Summer Camp Campaign: Siblings’ leadership skills get a workout

They are a family of campers.

Rovanna Mendiola went to camp when she was about 9, about the same age when each of her children — 19-year-old David Cerda, 17-year-old Celina Cerda and 13-year-old Angel Cerda — first started going. Each has been returning every year since, either as a camper or a volunteer counselor at YMCA of Greater Whittier’s Camp Arbolado in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Bob Warnock, senior vice president of the YMCA of Greater Whittier, said the Cerdas are a success story “because their several-year involvement has allowed them to grow in leadership ability.”

That character development has gained the camp two home-grown volunteers in David and Celina, who Warnock said were selected after careful interviews and background checks. Last year, David served as a cabin counselor and Celina as a counselor-in-training.

Although David was unable to attend this year because of his job, Celina returned for her first year as a counselor while Angel returned as a regular camper, though he has hopes to become a counselor like his older siblings one day.

“They really didn’t need any encouragement [to volunteer as counselors],” Mendiola said. “They wanted to be counselors on their own.… I’m very proud of them.”

Mendiola said she has seen benefits to all three children because of summer camp.

“All of them came back changed,” she said. “They just had a different look at things. I think camp was a learning experience for them to become a little bit independent. Even though it’s just a week, it’s a week without their parents.”

She said the evidence of their independence and responsibility could be seen even in little things such as house chores. She no longer needed to nag at them to make their beds or clean their rooms. Now they even voluntarily ask if they can help out in the kitchen — a task they thoroughly enjoy at camp.

Mendiola has also seen a greater joy and eagerness to help others, especially in David and Celina with their counseling experiences.

“Kids depend on them,” Mendiola said. “I just think that when you are put in charge of 10-plus kids, they become like your own little children.”

Mendiola said being able to send them to camp was one of the best things she has done.

“I always told them stories about [my experience at] camp,” she said. “Now they have their own.”

Through the generosity of Times readers, along with a match by the McCormick Foundation, more than $1.6 million was granted last year by the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Campaign.

The Summer Camp Campaign, part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, supports programs that provide thousands of Southern California’s at-risk children ages 7 to 17 with enriching, educational and fun camp experiences.

Donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law and matched at 50 cents on the dollar. Donor information is not traded or published without permission. Donate online at latimes.com/donate or by calling (800) 518-3975. All gifts will receive a written acknowledgment.

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