Dominick Medico

If anyone were to ask me how I planned to spend my summers 5 years ago, my answer would hav been something along the lines of fishing, surfing, and playing music with my friends to pass the long hot Florida days. Little did I know that the opportunity of a lifetime was about to fall in my lap. Summer days are now occupied with the most moving and heartfelt experiences, friendships, and hard work I've encountered in my life so far.

Nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelmingly fulfilling experience Amy and I were about to take on alongside a group of strangers that would soon become some of our closest friends. There is nothing in this world like seeing the children that we work with light up with excitement after trying new things like climbing a real life rock wall or canoeing around the lake with their friends for the first time. Some of my favorite camper experiences to witness are the feeling of companionship they get from meeting new people and growing lifelong friendships, the acquired knowledge of adaptability, and real life problem solving skills that they learn at Camp Bob for the Queen City. I am so grateful to get to facilitate these moments and be a part of such an amazing mission.

I'm from South Florida, but I spent my childhood summers at boy scout camps across the Carolinas. Those weeks away from home in new and unfamiliar places changed me for the better and taught me lessons that I still carry throughout my adulthood. Spending the days exploring camp, trying new activities, and learning in a team driven environment has shaped who I am today. It is my goal to be able to help facilitate an equally fruitful experience for the children of Charlotte. Many of our campers have never been away from home, especially not on their own for a week-long adventure. Being able to pay forward the same experiences that I look back on so fondly is what makes all the hard work of running Camp Bob for the Queen City infinitely worthwhile!

At Camp Bob for the Queen City, we believe that no two children are the same. Because of this, we incorporate a wide array of activities into our program so that every camper can fill their week doing things that they really enjoy. We often encourage the children to try something new with the knowledge that they can switch activities if they try it at least twice and decide that it’s not for them. It surprises me every year to see the amount of campers that are unsure about a new activity but absolutely fall in love with it after giving it their best effort with the support of their counselors and friends. It is this sort of engagement, learning, and practice in stepping outside of their comfort zones that the camp environment facilitates the best. Watching those moments of growth is easily one of the best parts of the camp experience for me, other than pieing the counselor of the cabin who won the Cleanest Cabin Award, of course.

I cannot put into words how blessed I am to share and pass on this week of fun, friendship, and knowledge to the next generation. The thought of being able to provide mental, interpersonal, and problem solving tools for these children to use in whatever life throws their way is what drives me to make every year of camp better than the last. None of this would be possible without the help of all of our partner organizations, donors, volunteers, and outstanding staff who all share similar views. I am so grateful to everyone on this team, and I'm counting down the days until camp next year!

-Dominick Medico, 2026