Voices of SWO26 | Staff Interviews

What does it take to build a staff team that serves students well? In this episode, Jb interviews Snowbird summer staff members to talk about leadership, discipleship, and the culture that shapes camp life. From first-year staff to returning leaders, you'll hear stories of growth, hard work, and the lessons learned while serving behind the scenes.

We discuss how programs like LMNT help develop future leaders, why humility and accountability are essential for a healthy team, and what it looks like to pursue excellence in ministry without compromising character. This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how staff culture, leadership, and discipleship come together to create a meaningful camp experience.

SWO26

Voices of SWO25 | Staff Interviews

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Transcript

Staff Training Energy And Hiring Standards

SPEAKER_16 0:00

Me and Brody here. We are set up at a trash can in the metal building. Yep. It is middle of Stop Training Week Two. And this will be our SWO 26 Voices of Snowbird. We've done this the past couple years, right? Since 22 or 23 or something like that. Yeah, it's really awesome. A lot of these guys you won't really get to hear from on this side of things, but these are the guys that are running rec and working with your students. And if you come to camp, uh some element kids are already here, so the people running the weed eaters and cleaning and cooking and all that stuff. So super cool.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

I imagine people can hear the background noise. Um there's just so much energy in the room right now. I love staff training because everywhere you go, there's so much energy.

SPEAKER_16 0:47

Excitement, energy, yeah. And I was telling maybe Katie, I had Katie on here a second ago. I told her I was like not to diss on any other staffs because I love everyone. Yeah, but this staff, they're fun.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

They are so fun. They're super positive. You know, one of our core values is to be positive. In fact, as we're recording this, we sat through that teaching this morning. Rob walked through the the be positive um core value, and they're just a very positive group. Every interaction I've had, literally every one. And they're also they seem very eager to learn. Like, yeah, like you and I just got asked a question and we and it turned into a 10-minute conversation. I've had three or four of those today.

SPEAKER_08 1:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:30

Like probably an hour of my we're at lunch, and an hour of my day has been those kinds of conversations, and it's like that every day. They're just eager to learn. But I love, you know, one of the things we try to do is when people ask questions, we try to point them to scripture, give them some of an answer, but have them go do the work. Yeah. And these guys are eager to do that. Yeah. It's very, very rewarding to see people that are eager to learn.

SPEAKER_16 1:54

And I don't know if I think you may have talked about this a little bit, but I know we've talked about it definitely behind the scenes. Talking about every couple years there'll be a lull in applications, staff applications. That's why we created the element program, you know. But something that you say that I completely agree with is I'd rather be stretched on staff numbers, like we're 10 people short, but we feel extremely confident in every single person that's here. You know, there's not one person here that I'm like, uh, I don't I don't know if I trust them to lead a share group, or I don't, I don't know if I respect their work ethic. Yes. Everyone here so far, mind you, I've only known them for a week and a half, but I mean, like you said, they're positive, they're hardworking, eager to learn.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

Yeah. And when we're when we're gauging that 10 days in, we're not looking at a finished product. We're not saying they're all mature and ready to take on anything that comes at them. We're what you're recognizing is a humility to say, oh, I don't know how to handle this particular situation, and a willingness to to come to one of us for help, or just an eagerness to learn and to grow. And so they've got a teachable spirit.

SPEAKER_08 3:01

You know, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:02

So that point you're making about numbers, we had more than enough applications. I mean, we turned a lot of people away, but we're not gonna fill our staff numbers just to fill them. Just to fill them.

SPEAKER_16 3:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:17

So I would rather run a lean chip. There have been other summers where we felt like, man, there's 10 more people than we need, but they're all so qualified. Let's bring them in. Yep. That creates a different set of problems. Anytime you put a hundred people living in one little proximity, you know, 50 to 60 guys and 50 to 60 girls, and they're living really about 120 people living on campus. Um that there's a lot of hurdles that come with that. I mean, they're learning how to live in close, close quarters. Close quarters, meals together, work together, go to bed. You can hear the person beside you breathing. I mean, it's like the bunk beds are just stacked in there. It's like you're in a submarine or something. And so uh there's there's I think some benefit to a little bit lighter staff. So I yeah, we're probably 10 fewer staff than we were last year. Right. Uh, but I feel really good about it. Me too. And I love y'all's element crew.

SPEAKER_16 4:08

Yes. We have, I think, seven girls here already. Yep, and they're awesome. And I'm really excited. A bunch of them are moving in this weekend, and about even guys. I think there's like five to seven guys.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

But so how many element going into week one, how many will you be missing? None. Everybody will be here.

SPEAKER_16 4:24

So all 20 will be here. Actually, 21.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

Heck yeah.

SPEAKER_16 4:28

Because a girl that we had talked to and we're planning to hire, she was like, Oh, I just don't know. It's my last summer at home. And then her older brother's working here. She came to move her older brother in and talked to Nikki and was like, I think I've made a big mistake. Like, can I please come back? And we were like, Yeah, I don't see why not. Like, let's do it. Yeah. So I think she's planning on coming back. So that's really awesome. So we'll have 21 girls this year.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

I love it.

SPEAKER_16 4:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Part of why we I think we talked about this when we interviewed Avery, but part of why we grew the Element Program is it was to me, it's the best staff recruiting tool and the best pipeline. Yep. It's the best feeder into our institute, our summer staff program.

SPEAKER_16 5:07

For example, this just from last year's element that has now circled back in our staff, just the element girls, I think there's 10, which that's half. Yeah, that's 50%. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

Because I think we ended up with 19.

SPEAKER_16 5:20

19. And so that's huge for us, our staff. And it's like we know them, we can trust them, they're ready to rock and roll.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

They have a servant mind uh serve first mindset because when you're in the element program, it's not glamorous. No, it's behind the scenes, it's grunt work. And so now to get to minister to students and be on a rec and do some more like the fun stuff, you know. Instead of weed eating and hauling off trash and cleaning bathrooms. Yeah, for sure. It's a good group. Um yeah, and then I think you know, one of the things that I've appreciated about Element is watching them even in the summer grow into some ministry opportunities where y'all are identifying some girls that are like, hey, let's let's let them work with some students this week. And and we're starting to experience more and more of that, and our numbers are strong enough. We're yes people, like yeah, we're at 20, and there's a 21st person, and we're like, why not?

SPEAKER_16 6:12

Yeah, why not?

SPEAKER_01 6:13

Like if there's anything I always want to be known as, and I've worked hard to establish this mindset, it was never to say why would we do that, but always say why wouldn't we? Yeah, yeah, yes first, and we'll figure it out later, you know?

SPEAKER_16 6:27

For sure.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

And that's the mindset here. Yeah, yeah, we'll figure it out. I love what Hank said in the staff. Wait, Hank was doing one of our core values, and he talked about um just the excellence of being a part of a team where everybody has a serve first mindset. He was working, he was doing that that core value about being servant-hearted, which is such a core principle of the New Testament Christian. But he said, you know, I brought him back on stage, he got done, walked off, and I was like, I don't think these people realize this guy has been at the top of his world.

SPEAKER_16 7:02

He said, he opened with my name's Hank, you know, da-da-da. I used to race cars, I wasn't very good. And then he went on, and then moved past it. And I leaned over to the girl next to me. I said, No, he was a really good like NASCAR, top of the top, like top 60 drivers in the world on the planet.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

Yeah, there are 60 guys in his brotherhood or his that that fraternity of yeah, race car drivers.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

So I think um getting him back up there and saying, and I just asked him some questions. All right, tell me a little bit about the team you raced for, and then the progression through the ranks, because there's like four or five tiers, and he started at the bottom, and you gotta keep winning to jump up to the next tier. But um he made that statement where he said, he said, I remember being like 20 years old. I'm on a race team, and he said we worked for 48 hours to get ready for a race where the prize it was in Super Sportsman series, which is like three tiers down from the top, so still very competitive. He compared it to be like Division I versus the pros. And he said, We went 48 hours without sleeping. He said, I'm literally crawling around under the car. He said, My crew chief is not letting up, all the mechanics, the whole team. Yeah, he said, and the prize for that race was $10,000, not a million, yeah, not even a hundred cars. And he said, that mindset and being a part of a team like that. He said, When I left racing, I never could find it until I came up.

