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Former campers return as counselors, some pursue human-services careers, organizers say
Summary
Speakers said many Camp Fantastic staff are former campers; several now work in fields such as social work, oncology and physical therapy and return to camp as counselors to 'bring it full circle.'
Speakers at the Rotary presentation said Camp Fantastic has produced a generation of returning counselors, with organizers estimating about a third of staff are former campers and many entering human-services careers.
"A lot of them are 30, 35 year old camp former campers. And now they've not only come back to be camp counselors, but many of them went into human services like social workers, oncologists, physical therapists," the presenter for Special Love said, describing how past kindness from camp motivates staff to 'bring it full circle' by serving others.
A counselor who spoke of their own experience said being a counselor allows them to recreate positive experiences they had as a camper: "being a counselor is a little better because as a camper, you experience magic. But then as a counselor, you're able to make the camp magic possible for the kids." Speakers framed this continuity as a program strength that supports campers beyond the week of camp.
