Kevin always describes how camp came into his life as divine providence. As a kid, he was intrigued by the idea of going to summer camp. One day he stumbled on a brochure for the East Ohio Camps running around Kent UMC during his sister’s piano lesson and felt an indescribable pull to be there. He begged his parents to send him to Asbury, practically in his backyard, and found himself going to his first camp experience as a Village camper that summer. Since then, he has been hooked on camp. Having it weave through every part of his life, both purposefully and by happenstance. Kevin has often talked about how he wants to see Camp Asbury grow, thrive and flourish so that not only can his children come to camp as campers, but eventually follow in his footsteps as staff as well.
This fall, Kevin and his family packed up and set out for Cam Asbury’s Fall Family Camp. The reality of how momentous this was didn’t hit him until the night before they left. “It was emotional for me that they got to experience what I got to have as a camper and on staff. And to be on the other side of it for once as a participant was great. To be a part of all of the events and activities.”
The Fall Family Camp event became a bit of a reunion for many staff alumni. Amongst them were also long-term family campers and some first-time families. Kevin thought it was pretty cool to see all of the barriers come down between the different groups and by the end of it everyone had become one large family. But what really stood out was seeing this same dynamic take place amongst the kids. “It was cool to see all of the kids come together and have fun. Some of our kids have grown up together, others were new to the group. One of the kids that were new to the group was pretty shy at first, and it was like our kids picked up on it. They gave him space but always made sure to try and make him feel he could join in, soon he did. Later I asked our daughter about it, she said, ‘We wanted to give him some time to join us.’ I feel like it was a huge step telling us what to expect out of our kids.”
During this event Kevin came up and said that the excitement and joy he felt being at Asbury was making it hard to sleep so he started writing out his camp story, and it was pages and pages long. As he reflected, he saw three major areas where camp shapes his life. One being vocational, he was inspired to work with kids, and camp getting him certified as a lifeguard eventually paving his way to become an Aquatics Director. The second being his relationships. He met his wife Ali at camp. Asbury helped form the foundation of their relationship; seeing each other at their best and at their most stressed and tired, how they work with kids and how they work together through hard times. It’s also where Kevin has met lifelong friends. Lastly camp has shaped his life spiritually. “I don’t think I’ve felt a closer connection to God then when I am at camp. There is something about being surrounded by creation and celebrating and worshiping together outside. It’s a unique opportunity, and it has been something I’ve sought out when looking for a church. That sense of togetherness that happens at camp. I finally settled on one down the street that has an outdoor amphitheater where they worship. When we went there, I got that feeling again, the people there remind me of camp people.”
Leaving Family Camp was not easy for Kevin and his family. “I could have stayed for a whole week. When family camp was over, we went on one final hike to see some of the program areas it was cool to see what they’ve become now.”
Kevin has no plans of slowing down his involvement with Asbury. He is the Co-Chair of the Camp Asbury Alumni Association, working to keep people connected with camp and to do service projects for camp. “We have a lot of passionate former staff that want to make sure that the next generation of campers experience camp the same way we did.” Camp Asbury has inspired Kevin since he was a child, and now Kevin is playing his part to inspire future generations at Asbury.