Joey is a graduate of Moorelands’ Wilderness Camp. He first experienced Moorelands as a child camper. He’s also a graduate of our ACE & SALT Leadership modules and, in 2014, Joey experienced his first year as a staff person for Moorelands, where he led new campers as a cabin leader. At 17, this is Joey’s first job and he hopes to go on to University to become a teacher. Read his story below:
I owe sooo much to this place: my best childhood experiences and a lot of life lessons. I wouldn’t be who I am today without Moorelands.
Seven years ago was my first year at Moorelands. I was a ten year old and scared of being away from my mom. But, through that first week, I learned to be more respectful and responsible.
Before that year at Moorelands, I wasn’t the most popular kid and I got bullied and so did my friend. But after experiencing Camp, I stayed with him and defended him. Moorelands taught me that bullying isn’t right and that we should respect everybody.
The year after, going back to camp, I learned to deal with the anger I had and I was better off after that.
Every single summer I went back, meeting new friends and learning new things. It was the thing I looked forward to the most through the year. Seven years later, in the summer of 2014, I accomplished my childhood dream of being a counselor at Moorelands. I got to ride in the gold cart and the Kubota and I got to really connect with kids.
For some of the kids that come here, it is the only thing that they have to look forward to in the year. Some of them come from nothing and it really helps them to go here every year. Moorelands is the greatest, and I speak from experience. I owe sooo much to this place: my best childhood experiences and a lot of life lessons. I wouldn’t be who I am today without Moorelands.
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