Category: Staff Corner

For Estefi Guevara, camp has always been more than a summer experience. It has been a second home where she has grown, developed, and discovered her own creative voice. Her connection to camp began long before she arrived as a camper in 2016. Her aunt Marce first came in 2004, paving the way for other family members to follow. Eventually, Estefi, her sister Nat, and her brother chose to attend as a gift in place of a traditional quinceañera celebration. That one summer for both Estefi and Nat turned into multiple summers (7 years total for Estefi and 4 for Nat in 2025). 

Over the years, Estefi has seen camp from nearly every perspective. She began as a camper then CIT, later worked in the kitchen, spent time as a counselor, and now leads canoe trips and directs the arts and crafts program. Each role has given her a new understanding of how camp operates and how people connect within it. Working in the kitchen allowed her to experience the rhythm of feeding a whole community while forming friendships with people she might never have met otherwise. Her time as a counselor helped her develop empathy and patience while guiding younger campers. Through leading trips and arts activities, she has learned how to bring creativity and structure together in ways that inspire others.

Her background in architecture has strengthened her approach to problem-solving and design at camp. She has a natural ability to visualize how a project will come together, to plan each step carefully, and to make thoughtful choices about materials and methods. Whether organizing an art project or planning a canoe trip, she draws on her architectural training to think critically and anticipate each stage of the process.

Camp has also played an important role in helping Estefi grow more confident and independent. An introvert by nature, she first came to camp from another country and had to step far outside her comfort zone. The experience opened her up to new friendships and gave her the courage to explore unfamiliar situations. That spirit of exploration carried into her travels through Europe, where she met new people and built connections much like those she had formed at camp.

Many of the habits and passions that shape her life today trace back to summers at camp. She has brought home projects she first learned there, such as craft techniques, cooking experiments, and even the patience to make her own yogurt. Recently, she has begun making her own clothes and hopes to try baking sourdough bread. These creative pursuits reflect the same curiosity and care that guide her work as both an architect and a camp leader.

Estefi often reflects on the importance of slowing down and appreciating each stage of life. In a world that pushes people to move quickly from one milestone to the next, she values taking time to enjoy the process rather than rushing toward the outcome. Camp has shaped her not only as a designer and leader but also as someone who knows how to appreciate every step along the way.

**********

From Camp to Career: come join us! If you are or know an emerging leader who is wanting to explore personal and professional skill development, we invite you to let us know HERE (first time staff members) or RETURN staff (have been on staff at least one previous summer).

**********

Love at First Try

Imagine you are 7 years old and visiting your grandparents who have a cabin on a lake in Northern Wisconsin. You decide to put on a pair of waterskis and hold onto a rope tied behind a boat. The boat takes off and you come out of the water smiling (maybe after a few face plants), and you are hooked. The thrill, the challenge, the satisfaction of nailing a jump or getting a faster time. You love water-skiing and want to figure out how to engage in this sport as much as possible.

For Lauren Connelly, former Woodland camper and counselor (all she needs is one more summer to get her 5 yr pendant!), water-skiing is a passion that has been fueled in so many interesting ways. This school year, Lauren was awarded the Barbara Bolding Jim Grew Scholarship, USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation’s top scholarship and is President of the NCWSA (National Club Waterski Association) Club team in her area.

Sand Lake Lessons

During her time at Woodland, Lauren would sit on the dock every day during Rec Swim and patiently wait her turn for a spin around the lake. She started on two skis and eventually progressed to being able to drop a ski, then get up slalom. Lauren practiced cutting in and out of the wake, putting the rope between her legs, lifting a ski, and other skills that she mastered while as a camper. During her two years as a counselor, she taught campers how to do those same skills.

College Club Team

Lauren now competes in 3-event water-skiing which includes a slalom course, jump and trick skiing.

