As a parent and volunteer, Janie has seen Camp Quest’s transformative power firsthand. We’re proud to have her and the Oyakawas in our Camp Quest family.
Although it’s just one week a year, it gives my kids a sense of belonging for the other 51 weeks. They stay in touch with camp friends and are either resting after camp or getting excited for camp to come again.
Instilling Values
For me, the service aspect and the desire to change the world for the better drive my involvement in Camp Quest. While I can’t impact 90 kids’ lives every day, I can strive to make a difference in just one week at camp. I may not change the world alone, but I hope my efforts contribute to a better place.
This reminds me of a story from my time in the Mormon community about making early course corrections, like steering a large ship. With Camp Quest kids, I aim to instill values and awareness to help them navigate life’s challenges, equipping them to understand and prioritize important matters from a young age.
High Expectations
I tend to be stricter than the environments these kids are used to, balancing high expectations with the accommodations they need to ensure fairness. Many campers come from smaller families, so I have to remind them how to share and be considerate, especially during family-style meals or when cleaning up spills. After providing support and reminders all week, I sometimes get frustrated, which might stem from my more authoritarian background. But as the week progresses, especially by Thursday and Friday, I expect greater awareness and cooperation from campers to enhance our shared experiences.
Impact of Camp
After leaving religion, I realized my kids were missing opportunities to bond with people outside their usual circles. Camp provides an intense, structured chaos where relationships, conflicts, and emotions develop rapidly in a supportive and fun environment. We teach kids resilience, conflict resolution, and appreciation for differences. I often notice this impact in my own children. For instance, during competitive scholarship interviews, Maya recognized that a group project break was part of the interview process, where her social and emotional skills were observed. Camp equipped her for real-life challenges; academics alone aren’t enough. Nothing compares to mastering the skills of sharing space, being accommodating, and advocating for yourself.
Important Life Lesson
My oldest son was initially reluctant to attend CQ. I promised him I wouldn’t force him to do anything—he just had to go. Now, it’s funny because camp is his favorite thing. He has formed lifelong friendships, plays weekly games and celebrates holidays like “Questmas” with them. I share this story with parents that try to convince their kids to attend camp, emphasizing that it was one of the best experiences for my initially hesitant children. Kids often need a little push to step out of their comfort zones.
Community and Laughter
I love the unique camp spirit that fosters community and laughter, especially during carnival night, karaoke, and Festivus. This encourages kids to be goofy and enjoy themselves without judgment. Though it was challenging for adults at first, we’ve embraced Festivus, which inspires kids to join in activities like the talent show and morning chants. Campers have shown creativity by worshiping a toy rat or pledging allegiance to a camp goose. The essence of camp is being campy! I also cherish singing the camp song every day, as it fosters a sense of connectedness and joy among everyone.
Outside of camp, I take immense pride in my children’s accomplishments. For myself, my biggest achievement has been returning to my career after 14 years as a stay-at-home mom. I retook the board exam and navigated reintegration into a clinical environment as the newcomer. Since 2016, I’ve successfully worked with a fantastic team.