SPEAKER_16 8:35

That was super impactful. That was that was cool to hear that perspective of it for sure. Well, sweet.

SPEAKER_01 8:41

This is fun. Thank yeah, thank y'all for listening. I hope you enjoy kind of the voices of SWO staff training. Yep, yep.

Katie On Portugal Injury And Production

SPEAKER_00 8:53

Welcome to No Sanity Required from the Ministry of Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters, a podcast about the Bible, culture, and stories from around the globe.

SPEAKER_16 9:02

I'm recording now. What's up? First interview of the day. We got Katie Cousins. You know her, you love her. Let's go. Katie, this is your first summer in a while that you've been able to spend good time here. Oh, yeah. Right? And why is that?

SPEAKER_09 9:19

Yeah, my last summer was uh COVID summer, 2020. As an intern, and every summer since then, I have been playing football, aka soccer. Yes, aka football. AKA soccer. Um, but yeah, first summer in a long time, and it has been awesome.

SPEAKER_16 9:36

Katie has jumped in and has joined the production team and has absolutely crushed it. Thank you. All of our sets for like fun nights, Lady Lual, all that stuff. Katie has built Katie built the prayer chapel too this year.

SPEAKER_09 9:52

And built the whole building.

SPEAKER_16 9:53

No, but she did all the behind the scenes stuff, so we're grateful for Katie. And when do you have to leave us, Katie?

SPEAKER_09 10:01

Um, I'm not 100% sure, but my goal is to be gone by mid-July for football stuff. No.

SPEAKER_16 10:08

So I keep joking with Katie and tell her I'm gonna break her kneecap so she has to stay longer.

SPEAKER_09 10:15

JB has threatened me with the crowbar to my shin, so I threaten her with a crowbar to her face.

SPEAKER_16 10:19

No, I'll take it. I'll take a crowbar to crowbar to the face if you stay forever. Maybe one day. But anyways, Katie's kind of in a transition from clubs. Yes. Parker clubs. And it just so happened that it fell right during summer, so we're grateful to have her here for a little bit. Yeah, it's been a huge asset. It's been good. Yeah. Well, sweet. All right. What do you think of the staff so far?

SPEAKER_09 10:44

Um I haven't had a ton of interactions, but from what I yeah, from what I've seen and interacted with though, it's been it's been fun and seems like a good staff so far and excited for the summer and to hear stories and see students' lives change, and it's gonna be sweet.

SPEAKER_16 11:01

Dude, no hate to any of the other staffs, because I love them all, but this one especially has been fun. They're a really fun group. Love it. Okay, wait, will you talk a little bit about why you're kind of in a transition? What happened the last time you played club, like or like I'm not wording that well. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 11:20

Okay, so last time I was on the podcast, uh, me and Brody talked about how I signed with the club to go to Portugal, and I went to Portugal, and from day one to day last, it was the most chaotic thing I've ever been a part of. Yep. Um, but I played in my first game the next practice, I tore my calf um over four centimeter tear, which is a big calf tear. And then six weeks later, I retore my calf.

SPEAKER_16 11:48

So, right as it was healing up, you retore it.

SPEAKER_09 11:50

Yep, I was just about to start jogging and I retore my calf. It was an accident. Um, I acted on instincts for something and retore my calf, and it put me out the rest of the season. So I was like, Well, I think I'm gonna go home. And the club was like, Yeah, you can go home. So I came home um mid-April, I think. Yeah. Because I had three weeks of work here and then staff training started. Um so a little little early arrival than what I was thinking. I was supposed to actually fly back this past weekend.

SPEAKER_16 12:23

Dang, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_09 12:25

Um so I, you know, I obviously was upset to not play. I really wanted to play and you know, try to make my mark there.

SPEAKER_16 12:32

And so you only got to play one game.

SPEAKER_09 12:34

Play one game, yeah. Um three weeks of training and one game, and then I got my leg messed up. Um, but at the same time, like I had a good church there and I met a lot of cool people, and then I got to come back to camp and hop in with production. And that's honestly, like, I've gone to bed every single night, been like, man, that was a fun day. I whooped, but that was such a fun day. Yes, um, yeah. So it's it's been so fun. I'm so glad I'm here right now.

SPEAKER_16 12:59

So tell the viewers what specifically they can be praying for you in this next changing season upcoming.

SPEAKER_09 13:06

I think I so my recovery is still ongoing. Okay. I just started running last week, jogging. Um, so you can pray for my heart that it keeps beat uh beating because it's working like crazy trying to I lost all my fitness. I went three months basically with no cardio and fitness. So you can pray for my heart that it keeps going. But uh I'm just you know, this has been my prayer that my leg will heal up right. Um because with muscle injury sometimes it doesn't. So I'm praying it heals up right, and I I want to finish my career strong. Yep. And with a healthy season, and I don't know when that's gonna be when my last season will be. Hopefully, you know, Lord willing, I get to play. A couple more seasons. Yeah. And so I want to finish strong. I don't want to finish going out on cafeteria.

SPEAKER_16 13:55

Um so what about location? Will you go back to Portugal? Is that still up in the air?

SPEAKER_09 13:59

No, I'm I I definitely don't want to go back to Portugal two and a half month vacation. It was great. Don't want to go back. Yep. But I um I'm praying about now, I would love to play in the U.S. again. Not in the league that I was with in LA.

SPEAKER_16 14:15

Maybe more East Coast.

SPEAKER_09 14:17

Yeah, I want to try to be on the East Coast. Um, there's a couple of teams around here that I'm gonna reach out to when I get a little healthier and can prove okay, I'm in a good spot. Um, but also my Icelandic team has been like, you can come just stand on the field. You don't have to run. We'll take you. And so that window opens in mid-July for me to go if I wanted to go back to Iceland. Um, but yeah, I'm I would love to be in the U.S. again and have everybody come see me play, my family, you know, snowbird family. It would be so fun. Yeah, that would be awesome. Be sweet.

SPEAKER_16 14:51

Okay, well, sweet. We'll be praying for you, your leg, your calf, your career, all those things. We're grateful to have you. Thanks. I've loved having you here, but yeah, it's been fun.

SPEAKER_09 15:01

Just telling the girls, I was like, guys, I get to see you all every day. And it's just awesome. I know, it is awesome.

SPEAKER_16 15:09

Okay, well, thanks for hopping on. Sorry I interrupted your talk over there. That's okay. That's literally what we were just talking about. Okay, perfect. All right, I'll see you, everyone.

Manny And Haven On Returning Staff

SPEAKER_16 15:19

Welcome back, Manny.

SPEAKER_13 15:21

Hello, that's me again.

SPEAKER_16 15:22

Manny was on the same podcast, but last year. This is correct, and it's crazy because that was like I never even knew you back then, Manny.

SPEAKER_13 15:30

I know, I didn't know who you were. Yeah, I just saw you with like this portal. Come here, come be on the episode.

SPEAKER_16 15:34

And now, Manny is just coming off of a year living here and turning here. Talk about how that was.

SPEAKER_13 15:40

Oh, that was awesome.

SPEAKER_16 15:41

Right, your experience one to ten.

SPEAKER_13 15:43

10, absolutely. Probably 11, be honest. It was way better than I thought it was gonna be. Way more growing.

SPEAKER_16 15:48

What rec are you on this summer?

SPEAKER_13 15:49

On the river.

SPEAKER_16 15:50

What were you on last summer?

SPEAKER_13 15:51

I was on the glide swing last summer.

SPEAKER_16 15:53

Okay, so river this summer. River this summer. I was training going.

SPEAKER_13 15:56

Awesome. I love it.

SPEAKER_16 15:57

Good.

SPEAKER_13 15:57

I got it earlier this year, and I'm one of the Swiftwater rescue guides, so it's really fun. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_16 16:02

Let's go.

SPEAKER_13 16:03

Pretty fun.

SPEAKER_16 16:04

Sweet. Are you excited for campers together?

SPEAKER_13 16:05

Oh, yeah, I can't wait.

SPEAKER_16 16:06

Are you excited to have like repeat campers?

SPEAKER_13 16:09

I am, but I'm also looking forward to having new campers because I love love my old campers. It's been really um impactful and like you know, really grateful looking back on it because I've had a bunch of them reach out to me this year. Yeah. Just like checking in and uh really appreciated that.

