By Roberta Petrovska 

Attending the Middle America Camping Conference (MACC) in the United States was a full-circle moment for me. I first came to camp in Krushevo in 2018 as a camper, later returned as a CIT, and then as a counselor. This experience felt like the next step in that journey, seeing the bigger picture of what camp looks like beyond my own country.

Before the conference officially began, our international group took part in what’s called a “SKIP trip,” where we visited several YMCA camps and the YMCA of the USA headquarters in Chicago. Our group included participants from Finland, Ukraine, Barbados, Aruba, Chile, Romania, Spain, Macedonia, and more. For nearly a week, we drove from Nebraska to Michigan, visiting camps and learning directly from the people who lead them. The first camp we visited was Camp Kitaki in Nebraska, followed by YMCA Camp in Des Moines, and later Sherman Lake YMCA Camp. Each camp had its own identity, culture, and strengths, but what stood out to me everywhere was intentionality. Every program, every space, every tradition had purpose behind it. These weren’t just camps running activities, they were structured environments designed for youth development, leadership growth, and community building.

In Chicago, we visited the YMCA of the USA headquarters, where we were introduced more deeply to the mission, vision, and long-term strategy of the organization. Seeing how the national structure connects to local camps helped me understand how much coordination, planning, and long-term thinking go into sustaining something that, on the surface, looks simple. A place where youth come to grow.

The conference itself was held at YMCA Camp Copneconic in Michigan and brought together hundreds of camp professionals from across the United States and internationally. Walking into that space, I quickly realized that many of the people around me had years, sometimes decades, of experience in camping, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and youth development. To be honest, at times it felt overwhelming. I don’t come from decades in the field. My experience is rooted in being a volunteer. But that feeling of being surrounded by people who deeply care about their work, and who are genuinely committed to strengthening camp communities, turned that overwhelm into motivation.

The sessions were both practical and strategic. I attended workshops on global strategies for staff and volunteer retention, where I also participated as a panel speaker and shared how we approach these challenges in Macedonia. I joined discussions on capital campaigns and long-term development planning, including sessions on strategic master planning and donor cultivation. There were powerful conversations about advocacy, resilience during times of change, and lessons learned from camps that have had to close. We also had keynote addresses from Dr. Amy Kleiner and Dr. Bernice Patterson, both of whom emphasized leadership, adaptability, and the importance of intentional culture in youth-serving organizations. One of the most engaging experiences was a problem-solving hackathon, where participants worked collaboratively on real challenges facing camps today.

What impacted me most wasn’t just the content of the sessions, but the people. I met leaders who are selfless, driven, and deeply committed to building spaces where young people feel safe, capable, and valued. I saw how seriously they take responsibility, not just for running programs, but for shaping environments that influence lives. This experience broadened my understanding of what camp can be. It’s not only about activities or traditions. It’s about systems, sustainability, leadership pipelines, fundraising strategy, community partnerships, and long-term impact.

Coming from Macedonia, where resources and structures are different, I left with practical ideas, new perspectives, and stronger global connections. More importantly, I left with clarity about the kind of professional I want to become, no matter what field I continue to grow my career in. Someone who keeps learning, keeps building, and keeps contributing to something bigger than themselves. From being a camper in 2018 to sitting in strategic planning sessions in Michigan, this journey reminded me how far camp can take you.