ABOUT uS

OUR STORY

A Word From Our Founder:

When I was a freshman in college, I was challenged to have a vision so big for God that unless He intervened, it would fail. After working for a summer camp that seemed more like a daycare drop-off for busy parents, I thought that something more needed to happen. There was a need for a place where children could not only have the best time of their lives, but also learn why they were born, to learn that they matter to their camp family AND to God.

Since 1981, camp crew tremendously every year. We realized we wanted to expand not only in our own state of Maryland, but around the world. Camp Sonshine International has grown from a backyard outreach into a worldwide ministry touching thousands of children in different situations with the amazing love of God. Camp has the power to open the eyes of their soul and to help them understand the God who forgives, embraces, and helps them reach their God-given potential. Our hope now is that every child who comes to Camp Sonshine, whether from a poverty-stricken area, like the Dominican Republic, or the suburbs of Washington D.C., that they would find Camp Sonshine to be a place where they can belong, become all that God has for them, and believe in our God who has an amazing hope and future for them.

We are now taking the next step in our journey. We now see the need to give campers the opportunity to experience the awesomeness of camp year round with Sonshine Life!

A Message From Our Executive Director:

I first attended Camp Sonshine as a camper when I was 3 years old. I came to camp every summer thereafter until I was 16 and was able to be an Assistant Counselor. All of my many years as a camper gave me friends, experiences, and memories that I will never forget! When I was a freshman in college I was constantly asked to come work at camp by our executive director at the time. I constantly refused for a time but when I was allowed to be at camp part time and work another job I agreed. I’m so grateful for saying yes and for the consistent pursuit from the camp team. The chance they took on me forever changed my life and passions because from my first summer working at Camp Sonshine, I have been loved, challenged, and believed in in a way I have never experienced anywhere else.

Fast forward a few years and in the fall of 2021 I accepted the Executive Director position to lead Camp Sonshine and help children and staff make positive memories that will last a lifetime. I want nothing more than for the rest of the world to experience what I did years ago, and continue to experience everyday. The hope, love, truth, and community God provides at Camp Sonshine International.

Camp Sonshine is driven by our desire to create memories for children and youth that will provide them a foundation for life circumstances that are most certainly going to come. We serve because it’s the right thing to do and not for what we get out of it. Whether we are in the US or in another country, whether it’s during our after-school programs or during the summer, we want to be right next to people encouraging, supporting, and doing whatever we can to help. Over the coming years, Camp will be inviting our families to come and join us as we seek to continue to love and serve our communities.

Testimonies

Camp Sonshine International — Camp Sonshine is an award-winning, county and state licensed; American Camp Association (ACA) accredited Christian day camp in Maryland. We provide both summer day camp and year-round programming including After School Care for grades Pre-k-5th in Montgomery and Howard County. Our programs are tailored to meet the developmental needs of each age group that we serve. We handpick our staff from all over the world that love working with youth and who intentionally model the kind of behavior parents want their children to emulate.