SPEAKER_16 16:21

That's like one of my favorite things, like working here for so long is being able to work with like campers you've consecutively worked with before. It's so awesome. Yeah, one of my favorite things. Sweet. Well, thanks for hopping on, man. Absolutely appreciate it. See ya. Okay, y'all. I'm here with Haven Sawyer. One of my favorite people ever. No offense to my other favorite people ever. That's right. Haven't up there. Haven, tell me about your snowboard experience. First year that you worked here was when?

SPEAKER_15 16:49

2023.

SPEAKER_16 16:51

And you were what? At the age? Well, like I was a senior.

SPEAKER_15 16:55

Oh, I was element. I was element, sorry. There you go. Yeah, I just finished my senior year of high school. Yep. And I was on element.

SPEAKER_16 17:04

Okay, so talk about element.

SPEAKER_15 17:05

Element! Element is oh my goodness. In all seriousness, element was probably the most growing summer of my life, genuinely. Um, and I would give big props, obviously, to the leaders, but also to um just Nikki and Morgan, um, the leaders, having us read scripture for an hour a day. Yes. Like, shut up, sit at the picnic tables, read your Bible. Open the Bible. And everyone was accountable to each other. Like the whole, like those girls became my sisters, and we would hold each other accountable.

SPEAKER_16 17:41

You guys had a great crew too. So, and then summer 24.

SPEAKER_15 17:47

On staff.

SPEAKER_16 17:48

Yep, you came back.

SPEAKER_15 17:49

Yes, came back.

SPEAKER_16 17:50

And was what, on the pool?

SPEAKER_15 17:51

I was on the pool. On the pool.

SPEAKER_16 17:53

Pool girl.

SPEAKER_15 17:54

I was on the pool.

SPEAKER_16 17:55

Let's go. And then you took a summer off.

SPEAKER_15 17:57

Oh, I did. I took a summer off, got the opportunity to study abroad through school, and I did that in Australia.

SPEAKER_16 18:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_15 18:04

Good idea, Daddy. And it was awesome, but then the Lord definitely called me back. I worked at a retreat this last fall, and I was asking God. I was like, what's up? And he was like, Yeah, do it this time. What's up? Don't come back. And honestly, I want to say, and I shared this the other day, but even before element, I was a camper. And just the impact that Sniper made on me then was like lasting and effective. And that's why I've continued to be here.

SPEAKER_16 18:30

Wait, did you come like ever since you were in sixth grade?

SPEAKER_15 18:33

No. I um started, I moved to uh the church I'm with now um when I was 16. Oh wow. And so my first summer was that, then my next summer was the next, and then I was like Ellen. So two summers. But shout out Emily Brown because that was my last year. Emily Brown.

SPEAKER_16 18:50

We miss you, Emily. Shout out Allison Higgs, shout out everyone else. Shout out everyone. Yeah, but that's crazy. And let me just say, we are so glad to have you back. I'm actually like thrilled. Every time I see you, I'm like, Haven't here.

SPEAKER_15 19:01

No, I'm so excited to be back. I'm so grateful to be back. Yeah, sure.

SPEAKER_16 19:06

What is one thing that you're excited for? It's your third summer. Yeah. What's one thing that you're excited for now that you kind of know the ropes, you know the lay of the land?

SPEAKER_15 19:13

Okay, I'm excited for the river.

SPEAKER_16 19:15

Yes, Haven, it's your first year on the river. Yes. Haven't been crushing it.

SPEAKER_15 19:19

I was so nervous. They put me on it. I was like, uh, they got the wrong girl. Pulled a river. Oh man. But no, it's it's the best. I'm excited. Yeah. It's fun.

SPEAKER_16 19:30

Going down right now. You got your river clothes on, your pants right. I'm ready.

SPEAKER_15 19:33

Yep. Um, I'm excited for the river. And I'm so excited to be with like the students that I've had in the past. Yes. And they're two years ahead now. Yep. Hey guys, remember me? Hey guys, I'm back. Um, but yeah, I'm so excited for this. And honestly, just I've been so hype over staff training. I feel like everyone has poured so much into it. Like everything's just a different level. Yeah. And Austin's been harping on that, like, it's better than it ever has been. But to be honest, it really is. Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 20:01

I'm excited. I think this will drop week, no, week two. I think this will drop week two. So some people will already have been to camp. But I'm so excited for all the event nights. Like Austin, who you guys have heard us talk about, is like head of production and media and all that stuff. He has been crushing it. And I'm excited because I've been a part of it. I'm excited for all of our skates, our games. We got so much fun. I don't even want to spoil it. Yeah, I know. We can't spoil it, but come and see. Yeah, come and see. Yep. All right. Well, thanks, having all the cheaty lunch. All right, thanks for watching. Thanks for hopping on.

Moxin On Skits Games And Swamp Fest

SPEAKER_16 20:34

I have Moxon. Moxin Regan with me. Yep. Moxin, last year was your first summer, right?

SPEAKER_03 20:39

Yep. Yeah, last year was my first summer. And then I interned and now I'm this is my second summer.

SPEAKER_16 20:44

Yep. And Moxin's on full time now.

SPEAKER_03 20:45

Yep. Yep.

SPEAKER_16 20:46

What do you do? What's your job here?

SPEAKER_03 20:48

Um, so I'm my technical term is a programming production assistant.

SPEAKER_16 20:52

So I kind of just programming product production assistant.

SPEAKER_03 20:55

Yes, yep. Um, and so I kind of help with like the skits and the games, help come up with them, um, and just kind of run all that stuff, do a lot of stage hand stuff, kind of um cast the skits and all that stuff.

SPEAKER_16 21:06

Yep. Um and this summer we've amped it up. We have amped it up every single night. There's an event we're bringing slam dunk back. Slam dunk is gonna be my favorite night. Fight night back. We got some exciting stuff.

SPEAKER_08 21:20

Yep.

SPEAKER_16 21:20

And I interviewed Katie earlier, and I was like, you and Moxin got this place running like a well-oiled machine.

SPEAKER_03 21:27

Yes, it is it's gonna be a great summer.

SPEAKER_16 21:29

Yep. So this summer you technically won't will you be with students?

SPEAKER_03 21:32

I will be with students.

SPEAKER_16 21:33

Okay, okay, you will be with students and still doing production. Yeah. So no rec.

SPEAKER_03 21:36

No rec.

SPEAKER_16 21:37

Your rec is production. Yes. Okay, sweet. What are you most excited for with your students?

SPEAKER_03 21:42

Um, with my students, I'm super excited to see the students that I had last summer. Um, like week one, I'm super excited. Um I worked with Church of the Hill.

SPEAKER_16 21:50

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 21:50

Um, so I'm excited to see those boys. I had about seven of them. Um only like half of them are coming back. I've I've kind of kept in contact with them all year. So I'm just super excited to see them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 22:00

What about you got a fire team this year?

SPEAKER_03 22:01

Yep, I got a fire team this year. Okay, shout out who's in your fire team? Uh Josiah Sneed and Garrett Deere. My ghost. Yep, Josiah.

SPEAKER_16 22:08

Love them. What are you most excited for with that?

SPEAKER_03 22:11

Um, I'm excited for that. Um, just because it's something new. Um, I'm excited to kind of do like a different level of kind of leadership um within the staff. So I'm super excited to do that. Um, kind of pour into them and have them pour into me. Um, just just super excited for them. Yeah. And they're they're awesome. They're super fun.

SPEAKER_16 22:30

They are. What's been your favorite part of staff training so far?

SPEAKER_03 22:34

My favorite part of staff training, Swamp Fest.

SPEAKER_16 22:37

Yes. Swamp Fest is so fun.

SPEAKER_03 22:40

Yes, Swamp Fest is my absolute favorite. Yep, you just you have to come. If you want to see it, you have to come. You have to come see it. What is it? Tuesday night? Tuesday night. Yep. Tuesday night, come ready. S W O M P. Yep. Swamp Fest. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_16 22:55

Swamp.

SPEAKER_03 22:58

Swole. Exactly.

SPEAKER_16 22:59

Bring your country or country clubs. Country clubs.

SPEAKER_03 23:01

Uh, shout out to my country club people. I will be the country club representative, so um, be on my team.

SPEAKER_16 23:08

Yep. Bring your polos and khakis.

