“We want the kids to feel like they’ve had a cultural experience because they had staff from another country.” - Scotty Jackson, Sr. Executive Director of Camping Services, YMCA PKC
At YMCA Camp Seymour, summer camp has always been about connection. Campers come to explore the outdoors, try new things, build confidence, and make friends. In recent years, that sense of connection has grown even wider as Camp Seymour has welcomed more international staff from around the world.
For more than 20 years, Camp Seymour has brought in international staff through programs like International Exchange of North America and other organizations that help young adults spend a summer working at camp in the United States. Over the past couple of years, the camp team began looking for ways to strengthen that program and create an even richer cultural exchange for staff and campers.
Building a More Global Camp Community
In 2024, Camp Seymour expanded its international staff recruitment efforts. Scotty Jackson, Executive Director at Camp Seymour, traveled to Pueblo, Mexico, with two returning staff members, Diego and Mariana, to meet potential summer staff members and share what makes Camp Seymour special.
Some applicants were unsure if their English was strong enough to work directly with campers. Diego and Mariana helped encourage strong candidates to see themselves as cabin leaders and not just as behind-the-scenes support staff. That summer, Camp Seymour welcomed 28 international staff members, including a large group from Mexico and staff from countries including Denmark, England, Egypt, and Ireland.
That growth changed the experience for everyone. Instead of having just a few international staff members scattered across camp, Camp Seymour was able to create larger pockets of support, helping staff feel less isolated and more connected to one another.
A Cultural Exchange for Campers and Staff
The goal is bigger than filling summer roles. International staff bring new perspectives, stories, languages, traditions, and experiences into everyday camp life.
“We want the kids to feel like they’ve had a cultural experience because they had staff from another country,” Scotty said.
That can happen in small ways throughout the week. A camper might learn a song from another country, ask a counselor about where they grew up, see a flag in the dining hall or discover that soccer can connect people across languages and backgrounds.
This summer, Camp Seymour has staff representing 10 countries. The team has also talked about the World Cup, with several countries represented by staff members at camp. During a recent soccer game at the Gig Harbor Sports Fields near the Tom Taylor Family YMCA, staff from around the world came together through a shared love of the sport.
Supporting the People Who Make Camp Possible
Camp Seymour’s international staff program also includes intentional care and relationship-building. Leadership staff plan opportunities for international and U.S. staff to spend time together outside of the regular camp schedule, including trips to Seattle, outings to baseball games, and other shared experiences.
Those moments matter. Many international staff arrive without a car, far from home, and surrounded by new routines. Some U.S. staff also travel from other states and experience the same feeling of being in a new place. By creating space for staff to connect, share their cultures, and build friendships, Camp Seymour helps make camp feel like home.
That culture of care has created lasting relationships. Some international staff have returned for additional summers, growing into unit directors and leadership roles. Others have helped expand the Y’s global connections, including partnerships with YMCA Kosovo and Volyn YMCA in Ukraine.
This year, Camp Seymour also welcomed staff from Kosovo who are preparing to lead a new camp facility in their home country. During their time in Pierce and Kitsap Counties, they’ll be working as cabin leaders, learning from local YMCA staff, and sharing their own experiences with teens and camp leaders.
The World Feels a Little Closer at Camp
For campers, the impact can be world-expanding. They get to meet caring adults from around the globe without leaving the shores of Glen Cove. They hear different accents, learn about different places, and see firsthand that friendships can stretch across countries and cultures.
At Camp Seymour, international staff help make summer bigger, brighter, and more connected. They remind campers that the world is full of people to meet, stories to hear, and places to learn from.
And sometimes, that starts with a cabin leader, a campfire song, or a soccer game on a summer evening.