10/22/2026
Summer Staff: Where Are They Now?
Christina Kelly was a camper from 1991 to 2002, a volunteer from 2000-2003 & 2005, and worked on summer staff in 2004 and 2007.
“Camp created a safe space for me to learn, grow, challenge assumptions, and thoughtfully examine and formulate my own beliefs. My camp counselors modeled how faith and community could coexist with curiosity, acceptance, flaws and compassion. Camp showed me the value of creating space where people feel they belong, even when they are asking questions, exploring different perspectives, or figuring out what they believe. My experience at camp taught me that faith can be a starting point for deeper reflection rather than an endpoint for questioning. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life and career, shaping my commitment to meeting people where they are, embracing differences, and creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves and explore what gives their lives meaning.
“Since working at camp, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of social service settings, including adult basic education, housing and homelessness prevention, family violence counseling and advocacy, home visiting programs, and both inpatient and outpatient mental health services. Currently, I work as a high school social worker in the Quad Cities, where I get to combine my passion for helping others with many of the skills I developed as a camp counselor.”
