At 19, Sol Hanselman was still figuring out what his future might hold when he was hired to serve on the 2023 staff at Camp Magruder on the Oregon coast. He was first invited to camp as a camper years earlier by his childhood best friend’s grandmother, a longtime Magruder volunteer. Camp quickly became a beloved place, but even as he returned year after year, Sol sensed there was room for him to grow, to see what lay beyond the familiar paths and faces of his home camp.

That opportunity came in the summer of 2025 when Sol served as Resource Staff at Magruder and was also chosen to participate in UMCRM’s Summer Staff Exchange Program. For two weeks he stepped into a new role at Camp Glisson in Georgia, serving as a counselor in a camp community he had never known before. The Exchange let him “dip his toe” into a broader world of camp ministry; one where he could still do what he loved while testing his leadership in an unfamiliar setting. He quickly discovered how other leaders wove their mission into daily life and how intentionally they cared for their sacred spaces. Conversations with Glisson’s staff deepened his understanding of camp’s purpose and introduced him to peers who shared their dreams for ministry.

What Sol gained most from the Exchange was confidence. By stepping into a new environment, he proved to himself that he could adapt, connect, and thrive outside of what was familiar. “The Summer Staff Exchange,” Sol says, “is a chance to work the muscle of being open to newness and new ideas.” That growth has carried into other parts of his life as well, including his work during the school year at Outdoor School, where he brings the same openness and courage to new challenges.

The experience also affirmed that his passion for camp ministry has a future. Seeing how other leaders live out their callings helped Sol recognize that his own hopes and aspirations are being taken seriously. He left Glisson not only with new skills and friendships but also with a stronger belief that camp and retreat ministry is a place where he belongs.

Looking ahead, Sol is excited to keep building on the connections and lessons that began with the Exchange. He treasures the chance to collaborate with others—like Nate, the staffer Magruder hosted in the program—and looks forward to more opportunities for growth. He also carries deep gratitude for the Camp Glisson counselors he worked alongside, including Stephen Kemmerer, James Yeretzian, Claudia Kemp, Sophia Austin, and Ethan McEntyre. “They showed me a thread that connects counselors across the entire country,” Sol says, “by caring and dedicating so much for children and youth.” Reflecting on it all, he adds, “I will always remember the summer I got to hang with the people at Glisson.” What began as a leap into the unknown has become a steady step toward a future in camp ministry, full of confidence and renewed spirit.