Camp is something every kid looks forward to. They say camp changes a kid, in this case it changed a teenager. It’s a time to be free, with few rules, no school and a chance to be with friends. That was my first impression of camp. This time I had to be with kids who were like me. Youths who had heart conditions. 
 
When VIHOGS coordinator, Krista, told us about a weekend with the youths from Vancouver at Camp Summit I immediately wanted to go. I thought of the people that I would meet that felt, in some ways, the same way I do, or the kind of people they were going to be. Questions kept running through my head; will I get along with everyone? Will they be like me? What should I say to them? Even though I had gotten to know other youths from the island I was still nervous and yet very very excited to meet Vancouver's youths. 
 
Preparations for camp came closer and closer and the youths of VIHOG had a dinner meeting about camp. We talked about cabins and the food and the counsellors and the other youths. As the weekend came closer I could hardly wait. Not only would I be spending a weekend at camp, but at a camp with kids who understood what I go through everyday of my life, every hospital trip, all the times I had to explain why there was an ugly scar on my chest and all the other things a youth who has a heart condition has to deal with. 
 
I came home with so many stories, stories of friends, campfires, jokes, counsellors and everything else that happened. I could hardly wait to go back the next year. As the second year came around the corner, I realized that camp was coming closer and closer. Another dinner meeting came and we discussed the old times we had at camp and convinced other campers to come. The second time around didn't disappoint me. In the girl’s cabin, we didn't necessarily talk about our hearts, but of summer and school and boys, stuff "regular" girls would talk about. 
 
Year three. My close friend, Coral and I talked on the ferry about everything we've experienced over the past two years. We couldn't wait to go back a third time, we knew we'd have a blast, and have more adventures and meet even more friends. Words can't describe what year three was like. I met more youths, had bigger campfires, stayed up later, ate more food. I didn't want it to end. Sadly after a weekend I'd never forget, I sat on the bus with all the youths of the camp and rode home. If there are any other youths out there who haven't gone to HOG's Camp Summit week-end, you are missing out...BIG TIME. 
 
By Joanne Lohr 
 
 
Our heartfelt thanks to John and Maria Proust for providing air fare for one of the youth to attend camp from Fort St. John.