Campfire Circle Member: Samantha Lukert

Keep the Gate Open during a year without campers.  “Giving to Camp Ondessonk is more than giving to an organization,” Sam explained.  “You are supporting youth development, empowering future leaders, supporting a community, and in the end, you are entering into an organization where you will make lifelong friends who change the trajectory of your entire life.”

Camp has been a part of her life long before she was a camper.  Samantha’s mom and aunt worked at camp in the 1980s, so she began hearing stories about Camp beginning at a young age.  After experiencing Camp for the first time in 2003, she was hooked.  She was a camper from 2003-2007, a staff member from 2008-2015, and now assists the marketing team to update the Camp family news section of the newsletter.

She noted, “Camp continues to play a large part in my life. I cannot recall a day in the past 10 years where I haven’t spoken to someone I met at Camp Ondessonk. I met all of my best friends at Camp Ondessonk and they motivate me to stay involved.” 

One of the things she enjoys about the Campfire Circle monthly giving program are the regular updates shared with members, “Staying involved through the Campfire Circle keeps me close and up to date on Camp projects while physically being 786 miles away in Duluth, Minnesota.”

We are thankful for Samantha’s support and dedication to the place that is so close to her heart.  “Camp Ondessonk is more than just a place,” Samantha said of Camp. “It is a community of individuals who have common goals and will support you throughout your life. Every single one of my closest friends I met at Camp Ondessonk. Camp has given me so much more than I could ever give in return. Being a member of the Campfire Circle is something I can do to give back to an organization that helped mold me into the person I am today.”

If you would like to join Samantha and make monthly gifts to Camp Ondessonk, enroll in the Campfire Circle today!