Christian summer camp Kamp Kanakuk stopped at Iowa State as the eighth stop of its 135 college campus tour in an effort to recruit college students for camp counselor positions on Wednesday. 

Taking place in Carver hall, Kamp Kanakuk had interested students view a presentation, then discuss and apply with Kanakuk camp staff and Kids Across America Staff. Interviews are to be conducted Thursday.

Alex Pringnitz, freshman in agricultural engineering, shared why he was applying for a staff position.

“It’s a really cool place and has changed a lot of lives over the years, it’s one of a kind,” Pringnitz said. “I’d like to be able to interact with kids and be able to make a difference in their lives. I just remember having some cool counselors and they really made a difference for me.”

Kellee Darner, junior in elementary education, shared her experience as a counselor.

“I did K-1 so I worked with eight year olds one summer and then nine year olds the next,” Darner said. “They’re very fun and very intelligent for their age, they surprise you a lot.”

The camp expects 13,000 campers this year and offers things such as water parks, archery, cave exploration, canoeing, as well as the christian summer camp experience.

The camp itself was created in 1926 by C.L. Ford under the name Kugaho Kamp. In 1932 camp director Bill Lantz changed the name to Kanakuk Kamps and in 1934 Lantz purchased the camp itself.

In 1955 Kanakuk Kamps was purchased by former camp counselor Spike White with his wife Darnell White, and in 1976 Joe White purchased the camp from his parents with his wife Debbie-Jo White.

Since then the camp has expanded its operations and camps with more specialized camps and programs, creating K-2 for teenage campers, K-Life for teen ministry, K-West for middle-schoolers, K-Kountry for preteens, K-Seven for 12-18 year olds, K-Kaua’i Family Kamp for whole families and the Kanakuk adventure series with survival, scuba, and aviation camps.

Will Stouffer, freshmen in agricultural business, attended Kanakuk as a camper for ten years, from the ages of 7-17, during which he met Pringnitz, who talked to him about the farmhouse fraternity.

“[Pringnitz] convinced me to look at Iowa State when I was looking at colleges, so I met him up here and went on a college visit. He showed me the farmhouse fraternity, and I ended up coming to Iowa State, joining farmhouse. He came this year and joined farmhouse, and we are now fraternity brothers,” said Stouffer.

Among the recruiting directors is Shay Robbins, ISU alum and director of the K-1 camp.

“I feel like I have a dream job,” Robbins said. “I have a degree in environmental horticulture at Iowa State and the most I use my degree is playing with flowers and pulling weeds, but I really found a place where I can lead people and be an influencer and work with college students and kids from around the country. It’s pretty incredible.”