Whether it is the fulfillment of a childhood dream or a brand-new adventure, serving on the summer staff at Camp Arcadia is a life-changing experience. It offers a unique opportunity to serve with joy, form lasting friendships, and grow deeply in your faith.
This past summer, many guests shared how Camp Arcadia has shaped their lives, often pointing directly back to the memories they formed as summer staffers. For many, those seasons were formative, defining who they are today and connecting them to a community of lifelong friends.
A Dream Come True
For twin sisters Kathryn (Mormon) Utsunomiya and Jessica (Mormon) Hirschenberger, joining the summer staff was a lifelong goal. Having spent every summer vacationing at Camp with their family, they grew up idolizing the staffers and dreaming of the day they could step into those roles themselves.
In 2018, their dream became a reality. Jessica joined the Program staff, leading high-energy activities, while Kathryn served in the kitchen, preparing and serving meals. Though they acknowledged the hard work required to keep Camp running, they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
“Camp has given us so much throughout our lives,” Jessica reflects. “To take a summer to give back and serve was incredibly special.”
The “Server Smile”
Mackenzie (Allen) Carpenter shares a similar history of looking up to the staff as a child. “The Program staffers were always so fun and engaging,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see that same energy remains true today.”
Mackenzie spent two summers on the kitchen staff during her college years. She still remembers being trained to share the “server smile” with every table—a simple way to show the joy that comes from serving others. She found that working at Camp was nothing like a standard restaurant job. “Here, the guests are eager to get to know you,” Mackenzie explains. “It brought me so much joy to serve then, and I see that same joy in the staff now.”
Discovering Arcadia
For Mackenzie Drinan, the journey to Arcadia was different. She had never visited the Camp until she stepped onto the property for her first summer on staff. An education major at Concordia Ann Arbor, she applied hoping the experience would prepare her for a career as a Lutheran school teacher.
Though she arrived as a newcomer, Mackenzie was quickly embraced by the Camp community. She became a Camp favorite, known for her gentle spirit and her legendary song parodies—like “Party in RKD” and “Sweet Home Arcadia”—performed during Staff Talent Shows.
The connections she made at Camp even launched her career. She secured her first teaching job at Our Savior Lutheran School in Lansing after meeting the principal while serving on staff.
Mackenzie will never forget the feeling of leaving after that first summer. As she walked to her car through the falling rain, she was struck by the feeling that her time at Camp was only just beginning.
“At that moment, I knew this place would be part of my life forever,” she recalls. “This place is holy because the Holy Spirit is present here.” Today, Mackenzie continues to return to Arcadia, serving as a counselor for the Omega Teen Retreat and attending Family Weeks with her parents and brother.
These Staff stories remind us that a summer spent serving at Camp Arcadia is more than just a job, it’s a chance to serve others, live in an intentional Christ-centered community, and build friendships that last.
