“There's a reason why this place has endured for so long, and it’s because of the people who have come before us and sacrificed and worked very hard to preserve this camp to be what it is today,” said DeNote.

He started in his new role on December 1st and is moving quickly to prepare for the 2026 summer camp season. He hopes to have counselor applications online by the end of December and to open camp registration the first week of January.

“The most exciting thing I can say is that the program for 2026 is open and it’s going to feature some new faces and hopefully some returning faces. The Good Counsel Camp spirit is alive and it’s here, and we're excited to share it with everyone. All are welcome,” said DeNote.

He has a long history at Our Lady of Good Counsel Camp. He started camping there at the age of 11 and the friendships formed there continue today. As a young adult, he was hired to help in the kitchen and to serve as a counselor. He also became active in the Alumni Association and served in a leadership role. He has also been serving on the Advisory Committee and Building Committee for the new Master Planning Process that started in January of this year.

“There's a lot of work that's going on with the pool, the dock, and the campus overall,” said DeNote. The property and the structures are being improved, new projects are in the works, and safety has been enhanced.

As director, he hopes to help all youth experience God through the beauty of creation. He had a spiritual awakening when he attended camp, and he knows the camp can impact youth today in a positive way.

“This is the first place that I had a deep experience with my faith, and I didn't know it until much later in life. The lessons that I learned here really came to grow and took root,” said DeNote.

He said the Blessed Virgin Mary is always watching over the camp and her prayers are felt often.

“There has always been a devotion to Mary here. She's invoked every possible occasion. We ask for her prayers every day, and her intercessions are what keeps this camp going, protected, and on the right path. She guides the leaders of this camp,” said DeNote.

DeNote is a graduate of Clearwater Central Catholic High School and Saint Leo University. He taught in Catholic schools for ten years. He and his wife have been married for 21 years, and they have three children. He is a member of St. Scholastica Parish, in Lecanto.

For more information about Our Lady of Good Counsel Camp, click here.