A Message From Maxine Dalton
Hi everyone, my name is Max (or "Moana") and I joined UCLA UniCamp as a freshman in 2020. Last camp season, I worked as both a Session Program Director and a Summer Staffer. This year, I will be serving both as the Student Chair and one of the WALL Advisors for UCLA UniCamp.
I initially joined UniCamp because I have a passion for both working with kids and the outdoors. I thought to myself, "Summer camp for a week? That sounds dope!" and proceeded to sign up as soon as the application came out.
Thinking back to it now, I remember being so excited to join UniCamp that I read the entire UniCamp Textbook before my first session meeting. I exposed myself as a geek during our Session 2 boba social -- a story that many of my original OCP (Older Camper Program) Advisors and LSHIP (Leadership Team) members enjoy retelling now! However, the reason I have continued to volunteer with UniCamp can't actually be found in that virtual textbook.
The reason I have stayed with UniCamp all this time is the sense of community found here. All of my closest friends at UCLA have come from the strong connections built by working with children in an outdoor environment. Whether it was sharing stories from the day at Counselor Campfire, or opening the pool at 6am for a Polar Plunge Swim and seeing the excitement on campers' faces, our community continues to make great memories all while giving back to our local LA County community. I'll never forget the campers I've met, volunteers I've worked with, or the close community of friends that I've established through my experience with UniCamp thus far.
While my role as Student Chair has less direct contact with our camper community, I am looking forward to my time as a WALL Advisor this upcoming summer. As a WALL Advisor, I will be working with Older Campers and assisting them on a 4-day backpacking excursion through the wilderness. As a group, we will physically summit a mountain while mentally focusing on key skills such as resiliency and sustainability.
Thank you for reading about how UniCamp has become a significant part of my life. If you are able, I appreciate your support in donating to ensure that UniCamp and our WALL Program are able to provide opportunities for children of all backgrounds.
MWL,
Moana 🌺
