By Anne Gates

I can say without hesitation that my experience on summer staff at Camp Mount Luther has molded me into the person I am today. As a camper I looked up to my counselors and could not wait for the chance to become one myself. This has been one of the best decisions I have ever made (and thanks Mom and Dad for allowing me to go!) because of the collaboration and leadership experiences I have gained. Every day you are collaborating with your co-counselors and support staff to plan and lead songs, prayers, games, and GROW (Gather and Reflect On the Word) times for your cabin group or the whole camp. Every week this happens in collaboration with different staff, so you learn to work with different kinds of people and how you work best yourself.

In the most rewarding way possible, summer camp staff is an exhausting job. It forces you to learn how to take care of yourself, specifically how to fill up your physical, spiritual, and emotional batteries, and how to support others. Throughout these long summer weeks, you make lifelong friends with your fellow staff and together become stronger and more confident. It sounds odd, but once I was asked to “describe where you feel most confident”, and my first thought was to describe myself standing on a chair in the dining hall, leading a repeat-after-me song following a meal at Camp Mount Luther. This is the best place to learn and practice these real-life skills, like public speaking and leading, because you are in a supportive space where you are loved, encouraged, and celebrated as you grow.

I am now a high school science teacher, who originally was a biology major in college (dreaming of researching in a lab). My passion for leading and creating a community of campers led me to pursue a career in teaching so I could do the same in my classroom. I often find myself, in job interviews and on my resume, stating skills that I learned at camp that I still incorporate into my daily life and work. These skills don’t only apply to teaching, all employers want to know their employees are flexible, collaborative, confident, and creative leaders.

Best decision EVER!