Here at The Heart, we are always so fortunate to have an excellent summer staff year after year. Our new counselors bring their flair to camp with open minds of just what will come their way. Our returning staff are an asset, they know the camp flow and adopt a big sister role for our new counselors (see, it’s not just the campers that get the Big/Lil fun)! So today I want to let y’all know of just some of those familiar faces who will be coming back to camp for yet another summer of fun!
Familiar face: Mary Francis Benning
Returning Counselor MaryFrancis!
“I truly could not imagine a summer not spent at The Heart because it is home. I am filled by a sense of belonging when I walk through the gates, seeing my campers from previous summers makes even the rainiest days bright. Lastly, being surrounded by counselors and friends both old and new, makes each summer more fulfilling than the last.”
Returning Counselor Alice Rosie!
Familiar face: Alice Rosie Biddulph
“I literally jump with joy at the thought of returning this summer! I’m actually excited for everything. Vespers, dressing up for field days, ice cream at Janes, counselor tribe hill, seeing all the campers, CAMP SONGS!! And also just being back in Texas! I can’t wait for those Sundays after Vespers where we sit and reflect by the waterfront and sing Sunday songs, and I really can’t wait to see my girls – my first ever campers that made my first counselor experience better than I imagined!”
Familiar face: Kaitlin Bryden
Returning Counselor Kaitlin!
“Growing up in Scotland the only camp experience I had was the Girl Scouts. Experiencing Heart O’ the Hills was incredible and an amazing place for these girls to spend their summers. I am coming back again this year to enjoy the laughter and fun, and I cant wait for another month with the midgets!!”
Returning Counselor Brittaney!
Familiar face: Brittaney Craddock
“Being in Texas all my life I had no idea that summer camp was even a thing that you could do. So being able to have the opportunity to come back to The Heart again is incredible. I can’t wait to be back and see all my camp children and also see the new campers experience the heart for the first time!!”
Familiar face: Natasha Lisle
“I’m super excited to come back to see all the campers again and to just live on camp again because it was like a massive family. I really enjoyed being away from technology, constantly being around people and being able to act silly and not be judged for it because that’s how everyone was.”
Returning Counselor Natasha! (middle)
Returning Counselor Amy!
Familiar face: Amy Wood
“Growing up in England, summer camp is completely unheard of and especially camps like Heart of the Hills and I wish I’d had this opportunity earlier. The camp bubble is the best feeling and I never realised how much of an impact Camp and the campers could have in my life, having missed them all I’m very excited to be going back and doing it all over again!”
We also have some incredible first time counselors in the form of these previous campers and Heart LITes. These women have all been away from camp experiencing their first year of college and boy are we happy to welcome them home!
Returning Counselor Gracie! (right)
Familiar face: Gracie Amiss
“I am excited to return for a multitude of reasons, the most prominent being that I am excited to see my friends, swim in the Guadalupe, and beat those Stewart boys in our meet!!”
Returning Counselor Sophia!
Familiar face: Sophia Baffes
“I only know three addresses by heart, my home in Austin, my dorm, and camp. I grew up going to camp almost every summer and love everything about it! After moving out of state for college, the chance to go back to camp feels like going home.”
Familiar face: Paige Lawrence
“As a camper for 11 years and a Heart LITe for one, I have met my best friends and some of the greatest people at HOH. Even if it’s only your first year, you will instantly find people who you connect with and who will make camp feel like home. even people who have been going to camp for years are so excited to meet new people and form close bonds…I make new friends every single year that I come to camp.”
Returning Counselor Paige!
Returning Counselor Katy!
Familiar face: Katy Roberts
“First and foremost, I can’t imagine not coming back to camp. It has been something that is constant and so positively transformative in my life. At first, I was excited to come back more so for selfish reasons: I missed The Heart, my friends, just the peace and rest of being at camp. I was excited to just relive everything I did as a camper, and be back in my second home. But now, as camp draws closer, I think it has become more about helping other girls to have the same wonderful experience that I did. I am becoming increasingly more and more excited to help impact their lives, and maybe grow a little myself too!”
These young ladies are just some of those familiar faces you will see again this summer. And we all know that any face seen at The Heart is sure to be a friendly one!
See y’all soon!
Lots of love,
LG <3
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