Mike and Michael

Sometimes friendships just happen. Oftentimes, they happen at camp. That's what happened to Michael when he met Mike five years ago.

Mike and Michael 2003

Michael arrived at Chestnut Ridge a neophyte. As a first-time camper, he didn't know what to expect, or who he would meet. Little could he know that he would meet a counselor at the pool that would become an amazing friend.

"Hi, I'm Mike!" which sounded a little more like "Hway, I'm Mawayk!" through his thick New Zealand accent.

The free time in the pool blossomed into a multi-year friendship that spans five years and half a globe. It could, of course, also be facilitated by Michael's mother's chocolate chip cookies and Southern hospitality.

Mike's mother says:

"When we arrived for the farewell dinner Friday seven years ago our son, Michael wanted us to meet his counselor from New Zealand, Mike Leopard. We knew right away that "Big Mike" had made a huge impression on our son and, in the course of just a few minutes, we were so impressed with Mike that we wished we had been the campers that week. He is a gifted camp counselor not only skilled in camping but also a talented guitarist and singer and very funny and fun! Michael was so excited about camp and had so much fun that week that we signed up back up! We knew going forward that camping would always be an important and wonderful part of his summer."

When Mike learned that Michael was returning for a second week he said it was "a nice feeling to know that you can mean that much to someone."

Besides the time at camp that Mike and Michael shared, Michael's family opened up their hearts and home to Mike. They became Mike's American family and Mike found a home away from home. After the summer ended, the boys kept in touch by email and later, through Facebook. Five years flew by.

Mike and Michael 2009

In 2009, Mike returned to serve at camp again, this time as a newlywed bringing his lovely wife, Sophie. Mike and Sophie helped lead the Counselor in Training (CIT) program in which Michael participated. Together again, it was almost as if they hadn't been apart. Time had passed though, and Michael now stood taller than Mike, and both looked the full 5 years older.

After completing the CIT program and earning his Red Cross life guard certification, Michael helped out at camp and loved it. Michael said me it was a great honor to work alongside one of his greatest role models ever, "Big Mike". "We are grateful and blessed to have all the wonderful people at Chestnut Ridge in our lives," says Michael's mom.