Mother and Son Team Up to Bring Joy to Summer Camps in Bermuda

Summer camps provide a wonderful opportunity for children to socialize, stay active and learn new things that can have a lasting impact. Behind every child’s positive experience, there are dedicated camp staff and volunteers who work hard to ensure that campers are safe and enjoying themselves.

Joanne and Wendell Anderson are a mother-and-son duo who have dedicated much of their time to The Salvation Army’s youth summer camps in Bermuda. Wendell as a camp counsellor and Joanne as a volunteer. This familiar bond has brought fun, laughter and warmth to children over the years.

Serving for Over a Decade

Wendell was the first one in the family to get involved with summer camp when he was a teenager.

“I wanted a good summer job at that time. My involvement brought me closer to God and strengthened my faith,” Wendell shares. He found it very fulfilling to be able to teach children about God and lead them through different activities at camp.

For 11 years, Wendell devoted every summer to his camp staff duties. He became a familiar face to frequent campers.

“They got really excited when they saw me. They would say, ‘Oh, I remember you!’,” Wendell adds.

Due to his lengthy experience, younger members of the camp’s staff looked up to him for guidance on how to perform their duties.

A Family Connection

Wendell’s mother, Joanne, who is a high school teacher, joined him at camp in recent years. She loves working with and teaching young people. She was thrilled when the opportunity to volunteer came along.

“Camp for me is just a way of giving back to The Salvation Army’s youth ministry because they gave so much to my children,” she says.

Joanne explained that both of her sons, including Wendell, went to Sunday school, which inspired them to be the good people they are today.

At camp, Joanne taught a cake decorating class for campers. Her teaching experience made lessons engaging and enjoyable. She received positive feedback from parents that made her realize her work was making a difference.

For Wendell, having Joanne close by at camp was a perfect opportunity to get advice and have someone to lean on.

“We are a close family. I just try to support him. I’m really happy and thankful that God is using him in this manner to reach out to young people,” Joanne shares.

Continued Commitment 

His time as a camp staffer encouraged Wendell to continue working with The Salvation Army. He is now a caseworker at his local shelter.

“I want to repay the love and compassion that they were able to show me. And now with my job at the shelter, I am trying to pass that off to adults,” he says.

Since Wendell now has a full-time job, he has passed on his camp responsibilities to younger counsellors. However, Joanne continues to volunteer.

“If I’m called upon to come in, I’ll be more than happy to,” Joanne says.

Salvation Army camps are beneficial for children and parents. They present an opportunity for parents to keep their children engaged during their school break, and they serve as a learning experience for campers.

“We are planning a safe, fun-filled, relationship-building experience. Parents can expect their children to be creative with hands-on and team-building activities,” explains, Karen Trott, who is this year’s camp director.

The Bermuda Salvation Army’s youth summer camps are available for children between the ages of six and 14. Registration is now open at www.salvationarmy.bm.

By Juan Romero