Whenever someone asked Tori what she wanted to do when she grew up, her answer was simple, she wanted to be a teacher and make art on the side for fun. Though many people encouraged her to become an art teacher, she was hesitant to commit to one subject because she was always interested in more than just art. During high school, something shifted, as she immersed herself in art history and advanced art courses, Tori realized that teaching art could be the perfect intersection of her creativity, curiosity, and calling.
Tori first encountered Camp Asbury through her church’s youth choir program. Each summer, the youth group would come to Camp Asbury for a retreat, spending the week immersed in music, Bible studies, and the peace of the outdoors. “I experienced the presence of God throughout the whole place,” Tori reflected. “Everyone was so welcoming.” That early introduction planted a seed that would grow into something deeper. When a friend who had worked at Camp Asbury as a summer camp counselor told her about an opening for the Art Specialist position, Tori didn’t hesitate.
“I hoped to build relationships,” she said. “With both the staff and the campers to really make connections with everyone.” What began as a summer job quickly became something more, a place of spiritual growth, professional discovery, and personal empowerment. As the Art Specialist, Tori learned how to plan and lead lessons with intention. She loved the challenge of designing projects that were both meaningful and accessible, adapting them to the weekly theme or Bible study. “It was like God was speaking through me in my lessons,” she said. “I loved connecting scripture with creativity and empowering campers to create whatever they wanted.” One of her proudest accomplishments was building projects that were accessible for everyone, no matter their skill level. “I wanted to create lessons that could be scaffolded and so they weren’t too hard for some or too boring for others,” she explained. Even when challenges came, like when the kiln broke at the end of her second summer, Tori learned to adapt, “Camp Asbury taught me to think on my feet,” she responded.
But more than lesson plans or troubleshooting ceramics, Tori found in Asbury something she didn’t know she was missing: a faith community of peers. “Camp was the first young-adult community that was really accessible to me,” she said. “Camp Asbury is not just a place where you’re ‘allowed’ to talk about faith, but a place where you are encouraged to talk about faith and your experience with it.” When asked what makes Camp Asbury special, Tori paused before answering; “It’s the love of God that connects us all to camp, but also the love of the space, the activities, and the people.” For Tori, camp is more than a summer job. It’s a community that invites you to grow, believe, and create.
Tori is now an art teacher, bringing the same joy, accessibility, and purpose into her classroom that she cultivated at Camp Asbury. “I do it for the kids and to make lasting impacts,” she said. Just like at camp, she designs lessons that inspire students of all skill levels to explore their creativity and feel empowered in their faith and identity.
Camp Asbury helped Tori become the teacher and leader she is today. With your help, Camp Asbury can continue creating transformative experiences for future campers and staff. Your generosity empowers young adults like Tori to discover their gifts, grow in faith, and share God’s love with others. Thank you for being part of what makes Camp Asbury so special.