Your Cathedral Camps > Your Leaders
Here are some stories by our current Cathedral Camp leaders. If you have a story you want to share please do email Rebecca.
Emma Jones lives in London and has just been accepted to Cambridge University to read Geography! She is currently on a Gap Year and has been involved with Cathedral Camps as a Summer Camp leader and a ReFresh leader.
"After spending a great week as a camper on a Cathedral Camp in 2009, I decided to put myself forward as a leader for tthe 2010 Camp at the Dartmoor and Exeter Camp hosted by the Churches Conservation Trust. While I would not consider myself a natural leader, I wanted the opportunity to test out my leadership skills and get more involved with Cathedral Camps whilst meeting new people.
I was certainly not disappointed with my experience as a leader – in fact I would say that it was even more enjoyable than taking part as a camper. Not only did I find it easier to mingle with the whole group, but I also enjoyed the position of responsibility – the bright yellow t-shirts were also a bonus!
Robert Hooper is one of our 'old' leaders - meaning we can't remember a time without him! In 2010 he helped with the pre-camp prep, phoning Cathedrals and demanding their Risk Assessment forms!
"I became a Cathedral Camps 'camper' aged 18, for my Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award. A week in Wells gave me the opportunity to make a difference to the cathedral, as well as seeing parts of this historic building that aren’t open to the general public. I loved working as a team, and getting the opportunity to meet people from all sorts of different backgrounds.
After finishing university I became a Leader. In 2010 I led my fourth camp. I still love getting a chance to see ‘behind the scenes’ of historic churches, and working with other young people. Having done camps as a volunteer myself, It’s great to see the sense of achievement people have at the end of the week – that’s what keeps me coming back!"
Julia Thompson has been part of 12 Cathedral Camps over the past four years! She is a member of the Cathedral Camps youth board and works as a virger at Canterbury Cathedral.
I first got involved in Cathedral Camps in 2004 aged 17 as I was looking for a residential for my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, although I never actually started my Gold Award! I was somewhat tentative about going on my first camp, but once I got there I loved every minute. I'm now 22, and looking forward to my 12th camp, at Wells Cathedral this summer.
I really enjoy every camp, each one is so different and presents new challenges. It's wonderful to get to know such a diverse volunteer base and have made some great friends.
After graduating last year I now work as a Virger at Canterbury Cathedral, so it's also great to get involved behind the scenes at other churches and cathedrals, and see how they do things!
Hannah Foxon is a first year student, studying Geography at Bangor University.
I first went on a Cathedral Camp as a volunteer in 2008. I enjoyed the challenge of volunteering and working with new people. When one of the leaders fell ill i was asked to step up into a position of responsibility and help to lead the group. The following year I was asked to lead a camp as an actual leader. I completed leadership training and led camps in Brecon and Southampton.
I also embarked on the REFRESH training programme. At the end of 2009 a Cathedral Camps youth board was set up and i was voted on to the we voted to set up a youth board and I was voted onto this board. I followed this up by leading a camp in the summer of 2010 in Edinburgh. I hope to lead many more camps and look forward to being involved in the future of Cathedral Camps.
Cathedral Camps has provided me with a great opportunity to get involved in volunteering and become part of a great family.
Tess Schofield is one of our Birmingham based volunteers who led her first camp in 2010.
I became involved with CSV this year after receiving an email from another volunteering group. Refresh projects were looking for more leaders and at that time I was looking to get involved in a long term project. Over a period of months, usually one weekend a month, I completed the Refresh Leaders training course with other young people, and that in itself was a rewarding and enriching experience.
In 2010 I led a camp in London with 12 volunteers and another leader. I had an amazing time, I met lovely people from all over the world, had fun trying to speak different languages and learning about other peoples' cultures. It was also fascinating to be involved in the church and meet the people behind it.
The training experience I was given by CSV has been immensely helpful to many aspects of my life and I hope to continue volunteering with CSV even now I am at University. I'd recommend either leading or just getting involved with CSV/Cathedral Camps/Refresh days to everyone! I was given the opportunity and I'm so glad I took it.
Sian Lane is 25 years old and is doing a Phd at Reading University. She has been involved in Cathedral Camps since 2009 and will be leading her second Camp at Southwark CofE Cathedral this summer.
I first became involved in Cathedral Camps through the ReFresh leader training in 2009. I have been interested in historic buildings for many years, and got into volunteering at university. Leading a camp seemed like an ideal way to combine these two interests!
I was one of three leaders at the Leicester Cathedral camp last summer, which I enjoyed a lot. We were given a range of jobs to do including waxing the cathedral gates, polishing as much brass as we could find, and clearing out the cellar of the cathedral offices. We spent a great deal of our free time playing card games, but we also had time for wandering around Leicester, picnicing in the park and going to an organ recital.
This year I am leading the Southwark Cathedral camp, which I am really looking forward to. I hope to be able to make it a fun and satisfying week for everyone involved.
Laurie Slavin is from Glasgow.
I first got involved with Cathedral Camps for my gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Residential in 2009. While some of my friends had chosen to go sailing for theirs and others to do cooking courses in France I decided that I wanted to do something that would, not only be interesting and enjoyable, but something that would also contribute to helping a community.
To date I have participated in two camps: one at Ely Cathedral in 2009 as a camper and one at St Albans Cathedral in 2010 as a leader. After seeing just how much of a difference these camps can make to the Cathedral and after realising just how much fun they can be I couldn’t wait to come back and lead. Given the skills that I have gained from painting, to gardening, to cooking and the friends that I have made, I can’t wait to come back to do another camp in 2011.