Words don’t give justice to the “spirit” of our camp.  You sense it in the beginning with the circle of hello, and feel it deep in your heart at the end of camp in the tear-filled goodbyes.  It weaves itself  through each meal, every friendship bracelet, and all the late-night cabin talks.  We can’t photograph the spirit; but if you gaze deep into the eyes of the campers and staff in the pictures, you can undoubtedly find it. 

 

During camp, counselors come to understand why our children and teens want to live there and never go home.  At camp they are accepted and loved in the brightness of the day and in the shadows they carry with them.  “I don’t want to leave; this is my real family” says one of our teens who has never spent enough time in one place to call home.  For two weeks each summer she calls this “home,” and for two weeks each  summer we bring all of our family home.   

If you are interested in volunteering as a camp counselor or program lead, please contact our camp director, Michael Dunlop -- michael@risenshine.org  Camp volunteer qualifications can be found on the VOLUNTEER page of this web site.