So What Did Our Staff Do This Summer without Camp?

Understatement of the year: canceling camp this summer threw us all for a loop! We had been planning and dreaming for weeks of DMCs and blobbing and Carnivals, and then all of the sudden, it wasn’t going to happen. I think I speak for all of us when I say that there was a natural process of grieving what should have been (you probably felt it too!).

The reality soon hit that we had a whole summer before us with no plans. How were we going to fill it - in a pandemic none the less? Well that’s the question we asked our staff today! These incredible women (and a few men!) were ready to devote their whole summer to YOU, our camp community, but when it didn’t happen, we knew they would bring that Great Day attitude to the situation and make the best of it.

Read on to hear about some of the ways they made their summer worthwhile, even without camp. It wasn’t quite the same, but we think you’ll see there was still so much good in it! Now we’re just ready to have them back with us. Who else is counting the days?

Mary Patton Murphy

The Lord really used this summer in big ways for Mary Patton - she started a podcast! It’s called Be Loved, Be Bold and without a free summer, it wouldn’t have happened. Her podcasts wants to encourage students to live boldly for Christ in light of being loved by Him - sounds incredible, right? Give it a listen!

Fun Fact: Another of our 2020 staff members, Lucy Chapman, ALSO started a podcast this summer! Sponge Talk exists to help you live into the promise of peace that comes from focusing on all things true, honorable, and lovely. Make sure to check out her episodes with camp celebrities Sandi Taylor, David Vining, and Mary Silliman!

Marissa Lingaitis

Marissa did a big thing - she graduated from college! (insert all the applause here) She also learned how to hula hoop - anyone think that means she needs to come back and teach a class?

She took some time to socialy distance on a beach with friends, but her favorite part? Fostering dogs! She loved getting to know their different personalities and making their lives a little bit better.

Lily Larson

Lily took this summer as a chance to check a few places off her bucket list… and make a bunch of sweet memories along the way! She was able to attend two of her best friends’ weddings, travel to see her sister in Kansas City, camp on the coast of Florida, and visited a long time camp friend in East Tennessee. She even made it a point to see some waterfalls in the NC mountains… almost as good as being in the bubble!

Olivia Burns

Olivia said this summer has been hard and surprising (we’re with her there!), but she has made the most of it. She learned to wake surf, got a rescue dog named Chester Finn (we see a theme here!), and got placed as a YoungLife leader (those lucky girls!). She couldn’t go a whole summer without some part of camp though, so she enjoyed a reunion with her camp friends in Asheville. Got to experience those NC mountains somehow!

Reedy Newton

Reedy packed her summer with so many good things! She was a counselor for the virtual Palmetto Girls State, took an online Public Relations class, and started an internship that led to a job offer! She still made time for fun though, and enjoyed waterskiing, painting and crafting, and cooking Greystone meals at home!

Ann Binkley

Ann filled that void that camp left by working at her cousin’s shoe store in Tullahoma, TN. Her favorite part was when kids would come in to get fitted (that’s when her camp counselor self really got to shine!). She decided to treat every day as if she were in Tuxedo, and even told a Breakfast Club joke every morning at work!

Mary Neill Lucas

While she was disappointed to not be a part of the Junior Camp Staff this summer, Mary Neill was a youth intern at Greenville ARP Church! She planned events for youth and children, helped lead youth group, spent one-one-one time with youth and children, and was part of an all girls Bible study. She loved every minute!

Alexandra Tousley

Let’s all give Alexandra the biggest round of applause because she got some stuf DONE this summer. She got real estate license (a big deal!) and (also a big deal) mastered the making of naan bread.