Project Description
Meet Camp Counselor Kellen
Q: Can you tell me a little more about your connection to Camp Helen Brachman?
A: My connection to Camp Helen Brachman, and COA, actually goes way back. My dad went to COA’s summer camp before it was Camp Helen Brachman and once he was old enough, he started to work there. He actually helped move COA’s camp from Camp Sidney Cohen to Camp Helen Brachman. My parents met at CHB and got married there years later. And my grandmother, Sally, actually still works for COA part-time as their Historian.
Q: That’s amazing! And you followed in your dad’s footsteps?
A: Yes I did! I attended winter camp as a camper when I was younger, and later became a camp counselor for winter camp in 2019. I planned on coming back as a camp counselor in 2020, but unfortunately, camp was canceled due to COVID-19. Luckily, I later had the opportunity to return to CHB in 2021 for family camp sessions, where I was a lifeguard and also helped plan some activities for families to do together. I plan on continuing to work at summer camp until I graduate college, and then will likely volunteer with my family at winter camp indefinitely.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your experience working at family camp?
A: Having family camp in 2021 gave CHB staff a better opportunity to get to know the campers in a different way because we got to meet their parents and hear stories from them. It was fun to watch parents and their kids get courageous based on what the other one would do. Parents would start to participate more when they saw how excited their kids were. They would really influence each other, inspire each other, and hype each other up. By the end, they didn’t want to leave!
Q: What is your fondest memory of Camp Helen Brachman?
A: One of my fondest memories was last year’s camp reunion. I had the chance to hear people tell their stories about working at camp and I was finally able to tell my own stories about being a camp counselor. I even saw one of my counselors from when I attended winter camp as a camper!
Q: How has Camp Helen Brachman had an impact on you and your family?
A: Camp got my brother and me interested in being outside, camping, and fishing. Camp Helen Brachman opened the door to things we do together as a family and we still go on camping trips together to this day.
Q: Why is having the opportunity to experience camp so important?
A: Camp is great. The relationships you build with campers, other families, and staff could last a lifetime. Building relationships in the environment of CHB makes it a healthier relationship. The relationship develops in a community that is really close and accepting so you can be yourself and be whoever you want to be and build a friendship off of that. My mom and dad still run into campers from back when they were on staff. Camp helps people experience the outdoors and make long-lasting friendships and memories along the way.
Interested in learning more about Camp Helen Brachman? Visit our camp page and follow us on Facebook.
For over 115 years, COA has provided transformative camp experiences for hundreds of Milwaukee’s youth at COA’s Camp Helen Brachman (CHB), located in central Wisconsin. Camp Helen Brachman strives to provide youth with fun and structured opportunities for personal growth in a safe and natural environment while upholding our four core values: kindness, strength, respect, and responsibility.