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Full-time and seasonal staff smile for group picture at the plaza Camp Aranzazu activity leader gather together with their instructor in front of the rock wall two activity leaders stand on each side of Ted as they pose with a piece of steering equipment and in front of the sailboat on copano bay. ted and activity leaders are wearing life jackets and smiling at the camera

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    July 15, 2022

    Meet our 2022 Activity Leaders

    Meet our 2022 Activity Leaders

    Written by: Bianca Hernandez, Development Associate

    Activity Leaders have the fun and impactful job of enriching the lives of our campers with special needs and chronic illnesses through unique camping, environmental studies and retreat experiences in Rockport, TX. Our activity leaders facilitate a wide variety of activities including, arts and crafts, archery, high and low challenge courses, sports and games, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, sailing, swimming, nature sessions and more!

    These dedicated young people make the magic happen at Camp Aranzazu, and I can’t wait for you to meet them this summer! Keep reading to learn more about this year’s incredible group of activity leaders.

    We’re excited to welcome Kaleb for his first summer at Camp Aranzazu! Kaleb is most excited to help campers tackle the Challenge Course and gaining more experience in therapeutic recreation. Kaleb is no stranger to ropes courses; he has previous experience working at an adventure therapy course and knows how rewarding that time can be for campers AND staff! Kaleb is a North Carolina native and looking forward to spending the summer learning new skills and meeting new people at Camp Aranzazu! If you tell Kaleb enough jokes this summer, you may be able to hear his best Spongebob laugh!

    Join us in welcoming first-time activity leader, Gillian! Camp Aranzazu is the perfect place for Gillian. She’s spent the last few weeks in training learning about all our camp activities and looking forward to putting her skipper training to work as she sails with campers along Copano Bay. Gillian never thought she’d be a skipper, and she’s excited to spend the summer on the water! When she’s not at the Bayfront, you can expect to find Gillian spending time laughing with her coworkers or resting up for all the camp adventures she’ll have this year.

    Say hello to one of our first-time activity leaders, Anna! Anna is a compassionate and hardworking Michigander who’s looking forward to all the time she’ll spend with campers sailing along Copano Bay. Anna grew up sailing with her dad in Michigan and is looking forward to putting her skills to use on the Texas Gulf Coast. If you’re wondering what to talk about with Anna while you’re out on the water, chat with her about her love for music — she plays the ukulele, piano, and drums!

    Our team is thrilled to have Hannah join us for another summer at Camp Aranzazu! If you met her last year, you’ll know Hannah is full of laughs and always looking for ways to enjoy as many new adventures as possible. Hannah is most looking forward to reuniting with our returning campers and meeting new campers this summer! As a returning activity leader, Hannah can’t wait to be out on the challenge course with campers once again. “Watching campers face their fears, meet their goals, and support their friends NEVER gets old!”

    We’re lucky to have Raeann on our team for a second year at Camp Aranzazu! Raeann is focusing on being in the moment and soaking up all the memories spent getting to know campers. She’s a self-described “sunshiny” person and will be full of energy this summer! Raeann is excited to show off her birding skills and help campers find love for enjoying our natural environment. We can’t wait for our returning and new campers to spend time with Raeann this summer!

    Welcome to the team, Rachel! Rachel is a first-time activity leader and looking forward to spending her summer adventuring at Camp Aranzazu. As a first-time activity leader, Rachel is excited to share her passion for being creative while doing arts and crafts with campers and showing campers the benefits of kayaking. “Kayaking is a peaceful and easy way to be outside, and you get to see all kinds of nature.” Rachel is hoping to help our campers have fun and make tons of memories this summer! Fun fact about Rachel: she’s scuba certified!

    You’ll be excited to know that we’re welcoming Arnold back for his second summer at Camp Aranzazu. Arnold was a camper at Camp Aranzazu and has a special love for our mission and the work we do with campers. Arnold will be spending his summer getting to know campers, making everyone around him laugh, and balling up at the nearest basketball court. Arnoldo is excited to create a memorable camping experience for all the campers who come through the gates this summer!

    Give a big Camp Aranzazu welcome to Gabrielle who will be joining our team for the first time this summer! Gabrielle is most looking forward to tackling new activities and exploring all that Camp Aranzazu has to offer. As a first-time activity leader, Gabrielle is excited to facilitate arts and crafts for our campers because she understands how helpful these activities can be to relieve stress. When she’s not working or studying, you might find Gabrielle watching her favorite movie or wandering around a museum.