SPEAKER_03 23:10

And golf clubs.

SPEAKER_16 23:11

Yep. Yep. Okay, well, sweet. Thanks for hopping on. I know it's getting close to rec time, but yeah, of course. See ya. All right, see ya, JB.

Lillian On Camp Legacy And Fire Teams

SPEAKER_16 23:18

Everyone, I'd like to introduce to you Lillian Owens. Applause, applause. Applause, applause. Okay, Lillian. This is your what, third summer? Third summer, yeah. Third summer. And okay, I wanted to interview Lillian because people who have listened to the podcast a bunch will know and hear of Bertie talking about like Rob Hester, the first years of Snowbird, like all this stuff. And yesterday me and Lillian were talking, actually, funny enough, on the back of a lake too. As we're doing actively getting slung. I'm like, so tell me about yourself. And she was telling me that your mom and dad, yeah, both parents, were here for the first snowbird camp ever.

SPEAKER_06 23:59

The first, like it, I guess it wasn't even really like, yeah. Yeah, no. My parents were like, you have it so good, a pull-chain shower. We used to take showers in the creek, and I was like, oh no, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_16 24:10

Not about that life. And so they they were some of Rob Hester's youth students. Yes. And so they came in what 1997? 97. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_06 24:20

Which is crazy to see like how it's changed over the years. Yes.

SPEAKER_16 24:23

And then you've been coming since you were young.

SPEAKER_06 24:25

Yeah. Literally, me and Allison both, my sister obviously works here too. But we both literally came since we were like youth faster's kids. And so we've been coming since birth, basically. That's cool. Um, which is super fun. So yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_16 24:39

Okay, what are you most excited for this summer?

SPEAKER_06 24:41

I'm most excited for to see my students coming back. Um, there's a lot of them that I've kept in touch with over the years, and so just to see how they've grown, a lot of them have started. Like I had them in middle school and now they're high schoolers, so I'm excited for that. And my fire team girls are so fun. And so I just love that aspect of being at camp too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 24:59

Is this your first time being a fire team leader?

SPEAKER_06 25:01

No, I did yeah, I've done it two years and it's been so fun to growing. It really is.

SPEAKER_16 25:06

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 25:07

Challenging in a good way. Yes, the best one.

SPEAKER_16 25:09

So well, we're glad to have you. We're excited that you're here. And we got two Owen sisters now. Let's go. Both chaotic in their own way. And you're a pool, right? Yeah, I'm a pool girl. And Allison's on the river. Yes, which is she's hilarious. I love watching her train. Yeah, she's something. Well, sweet. What are your thoughts so far on this summer staff?

SPEAKER_06 25:31

This is one of my favorite staff trainings ever. I don't know. I don't know what's different. Yeah, it's just so much fun. Everyone's already so like close, cohesive. And yeah, I think it's been fun too because we've been doing a bunch of like group skits and like the big production nights. And so that's been really funny to see everyone's personalities come in. Yes, for sure. So, yeah, for sure. That's probably my fave.

SPEAKER_16 25:52

Okay, well, sweet. Thanks for hopping on. Yeah, of course. Any shout-outs to anyone?

SPEAKER_06 25:56

Shout out my fire team girls, especially my queen Annabelle. Annabelle Evans. Yeah, let's go. Sweet. Friend from school.

SPEAKER_16 26:03

So oh yeah, UNCW.

SPEAKER_06 26:05

Yeah. Let's go Seahawks.

SPEAKER_16 26:06

Wings up, you know. Okay,

Jack And Heath On First Summer

SPEAKER_16 26:08

everyone. Here with me, I have Jack Worham.

SPEAKER_11 26:11

Hi, everyone.

SPEAKER_16 26:12

Okay, Jack. It's your first year on staff, right? Yes. Came as a camper?

SPEAKER_11 26:17

For two years.

SPEAKER_16 26:18

Two years with what church?

SPEAKER_11 26:19

Redemption Hill.

SPEAKER_16 26:20

Okay, where's that at?

SPEAKER_11 26:21

Tallahassee, Florida.

SPEAKER_16 26:23

Florida. And let me get this right. You, Moxin, who else? Josh Granger.

SPEAKER_11 26:28

And Mac Muslewise.

SPEAKER_16 26:30

And Mac, all from that church. Yes. Saying you guys are holding it down this year.

SPEAKER_11 26:34

We are.

SPEAKER_16 26:35

Okay, and tell us what wreck you're on this summer.

SPEAKER_11 26:37

I'm on the greatest wreck, the poopy pole.

SPEAKER_16 26:39

The greatest wreck. Wow, I've never heard that one. I will say this the squad this year is good. You, Ava, who's the third? Lily Shelton. Lily Shelton. That is such a goaded wreck. Okay. What's your favorite thing that's happened so far during orientation? I mean, during staff training.

SPEAKER_11 26:57

Um probably the Liddy Luau last night.

SPEAKER_16 27:01

Okay, Liddy Lual.

SPEAKER_11 27:02

Who's just really hype?

SPEAKER_16 27:04

Did you get um tabletop at all?

SPEAKER_11 27:07

Yeah, I don't remember who. I want to say it was like Laylee, Annabelle, and some other like redhead girl. Oh, I don't know who's gonna be able to do that. Even if it was like Joy Beth.

SPEAKER_16 27:15

I don't know who that is. Oh, okay. I'm JB, not Joy Beth. Yeah, Liddy Luau was lit to say that.

SPEAKER_11 27:23

I got that.

SPEAKER_16 27:24

But yeah, okay. Um, what are you most excited for this summer?

SPEAKER_11 27:28

Um probably share groups, community groups, and just fire teams in that community.

SPEAKER_16 27:34

Whose fire team are you in?

SPEAKER_11 27:36

Solomon's.

SPEAKER_16 27:37

Uh oh. Nothing but trouble, Solomon.

SPEAKER_11 27:39

You should hear about my community group.

SPEAKER_16 27:41

Community group is who, Blake? Blake.

SPEAKER_11 27:44

Blake.

SPEAKER_16 27:46

Nice.

SPEAKER_12 27:47

Indeed.

SPEAKER_16 27:48

Alright, everybody, I'm here with Heath. Heath Hudson, which is such a tough name, I gotta say.

SPEAKER_12 27:53

I don't know anybody else that's named Heath, but neither do I.

SPEAKER_16 27:56

I know a candy bar that's named Heath.

SPEAKER_12 27:58

That's true. Yep. That's what most people know me by.

SPEAKER_16 28:00

We call my sister Kit Kat. Same thing, roughly, I guess. It's not actually her name, but it's her nickname. All right, Heath, tell the viewers and me about yourself. Where are you from?

SPEAKER_12 28:11

I am originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina.

SPEAKER_16 28:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_12 28:15

Uh, but I currently am attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia studying mechanical engineering.

SPEAKER_16 28:21

Oh, wow. I didn't know that. Okay, and then how did you hear Snowbird?

SPEAKER_12 28:25

Uh, my current next-gen director at my church in Columbia called Midtown is a guy named Jeremy Wilson. Shout out, Jeremy! Jeremy. I know he's listening to this. Uh, and he uh just been all about Snowbird since he came to Midtown, harps on it all the time. Honestly got a little sick of him talking about it. And uh that's part of the reason I came here. I was like, I gotta see what all the hype's about.

SPEAKER_16 28:48

So have you been to Snowbird before?

SPEAKER_12 28:50

Uh we came in, what was it, December or January for the college winter retreat? January. And uh I just remember, even in the short amount of time, you know, not all the recs were even open. It was just like there's just something about this place. The expositional teaching, just the style of worship. Yeah. Um, and just the people, just so genuine in the short amount of time that you get to spend with them. Yeah. Every moment, just want to come up to you, talk to you. I was like, this is a pretty cool place. Um, and then also at the winter retreat, they did a a panel. I think you were on the panel. I was.

SPEAKER_16 29:24

And uh I did I win you over to come apply?

SPEAKER_12 29:28

I honestly reluctantly listen to the panel, was like, they do this at every camp. I'm not really sure. And then I think what was really cool was Brody uh Holloway took some time to talk with anyone who was serious but had questions. Yeah, and I've heard he's a super busy guy, doesn't have a lot of time for many people. He gave me like 30, 45 minutes of his time to try and convince me to come here. And you started moving the needle, JB, but I'm gonna be honest. I think Brody took it the rest of the life.

