Alumni – Camp Bishopswood

HEATHER

When did you work at Bishopswood and what roles did you hold?

I started as a CIT in 1982, then worked every single summer until I went to Russia in 1989. I came back in 1990 and worked for many years on and off. In terms of roles, I’ve never been the Art Barn director or Sports and Games director, but I’ve done nearly everything else! I was a cabin counselor from 1983-1988, then I started living in Augustine or Kitty Cabin in 1990. I led the CITs, PA, Camp Craft, Camper Kitchen, Waterfront… I passed meds one summer, and one summer I worked as a cook.

How did you first learn about camp?

My dad went in 1961 and 1962. The Diocese had just purchased the property and didn’t run Bishopswood as a camp, but led high school retreats and other things. I learned about camp from him, but I didn’t go myself until 1976.

What made you decide to keep coming back to camp?

By the time I got to be a staff member I remembered the magic I felt as a camper, living in a place where everything was cohesive and purposeful and intentional and rooted in universal love. When I got to be on staff it was about almost being a magician and working the whole program to create that for kids. It was a little disappointing at first to not have that magic inside yourself all the time, but when you could create that feeling for a kid, help them blossom and grow at camp, it was something special.

What did you enjoy about working at camp?

Camp allowed me to meet people that I never would have met in my life. There was a program where we brought kids from Atlanta, Georgia up to camp during the Atlanta mass murder killings, and the friendships I made at camp with people from Atlanta… we’re still friends on Facebook. When I went out to Illinois recently visiting family, I met up with a friend, Wayne Carter, from Atlanta who was living in Chicago, and we had dinner. I hadn’t seen him since I left camp. He has one of those hugs that just envelops you, and it was like we’d never been apart – that feeling and connection was still there.

What do you think you gained from working at camp?

At camp I learned that it doesn’t matter who you love; it’s okay to love that person. Had I not gone to camp, had I not had good friends who explained it to me… without living in a community with people that I grew to love, I would not have been able to support my family; I would not have been able to support friends of my family who were rejected by their own parents; I would not have been able to start the first GSA in southern Maine; I would not have been able to be a teacher who accepts everyone and understands the importance of pronouns… I would not have been able to do that, had it not been for one conversation on the back porch at Bishopswood on a Saturday afternoon.

I also think it shaped how I parent. And being a camp counselor is not the same as parenting at all! But to always have a hip pocket activity when you’re going to the store with two toddlers is really helpful. And as a teacher, if you had to leave me with one hundred kids, I would know what to do. I could organize activities and races and not blink an eye.

Do you have anything else to add?

When I was a camper in 1977 or 1978, we were all sitting in the Great Hall in a circle and Ben Pratt was one of the counselors. He was playing guitar and singing Kumbaya; I was sitting next to him and he leaned over to me afterwards and said, “You have a really nice voice, you should keep singing.” Had he not said that, I don’t think I would be where I am musically. I sing in Bagaduce Chorale where I have solos, and I’ve been in a professional quartet; without that one statement from that one counselor, I would not have my life as a musician.

What do you want to tell people who are thinking about working at camp?

It would change your life, and for none of the reasons that you think it will. To be open to the experience of living in a community is worth every fear, and every dollar that you don’t make in the summer.

MICHAEL

What years did you attend and work at Bishopswood?

I worked 11 summers at Bishopswood, from 2000-2008 and 2011-2012.

What roles did you hold at camp?

My first six years at Bishopswood, I was a sports and games counselor and cabin counselor. The last five years, I was director of faith development and a “POOP.”

Why did you decide you wanted to work at camp?

The youth group leader at my church suggested it to me. I grew up in an Episcopal Church in Massachusetts, and one of the members of the church–Anne Kirchmier–had worked a couple summers at Bishopswood as director of faith development in the 90s. I wasn’t a camp kid growing up. I spent only one week at an overnight camp (not Bishopswood), and it was not a great experience. But I loved the outdoors, working with kids, and the Episcopal Church, so I took the risk. Needless to say, I’m very glad I did.

What was your favorite part about working at camp?

