Camp HOPE 2026 Reflection

A Different Kind of Magic

Some things stayed the same at Camp HOPE this year. The location was familiar, many of the counselors returned, and most of the campers were faces I already knew and loved. Yet despite those constants, Camp HOPE 2026 felt entirely different. In many ways, it felt better. Perhaps it was because the relationships had deepened, or because I had grown as a counselor. Whatever the reason, this year was filled with moments that reminded me why Camp HOPE is one of the most challenging, exhausting, and meaningful weeks of my year. These children continue to teach me about resilience, healing, accountability, and hope in ways that no classroom ever could.

The Power of Unconditional Love

One camper approached me after hearing rumors that peers had been speaking negatively about him. He seemed fearful of how I might perceive him and desperately wanted an opportunity to explain himself before I could form an opinion. Before he could begin, I shared something important with him: “I always assume positive intent.” I explained that I believe people are doing the best they can, even when they make mistakes or behave in ways that do not reflect their character. I told him that regardless of what he thought he needed to apologize for, I had already forgiven him. His response stopped me in my tracks. He asked, “What does it mean to love someone even when they make mistakes?” I explained the concept of unconditional love. After a moment, he quietly responded, “I wish everyone got to experience this kind of love. I love you.” What could have become a conversation driven by shame and fear instead became an opportunity to remind a child that mistakes do not make them unworthy of love, patience, or compassion. They are still kids. They are still learning. And they are always deserving of care.

Watching Growth Happen

One camper entered this year carrying a history that made me nervous. During our final interaction at camp last year, he told me that he would never respect me due to my gender. Going into camp, I was uncertain what our relationship would look like. Instead of holding onto that interaction, I chose to start fresh. During our first conversation, I made it clear that I was not carrying last year’s mistakes in my heart and that I was excited to get to know him again. The result was remarkable. The camper who once struggled to respect female authority became one of the most respectful campers at camp. He built meaningful relationships with staff and trusted me with emotions he typically hid behind a façade of strength and masculinity. He was a different kid. More importantly, he knew it. One of my favorite moments was getting to tell him how proud I was of the growth I had witnessed. Children deserve opportunities to rewrite their stories, and adults should never permanently define them by their worst moments.

Accountability Creates Trust

Midway through the week, I reached my limit. Like many counselors, I was tired and overwhelmed. In a moment of frustration, I raised my voice and became more authoritarian than I wanted to be. It was out of character for me, and I immediately knew I had not shown up as the adult I strive to be. After taking time to regulate myself, I made a decision that many of the campers later told me they had never experienced from an adult. I apologized. I approached each camper I felt I had wronged, took accountability, and repaired the relationship that same evening. The campers jokingly referred to it as my “apology tour.” What happened next surprised me. The following day, the respect and engagement I received from campers increased dramatically. When I asked some of the older girls why they thought this happened, they unanimously agreed that they had never had an adult apologize to them before. Seeing an adult acknowledge a mistake and show them respect made them trust me more, not less. That evening led to a meaningful conversation about emotional regulation, accountability, and the differences between the responsibilities of adults and children. One of the most important messages I wanted them to hear was that when an adult becomes dysregulated, it is not the child’s responsibility to manage that adult’s emotions. That responsibility belongs to the adult. The conversation stretched well beyond lights out, costing me over an hour of sleep, but it remains one of the most important moments of the week.

The Camp HOPE Dictionary

At some point during the week, the campers informed me that they were tired of hearing me attempt to use their slang. Instead, they requested that I simply talk the way I normally do. I warned them that my vocabulary might include words they did not know, but they were eager to learn. Soon, we found ourselves creating an unofficial Camp HOPE dictionary. Words like integrity, accountability, charisma, chivalrous, and conscientious became part of our daily conversations. The campers frequently asked for definitions and then enthusiastically attempted to use the words themselves. Sometimes they used them correctly, and sometimes they did not, but the effort was there. What brought me the most joy was watching them take pride in learning and growing.

Every night, the counselors give each camper a character trait award. This year, the campers specifically requested “big words.” leading camper awards of integrity, accountability, charismatic, etc.. On the final night, the campers surprised counselors with awards of their own. The word they selected for me was conscientious. Most of them could not pronounce it, and I still struggle to spell it, but they each took turns explaining why they thought it described me. Their explanations shared a common theme: they felt I consistently tried to be my best for them. That recognition meant more than they will ever know.

