Volunteer spotlight: Woody Appleby

Woody Appleby has known about Camp Blue Skies before most of us did. He’s a dear friend of founder Dick Sesler, like many of our volunteers. His stepson, Brandon, is one of our first campers. Woody didn’t get a chance to volunteer until the 2022 Georgia session. Now he’s hooked.

And he helps with our first Pickleball For Camp fundraising tourney. Here’s his volunteer origin story in his own words...

“I knew it was an awesome Camp, as my wife, Adria, had volunteered in the early years when the Camp was just getting started in NC. Her experience was fantastic, but I always traveled extensively for work and could not volunteer myself. When my work schedule opened up, I was very skeptical about how I would relate and work with this population. Adria and Jim Guimond convinced me to volunteer!

“I was still very nervous when I got there, but soon found out that the Camp Blue Skies staff is SO professional and thorough, that I knew every single detail had been thought of, and that I had the whole team at my side! I was also very fortunate to have CBS veteran Michael Coulter as the other volunteer in my cabin. What tremendous guidance!

“The biggest highlight is just being with and watching this population enjoy every minute of Camp, from the moment they wake up until bedtime. The joy that Camp brings to their lives is amazing!”

Woody says volunteering is all about “the experience”. “It is unlike anything I have ever done before. The joy that one sees in the campers every day for a week, is just a blessing. Volunteering at Camp Blue Skies is something that everyone should experience… as a matter of fact, it won’t be long before we have a waiting list to become a volunteer!

“I will be a CBS volunteer from here on in, because it means that much.”