• Slalom, is where skiers run passes of a course made of 6 turns. There are 3 turns to either side of the boat with an entry and exit gate. Boat speed is increased, or the rope length shortened after each successfully completed pass. Skiers continue until they miss one of the turn buoys.
• Jump is where skiers have 3 attempts to go as far as possible, their longest jump counts for scoring, and the furthest distance wins (Lauren’s average is 50 ft, and her best is 55 ft).
• The Trick event has 2 passes of 20 seconds, where the skier must perform as many tricks as possible to accumulate points (Lauren is currently working on her back flip).

Beyond Skiing: Boat Driver and Maintenance Upkeep

Lauren tries to practice skiing every day and often gets up early to get time on the water. She is also a certified boat driver and as Club President finds herself frequently driving so that her teammates get in their practice time, too. Lauren knows how to change the oil and replace the steering cables on a boat in addition to taking care of some other maintenance needs to keep the boat in tip-top shape.

West Coast and Tennessee Adventures

Last fall (2024), Lauren spent a semester at Cal Poly (CA) in the National Student Exchange program, an in-country exchange. The decision to head to the west coast was an easy one. Lauren wanted to go somewhere different from the midwest so she could go to the beach to surf and enjoy mountain views. Joining the Club Ski Team there was an easy way to make friends; she even spent 2 weeks in CA this summer visiting people and seeing more of CA (LA, San Diego, and San Francisco). This past summer, Lauren worked in Hillsboro, TN (outside of Nashville) where she drove a boat for clients and coached skiing lessons for Swerve Watersports. 

Going All In 

Lauren is all about putting yourself out there and putting in everything you have into whatever you do. She goes all in. Even when she was young, Lauren was seeking opportunities. At some point, she decided that she wanted to give camp a try, and she went for it. She found Woodland online, sent an email, and was a camper for 2 summers. She believes she can figure it out when she gets to any new place. Camp was a good place for Lauren to flex her confidence and independence muscles!

Lauren is a firm believer that each year is different and that by putting effort into something new, you can inspire and encourage others. Your attitude (positive or negative) definitely plays a huge part in the attitudes of those around you. Lauren lived in a cabin with older girls during her 2 years as a counselor and was keenly aware of this on a daily basis!

What’s Next?: Two Passions, One Journey

Lauren is a senior at Iowa State University pursuing a mechanical engineering degree and is set to graduate in the fall of 2026. She plans to do one more semester at Cal Poly with their exchange program to see if California is somewhere she would like to live long term. Lauren loves the problem solving aspect of mechanical engineering; her dream job would be to combine her passion/hobby with her career and work for a company like Mastercraft Ski Boats or to pursue something related to marine technology. The ski boats used to pull skiers on slalom and jump courses used in the events Lauren trains for and competes in are quite sophisticated. How cool would that be if Lauren could actually be part of a team that keeps improving the design of those watercraft!

From Camp to Career: come join us! If you are or know an emerging leader who is wanting to explore personal and professional skill development, we invite you to let us know HERE (first time staff members) or RETURN staff (have been on staff at least one previous summer).

I had the pleasure of interviewing Isabella Scarpelli recently about her journey to pursue flight school at Southern Illinois University where she is currently in her second year. Isabella spent 6 years as a Woodland camper/CIT and has been on staff for 2 years so far (we hope she is able to come back for many more!). Isabella is extremely versatile when it comes to teaching activities and this summer was found helping out at Farm Zoo or the barn and assisting in swimming or canoeing. The activity she is most known for; however, happens at the Rec Hall every 4th hour. Isabella is a superstar when it comes to rewriting and directing plays for each 2-week session! The final show, “Clue” was a true testimony to her amazing talents (along with co-director, Lizzy Germann).

I invite you to jump into the interview with me:

The Spark to Soar: what drew Isabella to aviation 

As many high school students often find, there are moments of freaking out during junior year because it is hard to land on the one thing you are interested in enough to want to spend the next 4 years studying/doing that thing. Isabella went down a list of possibilities, thought about it a lot, and was intrigued by aviation as a potential career.

