Yesterday was another one of my favorite days – staff GaGa! You might think this is a stretch, but to me this event symbolizes the ultimate in feeling a sense of belonging! Most of these spirited, fun-loving, passionate staff members have grown up at Coleman Country – and that means they have grown up with GaGa!

And I watch our campers sitting around The Pit and cheering for their counselors or watching the live feed in the Palace Theater, knowing that they are setting goals, picturing success, and hoping to one day be just like them!

That’s what happens here. The roots of being connected are so deep that they provide nourishment for the soul, wherever you happen to be. At home with your own family. At school. At work. Anywhere – what you take away from The Ranch stays with you forever.

I know this to be true because we recently made a general request to counselors asking if anyone wanted to write a testimonial for our new website that we’re building (for release in a couple of weeks!), explaining to prospective staff members what it’s like to work at Coleman Country.  Here are just a few from the outpouring of emotions:

• Coleman Country takes kids by their hand, but touches each and every heart!
• The moment you step into CCDC, you feel like part of a family that wants to see you succeed and step out of the box.
• When I am at Coleman Country, I feel a million miles away from the “real world” – it is my “happy” place.
• I always come back to Coleman Country because it is like my second family. The best part is that family gets bigger every summer. With new friends and new campers, the experiences I have there are indescribable and irreplaceable.
• It’s really not a job to me – I come back for the feeling inside of me.
• Everywhere you turn there is someone smiling and having a great time. Besides the lifelong friends that I love spending all summer with, there is not another place where everyone can truly be themselves.
• Coleman Country is a place of warmth, love, and comfort that is contagious and stays with me all year long.
• Everyone is their own individual, but when put together like pieces of a puzzle, we don’t only form a unit but also a family.
• You’re given the opportunity to shine and to be accepted for the person you are. At Coleman Country I found my second family and discovered my spirit.

These are the people who are working with your children, being positive role models for them. Isn’t that gratifying?

By the way, would you and/or your camper like to share a few words for our website to give future families a feeling of life on The Ranch from your or their perspective? We’d love to hear what being a part of Coleman Country means to you. You can leave your thoughts in the Comment space below or e-mail me at blog@ColemanCountry.com.

Until then,
Happy Trails!
Marla