Joel Schneider

Name: Joel Schneider

Summers as a Camper: 12 summers

• 2003: Starter Camp 

  2004 - 2013: First Session Camper

  2014: CILT

Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 2 years

• 2015: Junior Counselor (Sailing Staff) 
• 2016: Junior Counselor (Partial summer due to Naval Academy requirements)

Current Profession:

• Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer in the US Navy (2020-present)

Current Responsibilities and Career Path

Unfortunately, my time on staff at Camp was cut short as I attended the U.S. Naval Academy which required my attendance during the summers. I studied Aerospace engineering before being selected for Naval Special Operations, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

As an EOD officer, I lead a team of highly skilled EOD Technicians in the protection of personnel and property. We deal with explosive hazards, chemical/biological hazards and nuclear hazards both on land and underwater.

I have always had an interest in serving (something Camp instilled) and the Navy has given me the opportunity to lead incredible people while conducting meaningful work around the world in all manner of environments. I really enjoy the challenge and diversity of experiences associated with the work!

Key Lessons from Camp

While on the sailing staff, I taught racing on the 420s. Much like racing a sailboat, EOD is a team sport and to succeed, you need to know your crew, your environment and your equipment. You must constantly re-assess the situation and alter when necessary to ensure safety and success. Lessons I learned at Camp directly translate to the way in which I look at situations at work.

I’ve always been fascinated by physical challenges and when I was old enough, I couldn’t wait to join the “Swim the Neuse” team. The team routinely trains for the culminating event of swimming across the Neuse River near the end of session. That summer, I didn’t attend many of the training sessions and when the day of the event came, I quit within the first 20 minutes. I wasn’t ready for the swim. That event changed my outlook and perspective on the interaction between mind and body and was the impetus for my joining my high school swim team (to get better in the water) and later Navy Special Operations.

The Swim the Neuse event is one example of how Camp offers a safe environment in which campers can experiment in a safe manner. In a similar light, my fellow campers and I loved checking out the old Hobie sailboats. These were some of Camp’s older boats and were not in the best condition (I hear there are newer, nicer boats now). I recall several instances while on the Hobie where something would break, and my friends and I would be challenged to improvise to fix the boat and safely return to the shore. There’s value in being put in these challenging situations and win or lose, lessons are learned.

On a much more elementary level, Camp taught me skills such as knot tying, boat driving and rules of the road that have made life in the Navy much easier!

Proud Achievements

As a camper the single most important thing you learn is how to set and work towards your goals. Even, if you don't always accomplish you're goals, you learn the power of dedicating yourself to the task. That skill doesn't go away and I take pride in my role as an Platoon Commander of an EOD team watching my team plan and execute operations.

Influential Camp Mentor