In the summer of 1989, 14-year-old Rey Reyes quietly sat on a school bus during what felt like the longest road trip of his life. The ride to Camp Alandale was only about two hours, but he had never been to a mountain and wasn’t exactly sure where he was going. He knew his social worker had invited him to attend a summer camp, but he wasn’t sure what to expect. Little did Rey know that the week ahead would change his life.  

As the bus pulled up to camp, they approached a crowd of energetic staff members who cheered and welcomed campers into their week at camp. Feeling uncomfortable, Rey quietly exited the bus and took in the views of the forest. He sat and listened as camp directors Robin and Karen Wood welcomed the campers and explained the rules for the week.  

While the Woods presented, their toddler son, David, mischievously started to poke at the campers. Robin and Karen stopped to gently correct their son with a loving but firm attitude. This stood out to Rey, who had only ever been disciplined by an angry father who loved to yell and use corporal punishment.  

The camp provided Rey with three meals plus snacks each day, which surprised him. He felt cared for by the camp staff and felt shocked when he learned that they had taken vacation time from their jobs to serve at camp.  

“No one had given up their time for me before,” Rey reflected. “As a kid, I felt worthless because my father was good at convincing me of that. But the fact that the camp counselors were patient with me, that they weren’t getting paid and even took vacation time to be with me was special. I felt appreciated and learned that I had value.” 

At the end of the week, Rey was thrilled to learn that Alandale invites every camper back each summer until they graduate from high school.  He returned every summer he could. Once he learned about the junior counselor program, he quickly applied and was excited to spend several weeks each year at Camp Alandale.  

After the camp accepted him as a junior counselor, Rey grew closer to directors Robin and Karen Wood. He noticed how they loved each other deeply, how they spoke to each other with respect and kindness — even during disagreements — and how they worked hard to serve the campers and staff at Camp Alandale. As a teen, Rey hadn’t given much thought to how he wanted his life to pan out. His goals were to survive each day and stay away from the gang activity and drugs that the streets of Santa Ana offered. But as he sat with Karen in their rustic camp home, Rey shared a dream.  

“I want a house like this one day,” Rey said. Karen chuckled and looked around at the old, rustic camp home. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Your family has a home full of love. You have everything you need,” Rey explained to her. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and Rey owns the exact home he wished for.  

After his time as a junior counselor, Rey went on to serve as a counselor and was offered a position as Vision Promotion Assistant Director. He’s been on full-time staff at Camp Alandale for 24 years now. He has a happy marriage to his wife, Maria, and three beautiful daughters. Rey is grateful for the example of a healthy and loving family that he had to look up to with Robin and Karen, and he still meets with them regularly. 

When you choose to spend the summer serving at camp, there’s no doubt you’ll make an impact. The loving, present counselors who served Rey at camp changed his life forever.  Spend the summer serving at camp, and not only will you grow as a leader, be part of an amazing community and gain lifelong skills, but you’ll impact the next generation in more ways than you can imagine.  

Find a camp job here. 

Rey, with his wife, 3 daughters, son-in-law and grandson.