There’s no way I can choose just one favorite part about Bishopswood, but it pretty much boils down to the people and the place. Nothing better than spending the summer with the best people, in such a beautiful place, having fun and learning how to live together in a truly caring community.

Do you remember an activity or program that you ran that you really enjoyed?

Calvinball was probably my all-time favorite. It was an epic, double-period activity, usually with 22 campers and 4 counselors. The energy was always amazing, the way the campers bought into it and made it fun in large part because they wanted and expected it to be fun. And it was an activity that was just as much fun to plan as it was to lead. It was such a fun challenge to create a game with no rules except that it can’t be played the same way twice. I loved working with my friends and fellow counselors to create an activity that was both highly planned and structured AND allowed for–and gave the appearance of–spontaneity.

When you think about camp, what are particular moments that come to mind?

The moments that come to mind are special moments with cabin groups–campouts and devotional times–and times when the whole community is together–meals, ACGN, chapel, and campfire. Also time at and around the lake: Rock Swims, Maiden’s Cliff hikes, stargazing on chapel rocks.

What do you do now?

I’m an Episcopal priest, a middle school chaplain, and a father of three boys.

What do you think you learned from working at camp, and how does it apply to other areas of your life?

I really believe I’ve learned more from working at Bishopswood than from just about anything else, except maybe from my parents. I learned how to make a good plan. And I learned to watch for the “teachable moment” and let go of the plan when the moment calls for it. I learned the power of positive reinforcement– “catch them being good.” I learned that it’s pretty much always a good time for a song. I learned a bunch of songs that I now sing to my children before bed: Give Yourself to Love, The Circle Game, etc. A lot of who I am and what I do as a parent, a priest, and a teacher comes pretty directly from my years working at Bishopswood.

What memories or experiences from camp still remain with you?

Friday evening in chapel when we start singing the Lord Bless you and Keep You. I still get goosebumps now just thinking about it. It’s hard to describe. It’s the magic of the music and the bittersweetness of the ending week and the beauty of Fernald’s Neck glowing as the sun sets. And, of course, being surrounded by “120 of your closest friends.” Bishopswood was the church of my 20s, and the place where the faith of my childhood began to grow into the faith of my adulthood.

CAITLIN

What years were you at camp?

I was a camper from about 2004-2007. I took a long break from Camp Bishopswood and I came back to be a counselor in 2015.

How did you first hear about Camp Bishopswood?

My friend’s mom went to Camp Bishopswood back in the early 70s and introduced it to her daughter when we were younger. My friend started going to camp and I joined along with her!

What did you enjoy about working on staff?

I absolutely loved working on staff. I always wanted to come back to camp and join staff so it was a dream come true. I loved getting to meet people from all over the world, both campers and staff. I also loved being back at Bishopswood because it is one of the most beautiful, peaceful and fun places. It truly felt like a different world being at camp and able to disconnect from the busy “real world.”

Was there anything surprising or difficult about being a counselor?

I was surprised how much I learned from other staff and counselors. Even though I went back when I was older, I was still able to learn so much from younger counselors and people who had been on staff for years. I was even able to reconnect with people who were campers with me back in 2005, 10 years earlier! Within 8 weeks, I was able to get to know all these new people and I consider myself lucky!

Do you remember an activity you ran which you enjoyed?

I was the leader of Camp Craft and it was the best! It’s been a while but one program that comes to mind is making journals. We used camp materials to make paper and then journals. It was a true camp craft experience!

Do you have any specific special memories from your time at camp?

When I was a camper, I remember singing a song at campfire with my cabin with candles and it always stuck with me as a beautiful memory. When I was a counselor, I suggested it to my cabin and we were able to do it again. It was a full circle moment that will always be an amazing memory for me.

What do you feel like you gained from working at Bishopswood?

The lessons I gained from working at Bishopswood are endless! I learned skills for working with kids and all different types of people. I gained leadership skills, interpersonal skills and so much more. I even learned survival skills like building and cooking on fires, hiking, and all about nature. I also gained so many memories that I look back on fondly. Bishopswood was always my home and will forever be my home.

