Camp Klotty Pine Counselor Spotlight – Meet Julia and Maria
Meet Julia
Hometown: Janesville, WI
How many summers have you been coming to Camp? This will be my 9th summer!
What’s your favorite camp activity or tradition? Closing campfire, with the talent show in close second! I love seeing everyone’s sparkling faces over the campfire, hearing about what campers took away from the week and the friendships they built. Then, singing Linger one last time with all of camp to close out the week.
What’s your go-to campfire song? The Conehead Astronaut Song! Andy taught it when I was a camper, and it’s been my favorite ever since!
What is your camp superpower? BRINGING THE ENERGY!!!!
What impact did camp have on you while growing up with a bleeding disorder? There was never a chance to share the experiences I had as an individual with Von Willebrand Disease until Camp Klotty Pine. Without this camp I would not have made the valuable friendships I hold today with other Counselors that were campers with me. Having a bleeding disorder can be confusing and cause a lot of questions, but the supportive environment of Camp made me feel secure in the fact that I am a proud woman with a bleeding disorder who has nothing to be ashamed of.
What advice would you give to a first-time camper?. Camp is so exciting, but it can be intimidating (and scary) at first as a new camper. But, don’t be afraid to be silly, put yourself out there and try new things – you will thank yourself by the end of the week! Also, having no electronics for a week is AWESOME. You forget about it completely when you’re too busy having fun with your friends!
What do you hope campers gain from the experience? I hope every camper that comes to camp leaves feeling like they could be authentically themselves the whole week. Camp is a safe space to be yourself and make connections with others who know exactly what you are going through. Camp has always been a place where I felt truly seen, and I want to ensure that every camper feels as celebrated and valued as I did.
What keeps you busy when you’re not at camp? I go to UW-Madison and plan on applying for Nursing school this upcoming semester. I also work as a CNA at a hospital close to home and love it. The nurses at Camp and UW-Health have inspired me to one day help campers as a nurse someday!
Meet Maria
Hometown: Neenah, WI
How many summers have you been coming to Camp? This will be my 6th summer!
What’s your favorite camp activity or tradition? Watching Andy’s highlight video at the end of the week or trips to Mauthe lake!
What’s your go-to campfire song? Lean On Me
Tell us about a favorite camp memory. One year the health staff put together an all-camp relay race that tested our knowledge of bleeding disorders. The relay included water blasters and balloons, and by the end it turned into a spontaneous all-camp water fight!
What impact did camp have on you while growing up with a bleeding disorder? Camp helped me find a community of women with bleeding disorders. Being a woman with a bleeding disorder felt isolating at first, but now I feel like I have life long connections with the people I met through Camp.
What keeps you busy when you’re not at camp? I am a chemistry student at UW-Madison.
What inspires you to come back to camp as a counselor and be a role model for our campers?
I always ask myself: how can I make camp more fun and meaningful each year? I want to ensure the new campers have a great first experience and returning campers still feel the excitement year after year.