my top five camps that I wanted to interview with and I only ended up speaking to two of those camps before I was drawn to Camp Homeward Bound’s booth,” she said.
“I sat down and was interviewed by the assistant director, who explained the camp was for homeless children and also spoke of some of the behavioural issues that I would face.
“He told me to interview with a couple of other camps to make sure this was really the camp I wanted to work for.
“I went and sat with another camp and I kind of intentionally tanked the interview because I knew I was meant to be at Camp Homeward Bound.
“I had a great feeling about it.”
Ms McDougall had six months to prepare for the American adventure and although unsure what to expect, she looked forward to the challenge.
Upon arrival to New York she participated in a week of staff training, which provided an opportunity to meet with coworkers.
The first of the three groups made up of 100 campers aged seven to 15 then arrived for their 16-day experience.
The camp blends engaging activities that fostered literacy, problem-solving and critical thinking skills with active, recreational fun including hiking, swimming, sports and dance.
It also helped homeless youths overcome health, social development and education challenges and provides respite from the shelter system.
“My role at camp was a general counsellor,” Ms McDougall said.
“I lived in a platform tent with a co-counsellor and six kids, who I was with all day and night.
“I only had two hours off a day as I would take the campers to activities, sit down for meals with them and organise activities to do as a bunk such as making dream catchers, going fishing, participating in scavenger hunts and karaoke.”
Ms McDougall described her experience with Camp Homeward Bound as the “greatest and toughest thing” she had ever done.
“You are exhausted from being up before the kids and working late into the night,” she said.
“Then you are woken up during the night to take children to the bathroom, but it is an experience I would not change for the world.
“You may be tired and exhausted some days, but that same day you might be teaching a kid how to ride a bike and they have been trying and trying and finally they get it.
“They have learned to ride a bike and you helped them and that child’s smile is all you need to get through your tiredness.
“You live off that sort of magic.
“I have met some incredible people all over the world and learned so much about so many different cultures and it is all because of camp.”
Outside of the camp Ms McDougall seized the opportunity to travel America and visited Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Seqouia National Park, Death Valley, Yosemite, Philadelphia, Boston, Jersey Shore, New York, New Orleans, Texas, Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC and San Diego.
She said her experience overseas made her realise how fortunate she was to live in Australia and while she enjoyed her time away she was homesick for her family.
“I think learning about other people’s cultures gives you a sense of how lucky you are,” she said.
“I also cannot say I came back the same person as I was when I went.
“I seen and did so much and I learned so much that I have become even more patient.
“Probably the hardest thing about being overseas was missing mine and my dad’s birthdays with family.
“Also coming back and seeing how much my niece and nephew had grown in those three months.”
Ms McDougall said she would recommend the camp counsellor role to anyone.
“It is such an amazing experience,” she said.
“Travelling to camp solo was the best decision I made.
“It takes you out of your comfort zone and you learn so much more about yourself travelling solo.”
