Today marks the end of our first full day of training. Which means, among other things, I am emotionally exhausted (hence why I'm writing this post at 10:45 at night instead of bonding with the other staffers!). The past week has been one huge blur, yet I feel like I've been here for a month. Our first couple days as trainers in Loveland were packed with meetings, training preparations, and heavy lifting as we loaded up all the equipment we needed to have up in Estes Park. Then we spent the weekend deep in thought about what training would look like, how we wanted to train, and generally preparing for the summer staff to finally arrive!
Meeting everyone on Monday was so exciting. It was so what I needed to connect again with the returners and see all the beautiful new faces, and the face of Miss Hannah Mckee. I can hardly describe my excitement that she's a project leader this year. Having one of my best friends experience Week of Hope is something I never thought I would have and here she is! Loving it. After the brief orientation our crews were finally announced (in a very sorority, big/little reveal like style I might add!) by finding puzzle pieces and connecting them to find our crew!
Here we are! AND surprise! We have a third crew mate. Olivia Smith will be accompanying us temporarily, although we hope permanently, on our adventure to Charleston! Olivia is a flex and has the ability to do both Molly and my positions. If there is an emergency or she is needed elsewhere she could be moved, but I I'm selfishly praying that doesn't happen!
Today was the morning of policies and the afternoon of program presentations. If you need a refresher, program presentations are a wonderful activity where each of the program leaders stands in front of Week of hope staff and are asked to present a program by memory without notes. Yes, without notes. It might have been the third year that I have done this but that didn't make me any less nervous. However I am happy to report that not only I did fairly well, but ALL of our program leaders did well too. I'm so excited that we're starting off on such a good foot. I'm astounded at the showing by every single program leader in that room. Woohoo! Hard part over. Now on to learning the rest of the program...
After the past 24 hours, it finally feels like summer staff. It feels right being here, walking in the mountains, training and speaking, planning out summer trips, bonding with my crew, it feels like summer. It's different, that's for sure. I miss both the Caitlyn/Kaitlyn's. I haven't talked to my family in a week (typical). I really don't have any clue what my exact role in training is. But I'm rolling with it. And I can already tell I have a great partner in Molly and flex in Olivia. I'm beyond excited to be spending my summer in Charleston. I'm nervous that this seven weeks of camp will drain me dry, but I know God has some incredible things in store for us. This is His adventure, I'm just along for the ride.
Welcome home. - The Rockies
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