I started going when i was a young kid.... my parents put me in for a two week session, drove off and left me with a very energetic counselor named Kevin Hass... and a strange hippie named George Phelps. I was a trouble maker and had many run-ins with BAR, and Liz. I got  into fights, i kissed girls, and dialed 911 on the camp phone on two occassions... it was because Odallas dared me to... I remeber singing and dancing to bohemian rhapsody during the talent show and feeling on top of the world as a room full of brothers and sisters cheered and laughed. I remeber going back home after each summer and demanding i stay a longer duration the next summer ....staying a month at camp each summer. I remeber telling my friends at school what i had done the past summer and them poking fun at me. I finally convinced my friend Dominic to go with me one summer. He fell in love with music and played guitar, read, and sang...We continued to rmeber and laugh about that summer up until his early death a year and a half ago. I remember how happy, joyous, and free people were. It was love. I learned as a child that god doesnt set bushes on fire and scream from mountaintops... he speaks through our laughter, our unconditional love, and relationships. It was lasting, its a feeling that still warms my insides as i write this- almost like crying, cuddling, and warm sunshine on my laughter filled face. I went on hiatus for six years only to return as a counselor. As a counselor i was able to give back the love and epic summers i longed to have again, to the next generation. It breaks my heart to know those kids won't have anyone to pass it on to at bement. I hope that they continue what was taught to us elsewhere. The importance is, that it keeps flowing. I Regret that i wasnt as present as i could have been my final year there...i wish i could've concentrated more on the mission and love... I miss how free and beautiful every celebration felt. I miss night on the oakwood sports field.... The moon soo bright you could see the color of the grass and the milkyway cutting through the galaxy like one of the fingers that god uses to cradle his infinite, perfect, beautiful, universe. Thats where i found god.

my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to my counselors, campers, co-workers, friends, and family.

thank you for this life-long gift. I love you

Nick "Nico" Roche

rochenick68@yahoo.com