camp pocono trails

How I ended up at Fat Camp.

| cheriarmour

I started this post a few days ago – I was feeling a little nostalgic for Pennsylvania air and then we got the news that one of the guys from the resort had passed suddenly.  Isn’t it strange the things that pop into your head at just the right time?

Fat camp is a little difficult to explain to anyone who hasn’t been there.

Like 8 or 9 years ago, my friend Morgan, this absolute party of a woman, and I were watching MTV, and we fixated on something called Fat Camp.  The series was followed up like a summer later with MTV’s Return to Fat Camp.  The place seemed magical to me, and something about the concept of this tucked-away place where kids went was incredible to me.

We had Adisa, throwing a birthday party in the rec hall and being monstrous to the other girls during color war.  We had Dan and the play.  We had the chick with head lice.  We had some camp romance.  It all looked amazing.

So, I applied, and I’m not sure how this happened, but one October day, I ended up on the phone with Tony Sparber, the boss-man at camp.  I knew it was Tony, one, because he told me it was him, and two, because I recognized his voice.  Which I’d heard in the documentary, because when you were in trouble, you got the bossin’ from Tony in his office.  So anyways, I ended up on the phone with him one day in October after I’d applied.  He interviewed me, and he told me right then and there that he would give me a shot.

The following June, I woke up early, and on a beautiful day, I drove my old Taurus up the east coast, and stopped only with enough time to visit my family in New Jersey.  I had no money.  And off to camp I went!

When I pulled up, the place was straight out of the movies.  MTV had not misrepresented it in any way.  And it actually was a little more beautiful than I’d imagined.  I met someone from the resort, who directed me to the cabin where I’d be living with the other counselors for the next week or so.  And when I pulled around to the cabin, I was greeted by this absolutely wondrous sight – the sun getting ready to set over the trees, over the lake, and over the two pools.  My mouth was hanging open.

“Have you never been here before?”

I shook my head no.

The first night there, it rained, and I quietly cried into my pillow.  I think I was homesick.  But as the days went on, and training wrapped up, camp became my home.  The kids arrived.  I taught classes.  And as I slowly, slowly peeled off the pounds I’d put on while in a bad relationship over the years, a new me emerged.  I was happy.  I wasn’t anxious.  I had friends!

I settled into a beautiful routine.  Color War Broke.  The weather started to cool.  And almost as quickly as the magic had started, it was over.

I got into my Taurus.  Wove my way back down the east coast.  And went back to my old life.  Except this time, I was a new me!  In the following years I ran.  I ran.   I ran some more.  I ran a marathon.  Taught many classes.  Branched out and taught Toning, Cycling, Body Pump, Pole Dancing.  Won the ever-waging war on anxiety.

I wasn’t a camper at fat camp.  I was just a counselor.  The fitness girl.  And yet, I gained so much that summer.  To to the summer of 2010, I owe so much.

via CPT
via CPT

Camp Daze.

| cheriarmour

So, in a few days, I will be headed up to New Jersey to see my grandmother, and to visit other family. While I’m there, I’m going to head to the best place on earth, Camp Pocono Trails.

So a few years ago, me, and my beautiful friend, Morgan, were watching MTV, a documentary presented by MTV. We both were fascinated.

Morgan, please don't kill me for posting this old photo!
Morgan, please don’t kill me for posting this old photo!  Mo’s in the middle.  She’s a beautiful spirit, and we bonded from the moment we met.  

The footage wasn’t particularly sharp. But it was what you’d think, when you thought of a documentary filmed at a camp. The lighting wasn’t great. It was natural. The sunlight. The lights in the gym. The dusky glow across the fields at night. And I was fascinated by the fact that kids, that were sent to this camp to lose weight, were having so much fun. Color wars. First kisses. Camp songs. Lice (remember that?) It seemed like a magical place. And finally, after a month at grad school, years after we’d watched the footage, I got up the courage to apply to work at weight-loss camp, as a fitness specialist. And the cards all fell into place! I was hired.

outdoors-weight-loss-camp-780x280

I remember pulling up to camp. And being like “holy shit”. I mean, pardon me, but it was one of those moments. It was the place where time had stood still in the years since I’d seen the documentary. Except it was more beautiful. Waaay more beautiful. And thus, my employment at the most beautiful place on earth began.

The first night, it rained, and I cried in my little twin bunk like a homesick little kid. I missed home. I missed my family. And I was coming out of a nasty breakup. The escape to heaven on earth (Camp Pocono Trails), however, proved to change my life. I made friends. Incredible, lifelong friends. I lost a little weight. I became a better teacher. I became confident. I taught girls to be confident. I sat out at night and watched a still lake. I fell in love (with myself). I became a little more Jewish. I got a name change (the girls called me Shakira, instead of Cheri). And I’m going back to the slice of heaven where time stands still next week. I can’t wait to show you guys the place that made me, me!

These were the summer loves of my life. I lived in a cabin with these girls for a whole summer!
These were the summer loves of my life. I lived in a cabin with these girls for a whole summer!

I’m in love with camp 🙂