SPEAKER_16 29:54

I don't blame you. That's funny. Okay, and wait, is anyone else here from Midtown?

SPEAKER_12 30:00

Yes, there's another guy here named Jack Kellen. Uh okay, and then also Lucia Humphrey. Okay. They're both in the college ministry at Midtown as well.

SPEAKER_16 30:08

Shout out Jeremy.

SPEAKER_12 30:09

Yeah, Jeremy's trying to start a Midtown to Snowbird pipeline on this.

SPEAKER_16 30:12

He's doing a good job of it. Yeah. Okay, what rec are you on?

SPEAKER_12 30:16

I'm on canoeing.

SPEAKER_16 30:17

Okay, how's it going so far?

SPEAKER_12 30:18

It's awesome. The first few days were a little cold, I'm not gonna lie, because the sun really hadn't been out. Uh, but now it is out and it's hot, and it's so fun to be out there on the water.

SPEAKER_08 30:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_12 30:28

Uh today we actually moved a whole log from one side of an island to another to build a bench.

SPEAKER_08 30:32

Oh. So wow.

SPEAKER_12 30:34

Bench is pretty cool if yes. Let's go bench on the island. Bench on the island. So if somebody does canoeing, they're gonna see the bench that we built.

SPEAKER_16 30:41

Everyone come to Snowbird, everyone sign up for canoeing and meet Heath.

SPEAKER_12 30:45

Get to ride sit on the bench. Exactly.

SPEAKER_16 30:48

Sweet. What are you most excited for this summer?

SPEAKER_12 30:50

Uh a couple things. One, just to get to do student ministry consistently for 10 weeks. I mean, back in Columbia, uh, you know, we get to share the gospel, but only to an extent because we have to manage being a full-time student and doing ministry. So I'm just really excited to get to serve uh sort of undistracted, this being my main focus, my only focus. I don't have assignments or anything to worry about. It's just like I'm gonna have a couple campers a week that I'm just gonna get to pour my heart out to and get to really try and teach them about Jesus. Um, and just also getting to spend the entire summer with the staff. I mean, they're awesome. They are like there's not a a staffer here that I wouldn't want to go sit with for an hour and just talk their ear off. Like, it is phenomenal. Yeah. Um, and then also Midtown, the church they're even referencing, they're coming week three. So I'm really excited.

SPEAKER_16 31:38

I think is Jeremy the youth pastor? He is. Okay, next gen.

SPEAKER_12 31:42

So next gen is for Jeremy, that's gonna be him leading from students to middle and high school all the way through college. That's that's how we've got it set up. But he's gonna be coming with our student ministry the third week. And that's I lead with our student ministry back home, so I'm really excited for them to get to come here and be here.

SPEAKER_16 31:57

And you'll get to like be with your guys that you've like for a while. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_12 32:02

Because I think it's really cool. Like, you go to youth camps and stuff, and it's like, oh, that person's like really distant. Like, that's not really tangible. They're like some far-off person that somehow didn't have anything else to do, and it's like, no, like I know this guy, he's making an active choice to go serve here. Like, who knows? Maybe this is something that I want to try, and like it'd be really cool if like you know, one of the guys ends up wanting to do element or something. Like, who knows?

SPEAKER_16 32:26

Yeah, totally.

SPEAKER_12 32:26

Just because you know, I've taken the summer to serve.

SPEAKER_16 32:29

Yep. All right, well, sweet. Thanks for hopping on here.

SPEAKER_12 32:31

Yep, thanks,

Evan And Ryan Explain Discipleship

SPEAKER_12 32:32

JB.

SPEAKER_16 32:32

Okay, everyone, I'm here with Evan Giddings. Evan Giddings. Evan, where are you from?

SPEAKER_04 32:37

Sanford, North Carolina.

SPEAKER_16 32:39

Okay, where's that at?

SPEAKER_04 32:40

It's south of Raleigh, like 30 minutes south. Okay, so six hours from here.

SPEAKER_16 32:44

Sweet. So tell me how you learned, or I guess, how you found out about Snowbird.

SPEAKER_04 32:48

Um, a couple years ago, we moved churches and our church we went to Turner's Chapel, and they've been coming for an age and a day. And so we just signed up with the rest of youth to go to Snowbird.

SPEAKER_16 33:00

So, how many years have you been a camper?

SPEAKER_04 33:01

I came in 24 and 25.

SPEAKER_16 33:03

Okay, sweet. And did you know you wanted to be on staff or was this more of like a recent thing that you were like, huh?

SPEAKER_04 33:09

Um, well, after last year, I knew I wouldn't be able to come back. And so at first I have just applied to just experience camp again. Yeah. But then as I started like learning more about like how it was happening, it became like less selfish. And I wanted to come to be able to just be able to grow and be able to impact people like Snowbird impacts.

SPEAKER_16 33:29

Okay, tell me what your favorite thing about training has been so far.

SPEAKER_04 33:33

Um, just the miserable task of having to dummy rex and just do the three man over and over again. Man, what a hard life. Sucks.

SPEAKER_16 33:42

Wait, what rec are you on this summer?

SPEAKER_04 33:43

I'm on Gun Range.

SPEAKER_16 33:44

Oh, sweet. Nice. Who is it you and who else?

SPEAKER_04 33:47

Trip and Ellie.

SPEAKER_16 33:50

Okay, sweet. Nice. Okay, do you listen to the podcast?

SPEAKER_04 33:54

I do. Sweet. Every week? Most of them.

SPEAKER_16 33:56

Okay, what's been your favorite episode so far?

SPEAKER_04 33:59

Um probably the first one again that comes to my head is probably the Eric Robert Rudolph one.

SPEAKER_16 34:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 34:07

And then also Oh, it was towards the end of last summer. The firefighter and his wife.

SPEAKER_16 34:14

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_04 34:14

That was a really good one.

SPEAKER_16 34:16

Blake and Taylor. Yes. Yep, they're awesome. I th you should work with their church if they come back again. I will look up what week they come and let you know.

SPEAKER_04 34:24

Bet.

SPEAKER_16 34:24

Um, but did you know we just interviewed the sheriff who arrested?

SPEAKER_04 34:29

I saw it. I thought about listening to it earlier, but I didn't.

SPEAKER_16 34:32

There's a part two.

SPEAKER_04 34:33

I heard.

SPEAKER_16 34:33

Yep. It's awesome. His name's Bumper or Keith. He's awesome. He's a he's the goat.

SPEAKER_04 34:38

I'm looking forward to that.

SPEAKER_16 34:39

Yeah. Okay, what are you most excited for this summer?

SPEAKER_04 34:42

Most excited for is probably just being in the environment like Rob has said in some of the breakouts where they pay and then come and sit and listen to the gospel. And it's like the easiest way to share the gospel ever.

SPEAKER_16 34:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 34:55

And so just being able to do that and being able to grow and practicing and sharing the gospel and all.

SPEAKER_16 35:00

Yeah. Wait, do you go to college? Did you say that already?

SPEAKER_04 35:02

Uh yeah. I'm in Central Carolina Community College.

SPEAKER_16 35:05

Okay, nice. Sweet. All right. Sweet, Evan. Thanks for hopping on.

SPEAKER_10 35:10

My pleasure. Uh I'm Ryan Yates. I'm from Plant City, Florida.

SPEAKER_16 35:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_10 35:15

And this is my fourth summer at school.

SPEAKER_16 35:17

Fourth summer. Okay. And you guys have probably heard me talk a lot about Allison Yates. This is her younger brother. I almost said older.

SPEAKER_10 35:27

No, I'm two years younger.

SPEAKER_16 35:28

Yep. I always get that swapped. Okay. So it's your fourth summer. What's different about this summer than normal summers for you?

SPEAKER_10 35:35

This summer is different because I'm a community group leader.

SPEAKER_16 35:37

Let's go. I just interviewed Evan and he's in your community group.

SPEAKER_10 35:41

Oh, Evan's awesome. Yep. Super good dude.

SPEAKER_16 35:43

Okay. How are you feeling about being a community group leader?

SPEAKER_10 35:46

I love it so far.

