Full Circle: A Veteran’s Lifelong Bond with Camp Ladore
Chris Diaz has had many titles—camper, veteran, father, friend. But no matter where life takes him, Camp Ladore keeps calling him home.
Operated by The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division, Camp Ladore sits on 1,200 bucolic acres in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Each summer, it becomes a haven for children from across the region—especially those from urban areas—who may be experiencing nature for the very first time. Campers spend their days hiking, swimming, exploring new activities, and connecting with peers and mentors in a safe, welcoming environment.
Chris started attending camp when he was about eight years old, while his parents were serving as Salvation Army officers in Kensington, Philadelphia. Although he had already developed a love for the outdoors, his time at Camp Ladore expanded that connection.
“I certainly deepened my love of nature visiting there,” he said. “But for many of the fellow campers I went with, this was their first time ever spending time in the woods. I remember their reactions to the trees and the lake.”
He quickly gravitated toward the obstacle course, swimming pool, and time on the lake. But what stood out most were the moments of unexpected discovery—like when he first saw a group of international counselors playing a game he didn’t recognize.
“They were throwing a strange-shaped ball, and I had no idea what they were doing,” Chris said. “One of the counselors from Ireland told me it was rugby. I had never seen it before, but I quickly became hooked.”
Even after his family relocated to Puerto Rico, Chris returned to Ladore for the summer camp programs, sometimes staying for weeks at a time. He later served in the U.S. Navy from 2007 to 2012 and more recently as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy. Yet through all of life’s chapters, Camp Ladore has remained part of his story.
Before deploying to Afghanistan during his time in the Navy, Chris brought his wife and son to camp for a quiet weekend together. That visit sparked a new tradition. Now each year around Veterans Day, Chris and a group of friends, mostly fellow veterans, gather at Camp Ladore for what they call the Friends, Family, Fire, Fun, Food Festival. They rent one of the villages, reconnect, and create new memories.
“It’s a place for fellowship, for community, for deepening relationships,” Chris said. “It still gives us that sense of escape, but also a way to give back to a place that gave so much to us.”
One morning, they cooked breakfast over a campfire by the lake. As they sat together, a bald eagle soared overhead.
“You just can’t make that kind of thing up,” he said. “It was one of those moments that stays with you.”
Though much of the camp has been revitalize over the years—from new basketball courts to renovated cabins—many elements remain the same. The pool, the canteen, and the cafeteria still offer the same feeling of familiarity and nostalgia.
“It’s close to the hustle and bustle of the city, but when you’re there, it feels like you are stepping back in time,” Chris said. “Even with the upgrades, it still feels like the same place I walked through as a kid.”
Today, his son continues the tradition, returning to Camp Ladore as part of their family’s annual visits.
As The Salvation Army prepares for another summer at Camp Ladore, Chris’s story serves as a reminder of the lasting power of camp experiences. They don’t just fill a week. They can shape a lifetime.
Learn more about Camp Ladore and how to be part of the experience at campladore.org.