Programming at Camp Knickerbocker has never been better—Traditional camps were given a new structure; new specialty camps were created to target more camper interests; and the adventure camps included more field trips, new programs, and camper-choice activities. Led by Rudi Bottse and Faith Gagne, the two seasoned staff members brought new life into the adventure camp programs. The dynamic duo was perfect for planning and leading beach adventure, aqua adventure, Baldwin Center adventure, and outdoor cooking adventure camps.

As a staff member of Camp K for the past four summers, Rudi historically helped with the Baldwin Center Ropes Course. With his warm demeanor, caring personality and loud voice, he’s hard to miss. His natural Zen-but-extroverted energy shines through all the time, which is infectious. With COVID-19 cropping up summer of 2020, Rudi had to take a step back from our most popular program and be at Camp K’s main campus. He stepped into the role of the lead staff member working with our oldest campers, getting to know them and figure out what it is the kids want out of specialty and adventure camps. Before the 2020 season had ended, Rudi and his teammate that summer started planning for the summer of 2021 adventure camps.

It was meant to be that Faith was paired with Rudi working with the peninsula’s older campers in 2020. Coming with prior camp experience working at a Girl Scout summer day camp in Massachusetts, Faith found herself in Boothbay when COVID-19 had shut her previous camp down for the season. As a go-getter and hard worker, she felt the need to find a summer job rather than sit at home. That’s when she submitted her application to Camp K and was welcomed to join the team! She is energetic, an organizer and chalk-full of ambition, which is important to be when planning off-site activities.

When Faith and Rudi reached out regarding working at Camp K for the summer of 2021, they requested to be paired together again, leading the Adventure Camp programs. Their bond is unlike any other, and they absolutely adore each other. When asked how he felt about this summer, Rudi said that “honestly, it’s this type of programming and relationship building that keeps these camps going. Without someone you can trust whole heartedly, this type of camp wouldn’t be able to happen.” Faith said of Rudi that “he’s so fun, he makes me laugh, and we can almost read each other’s minds. It’s a great relationship, and we love working together.”

Two very strong, experienced, fun, safe, and energetic staff members have taken care of over 85 individual campers throughout the ten weeks of camp this season, and many of them returned week after week to go out and explore beaches, have fun on cruises in the harbor, spend the day at Aquaboggan, learn how to build and cook over a fire, and more! It is very important to find staff that can take a group of campers off-site for the day and be 100% independent. With Rudi and Faith at the helm of Adventure camps, the kids and staff a like have so much fun, bond during long bus rides, learn about each other, and make memories that will last a lifetime.