From Sitting Around the Campfire to Campfire Circle

Tony Vrooman Camp Ondessonk September 2, 2025 | 0

For Olivia (Hammond) Starkey, Camp Ondessonk is not just a place, it is woven into the fabric of her life story. From her very first week as a Mini-Camper in 2001 to her years as staff, and now as a member of the Campfire Circle, Olivia’s connection to Camp has shaped who she is and continues to inspire the way she gives back.

“Camp has been a part of my life for so long,” Olivia recalls. “Most of my favorite memories take place at Camp or with people I’ve met through Camp.”

Olivia was a camper from 2001 through 2005 and spent a summer as a Counselor-in-Training in 2006. She quickly found her home on staff, serving from 2007 to 2012 in roles that ranged from working in handicrafts and the Dining Hall to leading as Health & Sanitation Director and Unit Leader.

After college, Olivia’s path briefly took her to Pennsylvania, but it didn’t take long for Camp to pull her back. Just six weeks after her move, she returned for Friends Weekend and learned about an opportunity with Ondessonk’s Outdoor Education program. She served on OE staff in Fall 2013 until Spring 2014 before stepping into the role of Program Coordinator until 2016. That position allowed her to experience Camp in every season, not just summer. “Being able to see both the Summer Camp moments and the year-round excitement at Camp was so special,” she said.

Today, Olivia continues to support Camp as a member of the Campfire Circle, Camp Ondessonk’s monthly giving society. “Camp shaped me, and I want to give back,” she said. “Monthly giving is such an easy way to make an impact. The skills I developed there, like resilience, leadership, and problem-solving, are things I want others to have the same opportunities to experience. I appreciate the updates about what’s being accomplished that Dan sends,” she shared.

For Olivia, Ondessonk is now a family affair. Her husband, Joe, had the opportunity to help with the prescribed burn that took place earlier this year, and they bring her daughter to Friends Weekend. “It’s fun to share Camp with my family,” she said, “and I want everyone in my circles to know about all the ways they can experience Ondessonk, whether it’s through Summer Camp, specialty weekends, hiking, camping, or outdoor recreation.”

Looking ahead, Olivia hopes Camp Ondessonk will continue to embrace its history and traditions while evolving to meet the needs of future generations. “I want Camp to be around forever,” she said. “My friends and I are starting to have children and already dream of when we will drop them off for their own Mini-Camp adventures.”

When asked what she’d tell someone considering supporting Camp, Olivia doesn’t hesitate: “Camp has given me so much. Giving back ensures that the sparkle in a camper’s eye, that moment of growth and discovery, will continue for generations to come.”