ACU has had Leadership Camps on campus every summer since 1982. This summer the camps are under new direction.

Each summer hundreds of children ranging from first graders to high school graduates attend one of four different camps. KidQuest is a day camp for first through third-graders, Learning to Lead hosts fourth through sixth-graders, MPulse is designed for campers in middle school and Kadesh is for campers entering 10th grade through their high school graduation.

ACU students serve as counselors at the camps under camp directors. This year David Moses and Mary Beth Cuevas will direct the camps for the first time.

David Moses, director of camps, comes to the job after 19 years of both youth and pastoral ministry. He said he is excited to work with the staff of students. He attended Kadesh as a volunteer for 16 years and anticipates gaining a new perspective.

“As a volunteer you come in for a week and you see these students and know they’re doing amazing things behind the scenes,” he said. “I think the thing I’m most looking forward to is getting to be behind the scenes.”

Moses knows the summer will not be without challenges. He said one of the biggest struggles for both him and the entire staff will be energy.

“I want that last Friday to be as exciting as the first Monday at the beginning of the summer,” he said. “I think that’s going to be the biggest challenge.”

Moses also said he is excited about working with Mary Beth Cuevas.

“I think we’re going to fit together really well because she’s an educator at heart and I’m a minister at heart,” he said. “There are different aspects of being an educator that I don’t get. I think it’s likewise from an educator’s perspective. I think we’re going to work hand-in-hand in that way.”

Mary Beth Cuevas, associate director of camps, brings many years of experience as an educator in public school systems to the job. Like Moses, she is excited about working with the student staff.

“I’ve never worked with college students in a consistent manner,” she said. “It is so impressive to see the spiritual maturity of the majority of these college students. I think that’s what excites me the most. Secondly, just being able to be a part of the curriculum process, and then when I’m at the camps seeing the [college] students taking the whole process and making it work.”

Due to tax laws the camp staff is required to work morning and afternoon shifts. Cuevas wants to make sure that the shift transition runs smoothly.

“The biggest thing is trying to make sure that we have ample time for our counselors to do the shift change,” she said. “That’s going to be the hardest part. We’re trying to make it a little more intentional.”

Cuevas agrees she and Moses will work well together.

“We’re both relational,” she said. “We both really like to get to know people. He is very spiritual. His walk with God is just phenomenal. I’m definitely a teacher. I love to train and present information.”

The Leadership Camps student staff has begun training for the summer and will continue to train throughout the semester.