Musings: Catching frogs and confidence

Summer on Long Island means many things for kids: trips to the beach, staying outside later and getting a break from school. For me, summer has always meant one other thing: Girl Scout camp.

I went to Suffolk County Girl Scouts Day Camp at Camp Edey in Bayport every summer, from third through eighth grade. I traded my phone and apps for days filled with swimming, archery, horseback riding and paddle boating.

I remember putting on tall boots, grabbing a net and going frog catching. We went fishing once a week, sitting on the dock waiting for a bite, which taught me patience. Looking back, what I learned at camp was bigger than any single activity.

At first, I was scared to be away from my parents, siblings and the friends I knew. I remember wanting to call my mom. Eventually, I got more comfortable. I started talking to other girls and making friends. What seemed scary at first became something I looked forward to coming back to every summer.

Camp also gave me independence. My parents weren’t there to solve problems. I learned to be on my own and try new things. I learned that being nervous doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

As I got older, camp gave me the chance to become a leader. When younger girls were nervous about trying something new, I remembered what it felt like when I was their age. I learned that being a leader doesn’t mean being the loudest person or knowing everything. Sometimes, it means noticing someone is having a hard time and helping out.

As we grow up — I’m a high school senior now — there can be a lot of pressure on girls to be perfect. At camp, we’re not worried about perfection, because it’s a place where girls can be exactly who they are.

Sometimes, the best way to find that out who you are is to leave what’s comfortable behind, put down your phone — and go catch some frogs.

— Amani Bradley-Coleman, Lindenhurst