By Sarah May
Sarah May is working with Camp to collect stories and memories of the Camp Arcadia experience all season long. She has seen that everyone has a Camp story to tell – no matter whether they’re a generational guest or a first-time camper! Sarah lives in Arcadia, MI, with her husband Chip and their three children.
Now that the summer staffers have packed up their things and headed back to their homes or college campuses, it’s a perfect time to reflect on their staff experience. For some, being on staff was a fulfillment of a childhood dream and for others it was a completely brand new experience. Here are the stories of four staffers in their own words sharing about the impact of their summer of service at Camp Arcadia.
Lillian Hildebrand, first-year staffer (Program/Kitchen)
Lillian is from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and attends Concordia University Chicago, where she studies Education and Music.
Her reflections:
This might sound a bit cliché, but I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved working at Camp Arcadia! I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to make so many meaningful friendships (which I hope will be lifelong), gain such valuable experiences, or meet so many amazing people who helped make my summer unforgettable.
Coming into the summer, my main goal was to serve others. I also hoped to make new friends and gain new experiences, which I did, but my primary focus was on how I could best serve my neighbors. Some of my favorite memories from the summer are the ones where I can see that goal being lived out.
For my family and me, Camp Arcadia has always been a place to relax and escape the busyness of everyday life. When my sisters and I were little, my parents loved coming to Camp because it gave them a more relaxed environment, and we kids could enjoy more independence. This summer, I had the opportunity to help create that same environment for the families vacationing at Camp.
One memory that stands out was during a Bozo Buckets tournament. A mom was there with her two children; one wanted to keep playing the game, and the other wanted to go to the Craft Shop. I could tell she was feeling torn, not wanting to leave one child alone. I offered to take the child to the Craft Shop once he finished the game, and I’ll never forget the look on her face… relieved and grateful. It meant a lot to know that, even in that small moment, I was able to make her day a little easier and her family’s vacation just a little bit better.
Being on staff at Camp Arcadia has helped me grow in tremendous ways. Personally, I’ve learned that I’m extremely people-oriented and relationship-driven… a textbook extrovert. While I’ve always known that about myself, this summer really solidified it. I also discovered how much I enjoy motivating and encouraging others.
This experience affirmed that elementary education is a good fit for me. At the end of the last semester and going into the summer, I was unsure whether to continue with that major or switch paths. But after working with so many different children, especially while leading Bible studies, I now feel more confident that the skills I’m learning will be valuable in whatever career I pursue, whether or not it’s in a traditional classroom.
I loved witnessing how God was at work in, with, and through everyone at Camp this summer. The staff led the guests and one another, and the guests also poured into the staff spiritually. I believe that, as a Christian, my calling is to serve others to the best of my ability, following Christ’s example of how He serves the Church. This entire summer was centered on that mission of service.
Serving on staff at Camp Arcadia was one of the best experiences of my life. I gained valuable interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills, and I deepened connections with both new and old friends through everything I learned and experienced at Camp. I also had the incredible privilege of spending the summer surrounded by the beauty of northern Michigan, all while serving others and serving God.
Emma Unger: third-year staffer, Associate Program Director
Emma is from Apex, NC, and attends the University of North Carolina, where she studies journalism and economics.
Her reflections:
Working on staff has truly changed my life in so many ways. Since I was young, I knew I wanted to work at Camp. I wanted the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on guests just like the staffers had on me.
Some of my favorite memories from this summer were small interactions with guests. I will never forget the young girl who remembered me as her Morning Youth Program leader from last year and excitedly greeted me at the start of her week, or the group of young girls from Family Week 4 who came up to me after every meal. These moments with young guests remind me of when I was their age and adored all the progies. It gives me so much joy to share this experience with those who love Camp as much as I do.
Over the past three years, I have held various leadership roles on staff. These positions have taught me how to recognize my strengths and weaknesses and balance them with those of the staff around me. One of the greatest skills that Camp has helped me develop is my ability to remain collected and confidently lead in stressful situations.
Being on staff has helped me value community and recognize God working in the everyday.
Grace Rodenbeck: second-year staffer, Program/Office Intern
Grace is from Pawley’s Island, SC, and attends the University of South Carolina, majoring in Public Health and Mass Communications.
My staff positions in the office and on program have helped me see how the guest experience and preparation are equally important in making camp run smoothly. To better connect my studies with my staff experience, I led the Staff Ministry and Impact Team this summer. In this role, I helped behind the scenes to ensure that staff had weekly community events, schedules were posted, and preparations were made for the staff worship services.
Working on staff has helped me grow personally and professionally by teaching me how to step outside my comfort zone, manage challenges with a positive attitude, and build deeper, more intentional relationships. The experience of balancing different roles, whether leading activities, serving guests, or problem-solving, has made me more confident and resourceful – skills that translate to any future career.
One of my favorite memories from the summer was meeting Brooklyn, a second-grader, during Opening Weekend while I was sweeping the sidewalk. We had never met before, but we quickly became friends—I ended up sitting with her and her friend at dinner, and we spent the evening talking about Taylor Swift, ice cream, and all the little things she loved. When she returned for Family Week 5, she surprised me with a friendship necklace. All week, she would come by the office just to say hi. That small moment of sweeping together had such an impact on her, and it reminded me how much these first and second graders truly look up to us when we take the time to connect with them.
Beyond the guest interactions, for me the greatest impact of being on staff is the lifelong friendships that I have built. Working on summer staff has surrounded me with people who not only encourage me but also challenge me to grow in the best ways. These friendships feel like family, and I know they will continue to shape my life long after the summer ends.
Matt Latzke: first-year staffer, Program
Matt is from Walled Lake, MI, and attends Valparaiso University, where he studies Data and Computer Science. He is interested in pastoral ministry.
I was interested in working at Camp Arcadia this summer because I knew it would be a phenomenal opportunity for me to serve and love God’s people, a great way to interact with new people every week, and a place where I could simultaneously be filled and fill others up.
Since I was totally new to the Camp Arcadia community, I really appreciated how encouraging and prepared the returning staff were to help train and guide me and other new staffers. All of the departments had very experienced leaders who were ready to lead new staff members to do their jobs well.
I worked on Program for the whole summer and served on the Staff Ministry and Impact Team. Both of these roles were incredible blessings for me because not only did I get to interact with guests and have constant faith conversations, but I was also able to focus on the faith formation of myself and the rest of the staff.
A highlight of my summer was connecting with other staffers. We bonded in the evenings after our work hours and enjoyed spending time together, whether playing games or having deep conversations. Even though I was tired at the end of each day, I don’t regret coming here, and I will carry many great memories with me for years to come!
Thank you for your service, staffers!
