Hanna O’Brien and Graci Moser are typical teenagers except for one big difference…

their summer work made a big difference in children’s lives.

O’Brien and Moser just completed jobs as camp counselor interns for the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) Summer Day Camp program at FENCE.

The FENCE Summer Day Camp program has provided fun for Polk County children for 28-plus years, with programs ranging from music to astronomy and horses to art. Student interns have always been a vital part of camp.

Current interns started their camp experience as campers themselves.

“I remember coming to the art camp and always liked being around little kids. Being outside is a bonus,” O’Brien said.

Moser added, “I always looked up to the counselors at FENCE and I wanted to follow their example. I think it is cool to be looked up to as well.”

Sixteen year old O’Brien is a rising junior at Polk County High School who lives in Sunny View with her parents, Chris and Dee O’Brien and her brother, Gabe. Her goal for the future is to work with prosthetics and build on current technology to make prosthetics simpler.

Moser, also a rising junior at PCHS, is from Mill Spring where she lives with her mom, Lisa Moser and her little brother, Freedom. Moser wants to work with children as a pediatrician or pediatric surgeon.

Both young women have received as much as they have given to FENCE Summer Camp.

“Being with kids helps me think in new ways,” O’Brien said. “Needing to talk to parents and other people I don’t know helps me get more confident.”

Moser gets great satisfaction from, “Being creative and using my brain power to figure out ways to help the kids excel.”

Moser’s favorite part of FENCE Summer Day Camp was the tie-dying activity because of the unique differences in the dyed items. O’Brien liked teaching different ways to think about the subjects discussed at camp. When asked about working  for the FENCE Summer Day Camp next year, they both exclaimed, “We definitely want to work here next year!”

The student intern program at the Polk County Community Foundation provided funds to hire O’Brien and Moser.

FENCE Nature Director Tracie Hanson said, “The PCCF has been a tremendous help to FENCE over the years. We are grateful for their support of our programs.”

The mission of FENCE is to provide facilities and focus for education, recreation and preservation in nature studies and equestrian activities with the aim of enhancing these endeavors to enrich the quality of life for the community. For more information about FENCE programs, call 828-859-9021 or click www.fence.org.

– article submitted by Carrie Knox