The Louis August Jonas Foundation

I was born in Ghana, Africa but currently live and study in Queens, New York. My favorite part of CRS was the people. From day one, everyone was so friendly that I didn’t even miss Instagram or TikTok. Who needs wi-fi when you’re surrounded by amazing friends, staff, and activities that keep you busy all day. I didn’t think it was possible, but it turns out, being unplugged is actually…kind of great.

I was on the yearbook team and I held an African dance instruction with my two good friends from Zambia, Lubuto and Jasmine. Some of the activities at Camp made me think about the world in a new way, and others made me realize things about myself—like the fact that I can actually be a leader. My confidence grew a lot, and I learned that stepping up doesn’t mean being the loudest, it means being willing to help, to listen, and to support the people around you. I learned to appreciate the value of teamwork.

Gratitude is also a lesson I’ll never forget. At Camp, I became more grateful for the little things like good food, fresh air, late-night laughs, and the kind of conversations that make you forget you even own a phone. Those simple moments really showed me how much I take things for granted back home. I also learned how to be independent—making choices for myself or stepping out of my comfort zone. CRS showed me that I can handle things on my own.

I’ve stayed in touch with my camp friends, which proves that CRS is not just a camp—it’s a family, it is a community. To me, CRS means growth, connection, and realizing you can learn just as much from fun camp moments as you can from a class. As an alum, I plan to keep those lessons alive by staying connected and continuing to appreciate every opportunity, big or small.

I’m an avid reader and as a result I find myself reading the news often. It’s fun to see what has been going on in our world, but lately, it hasn’t been as enjoyable because whatever news source I use, there is always an endless amount of articles about financial crises, conflict, and a lot of depressing things. It’s made me think—is the world really a terrible place? Why can’t everyone in the world just be friends?

Well, this past summer I realized they can. Camp Rising Sun was one of the most rewarding and life-changing experiences of my life. There may never be another time when I’m eating lunch with a Ukrainian, Zambian, and Hungarian; washing dishes with people from Japan and Ecuador; staying up late with my tent-mates from Kazakhstan and Mexico.

Even though we came from different countries and different backgrounds, I realized how much we could learn from each other and how connected we all really are. 

During the last evening program, we tapped the people who we thought positively impacted our Camp experience. I thought I wouldn't get any, but I did. That moment gave me self-confidence I didn’t expect. Because at Camp, I felt accepted for who I was. 

At the start of Camp, I felt unsure about it still. For example, the first week, I hated the persistent mosquitoes. I didn’t know how Camp could instantly be life-changing. 

But on the last day I figured out how it changed my life, because it was a process of self-discovery. From working on projects like the newspaper to figuring out how to “survive” on the Nature Trip. Being the leader of the day not only helped me learn more about leadership, but also about myself. I learned that I could be adaptable, patient, and secure. Surprisingly, bugs didn’t even bother me after a while. I started to see that my value isn’t only in what I achieve, but in how I can support and connect with other people.

Now, I’m really proud to be a part of the CRS community. Within a world with a lot of toxicity and negativity, CRS is an international community of love and care. 

At the last Council I said that “life is not about the amount of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away.” CRS was truly a breathtaking moment for me. And it will be something that will have a lifelong impact on me.

My name is Kushagra, and I’m from a small town in Rajasthan, India. I was part of the TELE this past summer and it was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. My favorite part was meeting students from all around the world who were as passionate and hardworking as me, or even more! It felt great to be surrounded by such nice and inspiring people. The facilitators were amazing—they had so much knowledge, especially during the intensives, which made learning really interesting and fun.

In the first week, I joined the Museum Intensive, and in the second week, I was in the Sustainability Intensive. I also led a session with my friend, Kira, on Protest Art Throughout History, and worked with my team on a project called Fixing the Future. The Museum Intensive was my favorite because I’m a history geek. I thought I already knew a lot, but when I started the intensive, I realized there was so much new to learn. It felt amazing to discover new things about a subject I already loved.

Through TELE, I realized how connected the world really is. People from totally different places and backgrounds can come together to share ideas, learn, and solve problems. It made me value diversity and global thinking a lot more. I also became more confident in expressing myself and saw that I could really contribute to such a talented community.

For me, Rising Sun and TELE means a place where learning goes way beyond books—a global community that gave me knowledge, confidence, friendship, and the belief that I can make a real impact by both learning from others and helping them too.

This experience will stay in my heart forever.

This summer I went through more than I ever expected. People often say that camp begins after it ends, but for me, it started the moment I applied. Then Camp came. I got closer and closer—to the campers, community, and even to myself. I was doing something I had never done before.

