Part II: The Life-Changing Power of Camp

In my last post, I shared about our campers, their families, and the impact Camp Sunshine has on their lives. Now, in Part Two, we’re turning our attention to the counselors and our leadership team: the volunteers who return session after session, giving their time, energy, and hearts to create the Camp Sunshine experience. Their commitment is extraordinary, and I’m deeply grateful for the ways they show up, grow, and help shape this community.

Counselors

The transformation we see in our counselors is one of the most powerful ways our vision comes to life. Most are between the ages of 16 and 24, a stage when they’re exploring new ideas, searching for purpose, and imagining the kind of world they want to help build. At Camp Sunshine, they discover a model of inclusion, belonging, and joy that influences not just their time at camp, but the choices they make long after they leave.

Every year, we welcome counselors who arrive with the hope of “being of service” or “giving of themselves.” It’s a familiar script, one shaped by a culture that frames service as sacrifice. And yet, without fail, that perspective begins to shift on the very first night of camp. Many counselors have never been encouraged to see people with disabilities as teachers, leaders, or holders of wisdom. But by the end of each session, we hear a very different story. One counselor shared, “I feel like every year I leave camp a better person than I came. And I always learn something new from my camper.”

No matter what initially brings them here, many counselors discover that what they were truly seeking was community: a place where they, too, can show up fully as themselves. Adolescence and young adulthood can be an unsteady season, full of shifting identities and big transitions. Camp Sunshine becomes a refuge in that uncertainty, offering the same radical acceptance to counselors that our campers experience. And more often than not, it’s our campers who lead the way in creating that space.

So many counselors tell us they feel most like themselves at Camp Sunshine. I remember that feeling vividly from my own time as a counselor; it was a lifeline in a season of transition. Camp has a way of grounding us, reminding us who we are, and showing us how much we can learn from one another when we simply share life together.

Camp Sunshine also gives counselors a glimpse of a world that looks very different from what they encounter online, at school, or in their everyday communities. For four days, they live in a space defined by belonging, kindness, and genuine connection, and that experience often reshapes how they see and move through the world long after camp ends. Over the years, we’ve watched counselors change college majors, shift career goals, or rethink their values because of what they learned from their campers.

At the same time, my hope is that Camp Sunshine never becomes a place reserved only for students pursuing “helping” professions. This community is stronger when counselors of all interests, backgrounds, and aspirations feel welcomed, valued, and at home. My hope is that Camp Sunshine stays a diverse place including the interests and future goals of our counselors. The world needs people who will go into all different types of workplaces who have had an experience like Camp Sunshine. When people carry those experiences with them, there’s opportunity for massive amounts of change in our society.

Lastly, Camp Sunshine is a place where counselors get to see adults having fun simply for the joy of it. For many 16–24-year-olds, it’s rare to see adults play, laugh, or be silly, unless it’s tied to social pressure or alcohol. At camp, they witness something radically different: adults building community in healthy, joyful, wholehearted ways.

I don’t think we fully understand how powerful that is for a young person, but I do believe it gives counselors permission to embrace the playful, goofy parts of themselves. Our 2025 theme is Brave, and one of the words we paired with it on the shirt was silly—because for teenagers, silliness really does take bravery. Camp models that bravery and invites them to practice it.

Counselors who are transitioning out of college need to know there are places in the world where they can laugh until their sides hurt, be unapologetically themselves, and feel connected. In a time when loneliness is a profound issue in American society, spaces like Camp Sunshine offer something rare and deeply needed: community, joy, and the freedom to be fully human. When we recognize we aren’t alone, we become more empathetic and understanding human beings.

Leadership

Our leadership team is made up of people who truly “get it.” They see the impact of Camp Sunshine on campers, counselors, and families, and they dedicate themselves—often for many years—to supporting our mission. These volunteers give their time, talent, and hearts to champion our programs and nurture our community.

For them, summer camp is not a vacation; it’s four (or more!) intense, full days of work. Many take time off from their jobs to serve, and the days are physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. And yet, year after year, they return. Camp has a way of putting life into perspective, reminding us of the joy, connection, and playfulness that can get lost in the everyday routines of work, family, and life responsibilities.

At camp, adults can jump into a pool fully clothed, dance like nobody is watching, laugh until they cry, and eat ice cream at 9pm. It’s a rare place where pastors, teachers, IT specialists, nurses, artists, and more come together to create a community of unconditional love and acceptance. For many, it’s a homecoming, a space where they can simply be themselves and feel like they belong.

Looking Ahead

Every summer camp experience at Camp Sunshine is unique, yet it all weaves together into one vibrant community. The time, cost, and effort are always worth it for our campers, counselors, and volunteers. As we look to the future, we are excited to continue expanding our year-round programs and building a more inclusive camp experience for everyone who wants to be part of our community.

*Stim: a self-stimulatory behavior that is marked by a repetitive action or movement of the body (such as repeatedly tapping on objects or the ears, snapping the fingers, blinking the eyes, rocking from side to side, or grunting) and is typically associated with certain conditions (such as autism spectrum disorder) Source