Oh Hey, I'm a Camp Director!

I recently interviewed and was offered a position as a Camp Director at a Girl Scout camp in Illinois. I could not be more ecstatic for this opportunity as it was my goal to become a Camp Director by age 25 and at age 23 I am already living my dream. On January 2nd, 2014 was when I wrote in my journal that I officially wanted to take the leap back into camp life. January 2nd, 2015 was my first day as a Camp Director. Let the excitement begin.



"Adventure is out there!" Go find it!
The One and Only,
Carly K.

Fall Outdoor Education Camp

Fall season was spent at another camp, YMCA Camp Copneconic in Michigan. Why stay in one place when one can travel from camp to camp? This was my first season in an Outdoor Education position, and only my second camp that I worked at that was not a Girl Scout camp. I absolutely loved and am thankful for everything new that I learned and the opportunities I had while I was there.

My first official day after staff training, I ran six one-hour bike sessions in a row with just a lunch break in between. To say that my butt was sore was an understatement. YMCA Outdoor Ed’ camp was so different than what I was used to at my normal choice of summer camp. I was no longer in charge of a group of kids, but merely in charge of the program and education that they received while they were on that one or two-hour adventure with me. I ran environmental education, sports, high adventure, low-rope team building, animal interactions, archery, the list goes on and on. The night program could be quite exhausting after a day already filled with adventure, but was always amazing because it was full of night hikes, night activities, campfires, stories, songs, snacks, dances, and more. The night was different, magical, and my favorite part despite complaining once and a while during dinner because I had not yet been done with the day. The groups were school groups, private groups, youth church retreats, adult retreats, and my favorite—Girl Scouts. 

I lived in a house with other male and female staff with only one roommate and common showers and bathrooms. We had one or two days off a week if we were lucky, and the same could be said with nights. On days that I felt awake enough, my roommate and I would wake up early and go work out. Or after long days, the house would get together and we would go to the Y for a Zumba workout and all laugh at each other’s inability to look even remotely like the instructor. It was different than living in a unit with just a few other counselors or summer camp staff, the house helped to build a community of those that were living and working at camp throughout the year and it was an experience I am glad that I was able to have myself. The Fall just supported my decision to go back into camp life, because even though I missed my fiancé, didn’t have enough time off, and had to deal with the same issues during the summer—power outages and limited use of the showers, I made forever friends. And besides a couple of friends in college that I know I’ll have for life, camp is the only place since high school that I have met a few key forever friends even as an adult.

It even snowed while I was there in November and I could not have been more ecstatic to be back in the magic of the Midwest for those pre-Winter moments that no one but me is ever delighted to be a part of. Camp life is the best life, and it’s where I want to be forever.

“Adventure is out there!” Go find it!
The One and Only,
Carly K.

The Journey

A traveler born,

wanderlust galore,

never stops moving,

a wildfire out of control.

You plead for her heart,

but she’s in love with the world,

doesn’t commit, just quits,

starts again the next day.

A hurricane hits,

another natural disaster

she fights with ease.

Scars old and new

from climbing up tall mountains,

the physical kind,

others etched in her soul.

Maybe showers once a week,

owns two tees and some jeans,

living on the edge

of a cliff so high

vertigo would hit

if this wasn’t her life.

A broken girl who wanders

through the unknown

depths of the thick black forest

to a shadowy cave that lets

her quietly disappear.

She won’t admit to defeat

or to feeling alone,

she’s friends with the world,

a playground all her own.

She’ll send you a postcard,

or two or three, with stamps

nobody else can read.

Destinations bore her,

she never wants to arrive,

the journey keeps her alive.

- An original poem by Carly Kaczmarowski

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Red Rock Canyon

As the job search continues, I have to find a way to keep myself entertained in the city of Las Vegas. You may be thinking, "It's Vegas, there's so much to do!" How that may be true, there's plenty to do when you have money, but options become quite limited when funds are limited.

Overview of part of the canyon

Some light climbing

After being back from camp for a week and a half and going through major camp and outdoor withdrawals, I dragged out my 'lil sis and we went on an adventure at Red Rock Canyon. This is about as outdoorsy you're going to get without venturing too far out of your way outside of Vegas. Red Rock Canyon has over fifteen hiking trails that all seem pretty sweet. We ventured down the only one labeled 'strenuous' as my 'lil sis' pointed out to me, to which we did not finish because it was slightly warm, we got kind of lost, realized we didn't have enough water, and Danika is not in shape, or an avid outdoor explorer or exerciser like myself.

The clouds looked awesome after the storm

The only kicker (for some reason I didn't see this on the website) you have to pay to get in. Vehicles are $7, smaller motorbikes and bicycles are $3, an annual pass is $30, so not too bad if you consider it like one of those mid-western state parks.