Was it difficult to decide to spend a summer at camp, instead of doing something else?

The difficulty is what kept me from coming back to Bishopswood sooner, whether it be trips or school or other summer plans. However, I never felt like I fully closed my Bishopswood experience until I could go back on staff. Every summer I dreamed of it and was always sad looking at camp photos. So finally I took the leap and went back, even though it had been about 8 years. We had a new director, new staff, so much had changed but it also felt like home to me. After that summer, I definitely regretted not making it back to camp sooner as a counselor.

What do you do now, and does it connect to your work at Bishopswood in any way?

I work as an Event Producer for corporate events. While on staff, I always saw activities we planned for campers as mini events, whether the all camp activities or campouts, so I definitely use skills I learned from camp. In my previous job, I planned events for youth groups visiting Walt Disney World. By having experience as a camp counselor, it gave me experience with children of all ages and backgrounds, much like the youth groups who came to visit our theme parks. My experience at Bishopswood also gave me leadership and organizational skills that transferred well into my career.

ALEXIS

How did you hear about Bishopswood?

I applied through an agency. I first came to camp in 2019 and I’d never been to a summer camp before, mostly because there’s not that sort of culture in the UK. The year before I went to camp I was working in two different schools to help support art classes, which I loved doing and wanted to continue doing. It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to explore the world too, and being a counselor seemed like a good way to manifest those two hopes.

Was it difficult joining staff as a new international counselor?

I really thought it would be, but I found it very immediately sort of safe to be at camp. I think staff week really helped settle things for me, and because I’d been working with kids a lot before that I knew what that cabin and activity dynamic would be. After that first week (which did feel like it went on for a long time) it was a fun challenge, but it did feel like I was really well supported throughout. I was also in the same boat as other internationals who were working at camp at the same time too, and to be sharing that experience and have that network was really comforting. It felt very intuitive and like it was something that you get used to very quickly.

What was your favorite part about working at camp?

The people! The kids are amazing; always, always funny and super kind and caring – and over the years they taught me a thing or two! The staff as well; there’ve been so many counselors over the years who I just adore and really truly love. It’s the people who you’re reminded of first when you think of camp.

Because a lot of the kids are there year after year and they end up on staff, you end up having everything that you’re taught at camp, the five goals and the sense of care… that mission shapes the camp and runs through the entire body of the camp, because it runs through the people.

Do you remember an activity you ran that you really enjoyed?

I always liked running the tie-dye for Bishopswoodstock, because you run that at the start of the week. Everyone is creating something colorful very instantly, and it’s almost like baking – you put your ingredients together and something magical is unraveled and created. Then you get the instant gratification of seeing it worn a few days later at the Bishopswoodstock festival, and over the singing and the music, it’s really beautiful.

When you think about camp, what are particular moments that come to mind?

I was fortunate to have the oldest kids every year and because of that you’re able to do more ambitious things with them, especially over weekends. I enjoyed doing any sort of weekend hike or trip with them; you get to listen to a lot of their stories and see how their friendships with each other have evolved. You also see, when it’s their last year, that transition from them being part of camp to being able to reflect and see their growth at camp, and the relationships they formed. The kids who end up becoming counselors who want to give others the experience they have… I’ve lost count of how many kids I’ve seen make that transition over the years.

What do you feel like you gained from working at camp?

A lot. On the professional level, because I continue to facilitate art workshops, a lot of things I learned at camp like devising lesson plans, behavior management, creating fun and safe spaces, and managing other staff, are things that are part of my work now. On a personal level I think camp helped me grow confidence, and more than that allowed me to blossom into a more authentic version of myself, and that was because of the people.

Do you have anything you’d say to new or prospective staff?

Take the plunge! It’s obviously a “scary prospect” but it’s so so so enriching and it’s often very nourishing as well, and the memories that you get from camp are there to last a lifetime.

LIV

What years did you work at camp?

2019, 2021, and 2022!

How did you end up working at Bishopswood?

Through the Camp America program.

Was it difficult coming to camp as a new international staff member?

