Every summer across the Canada and Bermuda Territory, young people devote their time to working at camp. It’s a place for fun and friendship, but it’s also where kids, teens and staff alike can encounter Jesus, sometimes for the first time.

Many of the people who engage in this ministry started as campers themselves, returning year after year to experience the magic of Salvation Army summer camp. From Camp Sunrise in British Columbia to Camp Starrigan in Newfoundland and Labrador, here are six staff who share why they choose to spend their summers serving God:

Sarah Robertson, Newport Adventure Camp and Jackson's Point Camp, Ontario Division

I grew up in The Salvation Army and attend London Citadel, Ont. I’m first and primarily a child of God—I love Jesus, music, being outdoors and discipling others.

Camp is a place to disciple, walk with people as they fall in love with the Lord, and show them what the Lord says. It has been a great privilege to work with Ontario Camping Ministries.

I always want people to experience Jesus and see his love through me. I desire to be someone who is safe, trustworthy and hardworking, and I long to have Jesus at the centre of all I do so I can lead people, through the Holy Spirit, to grow in faith, have fun and feel secure.

One time at camp, there was a cabin that really wanted to learn more about Jesus. During their free time, they asked if I’d read the Bible with them. We got to read the Bible together for an hour and the campers asked so many great questions. It’s cool to see the Lord moving in this way.

I get so much joy from the relationships that have come out of my time at camp. I have made lifelong friends who love the Lord, challenge me to grow in faith, and walk with me through the ups and downs of life.

To anyone who is thinking about applying to camp: be open to the Lord and what he could do in your heart during the summer. It’s not a waste to take these months and dive deeper into faith and community—it’s actually a blessing! 

Simeon Basil, Camp Sunrise, British Columbia Division

I’ve been going to Camp Sunrise since I was seven. Growing up, camp planted seeds and stimulated my growth as a Christian. No was camp staff, I see the same experience happening for kids and teens. I was in those campers’ shoes not too long ago, and the leaders I looked up to are who I want to be for them.

My first summer working at camp, I was new to it and feeling nervous. At that time, I was scared of not being the best cabin leader. But there was a moment that changed my perspective. One camper didn’t want to go to an activity and didn’t feel like talking. I sat down with him and was honest. I said, “We have to go now, but I can either have a friend of mine sit with you, or you can come to the activity with me.” When I gave him that option, he said, “I want to come with you.” That was the first day of the week. We connected, and he began to feel more comfortable at camp. By the end of the week, he loved camp and was happy to be there.

There is no experience like working at camp. It’s a very special place, and a lot of love and care goes into making it happen. I love being a part of that. 

Steve Sigauke, Camp Mountainview, British Columbia Division

I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and I went to The Salvation Army there. I have many siblings, all younger than me, and I’ve always loved working with kids. Last summer, I had the opportunity to work at Camp Mountainview and I so enjoyed it. I’m returning this year.

It was a unique experience because I was working with campers who are mostly Indigenous. It was special because I got to learn more about Indigenous people and culture. I’d never had the opportunity to connect with the Indigenous community before, and it was a fantastic experience.

I’ve always known that I love connecting with people, especially people from a different background than me, but I got to experience it at a more profound level at camp. I also had a lot of opportunities to talk to kids about Jesus. They would come to me and tell me about their lives back home and their worries. I was someone they could talk to.

One day, I was having a chat about Jesus with a 10-year-old camper and he asked, “Why do we always talk about Jesus at this camp?” I said, “This is a Christian camp. You come to have fun but also to learn about Jesus because he loved us and died for our sins.” And the kid responded, “Why did Jesus die for our sins, including me, when I wasn’t even born then?”

I’ll be honest, I went to camp thinking, This is just a summer job. I didn’t know what to expect, but once I got there, it felt so different and surreal. I built relationships not just with the kids but also with the camp staff and directors. They’re very welcoming, and I experienced God just by interacting and building relationships with them. It was a fulfilling experience. I could do this my whole life.

"The Spirit shows up and moves through everything—God literally breathes into camp." - Isabella Haskey

Isabella Haskey, Pine Lake Camp, Prairies and Northern Territories Division

Growing up in The Salvation Army, a bunch of us from my church, Glenmore Temple in Calgary, would go to music campin the summers. It just became a thing that, when you’re old enough, you go to work at camp. I’ve practically grown up at Pine Lake Camp here in Alberta.

I’ve worked there since 2021. I started as a cabin leader, then was head cabin leader, and now that I’m in nursing school, I’m excited to be returning as a camp nurse.

I’m passionate about starting kids out young, introducing them to God and planting those seeds early. You don’t understand how important and beautiful it is until you see it. I also love worship and leading it at my church, but there’s something different about leading worship to a whole bunch of joyful kids with lots of energy. It’s really exciting and rewarding.

Camp feels safe and comforting, but it’s also absolutely electric. You feel like you can be yourself there. It’s a hotspot for God. The Spirit shows up and moves through everything—God literally breathes into camp. 

Eva Redmond, Camp Starrigan and Scotian Glen Camp, Atlantic Division

I started going to music camp when I was eight and always said I wanted to work there. Since 2021, I have travelled for “camp at home” during the pandemic, worked at Camp Starrigan in Newfoundland and Labrador, and now I am at Scotian Glen Camp in Nova Scotia. When I’m applying for camp each year, I always say I’m willing to go wherever I’m needed, so I’ve been all around!

I love camping ministry. I feel like I do meaningful work, and I like to watch the campers come back again the next year and see how they’ve grown. Even during the time that they’re at camp—the way they leave is so different from the way they came.

Every camp provides such a positive and meaningful experience, and everyone can grow spiritually and personally. For me, camp has always been the place where I’ve had the most pivotal moments in my spiritual journey, both as a camper and now as camp staff. I’ve always had a relationship with Jesus, but camp has given me a place to explore my faith on my own aside from just going to church and praying. I believe my faith has really matured through it, and I’m glad I get to be part of making those moments for other people.

Grace Zimbala, Montreal Citadel Day Camp, Atlantic Division

Working at camp, I feel free to talk about God. My faith plays a big role in the way I serve at camp, and it shapes the way I act and talk to children. Every action can influence a child, so I must be a vessel of God’s love. I pray that my faith in God will be an example for the kids at camp and that they might learn something from it.

Some of the children at camp know very little about Jesus but seeing them grow to love him makes me so happy. It’s nice to see that God is still moving in the younger generation.

There’s a specific moment from my camp experience that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. One day, we were talking to the kids about accepting Jesus into their lives as their Saviour. We handed out Bibles, and as the staff was passing them around, one kid started asking me questions: “How can you find stories inside of that book? If I read my Bible, is that enough to be close to God? What should I read first? Should I read it every day? With my family? How will I be able to understand everything? Can I write my name inside the Bible?” I answered every question as best I could, but the fact that he was so curious and interested brought tears to my eyes. I was so touched by how much he wanted to learn about God.

I saw a change in myself after camp. Our job is to pass the gospel to children, and we end up acting more like Jesus so that we are an example to them. Acting like Jesus for two months can change your life.

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