Getting To Know Emma Goodman – Junior Girls Group Leader
Emma is returning for her third summer at Iroquois Springs. She is excited to be back with the girls that she has been with since the beginning as they become Juniors this summer.
Emma’s journey to Junior Girls Group Leader began when she attended sleepaway camp as a kid. After spending time working a day camp, she decided that it was time to go back to sleepaway camp and make new memories. She is looking forward to working with the counselors in her division to make this the best summer yet for her girls!
After graduating this year from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Emma plans to pursue a teaching career at the elementary level.
How many summers have you spent at Iroquois Springs, and what brought you here in the first place?
This will be my third summer at Iroquois Springs. I went to sleepaway camp for five years when I was younger and I loved it. I worked at day camps for five years, and then thought that I should try to find a position with a sleepaway camp since I loved it so much as a kid.
I was traveling during the summer that I started, so I needed a camp that was six weeks long. My aunt told me about a few of the six-week camps that she toured with my younger cousins. I chose Iroquois Springs and never looked back!
What was your childhood camp experience like?
I went to a sleepaway camp in Connecticut for five years and I absolutely loved it! I loved making amazing friendships and getting to know my awesome counselors from all over the world. I also got to challenge myself at camp more than I did in any other setting. I truly believe that this helped me to grow into the person that I am today.
What do you believe makes Iroquois Springs special for campers and staff?
Iroquois Springs is a very special place. The welcoming staff truly wants to get to know each camper and ensure their happiness at camp.
I remember being very scared and nervous upon arriving for my first summer at Iroquois Springs. Those feelings didn’t last long as the returning staff helped me in a very genuine way.
I never feel like I have to hold back at camp. I can truly be myself there.
You can tell that everyone wants to be there and their positive energy is contagious. Being in this environment makes you want to be there to help the campers have an amazing summer while striving to be a good role model for them.
I’m always amazed to see how the campers fall right back into their routines and pickup the friendships right where they left off, even though they don’t see each other a lot during the rest of the year.
Please discuss briefly anything that you feel helps create a smooth mid-summer transition as partial summer campers leave and arrive.
I believe that Tribals are the perfect way for the three-week campers to end on a high-note before they say their goodbyes. Tribals bring out the competitor in everyone in a fun way. Banquet is also a good way to say goodbye until next summer.
I am always pleasantly surprised by how well the new campers transition into camp when they come for the last three weeks. New or old, their bunkmates happily welcome them and start the fun right away, so the adjustment is virtually seamless.
How do you spend the 10 months waiting for camp to start?
I am graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in May 2014. I majored in History and minored in Education. I am graduating with my teaching certification from New York State and plan to pursue a career in teaching at the elementary level.
What are your hobbies?
I have played soccer since I was three years old. I love to read and spend time with my family and friends. I also love playing with my dogs and listening to country music – my favorite!
What are your favorite Iroquois Springs activities, events, traditions?
I love going on the aqua playground, riding the horses, and going to Hobbyville.
Color Week and Tribals are so much fun for all of the campers and staff.
Sing is also a great new addition to girls’ side. I love morning line-up with all the fun girls’ side songs and I also love signing songs in the dining hall.
Please share a fond memory or two about your time at Iroquois Springs:
The trip to Mountain Creek my first summer was very memorable. The group of girls I walked around with for the day really wanted to go on a ride called “High Anxiety.” I am usually not someone who loves rides, but I do like most water rides.
I saw the big funnel at the end of the ride and thought it looked like fun, so I agreed to go on it with them. I soon discovered that there was a major drop before the funnel! It was too late to back out and so I had no choice but to face my fears. One person had to go backwards, and as luck would have it, it ended up being me. I screamed so loud until I couldn’t scream anymore because I had no breath! We ended up going on the ride three times that day.
The best part was that when we went over our high and low points of the day before bed, all the girls in my group said that their high was watching my face contort with fear on that ride.
Another amazing memory was when I was a counselor for Explorers this past summer. We had so many explorer campers come that my bunk had to sleep in the dance studio. We loved it!
It was raining a lot on Sunday morning so we decided to have a spa morning. I ran back to my bunk and got all the essentials and we spent an hour or so doing our nails. The girls loved it and they got to go home looking fabulous after a fun weekend at camp!