August 12thPIT Crew Reflections
We have been so blessed to have overwhelming interest in our PIT Crew program at Camp Valaqua the last few summers. This program has created a stream for our younger campers to take on more leadership roles and grow into CIT’s (Counsellors In Training). As Sarah and Josie (PIT Leaders this summer) will share below, the PIT Crew gets to do more than just dishes and experience camp from a perspective many others don’t get! One highlight I (Charlene) experienced with them this summer was when they helped run camp-wide Monopoly. Some of the PITers stepped up and facilitated the campers rolling the dice, gathering money, and moving pieces around the board. It is exciting to think about the staff these PITers will become and the many footprints they will continue to leave behind them under the tall, tall trees!
Hello, my name is Josie, and I’m the PIT coordinator this summer. I've been coming to camp for years; first as a camper, then CIT and counsellor and now as the PIT coordinator. Some of my most memorable and impactful memories of camp are my time as a PITer. As a camper, the PIT program was my favourite. I was able to learn so much about myself and grow as an individual through the strong connections I made with fellow PITers, sessions, working as a team in the dish pit, and helping out in the kitchen. I found my experiences in PIT truly helped me build confidence in my leadership and teamwork abilities becoming a more open and caring individual. Now as the PIT coordinator I wanted to give the PITers the same experience I had when I was their age. Whether it's pass the painting, dance parties in the dish pit, playing countless games of Uno and Spoons or having long talks together, this summer we’ve focused a lot on making strong connections with one another. Not only have we had tons of fun, but the PITers have learned so much from each other. They’ve learned how to work as a team in the kitchen, developed leadership skills helping run camp wide games and learned to grow in their faith during sessions and chapel. The PIT program continues to be a memorable and impactful experience for everyone!
We asked some PIT Crew their favourites parts of camp and here is what they said:
“Lowkey just everything, I like to eat the food here, We get to sleep inside, We get peak experience, and The dance parties in the dish pit!” (PIT Crew 2026)
Hello! My name is Sarah and I am the gardener at Camp Valaqua this summer. I was on PIT crew when I was a teenager, so the garden has been a very special place to me for a long time, and it has been amazing getting to care for it this summer! The garden is located on the north quarter of camp, and was established in 2015 by Ingrid Janssen. She had a vision for creating a place where people could learn about plants as well as their relationships with God, each other, the land, and themselves. The garden also produces some of the food we use in the kitchen. PIT crew comes up to the garden most afternoons to discover new things about plants, help out in the garden, and hopefully have a little bit of fun in the process! I run sessions with the PITers to help them explore how we can take care of God’s creation through gardening. Some of the PITers favorite things to do at the garden are, watering plants, harvesting, hanging out with Sarah (their words, not mine), and eating berries and carrots!
PIT Crew 2026