She did some research and felt that she could be successful in that environment and decided to give it a try. Isabella likes to be in motion whether in a car, plane, or boat, and has never been afraid of flying (a definite plus!). She was pretty set on that path once she made up her mind that was what she wanted to do (not to say that she didn’t have her moments of doubt before actually landing at SIU). 

Isabella also shared that she still has her moments of uncertainty, and she is able to ground herself knowing that she is surrounded by others in the same boat (or plane!) and is able to get perspectives and support from fellow students and instructors. Isabella is actually pursuing TWO degrees – one in flying and the other in aviation management.

Isabella finds herself taking classes such as Current Aviation Management Practices (what’s happening in the industry right now), Aviation Writing and Communication (writing about industry trends), and Aviation Weather (always good to know visibility, wind speed and direction, and other details that can affect your flight). She completed the stage check for her first flight course and has started on the next one. Isabella is currently halfway finished with the requirements needed to get her Private Pilots License.

From Camp to Cockpit: skills that are coming in handy in flight school

The biggest skill for Isabella is focus. She offered that it comes natural to her as she gets very locked in and focused once she is in flight mode. When she steps onto the airfield, Isabella can’t think about anything else. She is 100% “all in.” Once on the ground, it always strikes Isabella how focused she was leading up to and throughout the flight.

Because Isabella values being places on time and timeliness, this helps her wade through the long list of things she needs to get done on a daily basis. She recognizes this as part of the importance of being professional whether at camp, in the classroom, or cockpit. 

Being flexible is another skill that serves Isabella well. As a camper and counselor, Isabella is very used to how things out of your control (the weather!) can change up the daily schedule and routine. It is no different with her schedule and instructor, there are always unexpected turns and twists with how they meet up and how things get done. 

On top of focus, timeliness, and flexibility, Isabella has a strong work ethic. She spent 2 months at camp, transitioned to school at the bottom tip of Illinois in 10 days, began a full load of classes, and started a part-time job working at Starbucks.

Calm in the Clouds: flying can be so unpredictable and remaining calm under pressure is extremely important! 

There are definitely times that it gets stressful while in the air. Isabella shared that she got lost once or twice while in the practice area and didn’t know where she was to get back. It is easy to get disoriented, so in that situation, the first step is to admit to the instructor that she was lost. Easier said than done; however, the sooner that happens, the quicker things get figured out and she was back on her way to reorienting and knowing where she was. 

Other stressful situations while in the clouds is choosing the right point on land to do a maneuver off and choosing a field to make an emergency landing. This is where Isabella calls on her focus to stay calm and not get rattled or distracted.

Teamwork That Travels: both camp and aviation require strong teamwork and communication 

While Isabella has flown solo, the majority of her time in the air is spent with an instructor. She has made the comparison that communicating with her instructor in a lot of ways is like communicating with her co-counselor at camp. In order to make things happen such as takeoff, change course, or land, it is imperative to have seamless communication with the person sharing the cockpit with you. At camp, in order to take the best care of your campers or to teach an activity with another staff member, communication and collaboration are key.

Advice to Future Dreamers: wisdom from Isabella’s journey to pass along

Isabella believes that listening to and knowing and being honest with yourself is where it starts. When she began exploring options and aviation as a possible path, she would ask herself if it was realistic that she was going to succeed or not. Isabella also encourages trying out a lot of different things as she is currently doing to see what else you might like. She went to boat club mainly for sailing and she finds herself gravitating towards activities involving nature (both are missed from her days at camp!). As mentioned previously, Isabella likes to drive, and she is currently working on getting a boating license.

Isabella also recognizes that being with different groups of people helps you branch out into areas that you might not normally try. She is considering joining a shooting club that offers a variety of experiences other than the rifles she became accustomed to at Woodland. Isabella is also becoming more involved in things around aviation such as women in aviation and rush for an aviation business fraternity.