SPEAKER_16 35:47

Wait, for our listeners, we've mentioned a ton about fire team and community group. Will you give us like a quick explanation of what that means?

SPEAKER_10 35:54

Yeah, so the fire teams and community groups are the way we do discipleship during the summer. So as us staff are getting are pouring out to the students, we have snowbird staff pouring back into us. So fire teams is like the smallest unit where it's usually two guys and then a fire team leader. And so the fire team leader would be a returning staff.

SPEAKER_08 36:14

Yep.

SPEAKER_10 36:15

And they're just be meeting once a week or a couple times a week and just getting poured back into, getting discipled. And then community groups are multiple uh fire teams put together into one group. So I am over two other commun I am over two community groups.

SPEAKER_16 36:33

Two fire teams.

SPEAKER_10 36:34

I'm over two fire teams. And so we meet once a week and I meet with my fire team leaders once a week. Um this morning we met at Morning Fog and talked and hung out and just checked in on how they're doing, did you know the general stuff, you know, how's how's your Bible reading going? We do accountability, how's your purity? How's how are you doing pursuing your students or your your fire team? And we just talked about that kind of stuff.

SPEAKER_16 36:57

Sweet. Okay, what are you most excited for this summer?

SPEAKER_10 37:02

I'm on the river this year, and I'm really excited about the river. Let's go. Atlanta Hala.

SPEAKER_16 37:07

Yep, the best river around. Yes. Do you have any specific goals set for yourself this summer?

SPEAKER_10 37:15

Specific goals that I have for this summer, I would say I really want to grow in leadership and just how how effective I am at leading and not carrying away from hard conversations, not um avoiding conflicts, but holding people at a high level and making them feel loved. So holding people at a high level and of accountability and and the standard, but also loving people enough to be able to, whenever I'm holding them to that level, they feel loved. They don't feel like I'm just beating them on the back with a stick.

SPEAKER_16 37:45

That's good.

SPEAKER_10 37:45

Um I'd say another goal would probably just be I want to be more intentional this summer about two things with students. One, meeting in one-on-ones with students. So trying to like intentionally meet one-on-one with every student that I have. Because sometimes it just I don't always do that. But sometimes it kind of just doesn't feel right to always do that, but a lot of times I want it to really be intentional about trying to meet one-on-one with every student. And then also really emphasizing and teaching my students how to read the Bible on their own.

SPEAKER_16 38:16

That's good. Those are both good goals to have. All right, sweet Ryan, thanks for hopping on.

SPEAKER_10 38:21

Thank you, JB.

Josiah On Intern Growth And Identity

SPEAKER_16 38:23

Everyone, I'm here with the best intern I've ever had, ever.

SPEAKER_05 38:27

What's up?

SPEAKER_16 38:28

Josiah Sneed.

unknown 38:30

Woo!

SPEAKER_05 38:31

How's it going?

SPEAKER_16 38:32

If you guys listen to any of the sermon uh episodes or like podcasts on the Snowbird account, this guy edits them. Let's go. All right, Josiah, tell us a little about a little bit about yourself. Where are you from?

SPEAKER_05 38:46

Um I'm from Cherokee, North Carolina, which is just like right over the hill from Andrews. Um yeah, I moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when I was in sixth grade. And then in eighth grade, I moved to Andrews, North Carolina, where Snowbird is.

SPEAKER_16 39:03

Yep. And you've been here ever since?

SPEAKER_05 39:05

Yep.

SPEAKER_16 39:05

Okay, and tell us about how you got kind of involved with Snowbird.

SPEAKER_05 39:09

Um, so I was friends with some people who were like camp kids. Um, and they just like invited me to church and uh invited me to uh like some of the retreats. And and yeah, I just started going to Red Oak, which is the church that's connected to Snowbird. Um and and yeah, I just And so last summer was your first summer? Yeah, I worked element program.

SPEAKER_16 39:35

Let's go, element and then you interned?

SPEAKER_05 39:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 39:38

Tell me your favorite memory from the the intern year.

SPEAKER_05 39:42

I don't know if I have like a specific favorite memory, but like pretty much all memories with working under me, of course.

SPEAKER_16 39:50

Come on.

SPEAKER_05 39:51

I think my favorite part though is just like the initial growth that I had over the entire year. Yeah, because like like I'm a whole different person. Um and God's just molded me into who I am now, and it's it's super cool to see and like just look back on.

SPEAKER_16 40:07

Okay, I don't know if you want to talk about this, so you can tell me now and I'll edit it out. But last year, your first couple weeks here, everyone called you by a different name. Yeah, and that name was because you got that nickname because of how you like acted, or like it was just like I don't know, your past, right? Yeah, and then you like halfway through the summer, maybe even earlier than halfway, you were like, Hey, I want to be called Josiah, not this other name. And ever since then, I feel like that's like you hearing you talk about your change, but then also like seeing you be like, No, I don't even want to be called by this name anymore, like it's not funny, it's not cool. Like, I'm completely working to be a different man and like changed by the like word of God and strive towards that. And I've seen a lot of growth in you, I know everyone else has, but I think that's cool. Like a very like tangible way that you've like changed is like completely walking away from things of your past. Yeah, I'll say this it's hard to get work done whenever me and Josiah are in the media office. We just literally laugh all the time.

SPEAKER_05 41:09

That's great.

SPEAKER_16 41:10

Oh, someone just came up and took a picture of Josiah. Paparazzi already starting.

SPEAKER_05 41:15

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_16 41:16

Okay, what are you most looking forward to about this summer?

SPEAKER_05 41:20

Hmm. Um so many different things. I think like last summer I was it was like I was pouring out myself and then just being poured into so much and like this constant flow. Um, so I'm excited about that again. Yeah, um, and I'll actually have students every single week, so I'll be pouring out a lot more of myself and just the Lord is gonna stretch me a lot. Um, and I'm excited for that. I'm excited just to see how far the Lord will take me this summer, like like he did last summer. Yeah. Um because I know it's gonna be so growing for me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_16 41:58

Um I feel like there's something to be said about like the summer after you intern, because it's like you've already been here so long, you've been here for a year, and it's like all this excitement is built up for the summer. That's like what we look forward to all year. And I think sometimes I know for me, I like struggled a little bit. Like that first couple of weeks, I was like, what is happening? Why am I struggling so much? But it was actually probably one of the most growing times of my life, like dying to your flesh a ton, because it's like I don't want to say this in a negative way, but it's like the new shiny effect kind of like wears off, and you're like, Oh wait, this has just been my life. It's not just like, oh, I'm coming up here for a summer. You're like, I've lived this and been here for so long. But not saying like people who come up here in the summer, that's a bad thing, but you've just like been here, been through the thick and thin, and so I think it is super growing, and like you definitely have to learn how to serve others super well and and like die your flesh a ton, but it's definitely worth it. Yeah, it's definitely worth the fight for sure.

SPEAKER_05 43:04

Yeah, I've already kind of experienced that these past two weeks. Well, past week and a half, I guess. Um like as soon as the like the new summer stuff came in, it was kind of like weird because like I'm so used to being around the people that I'm always around.

SPEAKER_16 43:25

And it's also almost like they're invading your home. Almost you know, like you've just been you've lived on campus, and then all of a sudden you're sharing campus with 150 more people, you know.

SPEAKER_05 43:36

For sure. Yeah, and I'm like in the flow of things, and now like people are in my bathroom, and I'm like, oh crap, what's going on? But but like the Lord was quickly like, all right, like you need to you need to just invite these people into what what's going on. And and like him checking me like that super quickly um has been so great. Growing. Um because now like now like I can see all these people and I'm like, okay, they're in this t with like the same way I am. Exactly. Um and it's like super bonding and super connecting when you know these people, like I barely know these people.

SPEAKER_16 44:16

Yeah, but you already feel like super close. I feel the same way.

SPEAKER_05 44:19

And it's it's like like we're in this together, and we're I'm gonna spend a whole summer with these people. And some of them like I'm gonna be best friends with. Yeah. And it's kind of weird to think that. But but yeah, it's been it's been great.

SPEAKER_16 44:33

Yeah, for sure. Alright, well, sweet. You got anything else to say?

SPEAKER_05 44:37

Um, come to Snowbird if you haven't already. Um, yeah, plan a trip. Probably a treat. You probably can't get into summer.

