“Hey all you Camp A Fans, let me see you clap your hands,” shouted a group of energetic students from various colleges on Saturday. While the students sang a variety of camp songs, another crowd of college students responded with smiles and laughs.
The students were partaking in their first leadership assessment conference (LAC) for a program called Camp Adventure. The students singing the camp songs were veterans of the program, and the onlookers were college students from schools around Oregon interested in getting involved.
Founded in 1985, Camp Adventure trains college students to become camp counselors for the children of those serving in the military.
“These kids’ parents are serving. We are easing their burden by taking care of their kids,” University student Amanda Lee said.
The students train during the school year and spend the summer at a military base. They receive 18 credits for their participation in the program.
Currently, students with various majors from more than 80 colleges around the United States participate in the program, which has its
headquarters in Iowa.
The Oregon Camp Adventure program holds two LACs each year — one in November and one in January.
“LAC is an opportunity for students who are interested in the program to come learn what it is all about and find out what it takes to be a camp counselor,” trainer Angela Gorsuch said.
After the LACs, Camp Adventure begins training, which occurs nearly every other weekend in winter term. Students from schools throughout Oregon come to the University for the training.
Many of the students who have participated in Camp Adventure have come back to participate again.
“I had such a great experience last year and I already missed it, so I wanted to do it again,” University student Meghan Sullivan said.
“It was such an amazing experience to be able to touch these kids’ lives and in return have them touch (my) life,” University student Julia Reynolds said.
Many of the students say they were attracted to the program because of the opportunity to travel. Camp Adventure sends students to various locations, mostly in Europe, Asia and the United States. The students work as counselors during the week and receive weekends off to travel.
“This is such an amazing opportunity to spend your summer doing something meaningful that you will remember for the rest of your life,” said Gorsuch, who has participated in the program for five years. “If you have any desire to experience the world, this program is a great way to do it.”
The goal of Camp Adventure is to create magical moments for children that will last a lifetime. Some camp counselors say they leave camp with their own magical moments.
“Last summer was amazing. I fell in love with the kids,” University student Jessica Melton said. “I just want to have more memories.”
Training Coordinator Brad Ficek, who has participated in the program for more than three years, said when he was in Russia on a child’s birthday, the group of international children taught each other to sing “Happy Birthday” in eight different languages.
“It was awesome seeing children from all over the world come together to learn from each other and share a cool experience,” Ficek said.

Cassie DeFillipo is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald