'Hot Mess' to Thankful Mom: Being a New Ogichi Parent

By Stephanie Ruter

To be frank, I was a hot mess. It was the spring of 2019 and my daughter, Marin, a soon-to-be seventh-grader, was getting ready for a summer at Ogichi. She had been to sleep-away camp before, but never for this long or this far away.

I had been a marathon camper myself. As a kid, I spent my summers at a camp in Minnesota, always for eight weeks. Those were truly the best times of my childhood. So I was completely confused—thrown off—that I, of all people, would feel so anxious about sending my daughter to camp. Marin, on the other hand, was not nervous at all. She insisted on going to Ogichi cold turkey, having met only one other camper that winter.

Marin Ruter, third from left, helps pack for a trip in the Trip Center. (Liz Hattemer)

In the four weeks leading up to her departure, my minor anxiety morphed into major anxiety. Marin has allergies and some ear issues, and I felt compelled to contact the camp office, the nurse, the director, and anyone else who could offer any details that would make me feel better. I did the “What if this? What if that?” that so many parents do prior to sending their child off to camp.

The send-off went fine, but I’m not going to sugar coat it: It was really hard for me. Early in Marin’s session, I contacted the camp nurse on a few occasions to “check in.” It was my way of grabbing onto a buoy, grasping for any information that would ease my mind.

I can say with full confidence that the camp staff—the calm and patient way they responded to me—gave me the serenity I needed, and I knew that Marin would be fine. The nurse told me she was running around with a smile on her face, making friends.

Marin hardly sent any correspondence, and when she did, it was brief. But photos showed her participating in activities I couldn’t provide for her at home, and I could sense the camaraderie she was experiencing. All of this was extremely comforting and it quelled my nerves.

Marin returned home full of stories, experiences and adventures. I’m so thankful that she had this amazing opportunity, and I’m so thankful for the warm and attentive staff at Ogichi. She can’t wait to return.

This article was originally published in the Spring 2021 issue of Songs of the Paddle.