USD Magazine, Fall 2004

volunteers. Some come back year after year. Some are cancer survivors themselves. Although the number of volunteers for each session is high - 65 are in residence chis particular week to serve 125 kids - the selection process for counselors is rigor– ous. While a sincere desire to make a differ– ence is a nice trait, it's not really the most important detail about chose chosen: "We want chem to be fun! " Horvitz exclaims. Clearly the screeners know what they're doing, because when it comes to infectious exuberance, USD alums Harish Praba '96 and Phong Vu '98 are fun with a capital "F." The pair, who were fracernicy brothers while at USD, have been volunteering as counselors for eight years, and they're such strong advocates for the camp chat chey radiate near-evangelical fervor. "Camp has its own lingo, its own ritu– als, its own and volunteers who are delighted to see him around, even though he's not working chis particular session. A key bit of camp culture is chat coun– selors earn nicknames. A petite blond girl is Frogger. When asked how she got her name, she shrugs: "Bear gave it to me." A tattooed gent with a mohawk has been dubbed Ace; in his real life he's a sound technician for television and radio. The counselor known as Pun is renowned for his quick wit; when not quipping at camp, he's a game show producer. Throughout the day, we'll meet ochers: Hollywood, Doc, Moose. While Praba never earned a nickname chat stuck, he's unconcerned. It'll happen one summer. And if not, he'll just keep on being Harish. Since Vu is working as a counselor chis session, he only has time for a quick hello and a wide smile before hur– rying off to his next accivicy, promising he'll catch up with us lacer. Outside at the pond, a group of kids is fishing. No one seems co be catching any– thing. No one seems to much care. A boy named Jesse - who's caught exactly zero fish - declares apropos of nothing: 'Tm a fishing legend!" Everyone laughs. Praba approaches a call teen who's stand– ing on the edge of the pond. "Hey man! songs," explains Praba, between shouting hellos to the campers

At Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, campers range from ages 7 to 18 years old. At left, a group works on a team-building exercise.

During "quiet time,'' cabin mates can rest or hang out together. Above, one camper picks out a tune on his guitar.

Above, campers are learning that they need to work together to create balance - not just at camp, but in life itself.