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Faith, Leadership, and Friendships: The Kaleo Summer Experience
- Aubrey Weishaar
- May 7
- 3 min read
Kaleo is a nine-week summer leadership program intentionally crafted to challenge college students to grow in character and deepen a strong, lasting foundation of faith.
From May 28 to July 21, Gulf Shores, Alabama, becomes home for Student Mobilization (StuMo) students from Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the University of Missouri, Clemson University, Northwest Missouri State University, and the University of Georgia. During these nine weeks, students will be presented with job opportunities that help them grow both personally and as leaders.
KSU students have been attending the Kaleo Summer Camp for the past 15 years, taking part in a unique opportunity to grow in their faith alongside other college students. Not long after they began sending students to Kaleo, they discovered Wolf Bay Lodge—the place they’ve come to call home during the summer months. Located near the water, Wolf Bay offers a peaceful and welcoming environment, making it the perfect setting for reflection, fellowship, and spiritual growth. For the last 10 years, it has hosted approximately 30 KSU students each summer, serving as more than just a place to stay; the atmosphere has become a central part of their summer experience.
Exploring 9-5 job opportunities
All students who attend Kaleo are required to work each weekday during the summer program. This teaches them time management and money-saving skills. Some of the jobs students take include working at Chick-fil-A, souvenir shops, diners, Waffle House, and Publix. According to the Kaleo website, “Working a full-time job is a great way to build character and time management skills. If you plan well, you should come home with some money too,” https://kaleogulfshores.com/.
“This is my first summer attending Kaleo, and I am very excited about the working aspect of it,” said Madelyn Brunk, a KSU freshman. “I have already met some great people who will be working the same job at Souvenir City with me, and I am thrilled to see our relationships grow not only from a faith perspective, but also as coworkers.”
Faith based leadership roles
Another great perk of attending Kaleo in Gulf Shores is the leadership opportunities available. Usually reserved for upperclassmen, these roles include leading faith discussions, Bible studies, and reaching out to neighboring college students to explore how God impacts their daily lives. Training sessions are held weekly after students’ full-time jobs, offering them tools and experience to make an impact on fellow students once they return to campus.
“A large thing we teach at Kaleo is how to disciple people and continuously show our love for God,” said Morgan Villasenor, KSU StuMo staff member. “The leadership skills we develop at the beach are designed to be replicated back on campus at KSU. StuMo is a large, student-led organization that operates primarily through dorm-based communities. Living areas are ideal for building relationships, sharing the gospel, and fostering a deeper connection with God. That’s why discipleship is a key component of what we teach at Kaleo. Leading others in faith takes practice, and growing as a spiritual leader is one of our main priorities throughout the summer,” Villasenor explained.
Family aspect in the Gulf Shores
The summer is spent surrounded by groups of your college peers. Each day, you'll create connections with your carpool group, coworkers, roommates, and Bible study friends. These diverse groups allow students to broaden their horizons and hear testimonies from people of all backgrounds. Age is not a barrier at Kaleo; freshmen are often mixed with returning students to promote spiritual growth.
“As I don’t have a lot of prior knowledge about Kaleo, hearing that we’ll be intermixed with upperclassmen made me excited,” said Brunk. “The opportunity to learn from those who are more grounded in their faith will be beneficial for me. I hope that when I return from Kaleo, I will have learned ways to stay consistent in reading the Gospel and how to implement it into my daily life, seeking to see God in all situations,” said Brunk.
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