This summer, we’re launching our Staff Spotlight series to introduce you to a few of our incredible summer staff members. Stay tuned to learn more about who they are, what motivates them to serve, and what they are most looking forward to this season.
Staff traditions run deep at Camp Arcadia. This summer, we are thrilled to have eight staff members who are following in the footsteps of their parents, who also served on staff during their college years. Inspired by their parents’ stories of lifelong friendships and unforgettable summers, this new generation is eager to carry on the tradition and create their own memories.
This is certainly true for Libby Spencer and Zoe Zacharias, whose moms, Karen (Blum) Spencer and Becky (Beumer) Zacharias, served together at Camp back in the 1990s. Connected by their moms’ close friendship, Libby and Zoe have known each other their whole lives and are excited to share the Staff experience with each other.
Meet Libby
While this is Libby’s first year on staff, her connection to Camp Arcadia spans four generations. Growing up, she always looked forward to her family’s annual trip to her grandma’s cottage in the Arcadia Cottage Colony along Lake Michigan. Her childhood memories are filled with the fun, classic Camp Arcadia activities of ping-pong games in the Round Up, square dancing on the tennis courts (a favorite tradition her grandma, Carolyn Blum, always insisted the whole family join), and nightly ice cream treats in the Trading Post.
Another must-do summer tradition for the Blum/Spencer family is having a Cherry Hut cherry pie, specifically with vanilla ice cream mixed in rather than just scooped on top. Libby loves this treat so much that she takes a frozen pie home each year for her January birthday. Even in the middle of winter, that sweet taste of cherries brings her right back to the joy of summertime in Arcadia.
Libby is from Fairfax, Virginia, and is enrolled at the University of Tennessee. This fall, she will be returning to college as a sophomore honors student majoring in Marketing and Management. When she isn’t studying, she stays busy with her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and competes on the university’s club lacrosse team—a tight-knit, competitive group that she credits with teaching her the value of building others up and working toward a shared goal.
That same team-first mentality is what drew Libby to the Camp staff this summer, along with lots of encouragement from her mom. Serving in both the Kitchen and Office departments, Libby appreciates the balance between the fast-paced teamwork of food service and the personal interactions with guests as a server and office assistant.
“I’m excited about serving guests this summer, building my own relationships with the Arcadia community, and learning from other people’s experiences,” Libby shares. “I believe there’s something to appreciate in everyone.”
Though she admits small talk isn’t her favorite thing, staff training is already pushing her to grow. She is quickly gaining confidence by learning to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable”—a skill she knows will serve her well in her future marketing career. Beyond her personal growth, Libby has been surprised by how caring the staff community is, and she points to the weekly Staff Eucharist as a favorite time to slow down, clear her mind, and focus on her faith.
Looking ahead to the rest of the summer, Libby is excited for day-off adventures like a boat ride on Glen Lake and forming new friendships with the staff. She is especially grateful to share this experience with Zoe. The two have grown up together, and Libby appreciates how well Zoe relates to others, her honesty, and her ability to be a great listener.
For Libby, Camp Arcadia has always been a sanctuary. From her earliest memories of waking up at the cottage to look out at the expansive lake to the powerful vesper services during Teen Weeks, it remains a place of peace. As Libby shares, “For me, it’s a place where I can be still and feel closest to God.”
Meet Zoe
Zoe is back for her second year on Staff as the Assistant Program Director for the Craft Shop, aka “The Crafty Lady”—a role her mom, Becky, held exactly 30 years ago. As a fourth-generation Arcadian, Zoe has been coming to Camp her entire life. Her family legacy runs deep: her grandpa, Bob Beumer, served on the LCA Board for many years, and her mom continues to volunteer as a Teen Week counselor.
When she isn’t at Camp, Zoe lives in Summit, New Jersey, and is heading into her junior year at Loyola University Chicago, where she is majoring in nursing and is interested in pursuing a career in Pediatric Nursing or Nurse Anesthesia. Last fall, Zoe spent a semester abroad in Italy, where she traveled to 10 countries and would recommend Budapest as a must-see destination.
Camp has always been a big part of her life. Some of Zoe’s earliest memories include playing hopscotch outside the Assembly and singing “Ark” songs with Ms. Janice at the Camper Talent Show.
As a kid, she loved competing in the morning tournaments and has saved all of her blue ribbons. One of her favorite memories is from when she was 10 years old: she and her cousin won the shuffleboard tournament under the team name “The Zumba Moms”. They chose that name because all the moms were nearby on the tennis courts doing Zumba while the tournament was underway.
Zoe also spent countless hours making paracord bracelets and tie-dye shirts in the Craft Shop. Now, as the Crafty Lady herself, she is thrilled to offer new creative projects for guests this summer, including one of her current favorites: decoupage candles.
In addition to attending Camp with her family, Zoe found the Teen Week experience to be deeply meaningful, providing her with a close-knit community of friends and a lasting foundation for her faith. Her commitment to attend her final year as a camper was so strong that she even flew home mid-week for her high school graduation ceremony, only to turn right around and return to Camp the next day.
Last year, Zoe joined the staff, inspired by her mom’s great experience, and it exceeded her expectations. “I formed closer friendships here than even at school,” Zoe says. “Relationships are closer at Camp because you spend so much time together and go through the same experiences. Even with all the hard work, you laugh more at Camp than you do anywhere else.”
Another major draw to return this summer was the chance to share the experience with Libby. Zoe describes her as a wonderful friend—someone who is a lot of fun to joke around with, but also deeply genuine, honest, and great to have a serious conversation with.
This summer brings an exciting transition as Zoe adjusts to her new role managing the Craft Shop. She has already learned so much and is determined to set a positive example for the other staffers. She views this leadership opportunity as a perfect way to develop her management skills, which will benefit her in her future career.
Looking back at how Camp has shaped her, Zoe sums it up: “Camp is my happy place and the place I feel most connected to God. That makes all the hard work of being on staff worth it.”
Serving Together
As lifelong campers and friends, Libby and Zoe are thrilled to join this summer’s incredible team of college-aged staff. Continuing in their family tradition, they are now creating their own lasting memories within the Camp Arcadia staff community.
2026 Second-Generation Staffers
Gideon Clark (Danielle Allmand Clark)
Ryan Couser (Matt and Katie Sohn Couser)
Xander Gallo (Shelly Wulff Gallo)
Lorelai Gallo (Shelly Wulff Gallo)
Kate May (Chip and Sarah Burow May)
Jack May (Chris May)
Libby Spencer (Karen Blum Spencer)
Zoe Zacharias (Becky Beumer Zacharias)
3 Responses
Great article, Sarah! I love all the details about cherry pies, paracord bracelets, square dancing with Carolyn and blue ribbons! I look forward to seeing Libby and Zoe, and maybe even their Moms, later this summer.
Camp Arcadia continues to be blessed with gifted and committed staff (as this beautifully written story proves). As a former 1990s “staffer”, l am so pleased to meet the second generation who reflect the reasons Camp Arcadia has excelled in providing our guests with exceptional “vacations with God”. My heart is filled with joy. I hope and pray that the entire staff will experience a summer of positive growth, new friendships, and fun.
Thanks for your hard work and great info. I look forward to meeting my prayer partner. THis truly a great addition. to our partnership. Ardis Janke