God Sighting: Carol Joy Holling Camp

I’m Aleksey (Alex) Betancur and I work at Carol Joy Holling Camp. My first summer on staff was in 2022. As a village leader, I learned SO much about myself, my faith, other religions and cultural differences. Most importantly, I learned to be a part of a community that makes a difference in so many of the visitors lives. I vividly remember being scared and anxious coming upon my first week village leading. “What if the campers don’t listen to me?” “What if campers don’t have any fun at camp?” These were questions I asked myself beforehand, only to experience one of the best summers of my life. I quickly realized that camp is a positive place for both, campers and staff members. While at Carol Joy Holling, campers experience activities like swimming, giant slides, horseback riding, hiking, high ropes course, community building, and most importantly, s’mores. Camp creates a safe space for individuals to step out of their comfort zone and push themselves to grow, not only as themselves, but communally and spiritually.

My second summer (2023), I reconnected with campers who I had the privilege getting to know the summer prior. After seeing my past campers again, I realized I was making a bigger impact than I thought. These campers were so excited to be back at camp and so ready and willing to learn more about themselves, build their community and learn about God. I saw God working through them by making new friends with first-time campers, being welcoming to everyone attending and simply being themselves. God’s tree continues to grow fruit because of the campers willingness to share His goodness.

Some campers need financial support to be able to attend camp. This is where camperships come into play. Carol Joy Holling receives generous donations from a wide range of donors that directly support campers. This year alone, Carol Joy has raised $223,000 in financial scholarships for 1,283 campers. As a member of Sheridan, I know we have camperships as well. In December, Baskets of Blessings silent auction proceeds assist children attending Lutheran summer camps. The proceeds provide scholarships for youth at Sheridan to be able to attend camp. Without these opportunities for financial support, youth lose opportunities to create a strong, faith built community that lasts a lifetime.

As I return for another summer, I am grateful to continue learning from the youth. Believe it or not, Carol Joy Holling Camp is where I’ve learned most about myself, my faith and my community. I look forward to not taking anything for granted and maintaining an open mindset for growth. Carol Joy Holling Camp really is a place to renew the spirit of God and truly does bless those who experience it.

by Aleksey Betancur