UF students discover impact, build lasting bonds at Camp Boggy Creek

June 18, 2026
By Samantha Keane

For Ishany Martinez (BSTHEM ‘26) and Amelia Slayden (BSTHEM ‘26), two undergraduate students in the UF Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management, or THEM, a degree requirement turned into an unforgettable experience at Camp Boggy Creek, where they supported children with special healthcare needs.

The year-round program, located on 232 acres in Eustis, Florida, is free and designed for children with medical illnesses and their families. Each year, the camp relies on over 1,800 volunteers. While working at the camp, Martinez and Slayden guided families and campers through safe, age-appropriate activities, such as archery, horseback riding, swimming and music.

“You’re [volunteers] just there to have fun and take the weight off the parents,” Martinez said. “Camp does a good job at creating a really jam-packed schedule and different activities for different personalities.”

Each weekend, the camp rotates to support children with specific conditions, including sickle cell disease, cancer and congenital heart defects.

Slayden, who also served as camp staff, described the role as a “back of house experience,” coordinating with families prior to arrival and helping prepare the program. Once the schedule is set, Slayden and fellow staff members assign volunteers and ensure all volunteers are prepared for a successful weekend.

When reflecting on their time at camp, both students pointed to one of the most memorable activities: Tumbleweeds. The activity encouraged campers to spread kindness and gratitude by taking a piece of colorful yarn from a pom-pom and tying it to someone else’s. Martinez and Slayden have kept their Tumbleweeds as reminders of the impact the camp had on them.

“You have a lifelong family,” Slayden said.

“I would encourage anyone to go,” Martinez said. “Anyone can benefit from it, and you can see it in all the people who volunteer there. It’s impactful overall.”

Students like Martinez and Slayden are required to complete 12 credit hours of experiential learning for their degree, with options ranging from camp to five-star resorts and theme parks. Before heading into their field experience, students learn essential skills, such as tourniquet training and crisis management, in the classroom, which they can apply in real-world settings.

One instructor who left a lasting impression on Martinez and Slayden is Brianna Blassneck, a Ph.D. student in THEM.

“She was really passionate about what she does, and her approach was so set on making sure we understood everything,” Martinez and Slayden said. “The layout of her course also included site visits and hands-on experiences working at local events.

They also noted that they appreciate the unique perspectives their professors provide through real-world applications of classroom material.

“I feel like HHP really gave the framework for our fields, specifically in THEM,” Slayden said. “It’s not that our professors just become experts on the subject, but they’ve lived the subject, and they have so much personal experience and still work in hospitality… It also has really made me feel more confident in how to market myself and my skills.”