You Are Part of the Story
In the 46 years since Sonlight led our first backpack trip in the Gore Wilderness, Sonlight has become home to thousands of staff and campers. We are proud that you are part of the Sonlight story – the experiences and memories that have shaped our lives and the world around us.
If you’ve been a camper, staff member, attended a retreat or hiked with us on a backpack trip we consider you a Sonlight Alumni.
“Being on staff I understood for the first time what it feels like to be unabashedly yourself, and for people to love who that crazy, goofy, quirky person is. I learned that you can love others so deeply, even when they’re different from yourself…. I learned that who you are is good enough, because it’s exactly who you’re supposed to be. Spending the summer at Sonlight was the best choice I’ve ever made, there’s nothing better than being here.”
If you’ve been a camper, staff member or retreat guest we’d love to re-connect!
Join our conversations. We love to share what’s happening at Sonlight and the impact of those stories in communities around us.
Photo Albums
Parents: You may view all photos of your child’s summer camps by logging in to your Camp In Touch account
And From the Sonlight Blog
Historical blog posts relating to Alumni
Second Generation
Sophia Montiel's dad (Craig) was a camper in the 1980's, his daughter was the first second generation Sonlight camper in 2001. Sophia carried on the tradition of being a Sonlight camper and then staff member. Every summer we build the numbers of second generation...
Program Leadership : Welcome Chelsea
Hello Sonlight Family! My name is Chelsea Poest and I am the new Program Director at Sonlight! I just wanted to introduce myself, so you all know a little bit about me. I am from Holland, Michigan. I attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan from 2010-2014. I...
Glimpse of Heaven
The time I spent working and playing at Sonlight influenced who I am today in many ways. As a kid from suburban Dallas, I was first impacted by the beauty of the mountains. I remember going to get gas in the old Ford pick up early one morning and thinking to myself,...
Videographer Memories
Sonlight Christian Camp has come a long way from showing photo slide shows on hand cranked projectors to showing high definition highlight films. While being a videographer at Sonlight you not only experience one side of camp as a counselor or as a support staff...
Clapping for Bears
Back then the staff used the bathrooms up in one of the main buildings. I had taken my contacts out as I was getting ready for bed and realized I had left my glasses in my cabin. It was dark, but I thought, eh, there's a light halfway down the path. I'll be fine....
Sonlight = Family
Sonlight will always be home to me. The part that first comes to mind and sticks out when I think of Sonlight is the family I made there. I still marvel at how close we all became and how much love, caring, and respect existed among the staff members. I would do...