Meet our Summer Camp Co-Directors—Laura Shropshire and Ailani Ramirez-Pineda, who are hard at work to make sure our campers have their best summer yet! As former camp counselors, these two are trained professionals in FUN! They invite you to join them this summer for the adventure of a lifetime! We sat down for a conservation about their perspective on all things summer, and here’s how it went…

This year’s summer camp will explore the biodiversity of Reflection Riding’s campus while learning about adaptations of native species and ecosystem function. Both directors are currently crafting unforgettable experiences for these educational programs. When asked about their favorite upcoming game, they had this to say:

• Ailani: “It’s a tree life cycle game–I call out a different stage in the tree life cycle, and then the kids have five seconds with a partner to act out that stage in the life cycle.”

• Laura: “I really love Camouflage—it’s a camper favorite. It is essentially hide-and-seek. A person who is “it” stays in one spot. They close their eyes and count to 30 while the rest of the group “camouflages” themselves somewhere. The person who is it calls out whoever they see from their spot.

Education still lies at the heart of their work. Both of them fondly remember their history as camp counselors. They love the process of education because it involves reciprocity—just as much as they teach children, they are also left with an imprint of their own. Both directors explain what summer camp means to them:

• Ailani: “To me, it means working a lot with kids, which I really enjoy. That’s one of my favorite parts—working with the kids and just inspiring them to care about nature and want to take care of it. But also, I learn new things when I’m with them, and I’m continuing to learn new things, so I really like that part too.”

• Laura: “I love every part of camp, but having spontaneous learning opportunities with kids is always the best. I feel like I have just as much fun as the kids do.”

Their positions remain dear to their hearts because working with children supports the next generation in kindness and compassion. Ailani recalls a memory when she was able to encourage a disabled camper to keep going and not feel hard on herself—in that moment, Ailani felt the impact of being a mentor. Similarly, Laura understands the importance of validation. By providing kids with a space to be authentic to themselves, they can grow in confidence and acceptance. Just like adults, kids are people, too. Laura wants all campers to recognize: “You're allowed to take up space.” 

Each Camp Director will bring their unique experiences to the table in creating this summer’s exciting agenda.

We asked them more questions to learn more about their outlook for the year:

• What do you love about summer?

• Ailani: “I love the heat; I am not big on cold … I really like being outside—it’s really good for me, the kids, and everybody’s mental health, so I love that.

• Laura: “In general, I hate summer because of the heat, but I love summer activities. [I] love kayaking, canoeing, and being able to go out and hike and not have to freeze to death. I also love seeing all the reptiles moving around.”

• Why do you think summer camp is important for kids?

• Ailani: “It helps build their social skills [by] being with kids that they may not go to school with, so they might have different backgrounds… They make friends, and it’s a great way for the kids to get out besides being at home. A lot of kids don’t know how to play anymore, so this is a great way to get away from electronics and be more creative and hands-on. It’s [also] really good for their mental health to be outside and interact with nature.”

• Laura: “So many reasons! I think it’s really important for socialization and meeting new and diverse people. I think it’s important for kids to get out in nature and experience it; they’re also going to learn better and retain more information if they’re able to activate their senses while that information is being given to them. Like Ailani mentioned, I also feel like kids don’t always get the opportunity to be outside anymore. There have been so many situations where kids have told us they don’t know how to play or use their imagination.”

• What are you most excited about for this year’s summer camp?

• Ailani: “I am nervous and excited to see how it all plays out. I am excited to—hopefully—see some kids from last year’s summer camp, but I’m excited to meet new ones. [I’m excited] to see if [the kids] like the games and if they have a good time.”

• Laura: “Canoe days, for sure—just in general, because I love canoeing. The kids who have [been canoeing before] are so confident in their skills. [I’m excited about] seeing how eager and excited they are. For the kids who haven’t, I feel like they team up with the ones who have. It’s such a team-building experience. Also, sometimes they are really afraid to get dirty. By the end of it, they’re loving it and rubbing it on their arms and their face and just embracing the chaos of canoeing.”

Our Camp Directors are excited to share the wonders of nature with your kids this summer! Register today to ensure a spot at Chattanooga’s best outdoor summer camp.

Do you love adventure and teaching the next generation? Our team is currently hiring for multiple Camp Counselor positions! If you are interested or would like to apply, please reach out to jobs@reflectionriding.org.