Alumnae Spotlight-Margaret Wilbourne

My name is Margaret Wilbourne (Margo around camp!) and I was a counselor from 2013 – 2015, and a head counselor in 2016. My favorite cabin was Riverside, and I spent most of my time during activities out teaching at the barn! Fun fact: I was a counselor in every cabin during my time at camp!

In 2022, I got the joy of returning to camp for a session as an Encourager. I grew up in Cullman, Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama in 2016. I earned my law degree from Tulane Law School in 2019, though I don’t practice anymore – instead, I followed my creative dreams and now work as a graphic designer and wedding stationer!

What makes Skyline special to you?

I love camp’s beautiful campus, fun traditions, and the famous “Skyline bubble” – but the thing that makes it most special to me is the Skyline family. At camp, I found funny, intentional, kind, and faithful people who truly care about one another, from the staff to the campers. Some of my very best friends today were made at Skyline. The years of memories I made (and continue to make!) with my Skyline family are truly so special. Skyline truly became a home away from home for me because of all of the wonderful people it brought into my life, and continues to do so today!

What’s your favorite camp memory?

Oof, how to choose! Here’s a few favorites:

One summer we filmed a 3rd Session VMA for the barn staff, and all the pony pals and barn staff, including Trish, played a role! We had the best time making it together – I was even given special permission to ride Primrose over to Beli Deli for one scene! As far as I know that’s the first time a horse got to go to Beli Deli, and it was so fun to see the campers get excited when she ordered an apple from the Aunts.

Night activities and campfires were some of my favorite parts of the day! It was so fun to be a goofy and run around during a night activity, and then head to campfire, which was a chance to slow down and reflect on the ways God was working in our lives and at camp. I loved the campfire songs and hearing from different counselors who led campfires!

A favorite memory are rest hours in Riverside, where the counselors and campers would hang out and share stories, braid hair, and just get to know one another! Having that down time to bond with each other and just be goofy was so much fun.

Camp is such a fun place to let go of the pressure girls often feel to look a certain way – and part of celebrating that was to come up with silly themed days! One summer, we declared the first Tuesday of camp “Terrestrial Tuesday” and everyone would wear an animal-themed shirt that day. Twin Tuesday, where a camper would dress like their counselor, and vice versa, was also a fun tradition!

River vespers! I think these are so beautiful, to watch and be part of – counselors float down the river in canoes with torches and sing special vespers songs. This is such a special time at camp to reflect on the session and camp itself!

What life skills did you learn at camp?

Skyline gave me so much, but one thing I can look back and see is how much it improved my self confidence. Camp is full of opportunities to try new things and serve in leadership roles. In camp, the staff were so encouraging and poured into us just as much as the campers. Out at the barn, Trish Martin taught me so much about animals and how to dust yourself off and try again when life threw you a curveball. My time at Skyline certainly helped me have the confidence and determination to get through law school and start my own business!

Skyline also taught me how to work with and get to know others better. I saw first hand how the different strengths and special talents each staff member brought to the table could compliment each other to create something special for our campers and each other.

Finally, Skyline taught me how to interact with God and my faith in an approachable, familiar way that has stayed with me today. Campfires at Riverside were such a wonderful time to see how God was at work in camp!

How has Skyline’s mission statement impacted your life?

Skyline taught me so much about God, relationships, and self. It really is a good mission statement! You may have heard Skyline gals say that at camp, God feels a little closer. Time moves slower and you’re better able to see how that command to “love each other as I have loved you” can make a real difference – which leads to wonderful relationships. As far as the self, as I mentioned earlier, camp helped a shy college kid grow into the confident person I am today. Skyline is an incredibly special place that is able to bring grow anyone in these three areas (God, relationships, self) and create an experience that I can’t wait for my future daughter to someday have for herself!

As a Skyline Hero, what advice do you give college students interested in your field?

For college students interested in law, I tell them to consider sitting in on a law class. Law school is tough, and it definitely helps to know what you’re signing up for once you start applying to schools! I would also recommend contacting local lawyers to set up coffee dates: ask about their path to law school, their practice areas, and any advice they might have told themselves in retrospect. i learned a lot from doing this – and heard a lot of funny stories!

For my artists, don’t get dismayed by those who say art can’t be a career. I’m proof that it can! I have the same advice – speak to artists who are doing what you might like to do one day! Treat them to coffee and ask about what they’ve learned, what they enjoy about their job, and how they found their way to where they are now. You can learn so much from others, and people are almost always willing to help someone who’s right where they’ve been too.