From Camp to Career: come join us! If you are or know an emerging leader who is wanting to explore personal and professional skill development, we invite you to let us know HERE (first time staff members) or RETURN staff (have been on staff at least one previous summer).

Seeing all the action at camp, all the happy, busy kids here, it’s easy to forget that there are about 35 people on the Woodland staff at any one time. There are many people working to make camp possible. There are the cabin counselors, the special people who live in the cabins with the campers, eat their meals with the campers, spend most of their day relating to them. These are the folks who most directly help set the tone at camp. They’re kind, silly, and enthusiastic. Some have been campers themselves when they were younger, and now have returned to Woodland to get their “camp fix” and have their turn at making an impact on the leaders of tomorrow. We have a good number of staff who came from far away like Mexico, Spain, and even Ireland to spend their summer at camp. And others are friends/family of people somehow related to Woodland and its history.

Cabin counselors are also very special activity instructors during the day. They are assigned to one or more activities where they guide, lead and instruct the campers as they progress in a given area. You can imagine this means the cabin counselors have a wide range of skills, talents, and versatility. We have a good sized group who became re/certified as lifeguards before pre-camp officially started. Some staff are land sports enthusiasts— tennis (Dani D, Sofia G, Lucia, Adri, Irene, Xime), gymnastics (Sofia M, Adri), riding (Kelly, Tess, Cuau, Sofia L, Isabella, Lou), archery (Lou, Miranda) or riflery (Irene, Molly), for example.

Others have real talent directing drama (Isabella, Lizzy) or dance (Sofia M), developing cool art (Estefi, Lizzy, Dani D, Miranda, Sofia G, Nat) or nature projects (Sofia L). Others teach the Zoo classes (Sophia, Isabella) and care for the animals there while others work with campers to learn to swim/ski (Jackie, Isa, Molly, Maria T, Lucia, Delia, Dani G), sail (Izzi, Xime, Adri, Tess, Delia, Dani G), canoe (Lizzy, Isabella) or enjoy some fishing on Sand Lake (Lou, Nat, Isa, Delia). Every activity at camp has counselors directly involved at every turn!

Another area of staffing is our very special activity directors. These leaders have special knowledge or skills pertaining to an activity, and therefore can be in charge of the program and the staff teaching in that area. Each instructional activity has at least one person in this role. The riding director (Kelly) not only teaches mounted riding lessons but is also in charge of caring for our 12 horses. Other directors include a Program Director (Calla) who schedules all campers and staff for daily and evening activities, our CIT directors (Xime and Izzi) who run the leadership training program for the oldest campers, and a canoe trip director (Estefi) who takes each cabin group on an overnight experience. Our Camper Care Coordinator (Jackie) is closely involved with the campers and staff of each age group to ensure a successful cabin experience.

The other areas of staffing are equally critical for camp to operate and have more very special people. These are maintenance staff (Chet and Kevin), van drivers, motor boat operators, photographers and videographers, and office staff (both on-site and remote: Lee, Mayte, Natalie, Kim). We should also recognize Nicole who can be found in our Health Center caring for and keeping us well physically and mentally, Maria H who is caring for our day campers, and last but certainly not least, the kitchen team (Chef Brittnie, Chef Kristen, Paty, Incy, Karla, and Merari) that keeps us well fed with delicious meals and snacks.

Together, along with JoAnne and the Jordan family, all of these people help keep camp going on a day to day basis. They help us stay healthy, active, and engaged with everything camp life presents. It’s a great group of dedicated people who love camp, enjoy being with kids and making each moment of each day special in some way. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; it’s the people that make Camp Woodland!

p.s. It’s never too early to start talking to those folks in your network (family, friends, neighbors, church community, co-workers, etc.) with college-age connections about the exciting opportunities a summer at camp provides (not to mention camp is a GREAT first job)!