Like many young people graduating high school, Benjamin Hoffmann decided to take a gap year before starting college. He knew he wanted to volunteer through the Brethren Volunteer Service like his parents and grandparents did when they were his age, but the big question was where he would serve. Benjamin is from Fuhlendorf, Germany, but wanted to volunteer somewhere in the U.S., where his mother is from.

He always knew he wanted to work at a camp, but it was important that he have meaningful work throughout the experience, not just during camp season. When presented with camp options across the United States, Benjamin ultimately chose the Ferncliff Residential Volunteer Program. “I saw Ferncliff and I thought this looks pretty cool, especially the disaster assistance part of it and the nature preschool. There would always be something going on was my feeling. And I was correct. So that is great. ”

As a residential volunteer, Benjamin lived full-time at Ferncliff and served in a year-long placement. He assisted with a variety of year-round programming, including working in the Disaster Assistance Center, the Sharing the Goods program, and hospitality and events. He regularly assisted the maintenance staff with site improvement projects, helped support the Nature Preschool, and served as a camp staff member during the camp season.

“I learned so much this year. I was, I guess, 18, 19 when I started and it was the first time away from home. But living away from my family, I learned a lot about independence and so many, like, actual skills. I would have never thought I’d know how to drive a forklift or be able to have people say ‘Here is the chainsaw, the weed eater, take care of this’, and many skills like that. I feel like I grew personally too,” said Benjamin.

Benjamin spent much of his time behind the scenes, taking photographs and working hard to ensure kids have a fun and safe experience. However, his work with summer campers led him back to Ferncliff even after his volunteer placement ended to be a camp counselor this summer.

“One day I led a little soccer game and at the end of the week, one of the kids came up to me and gave me a letter saying, ‘This was the best part of the week. Thank you so much for doing this.’ And things like that, I mean, it’s sometimes hard to see your impact when it’s not direct like that, but we talk a lot about planting seeds and not necessarily being there for the harvest and I feel like that’s definitely true for a lot of the things we do here.  That and the great people all around here are reasons I came back. I was back home less than a month when I already was interviewing here and like talking about, ‘So do you need me for the summer maybe?’”

This fall, Benjamin will enroll in an environmental science program in Germany. “Ferncliff gave me the opportunity to do a lot of good in a lot of different ways, and I think that’s something that I definitely want to keep doing.”

That family tradition of service? It is still alive and well and the seeds of service Benjamin planted as a residential volunteer at Ferncliff are growing. After his extended family was able to visit Ferncliff during his time here, they fell in love with Ferncliff. “My grandparents get all the newsletters and emails. My sister Katie is coming this Fall as a residential volunteer as part of the Ferncliff Nature Preschool. And I’m so excited to see all the great changes when I come back again.”

And we are so appreciative of you! Because of your gifts, Ferncliff provides transformative experiences like the one given to Benjamin.  Thank you for your generosity in supporting Ferncliff, this ministry we all share. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation.