MSW student helps campers navigate challenges as a camp social worker

Online Master of Social Work student Sydney Panfil’s journey to social work was not linear – she studied music and stage performance before venturing into music therapy, play therapy, and eventually school psychology.

For Panfil, the beauty of social work is its breadth of scope. “When I connected with social workers across the New Orleans community, I was really inspired by the endless number of ways that social workers are creating meaningful change,” she said.

Now, Panfil is completing her practicum education at Henry S. Jacobs Camp, a Reform Jewish summer camp for youth ages 7-16 in Utica, Mississippi. At the camp, she spends her time contributing to the ‘Jacobs magic’ by facilitating group therapy with cabins, helping campers develop social-emotional learning skills, and modeling healthy problem-solving and communication.

Every morning, the Camper Care team meets to share updates and discuss the day’s tasks – which can range from practicing coping strategies with campers to mediating disagreements between cabinmates to coaching counselors on how to best meet their campers’ needs.

“The most rewarding part of this placement is that I get to help campers step outside of their comfort zones, build confidence, and create unforgettable memories with their new friends,” Panfil said.

But summer camp does not come without its own unique challenges. As attendees grow and push their boundaries, they often struggle with anxiety and homesickness. Panfil says she supports campers with age-appropriate interventions – like somatic breathing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – that she learned during Dr. Kathy Levy-Oquelí’s Introduction to Direct Social Work Practice and Dr. Harris’s Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups.

The youngest unit of campers, aged 7, attends the camp for just two weeks. Thanks to social work support and activities designed to help build social and life skills, Panfil says they leave the camp more confident, more independent, and more equipped to navigate real-world challenges.

“Camp is a highly collaborative community that allows us to provide continuous support for our campers, while also giving them enough space to explore, build confidence, and find their own sense of belonging in a more natural way than in other social work settings,” said Panfil.