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Braden Shepka, a senior from Chicago, returned as a counselor to WIU's CSI Camp, inspiring students through the same hands-on experiences that first brought him to the University.
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Brooke Baker, a graduate student from Macomb, discovered her passion through WIU's summer camps and now gives back by mentoring young artists as an art camp counselor.
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Mark Kosmach, a sophomore from Bolingbrook, came full circle by returning as a counselor to the same WIU CSI Camp that inspired him to become a Leatherneck.
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Shepka stands with campers during a week of hands-on learning, discovery and fun.
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From Participants to Mentors: The Impact of WIU Summer Camps

July 2, 2026

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MACOMB, IL — Summer camp is a chance to explore new interests, build friendships and spend a week learning something new. At Western Illinois University, those experiences are also creating a lasting legacy as former campers return years later as counselors and instructors, helping inspire the next generation of campers.

The WIU Summer Camps have long provided hands-on learning opportunities for students of all ages. For some participants, however, their connection to the University extends well beyond a single summer. After attending camps as young students, several individuals later chose to enroll at WIU and eventually returned to support the very programs that helped shape their educational journeys.

One example is Braden Shepka (senior Law Enforcement Justice Administration (LEJA) major, from Chicago, IL) who attended the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Camp while in high school. After enrolling at WIU as a student, Shepka returned to the program as a camp counselor, helping current campers gain the same hands-on experiences that first introduced him to the University.

"I attended Western Illinois University's Crime Scene Investigation Summer Camp back in 2023, and it was one of the biggest factors that put WIU on my radar and ultimately influenced my decision to commit to Western," Shepka said. "The camp gave me hands-on experiences, a deeper look at the university, and introduced me to the criminal justice field in an engaging way. It really helped me see myself as a future student here, which is why I decided to come back as a counselor. Coming back has been incredibly rewarding because I have the opportunity to give current campers the same positive experience that impacted me. It's exciting to share what I've learned in the past, all while helping inspire the next generation of students. WIU and its summer camps/programs lay the groundwork that focuses on enhancing the opportunities that are available to new and prospective students right off the bat."

Similarly, Mark Kosmach (sophomore, LEJA major from Bolingbrook, IL) attended CSI Camp as a high school student before choosing to attend WIU. He later came full circle by serving as a counselor for the camp, mentoring students who are now exploring many of the same academic interests he once did.

"I attended the CSI Camp in 2024 and it was such an amazing experience. I still think about all the connections I made with guest speakers, professors, and counselors-they really made it unforgettable. I loved learning about the different aspects of law enforcement, and it inspired me to want others to have the same incredible experience I did," Kosmach said.

For Brooke Baker (graduate student from Macomb, IL) the journey began in middle school when she attended WIU's Harry Potter Camp. After becoming a WIU student, Baker returned to summer programming as an instructor for the University's art camp for students in grades 4-8. This summer, she will continue that involvement as a counselor for the art camp serving students in grades 9-12.

"Attending WIU summer camps when I was younger instilled a love of exploration and learning that went farther than the classroom. I was delighted to have an opportunity to come back and facilitate that experience for kids growing up in the same community I did," Baker said.

As former campers return to campus as leaders and mentors, they demonstrate how a single summer experience can inspire a lifelong connection to WIU.

For more information on WIU's summer camps, visit wiu.edu/sao/outreach/youth_enrichment/youthmain.php.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing