Archery, swimming, games, and playing outside…O, the sunny memories of summer camp. However, for high school students, summer camp has either evolved into trekking through nature or spending time at a university. This is not the case for sophomore Katie Brunell.

Over the summer, Brunell volunteered as a junior counselor at Camp Streefland, a YMCA day camp for children age six to ten. There, she relived some childhood memories. “I went to the camp when I was a kid,” Brunell said.

“[At Camp Streefland,] we go canoeing, we do arts and crafts, we do archery…when I think of a pretty stereotypical camp, that’s what [Camp Streefland] is,” she said.

While Brunell is returning to a camp from her childhood, her role there has changed. “I just love going back and being a role model because I remember every camp counselor I’ve ever had,” Brunell said.

Camp counselors are expected to be fun but responsible. “I’ve learned how easily influenced little kids are and how it important it is to…be something good that they can aspire to,” she said.

Accomplishing that expectation can be a very fulfilling experience: “I was coloring with my group of first graders and one of the girls colored a dolphin and gave it to me—I saved it. It made me feel like she really liked me and that made me feel good,” Brunell said.