One of the things that makes Kidz2Leaders special is long-term relationships. A camper arrives at Camp Hope for the first time, not knowing anyone, and finds people who welcome them, encourage them, and keep showing up year after year. For Deanna, those relationships had a lasting impact on her life. Today, she can look back on the people who shaped her experience and see how their influence continues to open doors for her.
“I just started going to Camp Hope in 2004 when I was 8 years old,” Deanna recalls. “I remember I was scared, but my counselor Carolyn made camp feel welcoming. She was the reason why I came back, because she made such a great impression on me that first year. Camp Hope became a home away from home for me. Every year after that I was excited to go and see my old friends and meet new friends.”
As Deanna grew older, she had the opportunity to give back through K2L’s C2C (Camper to Counselor) leadership program. As a volunteer, she mentored a first-time camper, remembering what it had felt like to arrive at camp herself.
“I was thinking, ‘I remember being you.’ I just wanted to make her feel welcome, and take on the role that Carolyn took on for me. I wanted to be like her big sister. I wanted her to have fun. I wanted her to be able to tell me any fears she had. I was always checking in with her.”
Around the time the C2C program began, K2L launched Interns4Tomorrow (I4T), providing older campers with college and career readiness skills. Deanna was part of one of the program’s first cohorts. Even as her involvement with K2L expanded beyond summer camp, familiar faces and friendships remained an important part of the experience.
“A lot of the people in the internship were people who had been going to camp as long as I had. I knew a lot of the girls because we had been in each other’s cabins.”
I4T also helped Deanna prepare for life beyond camp. Through her internship at Jackson Healthcare, she gained practical experience and confidence that would serve her well in future jobs.
“The internship really helped me when it came to interviewing for jobs and building a resume. I interned at Jackson Healthcare. It was my first time in the workforce, my coworkers were really nice, and it helped me to be confident. When I actually worked in an office later on, I didn’t feel out of place. I felt ready for it, and prepared because of the internship.”
After high school, Deanna enlisted in the Air Force in 2016, beginning a new chapter that took her from Hawaii to Germany. After eight years of active duty, she served for another year in the Air National Guard in Savannah, Georgia, before transitioning to IT work while finishing her bachelor’s degree.
Even then, her connection to Kidz2Leaders continued to make a difference. She attended Hope4Christmas that year, and then an alumni workshop which opened the door to her current job.
“I actually got that job because of a Kidz2Leaders alumni workshop I was invited to when I got back, where we made LinkedIn accounts.”
Deanna is a proud graduate of the University of Maryland. Today, she and her husband live in East Lake with their two children and their dogs.
Looking back on her years at Camp Hope, Deanna describes an experience that went far beyond summer activities or learning new skills. It was a place where she felt safe, accepted, and connected to something bigger than herself.
“Camp opened so many doors for me. It strengthened my relationship with God, and was a safe space. At camp, I never felt judged. I never felt like an outcast. Camp was like a warm home where I could worship and be around people I love so much. It was like my family. Camp Hope really did a lot for me.”
We are grateful that Deanna is part of the Kidz2Leaders family, and even more grateful for the opportunity to have been part of her story. Her journey reminds us why we invest in long-term relationships with the children and families we serve. The care a child receives today can shape their future, opening doors and building connections that last well beyond their years at camp.
