I’m home from teaching at the 2018 FDSA Camp held at Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. During my four hours at the airport and two hour flight home today, I had some time to think about the past three days. It’s been a privilege teaching the last four years – the first FDSA camp was in Colmar, Pennsylvania in 2015. The second camp was at Purina Farms in St. Louis, Missouri in 2016. Last year’s camp was in Albany, Oregon. This year’s venue, schedule, activities, food, students and the organization as a whole was by far the best. Four years of FDSA camps brought us to a new standard of near perfection.

When I leave camp each year, I feel as energized and inspired as many of the students. As an instructor without my dogs, I also feel completely wiped out – longing to sleep 12-14 hours and take the dogs for some nice long walks in the next few days. Being immersed in the FDSA community for the length of the camp is both exhilarating and exhausting. I love meeting my online students – past and present. I love touching base with everyone in the informal settings throughout the weekend. I get chills watching dogs that have made HUGE improvements and need minor adjustments to help improve their performance. I adore the kindness that is constantly rolled out like a red carpet for between students. There is rarely a lonely camper in sight.  The positive energy people had was incredible.

It’s difficult to express how much I admire and respect my fellow instructors. We communicate a lot online throughout the year and meet in person each year at camp.  It’s fun to have discussions on various topics, including training. We are like one big family and I can count on them for honesty, support, and insightful input. We can laugh, cry, be serious, or concerned. It feels safe and comfortable and that’s the type of environment that I thrive on. It energizes my creativity as a trainer. The whole experience makes me a better person and I hope that I can pass that along to others.

Denise Fenzi has the ability to find the type of instructors that fit perfectly into the constantly expanding FDSA instructors circle. She has created an environment that helps us continue to grow just as much as our students. We are evolving and growing, too, and these camps help us just as much as they help the students.

To my students and all camp students, you are all so amazing – each and every one of you. You made the commitment and travelled to Roberts Centre with or without your dogs. You also inspire me and make me grow as an instructor and as a person. You have no idea how much you are appreciated.

For those of you that haven’t been to FDSA camp yet, there is nothing out there like it. It simply can not be described in words. It’s magical, emotional, safe, and inspiring. You simply have to experience it to know what we are talking about when we summarize our experience at camp each year. Next year, set aside May 17-19 and come to Lebanon, Pennsylvania to audit this annual event. You will find the same feeling of not being able to adequately express your experience as most of us that attended.

See you next year!