Paul Turner: Consider camp training for life

My sister-in-law is in her early 50s now.

She’s a bright, capable woman.

But she achieved special status in her extended family long, long ago. Her feat? When she was a little girl, she penned perhaps the most pathetic letter home from summer camp ever written.

Her plaintive missive to her mother from the unforgiving wilds of Camp Miramichi still prompts convulsive laughter from relatives.

The heart of her message has been told and retold at family gatherings more times than marshmallows have been toasted.

She wrote: “I love you. I miss you. I’m crying.”

Or something like that. It’s hard to remember where reality leaves off and legend begins.

I bring this up for a reason. My sister-in-law’s sad song reminds me of something I want to say to any young people who might happen onto this special section.

Kids, don’t let that be you.

Miserable and wet-cheeked is no way to go through your special week this summer.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The key is to understand what summer camp is all about. And I think I can help you with that.

As you undoubtedly have noticed, there are all kinds of camps these days. Once, it meant canoes, crafts, chiggers and campfires. But today there are seemingly endless opportunities to learn and experience new things.

Still, just about all summer camps have something in common: They prepare you for real life.

I’m not referring to becoming a better trombone player or perfecting your free-throw stance.

I am talking about the simple fact that, despite all the smiling faces on the brochures, a lot of you don’t really want to go to camp. But you’re going anyway.

And that, young readers, is how it will be when you grow up.

Oh, sure, things seem great now. You’re having fun, doing pretty much whatever you want. But up ahead, around the corner, obligations and responsibilities await.

So the first thing summer camp teaches a person is that you don’t always get what you want.

One day you’re all snug in your good home, surrounded by your stuff and your pets, knee-deep in your cherished routine. And then, the next day, you are thrust into a strange setting amid all sorts of slightly crazed people you don’t know.

It can be a little scary.

But kids, that’s the way life is. You find a comfort zone. You want to hunker down and stay right there forever. Then one morning a middle manager with an organizational chart or a camp counselor with a goofy nickname will come by and ask if you have a second.

There’s something else summer camp teaches you, though. It’s this: Change can be good.

You’ll have to trust me on this. But lots of grown-ups used to be little kids. And once upon a time, they dug in their heels and said there was no way they were going to summer camp.

Then they got there, and something miraculous happened.

After overcoming their initial apprehension, they realized they were going to make friends and have a good time. The clouds parted and the sun shone through.

Ask them. They’ll tell you. They still enjoy reminiscing about the happy times at Camp Whatever.

So pay attention and apply yourself. Learn how to swim or construct a Web site. Have fun even.

But remember. The lesson you’ll really learn at summer camp is that sometimes things have a way of working out for the best.