The Camp Staff Scholarship program has grown significantly since its inception in 1996 when a total of three small scholarships were given out. This summer, 112 college-aged staffers serving at Bartle, Naish and Rotary received over $150,000 towards their education! During the past five years scholarships awarded have grown by 132% and the number of staff receiving grants has grown by 22%.

This program is designed to reward our best college-aged staff with grants that augment their staff salaries, enabling them to continue working at camp while combating the high costs of a college education. The scholarships vary in value, topping out at $4000, and they are merit based, so the highest performers receive the highest awards. This is the only staff scholarship program of its caliber in the nation, and because of that we have seen a strong retention of our quality, experienced staffers.

Where does all this money come from?

The scholarships come from a combination of annual donations and interest earned from the ever-growing Camp Staff Scholarship Endowment. A volunteer steering committee was formed in 2010 to raise money and oversee the program.

The scholarships from the camp staff alumni endowments also received a big boost this past year thanks to the leadership of David Allen (Piercing Arrow), Kelsie Clark (Naish), Rob Dickinson (Sawmill), and Tom Lanio (Lone Star). If you would like to give please reach out to them or the HOAC office.

Anthony grew up in Belton, MO where he was an active member of troop 210. He is currently a senior at Illinois College, and after graduation he intends to pursue a career in law enforcement. He is a defender on the Illinois College Soccer Team where he has played all four years, yet he has still been able to slip away during the summer to work on the camp staff. He has spent the last seven summers working in Piercing Arrow, six of which have been at the Rifle Range where he has been an Instructor, Counselor, and in 2015, the Range Director. In the Tribe of Mic-O-Say he is Sachem White Moonlit Wolf. Let’s get to know him a little better…

What is your favorite camp meal?

P-I-Z-Z-A

How many camp corndogs could you eat in one sitting?

At least sixteen

What is the longest you’ve gone at camp without showering?

Approximately 12 hours

What is your favorite memory from coming down to Bartle as a camper?

That would have to be putting my friends’ camp box and cot on top of the latrine.

Who is a staffer that you’ve always looked up to?

Justin Prelogar, he taught me pottery my first year as a camper and was my big brother when I joined staff

Chiefs, Royals or Sporting KC?

Yes. If I had to rank them I would say SKC 1, Chiefs 2, and Royals 3

What is an interesting fact about you?

I played four different sports in high school, and I’m also a surfer

What is your favorite 90’s jam?

“I want it that way” Backstreet Boys

Favorite Disney princess?

Either Belle or Jane from Tarzan if she counts

Favorite Taylor Swift song?

Bad Blood

If you could leave the world with one piece of knowledge, what would it be?

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" –Jackie Robinson, If I could leave the world with one piece of knowledge, it would be knowing that I was a positive impact on the people I met during my lifetime. Just as Jackie Robinson impacted the people in his life, I hope that I leave a positive impact behind.

What do you get when you mix a 5 Hour Energy, 4 Red Bulls and 3 shots of espresso?

Ross Hearne

Ross lives in Chicago, IL during the off season where he keeps very busy with baseball, football, basketball, scouts and guitar. His career aspirations are to one day bring his energy and enthusiasm into the classroom as a teacher, which he hopes will lead towards many more summers on the permanent camp staff. He has spent the last two summers working at (in his words) “THE LONESTAR AQUATIC PALACE!” and in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, Ross is Keeper of the Sacred Bundle Son of Little Silent Snow Goose.

Most of us wouldn’t consider our fellow staffers as former co-workers, there is a special bond that forms there; it’s a staff brotherhood. Ross was quick to find a strong circle of friends on staff, but he didn’t just create brothers, he created a whole family. In his first summer on the camp staff Ross assigned everyone he worked with a different familial role, and formalized it with a well thought out family tree including more than 25 different family members (and one or two dogs). Reade Montgomery and Mathias Ham (the Pool Director and Counselor at the time) are still referred to as ‘Dad’ and ‘Mom,’ Grandma Matson ran the Nature lodge and Grandpa Mike was the Lakefront director. Ross’s genuine, unfiltered enthusiasm and creativity makes camp a more exciting place for campers and everyone that he works with.

What is your favorite camp meal?

SALISBURY STEAK!! It’s awesome because not a lot of people like it, so you get a lot of extras!

How many camp corndogs could you eat in one sitting?

I can only eat 2, but one of my brothers is Brendan Hess! He could eat the whole plate.

What is the longest you’ve gone at camp without showering?

I worked at the pool, so I always showered! At least three times a day!

What is your favorite memory from coming down to Bartle as a staffer?

One of my favorites was just sitting on The Point with my closest brothers and looking up and seeing the stars in the sky and really realizing the brotherhood and how special that place is to me. We say “In Friendship and Warmth,” but when you realize the friendship and warmth at Bartle, it is indescribable!

Who is a staffer that you’ve always looked up to?

There are so many staffers that I’ll always look up too, Mike Nolan, Kyle Anderson, the Hams, the Todds, Matson, UNCLE NISSEN… But the person I look up to the most is Reade Montgomery! He is the best boss ever! He has great leadership skills, and is almost a father figure to me.

Chiefs, Royals or Sporting KC?

I am from Chicago IL, so I’m a White Sox Fan!!

What is an interesting fact about you?

I AM SUPER ENERGETIC AND LOVE FAMILY AND LOVE RED BULL

What is your favorite 90’s jam?

All the Small Things by Blink 182

Favorite Disney princess?

My favorite Disney princess is Mulan! She is a sword swinging awesome dude!

Favorite Taylor Swift song?

Our song, that’s the only one I know!

If you could leave the world with one piece of knowledge, what would it be?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop!!!!!!! DUH!!!!