Camp + Family = Community

Mária Eagle is what people would describe as a firecracker. She is quick to a joke, quicker to a lighthearted jab, and, out of love, always willing to jokingly “fight” anyone in the room. 

Before coming to Bay Shore, Mária used to work in the food service industry bussing tables. She was strong in her faith but didn’t have a community of believers that she could call her own. One Sunday, after singing on the worship team, one of the Bay Shore staff approached her about a job opportunity for the summer. She applied and was given the job of worship coordinator in our ‘On The Road’ program. While there, she realized what it meant to have a strong Christian community, which she found in her coworkers and church staff.

 “This community has filled a hole in my life.” Mária says. She is especially blown away by the impact she’s seen while bringing camp to kids. Mária loved being able to see kids “do camp” and being a part of bringing camp to them was special because she would’ve loved for someone to bring it to her. Now, she has a large Christian family to lean on and support her. 

Mária has returned to Bay Shore Camp this summer working with one of our ‘On The Road’ teams for Day Camp after completing Bay Shore Camp’s internship program during the winter. She is laughing and smiling more at this job than she ever has before. The internship opportunity to work and grow at Bay Shore has been a life changing experience for her. She has been able to grow and learn adult responsibilities while being supported by her fellow staff. The internship and the On The Road program are supported through gifts from generous people. Without the people out there willing to give donations, Mária may have never found her camp family.