Summer Camp is STILL Where Growth Happens and Core Memories Are Made
In this reader-submitted “Southern Voices” essay, Memphis educator Saleama A. Ruvalcaba shares her heart for summer camp and the lasting impact it can have on children and families. Image: Unsplash
“Southern Voices” is a reader-submitted platform. Today’s essay comes from Saleama A. Ruvalcaba of Memphis, Director of Leap Enrichment, After School, and Summer Programs at Harding Academy.
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The morning of our first field trip two summers ago, I stood watching parents say goodbye to their children. Some were first-time campers, clutching their lunch boxes a little tighter. Others were veterans, already racing toward their friends. And in that moment, I felt the weight of what these families were entrusting to us: not just their children’s safety for the day, but for the summer itself.
For many Memphis families, summer day camp fills a practical need. Parents work. School is out. Schedules need filling. But somewhere along the way, we’ve reduced day camp to a checkbox on the summer to-do list — a place for children to simply “be” while parents work. I believe day camp is so much more than that. It’s a unique opportunity for children to grow, explore, build friendships, learn independence, and create memories that last long after summer ends.
That belief has guided everything I do as the Director of Leap Enrichment, After School, and Summer Programs at Harding Academy — and long before I stepped into this role, it shaped the way my family approached education, community, and calling. A Foundation Built on Family, Faith, and Community.
Before joining the private Christian school world, my husband and I spent years building two homeschool organizations from the ground up. We didn’t begin with resources, funding, or a roadmap. We simply felt called to serve families through meaningful homeschool educational experiences that honored both academic excellence and the unique pace of childhood. By God’s grace, those organizations grew into vibrant communities serving more than 500 families across the Mid-South.
Over the years, we created field trip programs that turned learning into adventure, educational workshops that sparked curiosity, enrichment classes that unveiled hidden talents, service projects that taught compassion, sports camps that taught fundamentals, and social opportunities that built lasting friendships — all centered on connection, discovery, and purpose.
Those years were formative. They taught us that children flourish when adults are intentional, prepared, organized, and invested. We learned that structure creates freedom, that thoughtful planning makes room for spontaneity, and that excellence in the details communicates care in ways words never can.
When I transitioned into private education in 2023 and eventually took my current role, I carried those lessons with me. I knew what it felt like to build something from nothing. I understood the sacred trust parents place in educators. And I was determined to honor that trust with everything I had.
Building a Program with Purpose
When I stepped into this role, my goal was simple: to offer children a joyful, safe, well-structured environment where they could discover, create, and thrive, and make memories. I didn’t set out to win awards or build the biggest camp in Memphis. I set out to serve well — to steward this opportunity with excellence and to honor God in the process.
I began by asking questions: What do children truly need in the summer? What do parents worry about most? What makes a day memorable versus merely manageable? What will make my staff enjoy working? And what does it look like to run a camp that respects both the freedom of summer and the responsibility of caring for other people’s children?
The answers shaped everything: our daily schedule, staff training, communication systems, activity planning, and even how we loaded the buses for field trips. I worked months in advance, building systems that would ensure nothing fell through the cracks.
I created detailed itineraries, emergency protocols, and contingency plans. I trained staff not just on what to do, but on why it mattered. I communicated relentlessly with parents because I knew that trust is built through transparency. What followed surprised even me. Within two years under my leadership, the camp was recognized by the Memphis community for what it had become.
In 2025, our Day Camp received the Memphis Community Choice Award for Best Day Camp, placed second in its category behind our preschool, and was named Best Day Camp by Memphis Parent Magazine. These honors belong to the entire community — the families who trusted us, the children who brought joy and energy every single day, the staff who showed up with patience and creativity, and the school that supported our growth. I simply had the privilege of guiding the vision and holding the pieces together.
But more than any award, what matters most are the moments: the child who finally conquered their fear of making new friendships, the artwork created with complete abandon, the laughter echoing through the hallways, the water and snow cones, and the parents who said, “My child doesn’t want summer to end.”
