Emmy Shares!

Hi, I’m Emmy Shallenberger. Over the next several months, I’ll be writing a monthly blog. I’m excited to share more about Camp Echoing Hills  with you, hoping you might join me next summer! I’d like to start by sharing more about me!

I have served as a camp counselor at Camp Echoing Hills for the past two summers. After this summer, I found myself not wanting to leave. To me, camp feels like a place where you belong. It is somewhere you can have an incredible time while loving like Jesus. When an opportunity presented itself to stay, I jumped right in. I am now the Recreation Activities Assistant here at camp. My job is to assist with the planning and organizing of monthly respites and vacation trips and to help prepare for our 2023 summer camp season. I will also provide direct care during our respite weekends and trips.

Until this past July, I was a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Echoing Hills Community Living of Northeast Ohio. I served in that role for one and a half years and really loved what I did! I have three older sisters, and my one sister is still a nurse in the home where I worked. In fact, we started two weeks apart from one another. We had learned of the job from our friend, Jen.

I first felt called to work in this industry after a mission trip. In between graduating high school and beginning to take college courses, I spent a year in the Dominican Republic. I taught English and had the chance to plan  A Night to Shine event – the first time this had taken place in that country! After that event, I was all in!

I love being around people, especially my family and friends. I enjoy hiking, watching movies, and taking spontaneous trips. My dream vacation would be to the Maldives. I took this semester off of school; however, I plan on taking online courses next semester. I am not sure what degree I am going after; however, I know it will involve the ability to work with individuals with disabilities. Whatever direction the Lord leads me.

I look forward to sharing all about my first year at Camp Echoing Hills next month. It is safe to say although I was “green” that first summer, I had no problem “hopping” into action!