Becky Salomon has a long history with Eagle’s Nest. She started going to camp when she was in 8th grade, became a JC and then a counselor in 2005 through 2010. We recently chatted with Becky to see what she’s up to these days.
What have you been up to lately?
I just finished up at UNC Chapel Hill and completed my Ph.D. in nursing. For my dissertation study, I looked at how the chronic stress experienced by low-income mothers is associated with their level of a set of specific symptoms (chronic pain, fatigue, sleep problems, depressed mood, and cognitive dysfunction) and how those symptoms impacted their day-to-day lives. In my postdoctoral research, I will be looking at the neurobiology that might link that chronic psychological stress with the development of symptoms. It’s really remarkable in this stage of my career to look back at character traits Eagle’s Nest is trying to build.
I heard you’re a new mom (congrats!). Tell me more about your family.
I met my wife, Alison, at camp in 2010 and we’re celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary this month (Noni officiated!). Our daughter, Lucy, turned one on May 3. We’re excited to be moving to the Bay Area later this summer.
How do you think your involvement with ENC has shaped who you are today?
The Betterment of Human Character Survey really resonated with me, and those same values outlined in the survey really helped shape who I am today. I set goals and work toward them, which helped me persevere through the academic world and with managing my dissertation. Because of my time at camp, I know that nature can give a sense of safety when the world is unstable. It’s a challenging world we live in sometimes, and it’s good to go back to the Eagle’s Nest mission of protecting the natural world and the people in it.
When you think back to your time at camp, what is one of the first memories that come to mind?
I’ve had so many wonderful years at Eagle’s Nest. One thing that immediately comes to mind is this one hike I went on right after tribal assignments were made (I’m a Winnesquam). The tribal elder had us all lie down in a field and we were told to look right in front of us and listen to the birds and feel the sun and really take the time to appreciate our surroundings.
What do you do in your spare time?
We really like to spend time with friends and get outside. We go on walks and hikes. I do a lot of cooking. This summer, we’re really looking forward to going to the beach and the mountains.
What advice would you give a camper going to the Nest for their first summer?
I was a very anxious camper, but some of the most important relationships I’ve made come from camp. My advice would be to take a breath and feel all the feelings, and know that it’s ok. You’ll get to have some really fun moments, and some are going to be hard, but you’re ready for it, and enjoy.
By Camille Wick