Ever wonder what the Crete campus is like when students leave for the summer? June and July see hundreds of people stay in the residence halls and use outdoor and indoor spaces across campus for their classes. Doane’s events staff works diligently to ensure everything runs smoothly. Read more about three of the groups that made our Crete campus their temporary home this summer.
Long-standing woodworking workshop nears 50 years
When the woodworkers say “see you next year!” to each other, it's not just cordiality.
The Mid-America Woodcarvers Association has hosted its annual summer workshop on Doane’s Crete campus since the late 70s, a couple years after it formed in 1974. Its summer 2025 workshop, held May 31-June 5, was number 48. Many of the members have attended for 20+ years.
Rohn Collins, who serves on the event’s planning committee, just attended his 23rd camp.
"Everybody who attends our event is like family anymore," Collins said. "We all look forward to seeing each other again, visiting, getting together and learning a new technique, or just carving a project and having fun together."
About 100 woodcarvers from across the Midwest take one of 10 project-based classes during the week. They chip, carve and craft in Art/Ed classrooms, eat meals in the dining hall and stay in Brodie Hall.
The all-inclusive aspect of the workshop is convenient and reasonable, Collins said. Not only do the facilities stack up (“Brodie Hall is amazing,” Collins said) but the Doane employees are a big reason the group keeps coming back year after year.
The events staff “anticipates our needs” Collins said. Other Doane staff stop by the classrooms to chat. And at the end of the week, many Doane employees attend the workshop’s showcase, where the hard work of the past week is on display surrounded with an aura of pride and a scent of fresh stain.
The summer of 2027 will mark the group's 50th workshop at Doane. Collins said once next year’s workshop is scheduled, he’ll start brainstorming how they can make the big 5-0 special.
Adventure Zone builds global friendships at Doane
This summer, Doane once again welcomed middle school students to its Crete campus for Adventure Zone — a weeklong cultural exchange camp that brings together local students and middle schoolers from Senshu University Matsudo Junior High School in Japan.
The camp, held June 9-13, offered interactive morning classes in subjects like fitness, photography and dance, followed by afternoon excursions around Nebraska for the visiting Japanese students, guided by Doane college student volunteers.
“This was my first experience with Adventure Zone, and it was truly unforgettable,” said Suzanne Mealer, the camp’s assistant director and Doane’s Title IX coordinator and compliance officer. “Our American and Japanese students didn’t just have fun — they made real connections. From exploring the zoo and visiting Morrill Hall and the Stuhr Museum to working together in class, they built friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. It was a powerful reminder of how meaningful cross-cultural experiences can be.”
The program has deep roots, dating back 21 years to the start of Doane’s partnership with Senshu University Matsudo Junior High School. Since then, hundreds of students have connected through learning and laughter.
“The best part of Adventure Zone was getting to do something new and exciting during summer break,” said Evelyn Stenka, a local seventh grader at Raymond Central High School. “I made new friends, including students from Japan. We learned a lot about each other, did fun projects and activities together and even got to try each other’s favorite candies. We’ve also been able to keep in touch since camp ended, which has been so cool!”
Adventure Zone was led by Mealer, Lisa Wells '05L, service center specialist, and Tim Burge ’12, director of international programs.
Launch Leadership starts building leaders
For the third summer in a row, Doane hosted Launch Leadership for two separate workshops. From June 17-21 and July 15-19, hundreds of middle and high schoolers moved onto campus for five days of hands-on learning and leadership development.
“Nearly every residence hall is filled with delegates or staffers as campus comes alive with Launch,” Quint Geis ’13, director of career, leadership and service at Doane said.
Launch itself has existed for more than 60 years, and its partnership with Doane is a natural fit. Both have a keen focus on creating an environment where students are challenged to grow, and encouraged to think critically.
“Each year, we create a safe, supportive environment that pushes students to learn and grow — all while having fun,” Hannah Bauer ’15 said. She serves as curriculum director for Launch. “I'm passionate about what our curriculum does to help young people develop pivotal leadership skills.”
Bauer has volunteered with Launch since 2015, who learned of the program from her friend Andrea Johnson Wysocki ’10, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the honors program at Doane. Wysocki previously attended and volunteered with Launch.
Bauer looks forward to returning to campus every year and said it’s the best two weeks of her summer. Students she once led are now Launch staffers who inspire the next generation of leaders.
This article originally appeared in the Doane Magazine Fall 2025 edition.
