Leading a Servant-Based Lifestyle
By Jennifer Tyler
Camp O isn’t just for kids. It is also a place for adults to serve and build relationships. Kim Bossler did not attend Camp as a kid, and she never worked on staff as a young adult. But she has found purpose and connection as a Camp parent and volunteer for the last three years.
“The minute I dropped [my daughter] off for mini-camp, I became incredibly envious. I thought ‘oh my gosh what do I need to do to stay?’” she said. “I dropped her off and went home and looked at the website for volunteer opportunities, and then I started volunteering the next year.”
With a love for the outdoors and a career working with children, volunteering at Camp was a natural fit for Kim. She grew up in Payson, Ill., where she was active in sports, dance, and FFA. She holds a BA in Psychology and Elementary Education, a Masters in Special Education, and a general and special education administrative license. She is currently an Assistant Principal at Whiteside Elementary School in Belleville, Ill. She was placed to volunteer in the Trading Post because of her family’s experience running a concession business.
“My biggest surprise was I thought I would be in the thick of things like running the register or checking kids out,” she said. “But in reality, I spend a lot of time in the back storage room organizing, restocking, putting together care packages, going down to maintenance, and pulling unit shirts in correct sizes.”
“Really my job is to support the young adults running the Trading Post. It is one of my favorite parts of volunteering because I work in an elementary school, so I don’t get a lot of interaction with young adults [in my day job]. It is really impressive seeing young adults trying to figure out life and have these opportunities to build leadership skills, confidence, and practice patience with younger children. I love little kids, but it is truly amazing to see these young adults step up in these leadership roles. So really, I work for them, and it is kind of nice to let these young adults practice their leadership skills on me.”
After she is home from her week volunteering, Kim’s social media turns into a bulletin board for Camp. Her posts and obvious enthusiasm have led to conversations with others about what Camp is and why it is special to her, and has even encouraged new campers to attend Summer Camp. Her love for spreading the message about Camp also inspired her and her daughter to walk with Camp families in the Ainad Shriners Parade in Belleville in early June. She was excited to see her students and other familiar faces along the parade route, and to have the opportunity to share something she loves with people she knows so well.
With a family and a full-time job, finding the time to volunteer can be a challenge. However, she says it is easy to volunteer for clubs and organizations that she and her kids are passionate about. Kim leads a servant-based lifestyle because being part of a community is important to her. Volunteering has a positive effect on her well-being, and she also wants to set a positive example for her children.
As for Camp, she is already making plans to volunteer far into the future. Just like kids who have special Camp friends that they spend every summer with, Kim has also developed close relationships with other volunteers.
“My first year there, I met my Camp BFF, Justine Braskich. We were both volunteering for the first time and we really embraced volunteer life together,” she said. “We spend all our free time hiking and hanging out with other volunteers. There are volunteers there that have their special groups of friends that have been volunteering together for years, and I hope that is Justine and me 20 years down the road.”
Click here to learn more about volunteering at Camp Ondessonk.