At first, some Evening Program activities felt awkward, not because of the paint, spaghetti, or smelly watermelon, but because I was usually too shy to do something like that. We talked about things that are usually hidden deep inside, behind barriers of judgment and shame. Especially during the beauty standards evening program and the wisdom circle, I started to understand how others might feel. Through other evening programs and instructions, we connected, just by letting go. We let go of the feeling that doing certain things was “weird.” We did them simply because we felt like it, and afterwards, we liked it. I liked letting my inner child live.

After Camp, I stopped being afraid of being judged. My voice began to matter and I started hearing it, sharing it, and showing it to others. I stopped believing I wasn’t “enough” to speak. All the tears, all the conversations at Camp stayed with me, reminding me to speak up even when I’m unsure. I had stopped dancing because I was too afraid of people watching me. Even a simple performance felt overwhelming. At Camp I could step on stage and dance, and truly enjoy it. I returned to creating through movement and art. Through my drawing instruction, I found myself relearning the same things, but through the eyes of others. I began sharing my art openly and no longer hiding it.

I realized I could be both teacher and student, at the same time. It opened my creative side again. I stopped fearing self-expression and began wanting to be bigger, to create bigger. To draw what I feel and what is felt around me.

Camp is more than a place, people, or a period of time. It is a feeling, countless lessons and memories I return to whenever I need.

Attending CRS was an eye-opening experience. It wasn’t just a summer. It is a place that quietly and powerfully changes you.

If you’ve ever watched strangers become a family in a few weeks, you’ll understand CRS. There are so many memories I can recall but my favorite moments weren’t the big ones. They were the small ones that kept adding up. Laughing over a joke from our cultures, trying a tool I had never touched before during projects, and those quiet walks back to our tents after an Evening Program when the conversation just didn’t want to end.

One night that will stay with me forever was Vigil Night. Sitting alone, writing to my future self, embracing the silence. It felt like meeting a version of me I hadn’t met before. For someone who is usually surrounded by noise and people, that solitude was powerful. It pushed me to reflect deeply and to meet a braver, more self-aware version of myself.

CRS gives you a lot of freedom but with responsibility. I was lucky to be the project leader for the Tent Hill renovation. I learned the joy of making something real with other people. Measuring twice, fixing mistakes, and celebrating when it finally stood on its own. There’s nothing like that first moment when what you built doesn’t wobble. I also loved helping the social media team capture the spirit of Camp for everyone watching from afar.

The Evening Programs were my reset button. One that really stands out was about mental health. It gave us space to speak, to be vulnerable, and to listen without judgment. I realised how powerful it is just to listen.

What amazed me most was that we came from different cultures, beliefs, and stories, yet somehow we moved like one community at CRS. Curious. Open. Connected. That changed how I see the world and myself. I now have friends on nearly every continent. Camp made me realise that I’m braver than my nerves, stronger than my doubts, and proud of stepping so far outside my comfort zone.

Since Camp ended, our group chat hasn’t stopped buzzing. I still talk regularly with some of my fellow campers, and it already feels like the start of lifelong friendships. On the last council, I made a pledge to give back to this community. I still carry that spirit with me. CRS gave me more than I ever expected. Now it’s my turn to help keep this flame alive.

One of the things that has really stayed with me from TELE was the Radical Thinking Intensives. As a group, we were asked to redesign a town. It was so new because our instructors pushed us far beyond what most of us would normally consider for sustainability and equity. Yes, solar panels or more trees would work, but how could we break from “business as usual.” Could a community operate on four-day workweeks? Could they lead workshops, maybe around gender equality? That kind of creative stretching was what set the tone for me during the entire experience, and really reshaped how I understand leadership.

As part of our instructions, I was grateful for the chance to lead a session on chronic absenteeism in schools. At first, I was unsure if I should do it, because I was intimidated by talking in front of so many people! But looking back, I’m grateful to everyone who encouraged me, from my peers to my instructors. The discussion allowed us to hear from friends with such different backgrounds, like those from Nepal, Poland, and Ukraine who shared how their policies dealt with attendance. Those exchanges gave me new ways of thinking that I’ve since tried to bring back to my own community in Southeast Michigan, especially Detroit, where absenteeism is a big issue! 

And what’s lasted so much more than the learnings are the friendships. I had a chance to co-lead a tent talk with my friend Ruby on language, and she taught me words in South African languages that I still remember! I keep in touch with my friend Ranya too, and we’re now working together on a girls-led podcast.

I remember at the end of every session, we’d share moments of gratitude for the peers who made our day better. Those opportunities of recognizing one another were some of the most gratifying and meaningful parts of the entire experience for me. I’m thankful for the facilitators who allowed us to have this experience, and more than anyone, my peers who made this two-week program a life-long exchange that we’ll hold for many years to come.