    We’re so happy to have Katie Anne back at Camp Aranzazu for her second summer! As a returning activity leader, Katie Anne can’t wait to welcome back our returning campers and make memories with all the smiling campers arriving at Camp for the first time. She’s excited to help campers challenge themselves at archery and hit the target! If you’re looking for Katie Anne around camp, you can probably find her enjoying the beauty of camp on a walk around the property or doodling in the Art Center.

    We’ll also have a few long-time friends of Camp Aranzazu, Misty, Alyssa, and Word, join in on the fun this summer. Each of them have moved on from their time at Camp Aranzazu, but will be returning to camp with us a bit throughout the year.

    Thanks for choosing to spend your summer at Camp Aranzazu! We know it will be a summer to remember! If you are interested in learning more about future activity leader openings, please visit our website.

     

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    Below are a list of volunteer opportunities at Camp Aranzazu. We will continue to update and add additional volunteer opportunities as they become available. Thank you for your interest!


    Special Events Support

    Camp Aranzazu holds several fundraising events throughout the year in Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Rockport. Volunteers are always needed to help make each event successful!

    In Fall 2023, our special events include:

    • Bells & Shells in San Antonio - November 15-16, 2023
    • Holiday Bells & Shells in Houston - December 5, 2023

    If you are interested volunteering at one of our special events, please email our development and communications project manager, Bianca, for more information on upcoming events.

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    Activity Leader Summer 2019 Job Opportunity​​

    Every year, Camp Aranzazu hires roughly 20 college aged individuals with varying skill sets to work as Activity Leaders from mid-May to mid-August. Activity Leaders have the fun and impactful job of enriching the lives of our campers with special needs through unique camping, environmental studies and retreat experiences.

    Activity Leaders facilitate a variety of activities including, but not limited to arts and crafts, archery, high and low challenge courses, sports and games, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, sailing, swimming, nature sessions and more!

    Benefits of this paid position include room and board and the potential to satisfy fieldwork and internship requirements in various fields of study. The buttons below include the additional documentation you will need to apply for the Activity Leader position. Email your completed application, resume and two unique and completed reference forms to our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, and prepare for the summer camp experience of a lifetime!

    If you have any questions, contact our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, at ahaslam@camparanzazu.org.

    Job Description Application Reference Form


    Part-Time Receptionist

    Are you looking for a part-time job opportunity that allows you to be surrounded by nature in a supportive work environment? Camp Aranzazu currently has an opening for a part-time receptionist position on our staff. This opportunity will allow you to support our mission of enriching the lives of children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses. To learn more about the position, click the job description below. 

    The Receptionist is responsible for overseeing functions related to the front office. The Receptionist also assists with special projects and provides some administrative support for all staff. If you are interested in the position and have any questions, please contact Lillian Anfosso, our Finance and Administative Director at lanfosso@camparanzazu.org. 

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    Sailing Supervisor

    Imagine a position that allows you to work with campers each day and have a beautiful view of Copano Bay along the Texas Gulf Coast.

    Camp Aranzazu seeks someone with strong sailing experience to supervise our summer sailing program from mid-May through August 2019. The Sailing Supervisor will ensure that Camp Aranzazu provides a safe environment for children with special medical, physical, emotional, social or financial needs to experience sailing. Camp sessions include day camp sessions, as well as residential sessions that last from one to six nights. If you have any questions, contact our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, at ahaslam@camparanzazu.org.

    Make sure to check out the job description below. To apply, email your resume to Amelia Haslam. 


    Job Description


    Summer Art Instructor

    Do you have a passion for providing fine arts education and working with a committed staff of people dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with special needs and chronic illnesses?

    Camp Aranzazu seeks someone with art teaching experience to supervise our summer fine arts program from mid-May through mid-August 2019. The Art Instructor will ensure that Camp Aranzazu provides an intentional, expressive, and safe environment for children with special medical, physical, emotional, and/or social needs to create and experience fine arts. Camp session include day camp sessions, as well as residential sessions that last from one to six nights. If you have any questions, contact our Camp Director, Amelia Haslam, at ahaslam@camparanzazu.org.

    Make sure to check out the job description below. To apply, email your resume to Amelia Haslam. 

    Job Description