This summer, we continue our wonderful tradition of Camp Spring Creek ties with Australia! Along with counselor Luke Kaldas and tutor Renya Seelig, counselor Abby Edwards will be joining us from Down Under! Counseling is a perfect role for Abby, who has a background in social work and friends describe as patient and empathetic. But she's also an avid hiker. We are sure she will fit right in at camp!
Tell us a little bit about the place where you grew up.
I grew up in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia where there is a lot of bushland. As a kid, I grew up on some property with pet cows, chickens, dogs, a goat and some sheep. I spent a lot of my time playing outside with my two older brothers.
What do you do during the school year?
For the past four years during the school year, I had been studying my Bachelor of Social Work, I graduated this last year. This year I have been working as a Person-Centred Support Worker within the disability and mental health sectors.
Have you worked with children before?
Yes, I have worked with children during my studies through work experience and placements. As a teenager, I also did babysitting and grew up taking care of and spending time with my many younger cousins.
What were you like when you were a child?
I asked my family to answer this one for me. They said I was easy going and a bit of a tom boy as I grew up hanging around my brothers and their friends. They also said that they had a very hard time getting me out of bed in the mornings but luckily since then this has changed, and I have turned into an early bird.
How would your friends describe your personality?
I asked my best friend of 18 years to answer this one and she said, “I would say empathetic, compassionate, dry sense of humour, attentive listener, good communicator, creative and artistic, comfortable within yourself, intuitive and physically fit and active and motivated.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
I really enjoy working out, getting artistic: mostly painting with watercolours, reading books, getting out in nature, playing with my dogs, and spending time with my friends and family.
What’s something campers would be surprised to find out about you?
Maybe that I’m a vegetarian and I can do the splits.
What’s a special game or skill you’re excited about sharing with campers this summer?
I’m excited to use my Social Work skills and be active with the kids.
What can campers do to make you smile? What should they avoid doing around you?
If the campers are enjoying themselves and having a good time and I can’t really think of something they should avoid doing around me as I am a patient person.
What is your favourite outdoor activity?
I like hiking and walking outdoors and enjoy doing this in bushland around my house.
What advice can give to campers to have a great summer away from home?
To try and make the most out of camp and to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.
What are your hopes for this summer?
To help the campers make progress and reach their goals and to have a lot of fun.
