TACL-LYF Camp is a 6 day 5 night summer youth leadership camp held every June in the San Francisco Bay Area for Taiwanese American youth in grades 5 through 12. TACL-LYF’s primary objectives are to deepen the campers’ understanding of their unique cultural heritage, to cultivate their leadership and communication skills, and to connect them with other Taiwanese Americans.
After another hugely successful week at camp, we caught up with a couple of their counselors to hear about why they keep going back year after year. Here’s our interview with TACL-LYF President, Vincent Chang, and former Program Director, Ryan Chen.
TACL: How did you first get involved with LYF?
Vincent: I went to camp first when I was in 6th Grade. It was because my cousin was camp director. His mom told my mom and that’s how it first started. I remember throwing a fit and crying about how we were going to this lame camp. Then we went to camp and have gone to camp ever since, really.
Ryan: Someone I knew at college was going to be a counselor for the first time and she was getting involved with planning meetings. One day, she just said, “Hey, Ryan. You’re Taiwanese American too, right?” I said, “Sure. Close enough.” She goes on, “Hey well you could join me and we could go to this camp together for the first time!” So I didn’t go to any planning meetings, but I went to camp and had a blast! No crying…
TACL: Wow, so pretty different stories between the both of you on how you started getting involved with camp. So after that first year, you guys came back to camp every year afterwards. What brought you guys back every year?
V: As a camper, it was really the fun and the friends you make at camp keep you coming back. It’s not until later, like later high school or early college, that you really start to appreciate what you learned and experienced at camp. Once I realized how it was more about the shared camp experience and community building, that becomes the reason why I always come back to contribute, improve, and foster this environment.
R: I would have a similar explanation. Definitely very people oriented and people driven. Missing out is not because of the content of the camp, but really because you miss out on the staying-up-late or running around the campsite with everyone you love hanging out with. It’s really about being there and being in the moment.
TACL: What do you think is the most important part of being a counselor?
V: For me, it’s pretty much being there for the kids. I feel like we all embody camp. We’ve all had leadership positions and all have our strengths, but when it comes to camp time, we’re all just counselors and staff. We do everything we can to help the program directors and be there for the kids.
R: I’d have to second that. Being there for the campers is the number one thing; being a listening piece for them or having conversations with them.
I’d also like to add that it’s also important for a counselor to know about the environment. A counselor should really know what kind of mood and what kind of atmosphere is going on to really help the head counselors or program directors accomplish the activity at hand. One of the most important takeaways from the campers are the emotions they go through while at camp. Knowing when to use a solemn tone when it’s time to reflect or when it’s time for everyone to be excited and have fun is also important.
TACL: As counselors, can you recall your favorite moment at camp?
V: So HoChie made the LYF Camp video one year and he took video of us taking the camp photo.. and then also took the camp photo.. So we showed the video he made at the end of camp in front of everyone at camp and all the parents. The last video scene was us posing for the whole camp photo and right as we took the photo, he added this flash effect in the video and then showed the camp photo as a “polaroid.”
It was at that moment, in front of all the campers and parents watching this video, I broke down crying because it illustrated the camp that we all went through only exists in that moment, and now everything is only in memory. It was really bittersweet with lots of good tears and also sad tears and just.. lots of crying.
R: Often campers and counselors share stories about their first camp and the very first friendly face who greets them. The most memorable event at camp took place on the first day of my first camp. I joined a group to play an icebreaker. Then one kid from another group walks over with her arms open, saying she lost her game with her group and needs someone to hug. So I opened my arms out and we hugged. From then on we got to know each other better at camp and after.
TACL: After camp, a lot of us go through what’s often described as camp withdrawal. How would you describe that to someone who’s never experienced it?
V: It’s actually a lot like missing a really great friend. When you spend a whole week together with a group of people 24/7, and when you’re surrounded by people all the time… it’s like a mini family. And you miss them a lot.
R: When it comes to post-camp depression, there’s a big sense of FOMO that goes along with it. You miss hanging out with everyone all the time and often there are lots of hangouts after camp. To go from being together all day for a week to just once a week is a real downer.
TACL: If you could give one piece of advice or insight to someone who’s never been to camp, what would it be?
V: The experience of summer camp cannot be matched. There’s no other place where you can be completely immersed in the moment, feel safe to explore and let loose with excitement.
Some of it has to do with the people and the inside jokes, some of it has to do with the fact that you’re hanging out with people 24/7, there’s no cell phone service or internet.. That environment is just so unique. Even from the counselor prospective, you have the chance to be such an impact to people and positively affect them in ways that you could never do across an entire year anywhere else.
R: I would say that camp isn’t just for those who are outgoing and extroverted. We have plenty of counselors who you would never think would be plugged in for 18 hours a day with the same group of people, but they love camp and just keep coming back.
Also, you have 52 weeks in a year, but one week of camp will stand out more than the rest.
Check out TACL-LYF’s awesome video from this summer’s camp!
TACL-LYF is always looking for talented counselors! If you’re interested, drop them a line at lyf@tacl.org.
If you want to find out more about TACL-LYF camp, head over to their website at lyf.tacl.org and like them on Facebook to get the latest updates.