It was super scary coming from not just another town but another country, especially when you don’t know anyone – but after a few hours you start to feel the family energy that camp holds!

What was your favorite part about being on staff?

There’s sooooo many favorite parts! Friends you make on staff, and the bonds that you create in such a small amount of time. The campers; the ones that you greet on your first camp day and cry as they leave on your last year of camp four years later. But I can’t and I don’t just have one favorite thing!

Do you remember an activity you ran that you really enjoyed?

BNN! Bishopswood News at Nine was always a staple of closing campfire. With campers creating the most random news show each week, and broadcasting what had been happening such as camp pranks, color clash gossip, and counselor interviews!

Was it hard to keep coming back to camp instead of finding work at home?

No that was soooooo easy, such an easy decision to make. It was harder noticing that 2022 was going to be my last year at camp and that I had to get a job back home after. That’s when it all gets a little scary!

What do you do now?

I work in childcare. I work with kids from 6 months – 4 years! Which is crazy but I think camp really made me notice that I loved working with kids. Who knew I like working with babies too!

Was there anything that surprised you about working at camp?

How it becomes your second home. How peers become like family, and how you really can be woken up at any time of the night by sick campers and you can’t just roll over and go back to sleep!

Do you have anything else to add?

Camp is the most beautiful place. The only downside is that you make the most amazing best friends that you have to say goodbye to at the end of summer as you all live in different countries, and that definitely hurts my heart!

JULIAN

What years were you at camp, and in what roles?

I was a camper from 2006 to 2013, and I worked as kitchen staff in 2014. I became a counselor from 2015 to 2018 and was Camp Craft department head from 2017 to 2018. In 2020 I returned to camp with other former counselors to do virtual programming for campers during Covid. I don’t work at camp anymore but I visit every summer I can and lend a hand.

What was it like working as the Camp Craft Department Head?

Being a department head was incredibly rewarding. I oversaw some great folks, helped them grow as counselors, and learned a lot from them and the challenges we faced. We were able to be creative and have fun with our activities, while teaching campers important skills. I’m proud that we were able to form a tight-knit team that gave campers a fantastic experience.

What was your favorite part about being a counselor?

Being a counselor is one of the most fun, fulfilling, and transformative experiences. Some of my favorite aspects of being a counselor involved fostering a sense of community, bonding with campers, and forming lifelong friendships with fellow staff. As a camper, I loved the freedom to be my authentic self at camp and to fully embrace playfulness. As a counselor, it was truly fulfilling to extend the same sense of freedom to my campers, providing them a respite from the demands of the outside world.

Are any traditions from camp still really memorable to you?

Camp is one big tradition. Campouts, songs at the meal steps, ACGN (all camp goodnight), opening and closing campfire. Whether it’s the old traditions like the Rock Swim or newer ones like Polar Bear Club, I love it all.

Do you think you carry anything from camp into other aspects of your life?

Absolutely! I definitely bring a lot from camp into other parts of my life. Skills I learned like leadership, active listening, working in a team, making new friends, and communicating ideas to large groups are all super important. I use these skills every day in my work and personal life.

Do you have any specific special memories from your time at camp?

Too many to count, but I’ll list a few. I remember fondly the nights under the stars, hot days in the lake and rainy ones on the Big Back Porch. I have more than one memory of running in the woods with a pool noodle. I remember the laughs of my friends and the tears as we said goodbye.

I had some of the most special and formative times in my life at camp. I learned how to grow into the person I am today.

ANNIE DAVIS

What years were you at camp?

I started in 2008, I was there as a camper until 2013. I was a CIT in 2014, then a counselor until 2018. I also came back during the summer of 2020 during COVID; we [staff] created a bubble and worked to interact with campers virtually. It allowed all of us to be silly and make videos and upload them to YouTube in hopes that it would brighten some kids’ days!

How did you find out about camp?

We had just moved to Maine the year before and my parents wanted to send us to camp. We [me and my sister] found it through either one of those camp fairs or specifically through our church; I think we got the recommendation through our church (St. Bart’s in Yarmouth) and spoke with Sara at camp fairs.

