At Connex, we believe that true impact goes beyond innovation in the energy sector. For us, it’s all about people, growth, and creating new opportunities together; not just in the workplace but well beyond it. Our colleague Rick Stoop demonstrates this every year. With passion and dedication, he invests his time in the Don Bosco Summer Camp, the very place where he spent unforgettable summers as a child and now inspires the next generation.
For us ‘Energize the Future’ is more than a tag line, it means investing in connection, growth, and shared joy. That’s why we are proud to support Rick’s passion and making an impact beyond our daily work. Curious what Don Bosco Summer camp means to Rick? Read his inspiring story below.
From Childhood Summer Camp to Married Volunteer: My Journey with the Youth Association Don Bosco.
If you had told six-year-old me that the place where I spent summer camps as a child would someday be where I met the love of my life, I probably would have just asked when the next marshmallow roasting was. But here we are.
This year, I rejoined the youth association, Don Bosco, for summer camp. Not as a child, but as a volunteer. And honestly? It felt like coming full circle, especially since my daughter is now old enough to walk in my footsteps there. I’ve been part of this community since I was six. From age 6 to 16, I was one of the kids running through the fields and whispering past bedtime in sleeping bags. At 17, I made the switch to leader and board member.
Somewhere along the way, something even more special happened. I met my girlfriend at Don Bosco, and earlier this year, I had the honour of calling her my wife. We got married this January, and the story gets even better: every year, on the bike ride to the campsite, we pass this stunning castle. It always felt like a fairytale moment riding past it. And this year, we got married there. Yes, even our wedding location is linked to Don Bosco, just like many great memories in my life.
Being part of this youth association is so much more than organising games or helping kids. It’s about impact. The kind of impact that lasts well beyond the campfire glow. Just like at Connex, where we build meaningful, sustainable impact along the biofuel supply chain, the youth association has this incredible power to shape people’s lives. You make friends for life. You might even find the love of your life. And you grow in ways you never expected.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is ownership. When you’re responsible for a group of kids, someone else’s kids, you grow up quickly. You learn how to lead, how to care, how to be present and dependable. It’s a crash course in responsibility, teamwork, patience, and creativity—all wrapped into one.
I’m grateful to be part of this extraordinary community. To give back to a place that gave me so much. To witness kids having the same unforgettable experiences I did, and to help create those memories with them.
This year, Connex supported the youth association by covering the cost of the campsite, ensuring that this summer camp remains inclusive and affordable for families from all parts of the community.
It’s more than just a camp. It’s a lifelong connection.
