EPIC Voices: Mentorship Matters
By Katia Beales-Salovitch
One of the best ways to grow as an emerging camp professional is through mentorship. A mentor offers perspective, encouragement, and wisdom that helps you navigate challenges with more confidence. They’ve been where you are, and their stories and lessons can shorten your learning curve while reminding you that you’re not alone in the journey. Having someone to check in with, whether about managing staff, handling parent concerns, or planning your career path, can make the difference between feeling stuck and moving forward with clarity. I believe the mentorship I have received through the years is the reason I have found my way into working in camping full-time.
But mentorship isn’t just about receiving, it’s about giving, too. Supporting a younger staff member or guiding someone through their first leadership role accelerates your growth. Teaching others sharpens your own skills, deepens your self-awareness, and helps create a culture of learning and support at camp. Every time you mentor, you’re not just helping one person; rather, you’re investing in the strength of the entire camp community.
Mentorship truly is a two-way street. Emerging professionals bring fresh ideas and energy that inspire seasoned leaders, while mentors provide wisdom and stability. When both sides invest, everyone grows, and so does the camping movement. Imagine what the future of camping could look like if every professional had someone they could learn from and someone they could pour into. That’s the kind of ripple effect that keeps our field thriving.
Katia Beales-Salovitch is the Assistant Director at Eagle’s Landing Day Camp in North Brunswick, New Jersey and a member of the ACA, NY & NJ EPIC Committee.
