Olivia Essig
Program Director
Olivia first became involved with Joy El when she was a freshman at Messiah College, looking for a summer job. She ended up serving on summer staff 3 years in a row, first as a Senior Counselor, and then as Day Camp Coordinator for summers 2018 and 2019. She also volunteered for several retreats & 4.12 Leadership Training Summits.
Summer camp was the highlight of her year while growing up, so she is excited to be a part of providing that experience for other children, whether it’s for a week of summer camp or a retreat. She also experienced the power of authentic Christian community as a Senior Counselor, so she is grateful for the opportunity to allow other staff members to do the same.
Olivia grew up in Hamburg, PA. She spent 2 years teaching in Gary, Indiana, and now lives in Greencastle, PA. She graduated from Messiah College in 2020 with Mathematics with a Secondary Teaching Certification degree.
Olivia enjoys playing and watching sports including basketball, football, and field hockey. She also love to bake, read, and get outside in nature.
A couple of her favorite scriptures are Isaiah 40:31: “They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up like eagles with wings of great length. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint. He gives strength to the weary and power to His saints” and Psalm 56:3-4: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”