Courtney Despres, Volunteer
When I started volunteering for Camp Rainbow Gold at 22 years old, I had no idea how profoundly it would influence my professional life. Today, I work in Human Resources, independently supporting a team of around 100 employees while collaborating closely with executive leadership and management. The skills I use daily in my HR role were deeply rooted in my experiences at camp.
I began volunteering shortly after earning my undergraduate degree and actively searching for a job. Camp felt like a natural next step; I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself, and several friends had spoken highly of their time there. I joined as a cabin counselor, a role I held for five years. Each summer, I spent a week with campers, supporting their daily activities, meeting their basic needs, and helping them grow through encouragement, empowerment, and subtle lessons in confidence and resilience.
Camp Rainbow Gold offers extensive training for its volunteers. Looking back, I’m amazed at the high-quality, people-focused training I received simply by showing up to give my time. Today, the same kind of leadership development would cost hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars at a professional conference. Yet it was all available to me, for free, through this volunteer experience.
One of the most powerful lessons I learned as a cabin counselor was the importance of perspective. Every camper, just like every person, sees the world through a lens shaped by their unique experiences of love, loss, joy, and pain. Learning to honor and understand those differences helped me develop deep empathy, stronger communication skills, and a more well-rounded approach to working with others. I also came to understand that truly effective communication requires clarity, honesty, and kindness. These lessons have directly influenced how I communicate and connect with employees and colleagues in my HR work today.
After five years as a cabin counselor, I stepped into a new role as Art Shack Director, which I held for the next four years. In this position, I was responsible for planning and executing creative activities for the entire camp—about 100 people. I had the joy of co-directing alongside a wonderful partner (now a dear friend), and we continue to volunteer together in other leadership roles. That role, along with my co-director’s mentorship, taught me the immense value of planning and managing even the smallest details. These skills now support me in organizing company events, meeting deadlines, anticipating outcomes, and thinking creatively in my professional work.
During the time I served as Art Shack Director, I also pursued my Master’s degree. Throughout grad school, I continued volunteering with CRG and eventually joined the camp leadership team. This group includes the Camp Director, Assistant Director, Activities Director, and other valuable roles who collectively plan and execute the entire camp experience. I served three years as the Director of Fall Family Camp and am about to serve my fifth year in the role of Assistant Director at Sibling Camp.
In these leadership roles I learned to work as part of a team, to delegate, to be more self-aware, to make decisions under pressure, and to think strategically. These experiences have directly shaped my professional growth. Today, I independently lead HR for a company of 100 employees. I stay calm under pressure. I quickly recognize group dynamics. I lead with both authority and approachability. I build morale through creative initiatives, foster inclusion and belonging, support employee development, and work to align business needs with human needs.
And here’s the amazing part: I didn’t pay a penny for any of these lessons. I just signed up, showed up, and did my best. I made mistakes. I had successes. And I continue to grow from both.
After earning both an undergraduate and a Master’s degree, I can honestly say that my volunteer work with Camp Rainbow Gold has provided me with just as much education and personal development than both of my expensive degrees.
If you want a free opportunity to develop professional (and personal) skills – volunteer for Camp Rainbow Gold. You won’t regret it.