Camp La Junta Year-End Volunteer Call: Join Our Community of Dedicated Volunteers

As the leaves turn golden in the Texas Hill Country and the Guadalupe River flows peacefully through our valley, I find myself reflecting on what makes Camp La Junta truly special. It’s not just the rolling hills or the clear Texas skies—it’s the people who dedicate their time and talents to shaping the next generation of young leaders. That’s why I’m issuing a heartfelt call for volunteers as we approach the end of the year.

Why Volunteer at Camp La Junta?

For those who may not know me, I’m Matthew Bovee, and Camp La Junta has been a fundamental part of my life since I was a young boy growing up in Kerrville, Texas. This camp isn’t just a summer destination—it’s a place where character is built, friendships are forged, and futures are shaped. And it takes a village to make that happen.

Volunteering at Camp La Junta is more than just offering your time. It’s becoming part of a legacy that has produced countless successful individuals across journalism, business, education, and public service. Our volunteers tell us repeatedly that the experience transforms them as much as it transforms the campers.

When you volunteer at Camp La Junta, you’re not filling a position—you’re becoming a mentor, a role model, and a guide for young people who are navigating the crucial years between childhood and adulthood. The camp has been running for decades, and the quality of our volunteer program has always been the backbone of that success.

Year-End Volunteer Opportunities Available

As we close out 2026, we have several critical volunteer positions that need to be filled. Whether you have a week to spare or just a few days, there’s a place for you at Camp La Junta this season.

Weekend Camp Cleanup Crew

Our facility needs seasonal maintenance before winter sets in. This involves general grounds cleanup, equipment storage, and preparing our facilities for the colder months ahead. No special skills required—just a willingness to work alongside fellow volunteers in the beautiful Texas outdoors. Tasks include clearing trails, organizing storage buildings, winterizing water systems, and preparing the dining hall for the off-season.

Winter Program Assistant

We’re expanding our winter programming this year, and we need volunteers to help with activity coordination for weekend workshops, supervision during outdoor adventures, and administrative support for registration and scheduling. Winter programs at Camp La Junta offer unique opportunities for team-building and leadership development, and we need dedicated volunteers to make them successful.

Scholarship Interview Panel

As many of you know, I established the Tommy Redhorse Scholarship to support aspiring young journalists. Each year, we need volunteers to serve on our interview panel, reviewing applications and conducting interviews with promising candidates. This is a remote volunteer opportunity that can be completed from anywhere, making it perfect for professionals with busy schedules.

The Impact You Can Make

Let me share a story that illustrates why volunteerism at Camp La Junta matters so much. Several years ago, we had a volunteer named Sarah who came for just one weekend to help with our arts and crafts program. She had no prior camp experience and thought she’d be uncomfortable around children. That one weekend changed her career path entirely—she went on to become a youth programs director at a major nonprofit in San Antonio.

Or consider the example of Tom, a retired journalist who started volunteering with our scholarship program. His decades of experience interviewing sources and investigating stories gave our scholarship applicants insights they couldn’t get anywhere else. He’s now trained over fifty young people in basic interview techniques, and several of his mentees have gone on to successful careers in journalism.

These aren’t unusual stories. They’re typical of the Camp La Junta volunteer experience. When you volunteer at Camp La Junta, you’re not just giving time—you’re investing in the future of young people and potentially changing the trajectory of someone’s life in ways you may never fully realize.

What Volunteers Receive

We believe in recognizing and rewarding our volunteers, which is why Camp La Junta offers a range of benefits to those who give their time. All volunteers receive free accommodation and meals during their service period, access to camp facilities including the Guadalupe River access points, and professional development opportunities.

Long-term volunteers (those who serve more than two weeks) receive letters of recommendation for career or educational applications, networking opportunities with our extensive alumni network, and invitation to our annual volunteer appreciation dinner. Many volunteers tell us these connections have been invaluable to their personal and professional growth.

Skills We’re Looking For

While enthusiasm and dedication are more important than specific skills, there are certain areas where we can always use extra hands. If you have experience in education, youth development, journalism, communications, or outdoor recreation, we’d love to hear from you.

However, don’t let a lack of specialized skills stop you from applying. We need volunteers for general assistance, food service, cleaning, and maintenance just as much as we need specialized positions. Every task at Camp La Junta contributes to the overall experience our campers receive, and no contribution is too small.

A Personal Invitation

I started this post by talking about reflection, and I want to end on a personal note. Camp La Junta gave me so much as a young person—it taught me leadership, discipline, and the importance of giving back. Those lessons shaped my career as an investigative journalist and continue to guide me today.

Some of my most formative experiences came from adult mentors who gave their time freely—counselors who stayed up late to help me with a project, volunteers who shared stories of their own journeys, and community members who believed in what our young people could become. Without those volunteers, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

If you’ve ever considered volunteering, whether at Camp La Junta or elsewhere, I’d encourage you to take that step. There’s something profound about investing in the next generation—it fills you with hope and purpose in ways that are hard to describe until you experience it yourself.

The Texas Hill Country is beautiful this time of year, and Camp La Junta is waiting for volunteers who want to be part of something meaningful. Whether you can give one weekend or several weeks, your contribution matters. Join us, and discover the rewards of volunteering at Camp La Junta—the place that has meant so much to me and to countless young people over the years.

The volunteers who give their time to Camp La Junta become part of an extended family that spans decades and generations. Many of our volunteers return year after year, forming lasting friendships with both fellow volunteers and the young people they serve. Some have been volunteering at Camp La Junta for twenty years or more, and their dedication continues to inspire everyone around them.

This year, we particularly need volunteers who can commit to the winter holiday period. Many of our campers come from backgrounds where they might not otherwise have access to enriching activities during school breaks. Having volunteers present during these times makes an enormous difference in their lives and helps create the stable, supportive environment that Camp La Junta is known for.

Whether you’re a retired professional looking to give back, a college student earning experience, or a working adult who wants to make a difference on weekends, there’s a place for you at Camp La Junta. Our volunteer coordinator is standing by to answer your questions and help you find the perfect opportunity to serve.