Did you like camp at first?

No! I was so scared and so nervous to get dropped off. My sister and I went together for one week that first year and I was so anxious the whole week; I definitely had fun times but I remember feeling so homesick. We were so excited to see our parents when they picked us up! They said they could tell we’d had fun and sent us for two weeks the next year; I was so nervous and anxious again. That cycle continued for two or three years until camp became a comfortable place, I started to look forward to going, and then eventually the idea of leaving at the end of the summer there was devastating.

When did you know you wanted to become CIT?

By my last few years there was a close-knit group of people I was always at camp with and we kind of all just saw it as an obvious next thing that everyone was going to do. There wasn’t any other option in my mind; the thought of not going back to camp after my last camper year… yeah, it wasn’t really an option. My parents were supportive, they knew I loved camp, so it was just a question of whether people could still continue to spend all that time in the summer away. My best friend from home was always sad when I left for the whole summer and I was sad to leave her too, but for me there was really no question. I looked up to my CITs and my counselors so much, I wanted to be just like them.

When did you know you wanted to work at camp?

I had such a wonderful experience as a CIT. There were ups and downs to it but what I learned that summer and what I felt like I achieved that summer, made me feel like continuing to come to camp as a counselor was just the way that I wanted to spend as many summers as possible. I loved working with kids and being around so many amazing people, both campers and other counselors. At that point camp really felt like my second home, and that’s just where I went in the summer. To be able to contribute to it in a different way than I did as a camper, to be able to participate and also give, was something that I absolutely wanted to do.

What was a highlight of being a counselor?

Specific highlights are hard to come up with because there are so many… being art barn poobah was so much fun, and getting to work with a group of counselors and organize really fun themes in the art barn and really go rogue every so often was so much fun. It was kind of a little enclave and we just did some very fun, silly, not very art barny activities!

My last year when I was in Laud, we did one of the first overnight hikes in 2018, and we hiked and watched the sunset, and picked blueberries and then woke up the next morning and watched the sun rise on a different mountain and ate oatmeal with strawberries and chocolate chips on it. The kids were angry that we woke them up at 4:30 or something but it was lovely and quiet and we all sat there and watched the sunrise… cabin time outlines, very special cabin time outings, were really fun.

Do you remember an activity you ran that you really enjoyed?

Yes! The first round of what we dubbed ‘bishawoo’ was so fun, it was really just a scavenger hunt. We never really topped that first round of ‘bishawoo’ because it was a great group of kids who were just excited to run around and do different stuff! I also loved the ones where we would do a little craft then walk around and show it off or be silly… like the grandma day where we made visors and glasses and walked around pretending to be old.

Geo to geo was always my favorite, because kids are really funny! When I did one of the weekly activities, that was the art show activity, where it was the same small group who came every day to do painting and we hung them up in the great hall at the end of the week in an art show with little name plates…

Are there any specific programs or traditions that you loved at camp?

Other than the Friday campfire, which is everyone’s favorite, ACGN was always my favorite time of day. It was always so nice to wind down and sit on those gross old carpets in the great hall, and it was usually the first time that day that everyone would just sit and breathe and be together as a group that wasn’t chaotic and running around, and by that time of the day everyone really needed it. Being able to sing together in the great hall… it’s just such a special space, and that last bit of connection of the day was always my favorite.

What did you learn from camp? Does it come up in the work you do now?

I’m currently working in Atlanta at an architecture firm. I think I learned really important working skills from camp, like being able to communicate with people and being able to plan and organize. I’d never thought of myself as much of a leader before being at camp and I don’t think I’d necessarily call myself a leader right off the bat now either, but I feel confident leading and I know I can organize a group of people and delegate… and ask for help! There are so many times when your co-counselor is sick or they’re off for the day, there’s always going to be something that happens and you’ll need help, and being able to ask for that help is so valuable. Camp in general taught me a lot of confidence and knowing yourself really well, and feeling confident in yourself even if you’re unsure.

