CINCINNATI, Ohio — As things slowly return to normal this summer, no organization seems quite as excited as Camp Joy in southwest Ohio to bring campers back.

What You Need To Know

  • Camp Joy is one of many camps across the state that is looking forward to bringing campers back

  • Camp Joy will have campers return in June

  • While many people think of camp only for kids, Camp Joy also provides their Venture Out! program for adult leadership skills

  • Camp Joy also ensured that they are taking health precautions to keep everyone safe this summer

​​“We really cannot wait to get kids back to nature to be able to have fun," said Jen Eismeier, the executive director of Camp Joy.

For Eismeier, the fact that campers are returning in a few short weeks is a game-changer. 

“It feels great," she said. "We certainly were not alone as an organization that experienced a pretty significant downturn. Our entire business model is predicated on gathering.”

But before the campers return, there's a lot that still needs to be done.

Eismeier said staff is in full preparation mode to get ready for the summer. 

But the staff isn't only preparing for the kids to return.

The site also hosts the Venture Out! Program, a program to build leadership skills and bring co-workers together. 

“I think it’s easy to forget that adults were once kids too, right?" Eismeier said. "And so, while I think we can all appreciate that kids are coming to camp and they’re running around and being free, we all benefit from human connection.”

And that’s where the ropes course comes in. But what does a ropes course have to do with the workplace? Otis Williams, the director of the program said: everything.

“When I’m back in my office or back in the community and I get that same fear in the pit of my stomach, I can reflect and remember," Williams said. "You know what, I felt that when I was on Gemini (ropes course), but I still did it. And so that can transfer and now you can say you know what, if I can do that, I can have this difficult conversation.”

While many people, young and old, are anxious to get back together once again at camp, Eismeier ensures they’ll do everything to keep everyone safe too.

“We have safety precautions in place but really our priority is to ensure Camp Joy feels like camp," Eismeier said. "This has been a hard year for everyone and in a lot of ways, it’s been hardest on the kids we work with. Our goal is to make sure kids can still have fun and we can do everything we can to minimize risk and keep kids safe.”