For Skylar Nesbitt, working at camp was a family affair. Her mom worked in the office at CNIB Lake Joe in the late ‘80s and, when Skylar was a teenager, she encouraged her to work there too.
Though a little reluctant at first, Skylar said she heard her mom share so many incredible stories about the guests and co-workers and knew it would be a special place to work.
She had always wanted to become a lifeguard, so she earned the necessary certifications and landed her first job ever at CNIB Lake Joe.
Skylar admits that the experience was a bit overwhelming at first.
“I was out of my comfort zone, having never been away from home for a full summer,” said Skylar. “But to this day, it truly made me who I am. I’m so grateful for this experience.”
Skylar said one of the big takeaways from her time as a lifeguard was learning to understand everyone’s different communication styes.
As a self-described social butterfly, she shifted her focus to one-to-one connections and to ensuring everyone felt included, learning the two-hand manual alphabet to interact with guests who were Deafblind.
“Everyone was so kind,” she recalls. “When guests got off the bus, it shocked me how accommodating they were. I didn’t have a lot of guiding experience, but they were so patient. They wanted to teach me and help me adapt.”
When she graduated from high school, Skylar’s time at CNIB Lake Joe inspired her academic path. Working with so many recreation therapists at camp, she explored that career option, launching a walking group program at the CNIB Simcoe/Muskoka branch as one of her student placements.
Along the way, she met the man of her dreams, a military man, and moved to a small base town where she provided before and after-care programs and camps for children in military families. She saw first-hand the stresses military families often face and wanted to expand her recreation-based skill set to address issues impacting people’s overall health and wellness.
Throughout this time, Skylar kept in touch with almost all of her co-workers at CNIB Lake Joe. When she learned from fellow alumni and CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board Chair Corey Braun that there were vacancies on the Board, she knew she wanted to get back into the camp community and get involved.
Skylar joined the CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board in 2024 and marvels at all the advancements the camp has made since her time as an employee.
“With rock-climbing and water features, CNIB Lake Joe looks more like a typical summer camp, but with that special twist,” said Skylar. “And blind hockey blew my mind! I come from a big hockey family, and it’s so exciting to see camp continually showcase how anyone can do whatever they want with the right resources.”
As a CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board member, Skylar is excited about inclusivity, media awareness, and ongoing growth. She’s interested in further developing the alumni and helping guests experience new things that will delight them for seasons to come.