Last week 32 Jenison students and alumni spent four days and three nights serving as counselors at Camp Sunshine.

The nearly week-long camp, which is dedicated to teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities, is filled with singing, crafting, horseback riding, tubing, and laughter, according to Jenison High School Teacher Stacey VanLaan.

She said at most camps the campers are the ones learning from their counselors. But at Camp Sunshine, it’s a two-way street; the counselors walked away having learned just as much about compassion, joy, and belonging from their campers.

"Through every activity, these leaders showed incredible love, care, empathy, and grace, coming home with a beautiful glimpse of what true inclusion and lifelong friendship look like," she said. "So proud of this group for making a difference!"