SPEAKER_16 44:44

Yeah, it's too late. We're always both fall retreat, winter swell, come on, adult retreats, be strong, marriage conference.

SPEAKER_05 44:51

Respond, be strong.

SPEAKER_16 44:52

Come on, y'all. Come on down.

SPEAKER_05 44:54

College retreat.

SPEAKER_16 44:55

Yep, college retreat's a good one.

SPEAKER_05 44:56

Sounds tough. Yep. Come on.

SPEAKER_16 44:58

Okay, Joe Syisneed. Thanks for hopping on.

SPEAKER_05 45:01

Yes, Joy Beth Kid.

SPEAKER_16 45:02

I'll catch you around.

SPEAKER_05 45:04

Alrighty.

Daniel And Anna See Staff Side

SPEAKER_02 45:05

Okay, everyone, I'm here with. My name is Daniel Pierce, and I'm from Augusta University. I just finished my freshman year.

SPEAKER_16 45:11

Let's go. And you run it, Augusta, right? Cross country?

SPEAKER_02 45:14

I just finished my first year of tracking cross country there.

SPEAKER_16 45:17

Nice. What events do you do?

SPEAKER_02 45:19

And track I do the 800 and the 400. So one lap and two laps on the track.

SPEAKER_16 45:23

Honestly, I'm glad you explained that because I asked and then immediately you started talking. Was like, I have no idea what he's talking about. Sweet. All right, let's talk about the masters. Did you go?

SPEAKER_02 45:32

I did not go. So that week at Augusta is very busy. So most of the local people get out of town. And that is my week of spring break at Augusta. Oh, there you go. So yeah.

SPEAKER_16 45:42

My sister and brother-in-law live in Augusta. And for a little while before they were married, my brother-in-law would rent out his house to people, and he would get paid a ton of money just to live in a hotel for a week.

SPEAKER_02 45:56

Yeah, most people rent out their house and they can make like their full year of mortgage from that one week only.

SPEAKER_16 46:02

It's insane. Alright, well, it's your first summer, right?

SPEAKER_02 46:06

Yes, it's my first summer here on staff.

SPEAKER_16 46:08

Okay, and how many years have you come as a camper?

SPEAKER_02 46:10

I came the past two summers as a camper.

SPEAKER_16 46:12

Okay, and you come with what church?

SPEAKER_02 46:14

I come with Hillside, which is from Woodstock, Georgia.

SPEAKER_16 46:17

Let's go. Marietta, Georgia gang, Woodstock area. And is Charlotte from the same area?

SPEAKER_02 46:22

Yeah, Charlotte goes to the same church. Okay. And then there's two other people that come here that also go to the Tyler Gebhardt and Macy Portis.

SPEAKER_16 46:30

Also, oh, I didn't know. Four of us.

SPEAKER_02 46:33

Four of us from the same church and first year on staff.

SPEAKER_16 46:36

And Steve Brooks is y'all's youth pastor. Yes. Shout out Steve. Let's go. He is. What week are they coming this year?

SPEAKER_02 46:42

Week five. Alright, are you gonna work with them? I'm not allowed.

SPEAKER_16 46:45

Why?

SPEAKER_02 46:46

Uh Steve does not allow us. Oh, I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_16 46:49

Okay, honestly. Okay, I like that. I like that. Alright. Do you know anyone coming? Like any of your friends coming?

SPEAKER_02 46:55

Um, some of my like junior friends are coming. So hopefully I get to see them whenever I'm around hillside.

SPEAKER_16 47:01

Alright, sweet. Okay, what has been the most fun part of training so far?

SPEAKER_02 47:06

Uh I would say getting to work Goliath swing and getting trained on that. My crew with the summer, we're really hyped, and it's a great crew. So we're gonna have so much fun out of it.

SPEAKER_16 47:15

Yep, yep. Not as good as Poopy Pole, but that's debatable.

SPEAKER_02 47:19

I know Jack's over there working that, but we interviewed Jack earlier. Yeah, it's debatable.

SPEAKER_16 47:23

Okay, and what are you looking forward to most about this summer?

SPEAKER_02 47:27

I am most hyped for the camp campers to get here. I'm really ready to be able to pour into them and see what being on the other side at work yet sober is like.

SPEAKER_16 47:35

Okay, I asked I asked two other people this question and they kind of were like, uh, I don't know. So I'm kind of putting you on the spot. But you've been a camper, so you've experienced camp as a camper, obviously, and now you're on staff. What has been like the most like surprising thing or like shocking thing kind of now on this side of things, if that makes sense?

SPEAKER_02 47:54

I never really thought about how much like time they put into the skits preparing for them. And it's like a lot of time just so that it's like perfect when they're on stage, just so the students can have a great experience with that.

SPEAKER_16 48:06

Yeah, for sure. Sweet. Thanks for hopping on, Daniel.

SPEAKER_02 48:10

Yes, of course. It was great.

SPEAKER_16 48:11

And the last thing I just need you to admit is that the poopy pole is better than Gly.

SPEAKER_02 48:15

Um, definitely not. And wherever y'all show up, come to Good Live to get the Andardingus ankle biter.

SPEAKER_16 48:21

What is that?

SPEAKER_02 48:22

Oh, yeah, that's our Snack Shack special. Aha blast is the same. You're already promoting. You're already promoting.

SPEAKER_16 48:28

That's crazy. All right, anyways, go get the Ander Dingus special. That's hilarious. Okay, bye. Okay, y'all. I'm here with Anna Livingston. Hey. Okay, you guys. We earlier interviewed Lillian Owens, and we talked about how her mom and dad were here at the original Snowbird 97 OG day one.

SPEAKER_07 48:53

Who else was there? Uh, my mom, Sarah Livingston at the Tankadoo.

SPEAKER_16 48:59

Yep. And listen to this, you guys. Anna's parents, so Sarah and Jody were my youth pastor for a very long time. And now Anna's here. Isn't that crazy? Like, okay, it's actually kind of crazy thinking about like I would not be working here if it weren't for all those years ago, your mom coming here, Jody coming here, bringing us here. And I remember when Jody first brought the students of First Baptist Kennesol from beach camp to Snowbird. Very different, very different. It was a shock, but very quickly it was like, oh, we love Snowbird, we gotta keep coming here. Yeah. So grateful for your parents bringing us here. Shout out Jody and Sarah.

SPEAKER_07 49:41

Shout out Jody and Sarah.

SPEAKER_16 49:42

Okay, but tell me about you. How long have you worked at Snowbird?

SPEAKER_07 49:46

Um, this will be going into my second summer this summer, but I interned this past year. So after the summer, last summer, I stayed and was here all year. And I'll be here until the end of uh the beginning of August.

SPEAKER_16 49:59

Yep. Okay, and something special about Anna, I feel like this is a bit rare. So she was all the way in North Carolina while you the rest of your family still lived in California. Yeah. And so I'm sure that was a bit difficult. Yeah, you get to go home on the weekends, right? How many times do you go home? Two?

SPEAKER_07 50:15

Uh yeah, I went for my sister's graduation, and then I went for actually I ended up going three. Yep. Because I surprised my parents for Christmas. And I went home for Christmas.

SPEAKER_16 50:25

Yep. That was sweet. All right. What wreck are you on this summer?

SPEAKER_07 50:29

I'm on uh canoeing.

SPEAKER_16 50:31

Canoeing.

SPEAKER_07 50:32

I just interviewed he.

SPEAKER_16 50:34

Yeah, what a good rec. And okay, what two things. What was your favorite memory from the intern year? And then what are you looking forward to most about this summer?

SPEAKER_07 50:44

Hmm. One of my favorite memories from the intern year. I probably have two that were like top, but like one night all of us interns just randomly all ended up in the meta building, and we were just playing games in here, just like a bunch of board games, and we just genuinely were all like hanging out and just like having fun, and it was so fun because it was one of those like random, like everybody's just like here. Spontaneous. And then it turned into like this massive game night, and we were there for like hours just playing games, and it was so fun. And then intern prom was really fun.

SPEAKER_16 51:11

Yes, I feel like people probably don't know actually how many things the interns be doing. Like you guys go Christmas Caroline, you guys have a prom. Yeah, you guys, I don't even know what else.

SPEAKER_07 51:23

Go on a lot of like world tours and truth.

