For the Operations interns at CAMP-of-the-WOODS, conference season became about far more than learning how to run events well.

Over the past year, interns like Lydia, Lizzie, and Will stepped into the everyday work of hospitality: preparing spaces, serving meals, solving problems behind the scenes, and helping guests feel welcomed and cared for. While much of the work often goes unnoticed, they quickly discovered how meaningful those ordinary moments could become.

What started as an opportunity to grow professionally slowly became something deeper. Through teamwork, responsibility, and serving others in practical ways, they began learning that hospitality is more than good service — it can be Christ-centered ministry.

As Lydia reflected, “It’s not just a job, it’s serving the Lord and serving others.”

As they stepped into the rhythms of conference season, the interns began discovering that hospitality often starts long before a guest ever arrives.

Hospitality Before Guests Arrive

Hospitality begins long before a guest steps onto the grounds. For Will, preparing a meeting room is not only about straight chairs or a clean space — it’s about thinking ahead for the person who will walk in later.“When I’m prepping a meeting room, I try to go into it as if I’m the group leader.”

“I ask myself, ‘Would I feel honored and cared for if I walked in and everything was well organized and put together?’”

That same thoughtfulness shows up at the Front Desk. Before groups arrive, Lizzie has already seen pieces of their weekend through schedules, worship times, meetings, and plans. “I get the unique opportunity to review a lot of schedules for retreat guests, and get the chance to see how they plan to worship the Lord over the weekend and spend time in His Word.”

For Lydia, preparation also begins in prayer. Each dining room shift starts by asking the Lord to shape their posture before the work begins.

Before a guest asks a question, enters a meeting room, or sits down for a meal, the Operations team has already begun serving them.

The Work Becomes Relational

Once guests arrive, the work quickly becomes relational. By the time they reach the Front Desk, many have spent long hours traveling and are trying to settle into an unfamiliar place.

Lizzie has seen how much a warm response can matter in those first few moments.“When they arrive, sometimes they are tired, unsure, and confused, and it is such a blessing to be able to provide that reassurance and calming presence.”

As the weekend settles into routine, the work often begins to shift. Once the immediate needs are met, there are more opportunities to talk with guests, ask how they are doing, hear what they are learning, and build the bridge from service to relationship.

That is where one of Lydia’s most meaningful moments of the season took place:

She shared, “I had a family during President’s Day weekend, a family of five who were all gluten-free.”

When they walked through the dining room doors, she recognized them immediately, greeted them, and went to get their food. Over the weekend, something unexpected grew between them. “It was a really sweet relationship, and special to see how grateful we were for each other.”

When they left, she felt it. “It was really sad when they left. I wasn’t expecting to build relationships that close in three days, but we were definitely friends by the end of it.”

Hospitality Under Pressure

Of course, not every moment of the season has gone perfectly.

In those moments, hospitality is tested in a different way. Lizzie shared that “having the right attitude and being aware of how you respond is really important.” She added, “Just having a smile, a positive demeanor, and working with others on solutions is vital. It shows good customer service and also shows the love of Jesus in how we react.”

For the Operations interns, this habitual practice of steady, humble, Christlike service builds their character as young professionals.

Formation through the Internship

As much as the interns have served guests this year, the work has also formed them.

The Operations team depends on communication and trust that spans across multiple departments at COTW. That has required the interns to rely on one another more than they expected and become more aware of the needs around them each day.

Will has seen that play out in the ordinary rhythms of the job. “Doing rounds around Camp, like checking in on facilities, is how we honor our roles in Operations,” he shared. “Making sure everything is running smoothly and seeing where we can fill any needs.”

For Lydia, that dependence on others has been one of the most humbling parts of the experience. “It’s definitely very humbling knowing that you can’t run a place like this by yourself. It takes a lot of humility to be able to choose to depend on others to do things that you think you could do yourself, but that just strengthens your relationships in the end.”

The Christ-centered culture of the team has shaped the way they experience the work, too. Lydia shared, “We genuinely care about each other. We’re friends, and because of our shared foundation in Christ, work isn’t taxing; it’s part of our lives, it’s part of the community, and that makes it way more beautiful.”

At the end of the day, every moment matters because it creates space for guests to rest, worship, fellowship, and encounter the Lord together.

Yet, behind the scenes, the work has been shaping the interns just as much as the guests they serve.

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