Camp Bratton-Weekend Retreats

Four years ago, I went to Camp Bratton-Green for a weekend retreat, and it was one of the best things to happen to me; I met many new people who have turned out to be my best friends, the place itself made me feel welcomed, and over the years it has become one of the most important places to me. Camp Bratton-Green is in Canton, Mississippi, and it is an Episcopalian camp, although we aren’t very religious when it comes to actually being at camp. Youth from all over Mississippi come to this welcoming atmosphere every year, whether it be for summer camp, Division of Youth (DOY, a weekend retreat), or Winter Solstice. There are many people who come and go, but there are also many people who come, and stay. One of those people who come and stay

We arrive on Friday night, stay there for the weekend, and leave on Sunday morning. At DOY, you meet new people, play games, and hang out; the weekends are always extremely fun and eventful. However, when I went to DOY for the first time, I was terrified. I didn’t know anybody, and I was worried nobody would want to talk to me because I was one of the youngest people there. However, I instantly made so many friends. Everybody at Camp Bratton-Green is extremely social, and have no limitations to who they talk to. I felt like I belonged at this place, and I immediately fell in love with camp. My very first day at camp, I met Eddie. He was so open and talked to everybody, so he wasn’t as intimidating as some of the other people there. He noticed I didn’t really know anybody, so he introduced himself and we instantly hit it off. It turned out he was in the same grade as me, so it was also his first time at DOY. It was extremely reassuring to know that even Eddie, who seemed as if he could become friends with anyone and everyone, was also a little bit scared of being new. He definitely made my weekend a lot less scary and stressful, and he helped it become one of the best weekends of my life. He’s one of my greatest friends to this day, and one of the most important people to me not only at camp, but in my

We were both in the same boat—it was our first time at DOY and we didn’t know anybody. We were in the same cabin that weekend, so that’s how we initially met each other. Over the course of that weekend, and the past four years, our relationship has grown so much stronger and now we can talk to each other about anything. I never really thought that I would be so important to anybody to make them keep doing something they love, but Raegan has expressed to me that I am the reason she still comes to camp as often as she does. Camp definitely has given me some of the best friends I could ever ask for, and has created so many wonderful relationships in my life. Camp Bratton-Green has made me feel so special, and it’s nice to have a place make you feel this