The skies steadily grew darker and darker as the glimpse of sun we had hoped for quickly disappeared and the rain started to fall once again.  “You want to go in, call it off?” was shouted through the downpour.  “No, no we’re fine,” was the response as the rain continued to fall.  Soon water was running off the leaves and bushes around us in little streams and dripping from the noses of all the campers as it ran down their backs and drenched their clothing, but still they pushed on. 

It was the day of the rope traverse challenge and no one was about to give up.  The three teams had chosen their members to represent them and everyone was ready to go, nothing would stop them.  Water ran off the rope in waterfalls as each team member jumped on and took off sliding across to the other tree, encouraged by the shouting and cheering from their peers.  “Watch out!” everyone would scream as each person slid across, barely making it over the crocodile made of sticks and twigs lying on the ground ready to catch its next prey. 

It was amazing to watch such a spectacular scene as I stood there in awe of what I was a part of.  People were drenched and shivering as the rain continued to fall and yet they were shouting and cheering each other on, dancing and singing as they stomped and slid in the mud.  There was not a down face to be seen, only big smiles as everyone laughed and called back to one another in one of their many chants.  “Great Campers!” would be shouted through the rain only to be answered with “Great!” echoing through the steady onslaught of water. 

I will remember that day for as long as I live, but I won’t remember it for sunny weather and perfect conditions, or for things being simple.  No, I will remember it for the rain and the mud, for the miserable conditions yet happy faces.

Some things just aren’t the same without a little difficulty.  You get uphill roads instead of easy coasting or rain instead of sunshine, but these are the times you remember.  That day in the rain is ingrained in my mind as one of the most wonderful times in my life, but only because of the smiling faces with the water dripping from their noses and running down their backs as they sang out loud and danced, rain and all.

Megan Mickelson is an American undergraduate of Equine Science and was in camp as part of the United Youth Corps team assisting in the Rock Climbing program. Her contributions added a special distinctness all her own to the entire camp experience.