June 26, 2026 | By: Jennifer Stitt in For Love of the Game
Sixteen summers.
Even as I type those words, it doesn’t feel real. I can still picture our very first day: the nerves, the excitement, the sheer joy of watching a group of kids step onto a baseball diamond for a summer they’d never forget. I had big dreams, a deep love for the game, and a belief that camp could be so much more than just drills and games. I wanted to create something magical. Something meaningful. Something that mattered.
Now here we are, sixteen years later – and somehow, it matters even more.
Over the past decade and a half, I’ve had the unbelievable privilege of watching thousands of kids grow up before my eyes. I’ve seen little Rookie Ball campers who could barely hold a bat go on to become incredible young leaders; campers who are now part of our staff, guiding the next generation with compassion, confidence, and heart. Watching them transform from wide-eyed little ones into role models is one of the greatest joys of my life.
It’s not just their baseball skills that grow – it’s everything else, too. Their friendships, their confidence, their ability to bounce back after a tough moment. The way they go from nervous to unstoppable in just a few days. Every summer, I’m amazed at how much they’ve grown through the school year – how much taller, stronger, sillier, and more self-assured they’ve become. And every summer, I get to be a small part of that journey.
As someone who has worked in the camp industry for 25 years, I can tell you this without hesitation: there is no better job in the world. I am so deeply grateful that this is what I get to do every day – to laugh, to lead, to play, to teach, to plan and to build something that means so much to so many.
Field of Dreams Baseball Camp has grown with me. Over the years, I’ve learned more than I ever could have imagined, about kids, about people, about leadership, about resilience, and about myself.
I’ve learned that the best camp days can look very different from one another. Sometimes they’re the days that have been carefully planned for months, where every detail comes together perfectly. The special events, theme days, tournaments, and celebrations that take countless hours of preparation often become some of the most memorable moments of the summer.
But sometimes the best camp days are the ones nobody could have planned. A rainy day that forces everyone indoors. An impromptu lip-sync battle. A spontaneous competition. A change of plans that somehow becomes even better than the original plan. One year, a rainout led to an unforgettable day with special guest Hazel Mae, combined with indoor tournament-style games and activities that our campers still talk about years later.
I’ve learned that the magic of camp isn’t found in a perfect schedule or perfect weather. It’s found in the people, the moments, and the experiences we create together, whether they’ve been planned for months or come together in an instant. They’re the days when a child feels seen, included, or empowered for the very first time. The moments when confidence grows, friendships form, and laughter takes over a room or a baseball diamond. And they’re the days when a camper looks up and says, “This is the best day ever,” and you know, without a doubt, that they truly mean it.
I’ve changed, too. Not just as a director, but as a person. A few summers ago, my world shifted in the most beautiful way when I became a mom to a little slugger of my own. He’s now four years old and I cannot wait for the day he attends Field of Dreams as a camper and gets to experience the same joy, confidence, and magic that so many kids have felt over the years. He is my inspiration and the reason I push forward even when the going gets tough. He reminds me every day why this work matters and why I keep pouring everything I have into making camp better, year after year.
Sixteen years later, and it still gives me butterflies.
This milestone is about more than just numbers or seasons. It’s about community. None of this would be possible without the incredible parents who trust us with their kids, the campers who show up with heart and hustle, and the staff who pour their souls into making every day special. To every instructor, coach, counsellor, and behind-the-scenes helper who has been part of this journey: thank you. From the bottom of my heart.
Field of Dreams is what it is today because of you, all of you.
So here’s to the next chapter. To more first hits, more silly chants, more grass-stained pants and pizza lunches. To more kids learning that baseball isn’t just a sport, it’s a family. To sixteen years behind us, and a bright, joy-filled future ahead.
Thank you for being part of the dream.
With love and gratitude,
Jennifer Stitt