We’re excited to shine a spotlight on Paige Carter, who recently stepped into the role of Outdoor Education (OE) Director at YMCA Camp Eberhart. Though Paige has been part of the Camp Eberhart team for the past four years, this new position gives her the chance to combine her passion for youth development with a fresh adventure in outdoor education.
Paige studied Recreational Sports Management with a concentration in Youth Leadership and Development at Indiana State University. While she admits she never considered herself an “outdoorsy” person, that’s exactly what drew her to the role. “I wanted to try something new and different,” Paige shared. “I knew I was good with kids of all ages, so I thought—why not? Sure enough, new and different is what I got.”
Her days at Camp vary depending on the season. In the summer, Paige wears many hats—serving as Land Director and Camp Store Manager. She spends her time supporting program heads, ensuring campers have what they need, and running the store where kids pick out their favorite camp gear. The off-season brings many school groups, but in smaller quantities, Paige still finds the work just as meaningful. “Even though we don’t have the campers as long, I feel like I make just as big of an impact,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll even run into campers at Walmart, and they’ll come up to me to tell me what they learned at Camp. It fills my heart when they share how much fun they had in OE and that they want to come back in the summer.”
Paige has built countless memories during her time at Camp—some funny, like the time she woke up from a nap in Leighton Cabin to discover she’d been dealt into an intense game of Uno (with someone secretly playing her hand while she slept), and others deeply heartwarming, like bonding with her campers and watching friendships form.
What she loves most about Camp is the way it impacts everyone involved. “Just as much as I’ve impacted the kids, they’ve impacted me,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about myself through campers, counselors, and the experience of being here. The connections you make at Camp are truly one of a kind.”
When asked to describe her role in three words, Paige chose Growth, Adventure, and Friendship—the perfect reflection of what YMCA Camp Eberhart is all about.