Always chillin' like a villain

I'm sad we didn't get to finish our hike, I'll just have to head back out on my own or with someone in better shape. I am definitely looking forward to going back and exploring all of the other trails the canyon has to offer, as well as some off road trailing and climbing of my own.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.

Camp Life in Tahoe

The past six weeks was well spent in the northern end of the Tahoe National forest area at a Girl Scout camp called Camp Wasiu II. After realizing that graduate school was not where I necessarily wanted to be in my life right now, I decided to go back to the one thing that made me happy no matter what- camp. Sure I dropped out of graduate school, gave up a full ride, and am now more poor than I was when I moved out here, but you know what? I'm happy. 

Who needs to sit in a classroom and be told what to write and how to write when you can just run away into the mountains and do two things you love; working with kids and giving them opportunities that they may not have outside of camp, and writing on your own time in a setting that provides much more inspiration than a brick room with no windows.

So without further ado, here are the summer happenings spent near Sierra City, CA.

Graeagle (pronounced Grey Eagle, or if you're me: Graegle)

Graeagle is a tiny little place on the way up to camp. From Reno, you drive into California, through mountains and fields of cows, through Portola, and right before you turn up the mountain road to get to camp you get Graeagle. To the midwesterners, this would be that popular 4th of July destination where there was a lake for boating (though this was small enough that no motor boats were allowed), great food, and a great community of people. We stopped there for some food and some ice cream, and the locals were excellent. (Although they warned me to not stop for the 4th of July because it gets crazy! But that's when you know it's one of those destinations that the world may not realize is there, but there are always those regulars who wouldn't travel anywhere else for their mid-summer holiday)

Sierra Buttes hike (about halfway up)

The Sierra Buttes hike is about four miles round trip from where we started, mostly uphill (although there are some nice flat areas of forest to give you a break), and you gain over 2000ft in elevation,  so bring water, and if you're like me, bring your inhaler.The hike seems long, but you get the bad hills out of the way at the end. I went with my CIT's who were about fourteen years of age, and we made it up in about two hours. Though we break halfway up for a snack and to lookout at the view above. Once we made it to the top, it reminded me roughly of a mix up between the mountains in Switzerland and South Africa. It was breathtaking. 

View from the lookout tower at the Sierra Buttes

My first ziplining experience

With both of my groups this summer, we traveled to a co-ed camp about twenty minutes away for a high ropes adventure. My CIT's told me I looked like a woodland fair when I shimmied up the vertical challenge. Crossfit for the win there. Alas, I got to zipline for the first time in my life and check it off of the ambitions list. 

I also got to check off whitewater rafting, we went down the Truckee river out of Tributary Whitewater Tours in Truckee. The grades of the rapids were mostly ones and twos, though we hit a number three rapid at the end. This is definitely something I will pursue in the future because it was amazing. White water kayaking still needs to be checked off.

Below is a photo of Frazier Falls. It's called a hike but is really a stroll on a paved path to see the falls (which is apparently more epic in the Spring time after the snow has just started to melt)

Frazier Falls.

My group stayed at Wild Plum Campground and hiked part of the Wild Plum Loop, which then ran into the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and eventually led us down to Love Falls where after a not so long and not so enduring hike (I would say it's basic-intermediate), we took a dip under the bridge in the ice cold water. And on a hot day in the mountain after working up a sweat, it felt grand.

Love Falls.

My excitement.

The pool we swam in.

Chilling on a rock under the bridge

 

With a summer full of adventures like hikes, high ropes, stand up paddle boarding, white water rafting, camping, and overall just challenging both myself and my groups of girl scouts, I can without a doubt say that although the summer may have been rough and tiresome emotionally (what camp life isn't?), I had a swell summer. Too bad I'm back in Vegas where it's a billion degrees and disgusting. Back on the job search, and still living on the edge.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.

When Life Hands You Lemons

It's been nearly a year since I posted to my blog, and frankly it was a long one. After the move to Las Vegas, I lost myself and lost my passion for life. I started graduate school last Fall, and frankly I think it was only because I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do with my life. After graduating from Slippery Rock University, I freaked and thought, 'Well, I can waste a little more time avoiding reality by going to graduate school,' but alas, that was a bad decision.

So after a grueling first year of graduate school, where I barely made a dent in my writing because I was more stressed than not, I decided to drop out of graduate school and attempt to find my passion in life again which means in less than a week I am headed back to Girl Scout Camp!

In the mean time, there were some fun parts of my past year that I get to update you on.

My best friend got married last Fall!

Wrexx was adopted into the family!

I tried my hand at being artistic.

New Year's was a hoot back in Wisconsin.

I learned how to change a tire in a -40 degree winter snow storm.

At least it was pretty out.

I spent time reminiscing the past while walking on the beach back in Wisconsin over the Winter.

I saw the Jabbawockeez perform at the Luxor.

Ashley came to visit!

My friend, and considered my little sister forever, moved in.

I played soccer for the first time in a while and made my team's only goal!

