Sebastian
This month’s installment of Beam’s Community Spotlight series features Sebastian. Sebastian is a sophomore at The Dalton High School and dreams of creating a video game one day after he is done with school. He is interested in creating things whether through art, engineering, or other mediums. He says, “In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends, reading, and watching TV with my mom.”
Sebastian went to Beam Camp during summer 2022 and will be returning again for summer 2023. Sebastian says that at first he felt “anxious” when he went down to New Hampshire since he didn’t know anyone. But he didn’t feel anxious for long because “One of the things that I think is really special about Beam is how quickly it creates a strong sense of community in their programs,” says Sebastian.
Sebastian says Beam Camp gave him the opportunity to meet many different people he otherwise would not have been able to meet. When asked why he is returning to Beam Camp, Sebastian says, “I am returning because I really enjoy the community among the campers, staff, and counselors. I also really like the opportunity to work with tools; it’s a completely different skill set from what I learn at school and we get the independence to figure things out on our own.”
He was part of the Fellows program at Beam Camp, where campers ages 15 and up are trained to play an integral role in the completion of the Big Project being built at camp. Fellows go deeper into the management and building skills required to make the project, and if they earn them, leadership roles on the Project Teams (also known as “Waves”). Speaking about his experience as a Fellow Sebastian says, “For pretty much the first time, Fellows put me in the position of being a leader for younger kids, and I think my experience with that has made me a lot more confident with being a mentor. Fellows, and the rest of the camp, is also about working together towards a common goal, and I think that’s made my ability to work in a team much stronger.”
When asked what makes Beam Camp special, Sebastian says, “Unlike many other summer camps, [Beam Camp] gives campers a lot of independence. Of course, there’s the project, which is mostly done by the campers themselves with adult supervision. But there’s also independent projects, the Fellows program, and the ability for campers to choose what to do during free periods. This is important, not only because it is enjoyable, but also because it encourages being creative and trying new experiences, which is especially important for people who would not otherwise be able to do outside of camp.”
We’re extremely grateful that Sebatian joined Beam Camp last summer and will be returning again this year. Thank you for being part of Beam, Sebastian!