SPEAKER_16 51:26

Yeah, I feel like there's a lot of stuff that happens that people don't know about, but lots of time in those trans events.

SPEAKER_07 51:32

Yep.

SPEAKER_16 51:33

Oh yeah. Captain the Stallion's my favorite. Oh, it's the comfiest one. Yes, of course.

SPEAKER_07 51:38

The people who say Louis are wrong.

SPEAKER_16 51:39

No, okay, but Louis's good. Louis is good, my tried and true. Oh faithful or whatever. Yep, yep. And then what are you looking forward to most about this summer?

SPEAKER_07 51:48

Um, I don't know. I think just uh being able to like serve and serve well this summer, and then also just getting to know all of like the new stuff that's come in and just being able to serve alongside them, and then also just being able to get to know like campers that I had last year deeper and just building on the relationship that I built with them last summer, and then just like building new ones with new campers and just also having a blast with all of them on wreck and canoeing. I'm super excited for that.

SPEAKER_16 52:14

Oh, that's gonna be awesome. Okay, what was I kind of putting you on the spot, but what was would you say is your biggest area of growth that you've seen in yourself from last summer to this summer?

SPEAKER_07 52:25

Um, actually talking about this the other night for our community group because we were sharing all of our testimonies um and just reflecting on it was just definitely like I think I grew a lot in my relationship, like my heart knowledge of the Lord. I feel like because my dad's a youth pastor and because like I grew up coming to camp and retreats and just always being flooded with like the m got little the message of the gospel. I just like always knew every answer and was like, okay, I know exactly what I'm supposed to do, but I didn't really know like the Lord like as a person and in a relationship with him.

SPEAKER_16 52:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 52:56

Because it was just kind of like, oh, I'm gonna do this because this is what I'm supposed to do, but nothing.

SPEAKER_16 52:59

All eyes are on me because I'm the youth pastor's daughter.

SPEAKER_07 53:02

Kind of like living in a bubble, yeah. Versus like here it's been like, okay, there's a bunch of kids here whose parents are pastors.

SPEAKER_16 53:07

There's a bunch of like You're not the only one.

SPEAKER_07 53:09

Yeah, there's like not everyone's looking at me all the time, which I guess can go either way, like not everyone's looking at me, so I can just do whatever I want. But I think I definitely grew a lot in the way of just like building a relationship with the Lord of like what my personal relationship with him looks like versus just like okay, I'm gonna get up and read my Bible every day because I have to read my Bible kind of thing.

SPEAKER_16 53:26

Yeah, I feel like it's been cool this past year. Anna was in my community group during the interim year, and it's cool because we've been able to like relate because we grew up in the same town, like the same church, like had so many universal experiences like together. But I also that's like a huge part of my testimony, kind of like growing up in that Bible belt, like the cultural Christianity, yeah. But then like coming to Snowbird really changed like my heart knowledge of the Lord, because like you're saying, I could spit out the correct answer in Sunday school or whatever. But growing here is like really grown my like want and like my desire for the Lord, and also just like kind of showed me like my need for the Lord. Like I'm a prideful, stupid, arrogant little girl. Like, I need the Lord, you know.

SPEAKER_07 54:10

Yeah, and when I got no sleep and no energy to do anything, I need to rely on him for sure. Yeah, all right.

SPEAKER_16 54:15

Well, sweet. Thanks for coming on, of

Drew On Intentional Relationships And Teaching

SPEAKER_16 54:18

course. Okay, everyone. Let me uh let Drew introduce himself.

SPEAKER_14 54:22

Hey everyone, my name is Drew Howell, and I had the opportunity to serve this summer at Snowbird.

SPEAKER_16 54:27

Let's go. Where are you from?

SPEAKER_14 54:28

Uh Eastman, Georgia. If you know where Macon, Georgia is, I'm about an hour south of there.

SPEAKER_16 54:32

Wait, are you close to Warner Robbins?

SPEAKER_14 54:34

About 45 minutes.

SPEAKER_16 54:35

Okay, I didn't know that. That's like where my cousins and all my extended family live. Oh, really? That's awesome. Sweet. Okay, how did you hear about Snowbird?

SPEAKER_14 54:42

So back in 2012, my dad came for the first time with a for men's conference. And so that was the first time I heard about it. And then they came until COVID happened, and then we didn't ever come again until 2022. Because that was my senior year of high school. And we came as for the winter swow. And so I came as a student then. Mm-hmm. And then we came this past uh uh men's fall retreat. Okay. I came with the men there, and then I came as a chaperon for winter swow one.

SPEAKER_16 55:16

Nice. And did you know when did you start to realize like, oh, I think I kinda want to work here?

SPEAKER_14 55:22

Uh during the men's conference, I got to talk to a lot of the institute guys, and it was awesome to just hear how God has changed their lives. Yeah, how much they've learned throughout a year.

SPEAKER_16 55:32

Sweet. That's awesome. Okay, what do you do or what did you do before you are working this summer?

SPEAKER_14 55:38

So I actually worked at the city where I'm from, and it's called most places call it public works. We called it street department. Okay. So basically, whatever was needed around town, we would do. So clean up the gutters on the side of the road, uh fix potholes, weedy, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_16 55:56

Yeah. Keeping Georgia beautiful. Let's go. Georgia's the best state, and I stand on that.

SPEAKER_14 56:02

It's got everything.

SPEAKER_16 56:02

Are you a Georgia fan?

SPEAKER_14 56:04

I'm not.

SPEAKER_16 56:05

Drew, what are you?

SPEAKER_14 56:06

Michigan, actually. For seven years.

SPEAKER_16 56:08

Are you kidding me, Drew?

SPEAKER_14 56:09

For seven years.

SPEAKER_16 56:10

That is actually repulsive.

SPEAKER_14 56:12

How?

SPEAKER_16 56:13

You live in the best state with the best football.

SPEAKER_14 56:17

The worst fans.

SPEAKER_16 56:18

No, I'll start barking at you right now if you're not careful. Go dogs till I die. Um, what rec are you on this summer?

SPEAKER_14 56:24

Uh I'm working the zip line and we got the best crew.

SPEAKER_16 56:28

Ziploc. I like that. Do you guys have a rec special?

SPEAKER_14 56:32

We do have a rec special. What is it? I believe it is slushy and airhead.

SPEAKER_16 56:37

Okay. Daniel, I just interviewed him and he was already promoting his rec special. If you guys don't know what a rec special is, each week, each rec on campus rec has a competition to see like how many rec specials campers will buy, and it's a big competition.

SPEAKER_14 56:52

Yeah, we were talking about as soon as uh we formed our group chat. We immediately started talking about a rec special.

SPEAKER_16 56:58

Dang, I didn't know it was that intense. Dang. Alright. Well, maybe one week I'll buy the the Ziploc rec special. That'd be amazing. Alright, what are you looking forward to most about this summer?

SPEAKER_14 57:09

Uh just the the availability to be intentional with not just campers but staff as well. And just being able to form those relationships with the staff that I mean lasts more than just this summer. But being able to have friends that you can call anytime you're struggling, or yeah, anytime that they're struggling, they can call you. Just being able to build those relationships.

SPEAKER_16 57:28

Well, sweet. Well, has been your favorite part of training so far?

SPEAKER_14 57:34

Favorite part of training surprisingly has been the camp talks. I've learned so much. Yeah. Just about one of the core values. And then the second part is just learning about some of the staff that work here year long. Yeah. Getting to hear from them like Allison yesterday and uh just being able to learn more about everyone.

SPEAKER_16 57:54

Yeah. Well, sweet. Thanks so much for hopping on. Wait, do you listen to the podcast?

SPEAKER_14 57:58

I have listened to a few. Not I can't. I'm not gonna say I'm listen to everyone, but like the youth faster when I listen to that.

SPEAKER_16 58:04

You gotta listen to this one. Since you're on it, come on.

SPEAKER_00 58:07

There.

SPEAKER_16 58:07

All right, thanks for hopping on.

Subscribe Rate And Visit SWO

SPEAKER_00 58:10

Thanks for listening to No Sanity Required. Please take a moment to subscribe and leave a rating. It really helps. Visit us at swoutfitters.com to see all of our programming and resources. And we'll see you next week on No Sanity Required.