TAP Interview: John Galbraith

John Galbraith is the Camp Director of Camp Medley which is owned and operated by the Diocese of Fredericton. Sue Careless met him this past summer and wanted to know more about his ministry there.  

TAP: Did you enjoy overnight camp as a child? 

JG: I didn’t go to camp as a camper. I started working at Camp Medley as a canoe instructor when I was 17. Then in the summers of 1986 and 1987 as a counsellor, the following summer as Assistant Director, then Camp Director from 1989 to 1992. Then I did Youth Ministry of one sort or another until 2019. I was ordained in 2017 and served as associate priest at St. John the Evangelist (Parish of Douglas Nashwaaksis) in Fredericton, a parish I had worked in for over 20 years. Youth and families as well as seniors were all part of my focus. Then in 2019 I returned to Medley, again as Camp Director. 

TAP: What did you enjoy as a counsellor? 

JG: I loved the staff working together, giving the campers an amazing week.

TAP: Did you form some lifelong friendships from that time?

JG: Yes, the people I met 40 years ago are some of my dearest friends.  

TAP: Your experience working with at-risk youth would surely stand you in good stead as a Camp Director. Can you describe that work a bit? 

JG: Over the years I have spent time with youth from all sorts of backgrounds. We all long to be loved and accepted for who we are as we try and figure life out. 

TAP: The pandemic hit camps particularly hard. All had to close during 2020. You had only been hired a year before lockdown. How did you handle that empty summer of 2020? 

JG: I was blessed to have a Bishop who supported camping ministry. I was able to hire ten staff to work on the grounds of the camp along with trying to make contact with campers from the summer before. With no campers, I was able to tackle some projects that normally would have been a couple of years before I got to them. We replaced one major deck, converted the lighting all over to LED, changed how we heated and hot-watered the main dining lodge to an on-demand system. We replaced the dishwasher, resurfaced the playing field and hydro-seeded it. We recently had an amphitheatre built on site in memory of a former camper who passed away, so we were able to start the seating for it during this time.

TAP: Camp Medley did open in 2021. How did you operate? 

JG: The restrictions that were in place in 2021 did not hinder the summer camp experience. Numbers were a bit smaller but we were able to operate as a camp bubble for each week.

TAP: What do you think a Christian camp can offer that a secular camp cannot?

JG: All camp experiences can be an amazing experience. Here at Camp Medley, we try to live out our faith in God and do our best to be examples of Jesus’ love so campers and staff may find hope in Jesus who loves them for who they are.

TAP: What are you looking for in a counsellor? 

JG:  Someone who puts others first. Is here for the campers. Loves to have fun and seeks to walk their walk with Jesus.

TAP: How do you build camaraderie and fellowship in your team of counsellors and staff in order to retain them all summer long? 

JG: That is always a work in progress. Being encouraging. Sometimes when the staff are having a hard week with campers, it actually helps them to rely on the staff around them. And as they go through it together amazing bonds form–life-long friendships.

TAP: How do you judge when a child is ready for overnight camp?  How can a parent prepare them for it?

JG: We do our best to answer any questions a parent might have. We encourage them to come and see the camp, so the camper can walk around and get comfortable. Our approach is, “Let’s try it and see how it goes.” We do offer a three-day camp that we encourage younger children to attend.  

TAP: Do you have any special advice for parents who are sending their kids to camp?

JG: It can be hard for parents to send their child to camp. It is a big step. They need to know that their child will be safe. I talk with several parents on the phone each year and encourage them to come visit if they like.  

TAP: Rain can dampen a camper’s experience but I think you find rain can also have a positive effect. 

JG: Yes, a bit of rain is a good thing. It brings people closer together. We are able to change the program up. And sometimes you just need to play in the rain.

TAP: A camp can change over the years. A parent cannot assume that a camp they went to a generation ago has the same mission and ethos today. How does a parent get a sense of a camp’s current culture and values? 

JG: Things seem to be changing faster and faster. Yet campers through the ages want to be loved and accepted for who they are – that has not changed. We want to provide a safe place for campers. We might only know them for one week but if in that week their needs were met and they were not judged, and were accepted, then I think that is a good place to be.

TAP: Do individual parishes or the Diocese offer any bursaries for children and youth whose families cannot afford camp? 

JG: We do have great support to help interested campers come to camp. We have a campership program which people can donate to, and parents can apply for assistance.

TAP: Why do you think that even a child who has access to a summer cottage could still benefit from summer camp? 

JG: Campers make new friends and later reconnect with old ones. Community living is so important. In a world that is so self-focused, a little community living can be a good thing.

TAP: I noticed that you were quietly present at most of our activities. Is that a principle you would recommend to other camp directors? 

JG: I do like to be present and a support to whomever is at camp. It is important. 

TAP: How do you judge that a summer camp was a success?  

JG: There are several ways. Parents email and say their child had a great week. Campers as they leave at the end of the week say they had a good week. Staff talk about coming back. Books balance. But the best way I find is the next summer, because if a camper has a good week of camp they might be back. But if they had a great week, they will bring a friend. So, numbers help show us that we are on the right track.   TAP