Introducing Young Voices, a new space in our newsletter where teens ages 13–18 can share their stories, ideas, and creativity. Here’s our first featured piece. by Connor and Finley Asti, Young Voices Contributors When you hear the word “Shakespeare” you …
by Margot Callahan, contributing writer So, this is the summer camp issue. For many of you lucky readers, summer camp brings back all kinds of memories, some cringe-worthy, some so exciting, you can’t wait. I bet, right now, you are …
by Dana Wineland O’Rourke, Contributing Writer The cold glass felt good against my forehead, so I rested my nose on the airplane window and gazed at the billowy clouds below, determined to soak it all in. We were nearing the …
by Don Laird, MS, NCC, LPC, DCC, contributing writer Summertime blues? Seriously? The answer is yes, and it’s more common than you might think. The kids are out of school and they have two questions on their minds, “Can we …
by Tom Berich, Operations Manager There are many moving parts when executing the Luminari summer experiences, not just registrations, recruiting, and the general “organization” of managing up to 100 people over the span of a month. It’s the small details …
by Margot Callahan, contributing writer You’ve been persuading and being persuaded your entire life. From your first cries at birth to something you likely did or will do today, you’ve “urged (someone) successfully to do something” or you’ve at least …
Stay Connected With Luminari As we prepare for this summer’s I Want to be an Ambassador! camp June 9-17,2026, we’re exploring new ways to bring our incredible alumni back into the fold. Many former campers have reached out recently about …
by Dana Wineland O’Rourke, contributing writer The real sign that spring had arrived wasn’t the sunshine. It was sidewalk chalk. Our youngest son’s driveway was covered in it – colorful drawings, arrows, and instructions perfectly framed by a few inches …
Luminari is proud to announce the 2026 Luminari Award recipients, selected through our annual essay competition that anchors the “I Want to be an Ambassador!” summer camp. Open to students in grades 7-11 in south western Pennsylvania, the competition challenges young people to …
by Tom Berich, Operations Manager One of the lesser known (but exciting) challenges of being the Operations Manager is getting the opportunity to select an intern for the summer Luminari season. With as many moving parts as Luminari has, it’s …
