Camp is a Place for Lifelong Bonds and Valuable Life Lessons

As the daughter of Salvation Army officers/pastors, Kessa Daniels has been involved in Salvation Army summer camps across British Columbia since she was seven years old. She has been a camper, a cabin leader, and currently holds the position of administrative coordinator for Camp Mountainview. The time she has spent at camp has shaped her life significantly.

Initially, Kessa was a camper at Camp Sunrise; however, in 2011 her family relocated to Prince George, B.C., and she had to make the move to Camp Mountainview. At first, her transition to the new camp was not easy.

“To be honest, I grew up going to Sunrise and I had good friends there, so when my parents were appointed to Northern B.C., I didn’t want to leave my friends behind,” Kessa said.

While initially planning to still travel down to attend Camp Sunrise, Kessa decided to give Camp Mountainview a shot and started working there the following summer.

“I made some close friendships that I still have to this day.”

“My first summer working at camp was seriously life changing. I made some close friendships that I still have to this day,” she added.

One of the close friends she made, eventually became her husband.

“My best friend was Brekin Daniels. I met him at camp and he is now my husband. We’ve been married for four years. It’s my most valuable relationship from Camp Mountainview,” Kessa said. “Quite a few of the staff members were actually at our wedding party when we got married.”

Kessa and Brekin met in 2013. Later on, in 2017, Brekin got hired at the camp where he worked together with Kessa. A year later they started dating.

Today, they have a two-year-old son, who will be attending Camp Mountainview for the first time this summer, keeping the tradition going.

“It taught me leadership, it gave me a chance to learn about who I was and to develop as a person.”

“Malakai will be spending his first summer at camp this year, and we’re very excited about it,” Kessa said.

Thanks to her significant involvement with camp in her youth years, Kessa credits her time at Salvation Army camps with preparing her for adult life.

“Working at camp gave me some valuable on-the-job training that I used, even at jobs outside of working for The Salvation Army. It taught me leadership, it gave me a chance to learn about who I was and to develop as a person,” Kessa explained.

With her vast knowledge of Camp Mountainview, Kessa likes to promote it and ensures parents that campers that enroll will have a great time and learn valuable lessons.

“The camp staff are some of the most loving and caring people. They are specially selected out of many applicants. It is just the opportunity of a lifetime. Camp Mountainview is a safe place to laugh, have fun and grow.”

By Juan Romero