And best of all, I found a new passion in crossfit that allowed me to kick my own butt into shape while silently competing with everyone else, and having the best support system ever at Crossfit Mountain's Edge in Las Vegas, NV.

So it was a crazy year of new experiences and searching for passion in life. My parents also came to visit, as well as my best friend Katie from Pennsylvania. I got a bomb job at Mandalay Bay for a bit, but left so I can go to camp. My newest hope that I'll find myself at camp again and move forward in a career that I can always be passionate about. The search for adventure and life happenings is on! 

Look forward to a way more exciting post at the end of the summer from my escapades at camp and in the northern part of the Tahoe forest near Sierra City, CA. It's going to be a swell time of leading young girls in their own summer adventures of canoeing, hiking, camping, and eating s'mores. And in my own time, I get to hike, rock climb, paddle board, and so much more while being inspired by the great outdoors to relax and write. I can't wait to get to know my new camp director, and she has high hopes for my future in the camp world as I do. 

See you in August! Peace out, Girl Scout.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.

Cross Country Road Trip

Welp! It is official, Chris and I have taken the journey across the United States to move from Western Pennsylvania to good ol' Sin City.

The journey was quite long, and a bit boring at times. We've driven through Ohio and Indiana loads of times so those were nothing new, not that the drive through there those states is exciting by any means to begin with. But, we did stop at Notre Dame so I could see the famous stadium where Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger was carried off the field.

Coach Frank Leahy
1908 - 1973

Coach Lou Holtz
1986-1998

Coach Knute Rockne
1918 - 1930

Coach Dan Devine
1975 - 1980
(coach of Rudy Ruettiger)

Coach Ara Parseghian
1964 - 1974

Chris with our kitten, Artemis, on the adventure of her lifetime. She's got more miles on her than a wild cat.

Beautiful drive through the campus

My aunt actually the real Rudy, not the actor that played him in the movie (although I would not mind meeting Sean Astin) at an educational conference once, so that was probably pretty awesome for her.

Illinois is boring flatland and full of terrible drivers. End of story.

We got to visit Chris's old roommate and best friend, and his girlfriend, in Iowa where they took us to eat at a hole in the wall dive called Tic Toc. This place was actually really awesome, the environment was extremely welcoming and friendly. It was full of sports memorabilia (kind of like the average Applebee's restaurant) but this place wasn't the typical chain restaurant. They were even nice enough to serve us after they normally stop serving people for the night. Chris had a Reuben and I had a delicious taco salad the size of Texas. Definite go to place if you are in the Cedar Rapids area of Iowa.

Much to my dismay, I did not get to visit the future birthplace of James T. Kirk to bask in the glory of my nerd-dom. I'll just have to go back to Iowa someday just for that.

Apparently they're living the good life in Nebraska. But I have nothing exciting to report. We didn't really stop anywhere because we were making a trip from Cedar Rapids to Denver and got a late start. 

Lucky for me, my lovely cousin stayed awake to welcome Chris and I to Denver at 10:30pm when she had to get up for work at 5:00am the next day. We got to bond with her and her gigantor puppy dogs.

Colorado was beautiful and mountainous. We stopped a couple of times in the mountains, once at an apparent tourist hiking place called Hanging Lake. It's a beautiful stop and apparently there is a slightly strenuous one mile hike up to the actual waterfall. We didn't get to do the entire hike, but were able to bring Artemis along the initial hike up to the trail. She had a splendid time hiding in the tall grass and chasing bees. Plus there was a sign noting that "No dogs are allowed on the trail," everyone passing by just giggled and said "Well, it didn't say anything about cats."

Rolling in the grass.

"What do you want?"

Time for a drink!

Cute little kitty harness.

Didn't get to the waterfall, but the view was still stunning!

More miles under the kitten's belt!

Utah was probably one of my favorite states that I have been to now. I thought Colorado was absolutely beautiful, but what bothered me was the fact that we were literally driving in and through the mountains, absolutely surrounded by them, whereas in Utah, we were able to see the mountains in the distance and drive through them. We weren't just surrounded by rock.

Looking over the valley.

It was just a little bit windy.

On his way down to run hills back up for a mid-journey workout.

Beautiful scenery.

Hop on down!

And alas, after a grueling journey packed front to back, floor to ceiling in a Dodge Challenger with a kitten, we made it to Vegas!

Welcome to Nevada!

Fremont Street Experience! Way better than the Strip.

That's all for this journey across the country! I have learned that, although I very much love my kitten, I think the trip would've been full of some more epic adventures had she not been in the mix. But, at least we're allowed to have her at my new apartment and with that she is basking in the glory of the sunshine through the window day after day.

Expect more to come with my new city to explore, having to fly home for a wedding in a month, and off to Disneyland in two months to celebrate Nevada Day! (Yeah, I didn't believe it existed either.)

Until next time,

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.