Often times we see camping at El Tesoro become a family tradition. In fact, we have some campers who are the fourth-generation member of their family to walk on El Tesoro grounds.
The story begins the same for the Topley cousins – Abbie, Caden, Adelynn, Cohen and Carter – ranging in ages from seven to 13. Their grandmother came to camp as a child and loved it so much, she decided to work at El Tesoro. Coming to camp isn’t the only thing that has been passed down in the Topley family. The magic of El Tesoro is something their grandmother realized long ago, and it lies within each of the Topley cousins.
Coming as a family is a special kind of magic, though. Each cousin described their favorite part of camp, and while they all have their individual memories, their favorite ones involve when they all get to be together – having fun and making memories.
Siblings Abbie, Caden, Adelynn try to see their cousins Cohen and Carter every other weekend when they are at home, but it doesn’t always work out that way. When they are at camp, they know they have six days of uninterrupted fun together. Their time at camp helps their family dynamics at home, too. They all agreed, their relationships strengthen while they are at camp away from their parents and family. They learn to communicate better and appreciate each other more.
This was Adelynn’s first year to join her cousins at camp, but she didn’t have the usual first-year jitters.
“I wasn’t nervous about coming to camp for the first time because I knew I already had family who would be there and support me,” Adelynn said. “But I made new friends too, so that makes me happy.”
Camp is a wonderful place to build and grow relationships. It comes in all forms: a child comes to camp alone, they bring a friend or two, or, like the Topley’s, they come as a family. No matter who you know when you arrive at camp, everyone leaves a part of the El Tesoro family.
Fun fact – next year, there will be six Topley cousins at El Tesoro. Cohen and Carter can’t wait to bring their younger sister to her first year of camp in 2018.
