Staff Testimonials

This year, as our Camp community transitioned from summer to fall, a group of our staff wrote us with their thoughts on this past summer (and for some, the many before).  Here is some of what they said:

Tony (4 summers)


The past 4 summers I have spent at Camp have been the best moments of my life. Some of my most cherished memories and amazing experiences have been when I have spent my summers at camp. I remember thinking in my first year that I was only going to come for one summer and that I didn't see myself falling in love with camp like everyone says you do. I was so happy to discover that I was wrong about that. I truly have fallen in love with camp and the people that make it what it is. I can't think of any other place that I have been to where I have been greeted with open arms and smiling faces. Where I have been treated with respect and such kindness. Where I was able to realize my potential and feel like I was making a positive influence in someone else's life. Where I was treated as an equal. But most of all, I can't think of any other place that I have been to where I have felt like I truly belonged. Camp is such a magical place. I feel like not only have I learned so much from my experiences at camp, but I also feel like I have become a better person because of it. I am going to miss camp so much but I will never forget it and everything that it has given me over the years.

I just want to say thank you for giving me the chance to experience camp, Dane. If it wasn’t for you I probably wouldn't have ever known that a community like camp ever existed.

Hollie (1 summer)


I really enjoyed reading the staff newsletter last week- it brought a tear to my eye! I honestly had the best summer this year! It was so much more than I expected and I have gained so much from working at camp and being a part of such a wonderful community- so thanks for hiring me! I received the 2008 calendar and the 'high school musical' dvd the other day, it bought back so many brilliant memories :)

Cate (1 summer)


Can I just take the opportunity to thank you and everyone at camp for an amazing summer, I don't think we could have been taken better care of or made to feel more welcome as international staff. I heard plenty of stories from other camps on my travels afterwards and didn't find anything that came close to the experience you gave us.

Matt (2 summers)


I have had the two best summers of my life at camp!

Deborah (10 summers)


I have spent the best 10 summers of my life at camp!

Leigh (3 summers)


This e-mail is to say a HUGE thank you for recruiting me 3 years ago and that the past 3 years at camp have been fantastic; the experience, working with a new group of people every year and overall Kenwood and Evergreen being second to none. I have so many great memories from the past 3 years to which I will look back on in many years to come and experiences that I will use in the future, no doubt!

Sam (1 summer)


You have no idea how much I miss those kids, and how helping them and being a part of their lives made me feel really fulfilled, and my experience at Camp Evergreen was one I'll take with me for the rest of my life…I also had some awesome days off, and felt like I got to be a part of something truly special at camp.

Chris (4 summers)


I have learned so much from the place, I think more than anyone else I know. Its not just the time we have but on a professional front, learning how to deal with people, how to deal with situations, how to overcome problems or manage others. Hopefully you will also have witnessed my transformation from a jack the lad to a serious and professional youth worker. (I hope!) It has put me in a good frame of mind for future work. I know how hard I have worked and improved in my four years and I wanted to be more than just another face on the wall, I wanted to be remembered for good reasons.

Hayley (1 summer)


I had the best time last summer and will always be thankful to everyone at Camps Kenwood and Evergreen for making it such an amazing experience.

Jim (2 summers)


I’ve only had 2 summers but it feels like such a huge part in my life. I had so many good times.

Chad (1 summer)


Thank you for helping me to find my passion for working with kids. Coaching
children is my passion and I must truly thank you and the whole team for
making my decision final ‘cause I was lost and now I feel found That is the road I must follow. Its crazy how my life has completely changed and I must thank you and Kenwood for changing and finding my true meaning on earth.

Tom (1 summer)


Thank you for last summer it was an amazing experience and Kenwood & Evergreen will always be a very special part of my life. Hopefully I can stay in touch with Kenwood & Evergreen as I still hope to return in the coming years. Thanks also for the comments after the summer it has given me a lot of areas to improve on in my upcoming work with kids I really appreciate it.

Abby (2 summers)


One of my fondest memories was actually when the kids left at the end of summer. Now that may sound strange and I am in no way saying I was happy to see them go. It made me realize how amazing my summer had been. I literally couldn't stop crying for about 3 days before they left, every time I thought about them leaving I just broke down! Making that decision to come back be a general counselor was the best decision I made.

Ben (1 summer)


The whole summer was a great experience. From getting to chill out before the kids got there to get to know the other counselors, to trips with the kids especially Weirs’ beach. Even walmart was fun. I really enjoyed colour war a lot. Days off with the other staff were some of my favorite just to get to travel more and try some new stuff. Too many good memories to mention, all good.

Courtney (1 summer)


I think my favorite memories were the ones that might be considered most mundane. Regarding both co-workers and campers my favorite memories are the times that we just hung out. The times that it would rain and we had to stay inside the bunks stick out. Just the bunk hanging out, blasting music, playing cards and generally just talking and cracking jokes. Also, at night if I didn't have OD the times that I could just hang out in the dining hall with everyone stands out for the same reasons.

Monika (1 summer)


Maybe one of the best moments were during the banquets when the leaders, councellors and children said thank you for the kitchen staff's work during the whole summer. I also loved campfires and the moment of good bye (when we left camp at the middle of August)-everybody cried. Other enjoyable experience for me was the baseball match. I have never been on a match like this because it isn't played in my country. I only have seen it in movies just like the yellow school buses!!

Danna (12 summers)


Watching the interaction of camp friends and knowing that most of these experience will lead to lifelong friendships.

Liz (1 summer)


One of my best memories is the last night of camp after closing camp fire watching the burning of the year and then saying goodnight to every single person on the way back to the lodges. It was really special to say bye to the girls I’d worked with. I loved bedtime in our bunk, the rush of getting ready for bed and taking a little bit of time to talk to each girl and catch up on what they'd done that day.

Amy (1 summer)


My fondest memory of camp was probably Breakout and colour war. It was great just to see how excited everyone was. It was really nice to work with a real mix of children. I found hearing them sing at the end of colour war a really emotional experience and I felt so proud of them. I like how the songs were short stories of everything we'd experienced together at camp that summer. It marked the end of a great summer and that was really nice.

Dani (1 summer)


I think it was visiting day for me...seeing the campers with their parents and introducing us to them...they were so grateful for all the hard work we had put in looking after their children. It was a great sense of reward hearing it from their parents!

Helen (1 summer)


My best memory was probably Nancy Tucker night just because it was so random; I’ve never experienced anything like it. The campers no matter what their age was were so excited and the atmosphere was so good. My most enjoyable experience was meeting some great kids and developing my basketball coaching but also meeting some amazing friends that I will always be in contact with.

Eddie (2 summers)


Camp is amazing, without a doubt the best experience I could have ever had. The environment created by the brass, the staff during orientation and the entire camp experience is incredible. The experience is one I cannot put into words and can only be felt through going to the camp and living the community. I hope I have the pleasure of returning in a future summer!