I chose camp every summer over an internship or otherwise and it has not hurt me at all in a professional sense. Being able to show a potential employer you have consistent experience in a pretty high pace and difficult job setting, and that you’ve learned, at the very least, very basic skills for communicating and working with others that you’ll use for the rest of your life. There are so few job environments and businesses where you’re going to be doing so many things and working with so many different people… most people sit in an office and talk to people who are roughly their age and in their same field, so work-wise camp really taught me so much.

Do you have anything else to add?

Not just working as a counselor but my whole experience at Bishopswood, has had the most impact on my life out of all other life experiences that I’ve had. I definitely would not be where I am today without it, and it’s provided me with lifelong memories and friendships, and certainly lessons and work ethic, but also just a lifelong place… that’s a big thing for me is place, and even though the people change, the place is to me one of the most special things about Bishopswood.

LEIGH

When did you start coming to camp?

I started coming to camp in 2012. I remember that first summer so vividly! I was a camper from 2012-2015, a CIT in 2016, and a counselor in 2017-2018. I came back in 2020 to live at camp for a month and do virtual programming, then I was on leadership staff in 2021. Every year I haven’t worked at camp, I’ve found time to visit – I just can’t stay away!

When did you know you wanted to be a counselor?

My CIT class (of 13) had so much fun that we all wanted to be counselors! And as a camper I loved my CITs and counselors, and it always seems like they were having so much fun on staff. Every counselor that I had, I loved, especially my Laud counselor. She did fun activities and campouts, but also talked to us and made us feel comfortable and let us do things independently. She was so so good and we loved being with her, so me and my friends all wanted to be just like her.

Why did you decide to become a CIT?

Because I love camp! I just literally loved being a camper – I’d done day camps and dance camps before Bishopswood and they were fun, but being at Bishopswood was something special. I loved my counselors and I loved the CITs in my cabins, and since I had been going for so long… actually, I’d only gone for four years. But I made such good and close friends that we just said, “Next year’s CIT year, see you then.” We all knew we were going to do it!

What was your favorite part about working at camp?

I love kids and I love doing all the camp things – singing songs, being silly, and doing it all together… it’s such a happy environment! My favorite part was being with people I’d known since I was 12 in a place that I loved, working to give that same experience to other kids. And I loved working on the Waterfront!

What were specific programs at camp that were really memorable?

Holiday Week was when I always went as a camper and it was so fun because we got to do so many whole camp activities. We don’t do it anymore but I loved the Christmas Pageant! Each cabin did their own performance that they worked on secretly during cabin times to perform on Thursday night. People at camp are weird in the best ways so the performances were always hilarious and fun; no matter the quality of the performance, we all loved them! One year my cabin recreated the Polar Express and I was the kid who was given a bell by Santa… it was so funny and I still remember it so well!

I also love Color Clash! I love a healthy competition moment, and I think it’s fun to be split into different groups that aren’t only your own cabin. The ability for the whole camp to intermingle is such a unique way to meet more people and form new friendships. As a camper, I loved being in the older cabins and being able to work with and mentor younger campers in activities; it’s part of what made me want to be a CIT!

What did you learn from camp and how do you feel that you carry it into other aspects of your life?

I do renewable engineering recruiting and before this I was doing business development sales. I’m constantly talking with clients, candidates, coworkers… camp definitely taught me to work with different people and different personalities and I use that all the time in my everyday life. You’re working with kids but also the rest of the staff; there were staff members I knew going into camp but also people I’d never met before, so it taught me to work with people in a cohesive way. I can also be really stubborn, so needing to work and compromise with different people taught me to be a lot more flexible. People at camp challenged me, and learning how to handle that is a life skill in general.

I never did a classic summer internship even though I was told to, because every summer I went to camp instead. I didn’t know what I wanted to do after college but I knew I loved camp and wanted to be there! I feel like I gained the same, if not even more valuable skills through all the jobs I held at camp. I got to mentor counselors, evaluate my team, mediate co-counselor conflict – those are all leadership skills that not all internships can provide! Every single skill I gained at camp was transferable to the outside world, and I was able to phrase it on my resume to show that even though I didn’t have a traditional internship.

You’re always family at Bishopswood!

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