Why Organization Matters More Than People Realize
One of the most consistent compliments parents share is that our camp is organized. At first glance, organization may not sound exciting; it doesn’t have the flash of a zip line or the appeal of a pool day. But it is the cornerstone of a safe, joyful, and effective camp environment.
When a camp is organized, children feel secure. They know what to expect, what comes next, and that the adults around them are in control. That sense of security frees them to be fully present, to take risks, to try new things. When a camp is organized, parents feel confident.
They trust that their child is safe, that allergies will be remembered, that emergencies will be handled, and that communication will be clear. When a camp is organized, staff feel supported. They aren’t scrambling or improvising. They have the tools, training, and information they need to do their jobs well, and that translates directly into better care for campers.
When a camp is organized, activities run smoothly. Transitions happen without chaos. Field trips start on time. Materials are ready. Safety is never an afterthought. And perhaps most importantly, when a camp is organized, creativity has room to flourish. Structure doesn’t stifle spontaneity; it creates the conditions for it.
When the logistics are handled, counselors can focus on connection. When systems are in place, there’s space for amazing things to happen. Last summer, a local field trip venue even offered us a $1,000 discount for being the most organized camp they hosted all season.
This was a confirmation that organization isn’t just a skill. It’s a stewardship. It communicates care, respect, and intentionality. It says, “You matter enough for me to prepare. Your child matters enough for me to get this right.”
The Unseen Work Behind Every Summer Day
Most parents see only a fraction of what goes into running a summer camp. They see the daily schedule in the email, the photos from field trips, and the smiling children at pickup. What they don’t see are the months of preparation that happen before the first day of camp.
Running a summer camp means preparing in November for May. It means coordinating details that most people will never notice — and that’s exactly the point. It means caring deeply about the experience of every single child, from the extrovert who makes friends in five minutes to the quiet observer who needs extra encouragement. It means leading staff through training, conflict resolution, and exhaustion.
It means managing budgets, negotiating with vendors, and planning meaningful activities that balance fun with purpose. It means communicating constantly with families, answering questions, and staying flexible when plans inevitably change. It means being patient when a child is homesick, steady when a parent is anxious, and calm when the air conditioning breaks during the hottest week of July.
To me, it’s a calling — one I take seriously and joyfully. I believe that when God places something in your hands, you honor Him by doing it with excellence. Not perfection, but wholehearted effort. Not for applause, but for stewardship.
What Children Truly Need in Summer
In a culture that often overschedules children, summer offers something rare: time. Time to play without pressure. Time to explore without grades. Time to simply be a child. Day camp, at its best, protects that space while also offering structure, connection, and opportunity.
Children need freedom and boundaries. They need adventure and safety. They need to try new things and to feel known. They need to laugh with friends and to learn independence. They need to create without fear of failure and to discover that they’re capable of more than they realized. Our camp philosophy is built on these needs.
We offer a mix of planned activities and free play. We take field trips that spark wonder and offer quiet times for rest. We celebrate individual interests while building community. We let children lead sometimes and guide them at others.
Encouragement for Other Camps Across Memphis
If I could offer a word of encouragement to other camps across our city — whether you’re running a church program, a community center camp, or a backyard co-op — it would be this: Summer is a season for making lasting memories with children. Steward it well. Not through elaborate plans or the biggest budgets, but through thoughtfulness, organization, kindness, creativity, intentional planning, and a heart for the families you serve.
Every child who walks through your doors is someone’s whole world. Every parent who drops off their child is extending trust. Honor that. Steward it. Do it with excellence.
A Final Word of Gratitude
I am grateful — to our school, our families, our staff, and the Memphis community — for trusting me with this work. I’m humbled by the awards, but even more grateful for the opportunity to pour into children each summer.
Summer Day Camp is an experience, a ministry, and a memory in the making. And it deserves our very best.
If you have a story to tell, take a look at the guidelines for Southern Voices submissions here.
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Saleama Ruvalcaba
A wife and mother, Saleama is a former home educator who co-founded two Memphis-area homeschool organizations, Proverbs 22:6 and Gifted Athletes, serving more than 500 families across the Mid-South. She holds a master’s degree in theology.