Tell us your camp stories

Brian K. Saunders

I and my younger brother and sister, attended 1974-1978. I got the Gentleman award in 1977, and my younger Brother got it the following year. If my memory holds, I got the camper of the year award in 1978. Our single-parent mother died In Jan. 1979, so we didn't attend that year. I don't even remember how my mother found about the camp, nor do how I know she was able to send the 3 of us there, but I'm forever grateful! We lived in Columbus.

Now being 65 years old, many memories come flooding back. At this time of year, I often think of the camp and remember you and your parents. Your parents are among the most caring and loving people I've known. The experience was always a spiritual refresh and motivation. Something I need even today.

I always wanted to return and become a counselor, but college and career didn't make that possible.

I know there's a camp happening soon. I lead a digital marketing firm based in Oakland, CA, but I have clients nationwide. I visited your website but didn't see a way I could say my Tar Hollow experience has stayed with me for nearly 50 years! I watched the website slide show and found 1 photo of me! ;)

I wish you best in the upcoming camp!

God Bless,

Brian

Brian K. Saunders
Oakland, CA

 

 Caroline Schultz 

It was my first year and honestly, I enjoyed it more than I thought! 

Everyone was so supportive and welcoming making the experience 10x better. It was a   fun experience, and I enjoyed all the things we did that I usually wouldn’t   do. This camp really had me try new things and I’m very appreciative for all   the friendships I’ve made. 

Thank you. 

  David Tanner 

I began going to CAMP in 1990. I was a pudgy kid with a southern accent living in Ohio and getting made fun of in school. I didn’t have any good friends.  My mom saw a story in the Gahanna news about this CAMP that helped kids build their self-esteem and said, “you’re going to CAMP.” I arrived that week a scared insecure little 6th grader and left that week with a new set of   friends and a base of skills that have changed my life. 

CAMP doesn’t let you sit alone and be homesick. CAMP lures you in and embraces you, lets you know it’s safe and then throws you in front of your peers and says, “Have fun!” I took the life lessons from CAMP and attribute them to my successes in life   professionally and personally.  

At CAMP one of my role models was a counselor named Robin Braig. I saw this loud outgoing man who was so fun and also so grounded in the Holy Spirit. One day I noticed he was wearing a Rolex.   Curious, I asked him what he did. At that time, he was running Anheuser Busch’s sports marketing department. As a kid, I thought that was so cool. I wanted to be like him.  After college I ran into him again at the Daytona 500 where   he was now the President of the Daytona International Speedway. Sitting in his office with a leather jacket on the desk he was getting ready to give to Jay Leno. I thought how cool is this! I want to be like Robin! 

CAMP and the leadership there helped build the confidence in me to step out in uncertainty and start my own business. It helped grown the compassion in me to foster and adopt our children. I stepped away from CAMP for 20 years because …well life   work family etc.  When we had a horrible accident at home and my youngest gets daughter was burned, the first people that reached out was my CAMP family. 20 years separated, the love and compassion they showed me from that first week as a sixth-grade camper to 35 years later was the same. They let me know we were safe, loved, supported. Then they brought me back to CAMP with my kids   and put me out front at Town and Tent and said, “Have Fun!” I can’t give CAMP any higher endorsement and gratitude, than by saying I bring my own six children here and I see the confidence they are building and the family they have made, just like their dad 35 years ago.   

.

.