The Things We Do for Kids

Every year, there seems to be one unforgettable moment involving bodily functions. Last year, I claimed responsibility for a camper’s unfortunate digestive mishap to save them from embarrassment. The children spent the remainder of camp teasing me about it. This year, another camper experienced an accident and quickly became the target of peer ridicule. Once again, I did what I always do. Through appropriate self-disclosure and some unfortunate stories from my own life, I redirected attention away from the camper and onto myself. Before long, the children had forgotten all about their peer’s embarrassment and instead became fascinated with my adulthood mishaps. The goal was never to become the center of the conversation. The goal was to communicate that accidents happen and that no child deserves to carry shame for being human. Sometimes helping kids feel safe requires a willingness to embrace a little embarrassment yourself.

Patience Changes Everything

One camper experienced significant behavioral challenges throughout the week. There were moments of running into the woods, refusing transitions, emotional escalations, and hours spent de-escalating difficult situations. In previous years, I may have felt pressure to immediately stop every behavior. This year, I learned a different lesson: not every behavior requires engagement. Many children make negative bids for attention because negative attention is the only attention they consistently receive. Once I began responding primarily to positive bids while maintaining safety boundaries, the dynamic changed. One memorable example involved a camper repeatedly throwing an apple into the woods after being asked to throw it away. Rather than chasing after him or escalating the interaction, I simply waited. After several minutes, he eventually walked over and disposed of the apple himself. Only then did I provide praise and attention. These victories may seem small, but they represented significant growth for both of us. They reminded me that patience often creates opportunities for success that control cannot.

Understanding Food Insecurity

One of the most powerful lessons camp continues to teach me is how trauma shapes behavior. Food insecurity appeared throughout the week in ways both obvious and subtle. Campers would ask for additional snacks, hide food for later, or consume as much as possible when given the opportunity. Initially, I found myself frustrated by behaviors that felt dishonest. Over time, however, I began to view them through a different lens. These behaviors were not about manipulation. They were about survival. Many of these children have experienced periods where food was not consistently available. What looked like greed was often fear. Once I shifted my perspective, my approach changed. Rather than arguing about integrity of being honest if they had already received a snack, I responded with, "I trust you, and I would never lie to you". More often than not, the campers would admit they simply wanted another snack. Understanding the roots of the behavior helped me respond with greater empathy and patience. It also broke my heart to realize how many children continue to live with uncertainty about something as basic as their next meal.

Every Child Deserves Intentionality

Camp HOPE brings together children from multiple centers and communities. Some are children I know well. I know their triggers, strengths, and warning signs before behaviors escalate. Others arrive as complete strangers. Working with children whose stories I do not know serves as a powerful reminder that every interaction matters. A joke that feels harmless to one child may feel devastating to another. We rarely know the full story someone is carrying. Because of that, every child deserves patience, compassion, and intentionality. Camp consistently reminds me of the responsibility we carry as adults to approach all children with care, regardless of how much we know about their experiences.

Why Camp HOPE Matters

The children of Camp HOPE deserve the world. While camp itself lasts only one week, the work continues throughout the year through Pathway events that maintain connections, build skills, and provide opportunities for growth. These experiences matter deeply. For many campers, outings to places like aquariums, zoos, laser tag arenas, and other attractions are not routine experiences. They are cherished memories and opportunities to simply be kids.

Unfortunately, many of these opportunities remain financially out of reach without community support. As we look toward Camp HOPE 2027 and future Pathway events, partnerships and sponsorships will be critical to expanding what is possible for these incredible young people. My hope is that we continue creating experiences that foster joy, confidence, life skills, and dreams for the future. Whether through camps, outings, career exploration, cooking classes, or leadership opportunities, every experience sends the same message: you matter, you belong, and your future is worth investing in. Because every child deserves more than survival. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Give Hope

If you are interested in helping create hope for Camp HOPE youth, we invite you to support this fundraiser facilitated by Brighter Times (here). Funds raised will directly support Camp HOPE 2027 and year-round Pathway events that provide opportunities for connection, healing, skill-building, and positive childhood experiences for youth impacted by domestic violence.

For those interested in learning more about the program, exploring partnership opportunities, or discussing ways to collaborate, please contact Sophia Bullian, Program Manager for Camp HOPE at The Spring of Tampa Bay, SBullian@thespring.org. She would be happy to share more about the impact of Camp HOPE and how community support helps ensure every child has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.