MEMORIES: DAWN WOODWARD (1993)
I graduated from High School in 1993 in Charleston, WV. There were very few job opportunities in my city. I had looked and looked for awhile before I graduated not being sure if I wanted to attend college right away or at all for that matter. My sister, Dianna Neal, worked for what was the Girl Scouts of Lake Erie Council for a number of years as the enrollment coordinator for both day and resident camps. When she found out I was struggling to find a job she said if I could get to Cleveland on the Greyhound her boss, Verla Vass, would interview me and I would hopefully land a job! So I did. I hoped right on the bus, had an interview, where I was told I got the job and that I needed to pick a camp name. Having never been at Girl Scout camp I had no idea what that even meant. But I looked around saw the GS trefoil thought it looked like a Shamrock and chose Shamrock as my camp name. Verla took me off to Crowell-Hilaka where they were in the middle of their first week. The other counselors were Indigo (Donna Johns-Thomas) Ray from Belarus (Aksana Redzko) and Latti from Latvia (Zane Treigute). I am in contact with all three of them still. It was an interesting beginning as Indigo was let go and I was left, having never camped or been a GS for more than a week, with two people who came from countries I'd never heard of and didn't speak my language. I was young and scared. But in the end I loved it.
I continued on as a unit assistant for years, then a unit leader combined with trip leader, and unit director. I worked until the final summer when I was let go and escorted off the property. It broke my heart. I was let go because I had left property when it wasn't my time off to purchase socks for a group of campers who had been caught in a terrible storm and our one washer and dryer couldn't handle the massive amount of laundry that needed done so I figured they'd at least have clean and dry socks. I assumed that as someone on administrative staff that I'd be OK to make that decision.
I also volunteered the week that the American Cancer Society rented out the camp. I was present when the little boy, Dakota got injured and eventually passed away.
What you miss?
I miss everything but thanks to social media I am friends with so many of the staff and even my campers.
I miss the interaction with the girls. It's such a unique experience being able to work with only girls and them not having to worry about their hair or being silly with their friends. I miss everything about the camp.
Why you came back?
I came back because as I was helping the girls discover who they were and what they could do I was doing the same. I was very young and as I grew and worked at the camp and became more and more aware of my capabilities I couldn't stay away. In fact, I'd probably still be working there if it were running. I had the opportunity to be the camp director but turned it down when I found it was an ACA year. I was too scared to mess that up and possibly lose our accreditation.
Memory #1
Treading water enough to take the girls white water rafting.
Memory #2
Learning to drive a 15 passenger van in order to take the girls spelunking.
Memory #3
I learned so much about other countries and people through the international staff.
Write your Story
I've never enjoyed my time more anywhere else. I say to everyone when I tell the story of camp that Crowell-Hilaka saved me. If I hadn't left and come to work there I'd be a completely different person, living a different life. I have no doubt about that.
Crowell-Hilaka rescued me.
I continued on as a unit assistant for years, then a unit leader combined with trip leader, and unit director. I worked until the final summer when I was let go and escorted off the property. It broke my heart. I was let go because I had left property when it wasn't my time off to purchase socks for a group of campers who had been caught in a terrible storm and our one washer and dryer couldn't handle the massive amount of laundry that needed done so I figured they'd at least have clean and dry socks. I assumed that as someone on administrative staff that I'd be OK to make that decision.
I also volunteered the week that the American Cancer Society rented out the camp. I was present when the little boy, Dakota got injured and eventually passed away.
What you miss?
I miss everything but thanks to social media I am friends with so many of the staff and even my campers.
I miss the interaction with the girls. It's such a unique experience being able to work with only girls and them not having to worry about their hair or being silly with their friends. I miss everything about the camp.
Why you came back?
I came back because as I was helping the girls discover who they were and what they could do I was doing the same. I was very young and as I grew and worked at the camp and became more and more aware of my capabilities I couldn't stay away. In fact, I'd probably still be working there if it were running. I had the opportunity to be the camp director but turned it down when I found it was an ACA year. I was too scared to mess that up and possibly lose our accreditation.
Memory #1
Treading water enough to take the girls white water rafting.
Memory #2
Learning to drive a 15 passenger van in order to take the girls spelunking.
Memory #3
I learned so much about other countries and people through the international staff.
Write your Story
I've never enjoyed my time more anywhere else. I say to everyone when I tell the story of camp that Crowell-Hilaka saved me. If I hadn't left and come to work there I'd be a completely different person, living a different life. I have no doubt about that.
Crowell-Hilaka rescued me.