Photo Courtesy of Camp Luther

To the Camp Counselors of the Summer That Didn’t Happen,

Before camp was scheduled to begin, you committed to spending your summer serving. You made plans to invest your time working hard and making a difference in the lives of kids.

And then the pandemic happened. We can only imagine the heartbreak and disappointment you felt when camp was canceled.

Despite the way summer turned out, thank you for signing up to be a part of one of the most formative experiences a kid can have. Camp fosters independence, gives kids a chance to be kids and helps them prepare for life in ways few other experiences can.

While camp is amazing for campers, it’s an incredible opportunity to develop as a leader. Many camp counselors say they learn about their leadership styles, their strengths and weaknesses while serving at camp. There are few other occupations where young leaders have access to as much hands-on learning and are able to take on significant responsibilities.

If this was your first summer to work at camp, we hope there is a way for you to serve when camps reopen. It truly is a lifechanging opportunity and often provides more of a wholistic experience than a typical 9–5 internship.

If you were a returning staffer, consider reaching out to the full-time staff and letting the team know you’re thinking of them. This is incredibly difficult for them, too.

Thank you for wanting to be an integral part of what can be a lifechanging experience. May we all take lessons from this pandemic and may we acknowledge how important camp is in the lives of campers­—and staff.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at The Power of Camp