Staff in the Spotlight
Getting to know Jackson Hansen
Name: Jackson Hansen
Where are you From: Northern California
Years at Camp: 2
Position at Camp: Hockey Specialist
Why did you decide to work at camp this summer?
I decided to come back to Iroquois Springs because of the amazing connections I was able to make with both staff and campers, and to continue to have the opportunity to make a difference. A summer at Iroquois Springs allowed me to take a step back, reset, and refocus myself after a hard first half of the year. I came to camp last year at my lowest and left at an absolute high.
What are you looking to learn from this summer?
This summer it is my goal to learn more patience and learn more ways to help campers be the best version of themselves through the amazing experience that is summer camp.
What do you think you can bring to camp this summer which will impact our campers?
Something I can bring to camp to help make an impact on the campers is my humor as well as the plenty of life lessons that I have learned from mistakes I’ve made in my own life. Having the opportunity to share my shortcomings with campers or even staff members in similar situations or circumstances gives me the ability to help others grow to become better than I was.
What are you looking forward to most about this summer?
What I’m looking forward to most about this summer is seeing all the amazing staff and campers I’ve already made connections with, as well as meeting all the new members of the ever growing IS Family. I’m also looking forward to sharing the sport I love and am passionate about with everyone and anyone who will listen.
Tell us an interesting fact/story about yourself!
A fact or story is like to share is that the people at Iroquois Springs are a large reason I am back playing competitive ice hockey again. Almost every day I was asked by both staff and campers, “Why did you stop playing?” Every day I told them all the same story about my last season playing hockey and where I was at in my life at that point and I always ended with, “ I can’t play competitively anymore.” Having those conversations and having positive interactions and being told by so many that I can or that the possibility is never 0, motivated me to start training again and to prove to myself that I can get back on a team. Because of those moments and the positivity I received, I’m back on a roster playing the game I love competitively again. This is one of the many reasons I think Iroquois Springs is so fantastic. You get to surround yourself with so many amazing people and it really makes you start to believe anything is possible.