My name is David Rivas and I am so excited to be entering into my 10th Summer at Camp: Destination! I am one of the founding Camp Directors and a current Leadership Team member here at camp. In my time at camp I have worked in every possible role, my favorite of which has been a camp counselor.
I am a graduate from the University of Arizona, and in addition to camp leadership I am also a teacher during the school year. I live in Chandler with my wife and three young boys. I love being able to share this camp experience with my kids, and nothing brings me more joy than my oldest son starting off a conversation with, “Hey Dad! You’ll never guess what we did today at camp!”
As we enter our 10th summer, I see our current staff, most of whom were once my campers. It is such an honor and a privilege to be able to watch our camp staff grow as they build new memories and experiences with the next generation of Camp: Destination campers.
We founded Camp: Destination on the belief that every child deserves to have a space where they can be included and valued, all while having a great time in the process. My goal as a staff member this summer is to continue to support this goal, and continue to give every camper memories to last a lifetime. I cannot wait for what I know will be the best summer yet!
Hello! My name is Sam Braley, and I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to be at camp this summer! I have been at camp since the day our doors opened, and feel so grateful to now have the opportunity to play a leadership role in creating incredible experiences for our entire camp community.
I am a native of the East Valley, and currently attend Arizona State University, where I am majoring in Secondary Education: English. When not working on camp, I can most often be found spending time with my family & friends, writing, trying new restaurants, or listening to music of all sorts! Not only do I work at camp, but I am also fortunate enough to work on the Front of House Staff at Snakes & Lattes Tempe.
If I was asked to pick my favorite place on Earth, it would be hard not to say camp. Camp is a place where everyone belongs, and over the past 10 years, it has been such a privilege to have been a part of the many incredible memories which have been made within our walls. This summer, for our biggest summer yet, I hope to continue to elevate the experiences, opportunities, and community which all of our campers experience, and build new traditions to celebrate far into the future.
As a staff member, I strive to provide a safe and meaningful place for all of our campers to grow, create friendships, and most importantly, have fun. Every camper deserves to have an incredible experience at Camp: Destination, and I truly hope to play a role in building that excitement for our entire community and leaving a positive mark on your child’s life.
Hello, My name is Zachary LeGrand, and I cannot wait to be part of the best summer yet at Camp: Destination! I have been at camp since the opening day and I cannot even believe that this is my tenth summer yet and my second year as staff. I am excited to be able to support every camper, LIT, and staff member as the administrative assistant. I look forward to meeting all of you while creating the most memorable experiences! In addition to being on the admin team, I will be working with all of the campers every day whether it's leading group art or drama.
Living in Arizona all my life, I understand how vital it is to find a summer camp to have fun at while staying away from the heat! Currently, I am finishing my Senior year (Class of 2024) and will be attending Scottsdale Community College, and in the future ASU. I am excited to explore classes in Stage Management and Design, Interior design, and Non-Profit management. When not working at camp, I am found volunteering at my temple, including planning/leading events, or leading the youth group as a co-president. You may also find me working backstage with my school's theater group or running a spirit assembly. I also love to hang out with all my friends and family by exploring new places and being in nature (especially the beach).
Camp has provided me with a safe space to express myself my way. Camp has helped teach me how to become a leader. I am so excited to welcome each camper this year. We have so many fun things planned and I can't wait to create lasting memories!
Hey! My name is Simon Turner, and I'm really excited for this Summer. I have been going to camp as a camper, LIT, or counselor since it first started, and Summer number 10 is going to be a blast. I am a student athlete playing soccer at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore during the year, and this Summer I will also be working at the Arizona Grand Hotel. I am super excited to be with the littles group this year because it is a group I haven't really worked with a lot, and I hope to get all the kids excited to come back every Summer.
Hi! My name is Cameron, and I’m so excited to spend the summer with you all!
From the first summer I spent at Camp Destination, I knew I’d found my home away from home. Every camper has something awesome that makes them unique, and as a staff member, I hope to cultivate an environment where everyone feels comfortable enough to be their authentic, weird self!
