Ellie Hetebrij, The Photographer: The Bunk Line

Its not as if I've always lived in a picturesque location or woken up with breathtaking views, after all I’m originally from the grimy skyline that makes up Reading, England. However I have always loved being outdoors and my desire to travel and explore was only heightened when I moved to the beautiful seaside town of Falmouth, England.

Having spent the previous two years of my life with the sea at my fingertips, I guess you could say I was kind of worried about the camp I'd be placed at, I had hoped from the beginning of my application process that I would be placed in a part of the States that would be new to me (unknown territory and all that) and preferably not a touristy part, as anyone I’m sure knows, you don't always get a true feel for a country or a culture when you are in the middle of tourist land.

Maine with its tagline 'Vacationland' is littered with Camps some of which are literally just off roadside, (perhaps ruining not only the idealistic scenery that I had in mind but also the idea of being isolated in the wilderness). However and perhaps you will consider me to be wrapped up within the location and the whole idea of camp but no amount of describing words or even pictures (they do say a picture can say a 1000 words) will justify how thankful I am for the Zipcode 04040 and the 200 odd acres that makes up the 'Cove'

Think about the setting of Disney's 1998 hit Parent Trap and you've pretty much got not only the basic design of the 'Cove' but the concept itself. A safe haven for girls aged between seven and fifteen and perhaps the Counsellors as well, the 'Cove' provided an environment where girls of all backgrounds but mostly those of a privileged one (I'm talking the children of movie directors, producers and more) to come and be well, extraordinary by being ordinary. I’m talking traditional and simple living, no electronics, no light switches, no designer labels, no social media, I mean imagine a society where you had to sit and talk to each other, you couldn't rely on plugging yourself in to your Ipod or Game console to entertain yourself, instead you had each others company, the power of imagination and simple resources to keep the boredom away.

This thought may scare you. I guess at first it did and upon first reading that the bunks were without electricity I did think what have I got myself into, due to my profession and I guess you could say my generation spend a lot of time using the internet and social media and yet I have chosen to spend my summer, my time off, in a place where the only way to see in the dark is my torch, the main way I keep in touch with family and friends is by letters and my evening entertainment was either my fellow Counsellors making a fool out of themselves or the kids showcasing one of their many 'talents'.

However I wouldn't swap my simple summer for anything, I have grown use to using my torch to search the bunk for whatever I've misplaced, cheering and clapping along to support some supposedly talented child and not having a clue about who's dating who, what celebrity is falling out of which club and anything else that is going on in the Ordinary world.

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'Home is where the Cove is'

A camp quote

My Surroundings

The seventeen bird themed bunks that adorn the 'Cove's bunk line centre around the Chickawah Theatre more commonly known as the Chick, Feeder and the flag pole (or Wanger Banger' detractor as it’s more commonly known)whilst the rest of the camp leads you down towards the piece de resistance, Island Pond itself, complete with swimming cribb, a pair of Jet Ski's, Canoes, Kayaks, Paddle Boards, Sail Boats and Pontoon Boat as well as the Island in the center of the lake inhabited by the so called crazy lady, who has been known to dump garden fences into the pond.

Both flags fly with pride on the flag pole, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

One of the many paths that lead down to the Waterfront, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

The Bunk Line, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

Independence day bunk decorations, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

Fourth of July themed bunk line, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

Just like the Lion King and perhaps Mean Girls the Lake/ Watering Hole forms the centre of life at the 'Cove' a place where activities glide, sail and paddle gracefully amongst each other.

The Waterfront, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

The waterfronr, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

The Waterfront, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

The waterfront at sunset, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

The view back from the Cribb to Camp, Fernwood Cove, Harrison, Maine, Summer 2014

Fear not if Watersports aren't your thing, then you could participate in Land Sports, Natural Horsemanship, Rhythmic and Competitive Gymnastics, Climbing, Ropes Course, Studio Arts, Creative Arts, Musical Theatre, Fabric Arts, Jewellery Making, Culinary Arts, Dance and Fitness, I mean I’m not sure you could think of a focus you couldn't take.

I can only dream of what it would of been like for the eight year old version of myself to have the opportunity to choose from all of these focuses let alone spend an hour everyday Wake boarding or learning how to make mugs on the wheel in ceramics. Not only does the camp plant and grow confidence within these girls, by the end of even the first week the change in confidence even in the most shy girls was noticeable with them performing in talent shows and performance nights, even as a nineteen year old getting up and performing in the staff skits (small plays) filled me with butterflies proving I still struggle with speaking in front of large audiences, even the idea of eight year old Ellie getting up and performing in front of her Camp mates and Counsellors and then living with them, having little

contact with her parents, for three and a half weeks still fills me with dread and yet these girls do it year after year and speak of how they spend the rest of their year looking forward to the three and a half weeks they spend in the free spirited environment that is the 'Cove'.