So…What Even is Troy Camp?

By Paul Samaha ‘17

Walking around the USC campus, you probably heard of an organization called Troy Camp as they recruit new counselors on Trousdale this week. But what exactly is Troy Camp? To get to the bottom of this question, I interviewed Junior Andie Furber (pictured below), who is the Troy Camp Director of Counselor Affairs.

Paul: So, what is Troy Camp?

Andie: Troy Camp was founded in 1948 by USC student Otis Healy. It is one of the university’s oldest and largest student-run philanthropy organizations committed to providing long-term mentorship for the youth of South Los Angeles. Throughout the school year, we offer various weekly tutoring, extracurricular and mentorship programs for students in 3rd through 12th grade. Additionally, once a month we hold events for kids who went to camp at various places around LA, including Disneyland, the Zoo, the beach and a USC football game, to name a few. And of course, we hold our annual camp every May for 200 children from local elementary schools.

Paul:  That’s awesome, I never knew you did all of those activities! How does your role Director of Counselor Affairs play into such a large and impactful organization? 

Andie: As Director of Counselor Affairs, I have the exciting privilege of recruiting our newest class of counselors. After they are accepted into Troy Camp, I serve as their resource for questions, training and integration into the organization. Throughout the year, I am responsible for the retention of all counselors– new and old– and ensuring that every member has a positive, impactful experience.

Paul: When did you first hear about Troy Camp and what inspired you to join?

Andie: I first heard about Troy Camp as a freshman in my first couple of weeks at USC. I went to a Troy Camp Information Session, and after just a few minutes, I knew I had to be a part of it. I came to USC wanting to find both my place on campus and also a way to get involved with the local community– Troy Camp offered me both. The counselors’ funny light-heartedness instantly drew me in—I knew that they were a family. And the way that they spoke about the kids that they worked with was so inspiring. I could tell that they were committed to being good role models for them, which I knew I wanted to be a part of. And, two years later, I can say that Troy Camp has easily been the most memorable, rewarding, special part of my USC experience.

Paul: Do you have a specific instance or story that occurred while at a Troy Camp activity that has really stuck or made an impact on you?

Andie: My favorite TC memory happened at our elementary school tutoring program, SMASH. A child was having trouble doing long division, so I tried to teach her how. I spent over an hour with her, walking her through each step. She eventually started to cry from frustration, but we kept working on it, and little by little, she started to remember the steps. Before she left, she said, “Thank you, Diglett. No one ever told me that I could do it before, but now I feel like I can.” That little moment made a huge impact on me. It taught me the importance of believing in others.

Paul: How did you go from a member of Troy Camp to your position as Director of Counseling Affairs?

Andie: Ever since I joined Troy Camp, I have been very passionate about the organization, our kids and our counselors. This past year, I loved the Counselor Recruitment process because I was very excited about finding the people who would carry on the Troy Camp tradition that has been at USC since 1948. I decided to run for Director of Counselor Affairs to help find those people this year, and it’s been a really exciting and rewarding process.

Paul: What do you feel like you have learned through your involvement in Troy Camp?

Andie: Most of all, Troy Camp has taught me the value of friendship. Our slogan is “A Commitment to Friendship,” which is something we really strive for in our work with the kids. We serve as mentors for them, first and foremost, but through our programs, we form friendships with these kids. I have learned never to underestimate the power that a smile, laugh, or fart joke can have with a child, or my fellow counselors.

To apply to be a Troy Camp Counselor, go to http://www.troycamp.org/join. Applications are due Thursday, September 10.