I’m finishing my senior year of high school this year at Corona del Sol. After high school, I’ll be going to Hofstra University in New York City for Applied Physics with a concentration in Engineering! My dream since I was a kid has been to move to New York, and I’m beyond thrilled to be able to make my dream a reality!
I grew up right here in Arizona, and as a kid, I happened to spend a couple of summers at Camp! After that, I didn’t come back until I stumbled on it between my freshmen and sophomore year. And, I’m so grateful that I did! Everyone welcomed me like a member of the family, and I never felt left out of their inside jokes. This is the kind of inclusivity and camp spirit that I hope to demonstrate as a staff member!
Hey there! My name is Jackson Zappa and I'm beyond excited to be back at camp this summer!! I've been at camp since day one and this marks my third year as a counselor.
I was born in AZ and currently attend Arizona State University, where I am majoring in Marketing and Communications. When not working on camp, I'm usually spending time with my friends and family, playing D&D, or keeping up with college work! Not only do I work at camp, but I also work as a voice actor for multiple audio books and animated shows!
Camp has meant so much to me over the years. It was the one place where I could feel truly at home and comfortable with who I was. I made lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. And I hope as a counselor I can provide the same thing to new campers. I can't wait for this new chapter in camp and to make even an even better experience for campers new and old.
Hello! My name is Mike Esparza, and I just want to start off by saying that I am extremely grateful that I have been given this opportunity to be part of the Camp: Destination staff this summer. This is the place where I grew up and I have made countless friends and memories along my journey. Throughout my journey at camp, I have encountered so many fantastic campers and counselors who have turned me into the person that I am today. My goal is to show everyone what Camp: Destination is all about, helping to create phenomenal experiences and ever-lasting memories.
I am a native of the East Valley, I will be going into the medical field of ASU in order to become a doctor in the future. Whenever I’m not in school or working, I try to spend as much time as possible making memories with friends and family. My favorite hobby is lifting weights, and I also love some video games whenever I’m not too busy. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to work at camp and I’m also grateful that I have the opportunity to work another job as well. I am currently an employee at In-N-Out, which has really helped me to strengthen my teamwork.
Camp has always been the place where I belong. It has helped me in so many different ways, over the years that I’ve been here I have been able to experience so many great memories that I still look back at today. Camp is the place where memories never die. It’s never a goodbye when it comes to camp, it’s always a farewell, because I know that camp is always here waiting for me. This is my home and everyone here is family to me. As a staff member, I want to help these campers create friendships and memories just as I have. The most important thing to me is that everyone has fun throughout the summer. As a staff member, my goal is to create a phenomenal summer for everyone. I want to help bring positivity and joy to everyone around me, to show everyone that we are all family here at camp. I want to help create an outgoing community of passionate campers who will never forget the good times and can continue the legacy of Camp: Destination.
Hello! I'm Bria Cooper, and I'm honored to be part of the summer camp team at Camp: Destination. Over the past ten years, I've had the privilege of witnessing our camp community grow from its beginnings. My interests range from art and video games to dancing and board games, and I'm always eager to share these passions with our campers.
In my personal life, I've been happily married for a decade and share my home with my cat, Jish. Outside of camp, I enjoy exploring new art mediums and engaging in creative projects. As a staff member, my goal is to create a welcoming environment where campers can have fun, discover new interests, and learn the value of kindness towards others and themselves.
This summer, I'm excited to continue fostering a sense of belonging and joy among our campers. Through various activities and a supportive approach, I hope to make each camper's experience memorable and enriching. Join me and the rest of our team for an unforgettable summer at Camp: Destination!
Hi, my name is Eli Wortzel! This is my 9th summer at Camp: Destination. Camp is truly my home away from home and I am so happy to be returning for my second year as a camp counselor!
Currently, I am finishing out my last quarter of high school. I am planning on attending Northern Arizona University in the fall and look forward to the new adventure!
My goals for the summer are to have the best summer ever while I continue to grow as a counselor/leader and have tons of fun!
3400 North Dobson Road, Chandler, Arizona 85224, United States | (602)-456-0902 | campdestination@desertja.org
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Camp: Destination admits students of any religion, race, color, nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to all attendees. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, nationality or ethnic origin in administration of its policies, admission, financial assistance program, athletic or other administered programs.
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