Adventure with a Purpose: Stacy Sarver’s Volunteer Experience at Camp Mariposa

In the Pacific Northwest, a love for the outdoors comes naturally. Surrounded by so much beauty, it’s hard to not enjoy spending time exploring all that our region has to offer.

Stacy Sarver has found an incredible passion for being outside – but on certain weekends throughout the year, it’s not the slopes or trails that you’ll find Stacy on, it’s a campsite at Camp Mariposa.

Camp Mariposa is a year-round addiction prevention and mentoring program for kids whose families are affected by substance use challenges. Six times a year, it brings together kids, ages 9 through 12, for overnight camp experiences, where they participate in traditional camp activities and therapeutic support. Older kids, ages 13 through 16, can attend day camps up to four times a year.

Three years ago, Stacy stumbled upon a social post about Camp Mariposa and knew she had to get involved because it combined two of her favorite things – kids and the outdoors. In honor of National Volunteer Month in April, we sat down with Stacy to talk more about her experience helping with Camp Mariposa – and the power to change lives through a safe environment, laughter, and s’mores.

What was your first Camp Mariposa experience like?

Stacy: I had never attended camp as a kid, so coming to Camp Mariposa for the first time was extremely special. The combination of therapeutic activities with traditional fun camp experiences was transformative, and to see the kids benefit from both in such different ways, I could immediately see the impact. That’s exactly why I’ve kept coming back – I loved being a part of this weekend of growth and healing.

What’s the best part of Camp Mariposa for you?

That’s easy: the kids. They amaze me by how they show up, and how, when given a safe space, they open up. It’s truly rewarding to be there to support them through therapeutic activities and have fun with them. We canoe, make s’mores, play games, and genuinely enjoy our time together.

That wouldn’t be possible without the environment that the Compass Health team has created. They’re incredibly supportive and know how to encourage the kids to embrace the activities and help them get the full experience.

What has been the most rewarding thing to come out of your time volunteering with Camp Mariposa?

The relationships that I’ve been able to foster – with the kids, with the Compass Health staff, and with other volunteers. It’s really our collective effort that makes it successful, and over the years, I’ve been surprised by how our connections have grown.

Kids now ask me if I’ll be at the next camp, and I’m always grateful for the opportunity to see them again, and continue to show up for them.

What are some of your favorite Camp Mariposa memories?

A big part of Camp Mariposa is exposing kids to traditional camp activities, such as boating. One year, I had a group of kids that wanted to go boating with me, which I really appreciated. Except that no one in that group really knew how to paddle. So, we had the memorable experience of learning how to maneuver the boat while we were on the water. We shared many laughs on that ride. 

Another activity that always takes place at Camp is letter writing. Through this exercise, kids are invited to write a letter to addiction – something that has affected all their families. They are given the space to say what they need to say to addiction, and if they’d like, they can share what they wrote with the group. After those who wanted to share have the chance to do so, every kid burns their letter and then we make s’mores. It can be intense and very emotional, but for most, it’s healing and cathartic. As someone who gets to support them through this exercise, I find their strength inspirational, and am honored to get to be a part of such a powerful experience.

What do you want people to know about volunteering with Camp Mariposa?

First off, it’s fun – really fun! I mean, you’re at camp, enjoying the outdoors, making s’mores. It couldn’t be a better way to spend your weekend.

Second, these kids deserve it. They don’t have a choice about their home environment. They deserve the chance to be kids and have fun. It’s a weekend dedicated to making them feel heard and seen, and appreciated for exactly who they are, and that’s priceless.

Why is volunteering important to you?

I operate with the mindset that we should give freely and non-transactionally, as much as we can. You don’t need to receive to give. Find something that you genuinely enjoy, and then look for ways to share that joy with others in your community.

For me, that was being outdoors, and I’ve found so many ways to do exactly that, while giving back to others. In addition to volunteering with Camp Mariposa, I’m fortunate to spend time with The Bronze Chapter, a nonprofit organization that offers outdoor experiences to the BIPOC community, and the Seattle branch of The Mountaineers, which connects people to outdoor activities and community.

While I enjoy my work on the weekdays as an accountant, it’s the weekends, and the time that I get to spend outside – and with these different groups of incredible people – that fills my cup.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I just can’t say enough about Camp Mariposa. The Compass Health team makes it incredibly easy for me as a volunteer to just show up and be present. They care so much about the kids and that’s evident. Without them, it wouldn’t happen.

As someone who has now joined camp many times, I wish for the program to continue to grow. I hope that more kids get to experience it, because it really is life-changing.

To learn more about Camp Mariposa and how you can get involved as a volunteer, please contact Campmariposa@compassh.org. We’d love to hear from you and talk more about how you can make a difference in kids’ lives through this incredible program.

If you’re interested in signing your child up for Camp Mariposa, please click here. Feature photos from Stacy enjoying the outdoors