Where Are They Now: Sara Newton

Where They Are Now:  Sara Newton

“The friends I made my first years on staff at Ondessonk are still, to this day, the best friends I have ever had.” Those were the words Sara gave when asked about her Ondessonk experience.

Sara began her Ondessonk adventure in 1972 when she was hired on to be a cook.  In 1973, she met her future husband, David.  David, at the time, was a Camp America counselor from the land down under.  In 1975, her “beautiful” son Kyle was born.

The 90’s brought an age of adventure for Sara and David.  They spent three years in Australia.  During this time, Sara spent some of her time teaching.  She and David also spent three months living in a three-walled dirt hut, roughly 200 miles from Sidney in the heart of the outback.  They also traveled 13,000 miles back and forth across Australia on a motorcycle.

Sara is now a favorite teacher to the students in her Biology classes at Althoff. High School in Belleville, Illinois.  She still continues to support and visit Ondessonk on a regular basis.  Sara and Rusty Parker bring Althoff’s Wilderness Adventure Club to camp a few times each year for work projects and hiking

Sara Newton Former Camp Ondessonk Counselor

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