After my second summer working at Camp Echo Lake (CEL) as a lifeguard and swim teacher in 2024, I was more than happy to come back the following year to do it all over again; the weather, the friends, the campers, the campfires were something that had become ingrained in to my summer routine. There were just two things putting me off; my graduation, and stories about one of the other jobs on camp.
For most people and their families, graduating from university is one of the most important and proud days of their lives, and for good reason. Years of late-night (more like all-night) library sessions, group project partners you can’t believe even made it to university, and a few too many heavy nights out all finally come to fruition in a day full of photos and caps and gowns. But I was willing to drop all of that in an instant because of the stories and pictures I had seen from the staff that were on a special programme at camp; 4n4.
What is 4n4
Summers at CEL are 7 weeks long; usually from late June until mid-August. The name 4n4 originally came from when the camp season was 8 weeks long, and was split in to 4 weeks at camp and 4 weeks travelling Out West.
If you know about Teen Tour programmes in the US then 4n4 is essentially an in-house version. The 15 year old campers go on a 4-week long roadtrip, flying from New York and travelling across Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming and Utah. The campers spend their entire camp career hearing stories and seeing older siblings and cousins go on the 4n4 trip, dreaming of the day they finally get to experience it for themselves. It just so happens that, for the group of campers I had in 2024, that day was less than a year away.
The Upper Village Boys ‘24
I had the 14 year old boys as my campers in 2024, and I can promise you they are some of the kindest, most genuine, funniest, frustrating, tiring, inspiring young adults I have ever known. Most of them had been at camp for at least 5 years, some having older siblings who had also been at camp or even parents who had come to camp (some even first met at camp!). When I say the kids look forward to this trip more than anything I do really mean more than anything. It was set: June-August 2025 was the summer they had waited their whole lives for. It just so happens that July 2025 was my graduation. So, clearly the next question is:
Is it really worth missing graduation?
Obviously I can’t answer that question for you, but for me.
100% absolutely it is.
Not only do I get to see sights that 99% of the world will never see, I get to do it with some of the best friends I’ve ever made, with a group of campers I genuinely love and care for so much, all completely for free, and I’ll actually get paid!? I loved my time at university, I made amazing friends, got back in to competitive swimming for the first time in 5 years, tried American football for the first time, and had access to technology through my modules I would have never thought I’d be able to. But I think anyone would call me an idiot for throwing away a month of free travel to some of the most incredible places in the world for 1 day in a nice suit and some fancy pictures.
And I knew this the second I left camp in 2024, before I had even begun my final year at university. I sent an email off a few weeks after I got home, (professionally) pleading to be considered for the 4n4 programme in 2025. And after 3 brutally long months; contract day arrived.
Contract day drama
Talk about everyone else getting a contract but 4n4 staff.
We are pleased to offer you a place on the 4n4 programme for summer 2025.
?
So, what is an ‘Out West Wednesday’?
To be honest, I still don’t know. From what I gather from the campers, it’s just an excuse to show to all your friends, both inside and outside of camp, that you went on one of the most incredible trips you can take, not only in the USA, but in the world as a whole, and I think that’s as good enough reason as any.
So, if you want to see more of all the rock-climbing, boat-driving, rodeo-riding fun, even on days that don’t begin with W, stick around.