Aaron and Lydia Jeung

For siblings Aaron and Lydia Jeung, joining the Legacy Society was an easy decision. Their father, Ed “EJ” Jeung came over from the YMCA in the 1950s to participate in Cameron House’s original youth program, eventually becoming a youth leader himself. He also met his wife, Noddie (Maureen) at Cameron House, and the two got married at the Presbyterian Church in Chinatown. These connections meant that Aaron and Lydia practically grew up at Cameron House. Some of their earliest memories of Cameron House involved the annual 4th of July picnics at the cabin in Muir Woods.

Of course, the Jeungs’ involvement with Cameron House extended beyond picnics. Even though the family lived in the East Bay, Aaron and Lydia usually stayed with family friends during the summers of their elementary school years in order to attend Cameron House’s annual six-week summer camp. As they got older, that routine changed to commuting to San Francisco on the bus every day. Once they reached junior high school, they followed their father’s footsteps and became youth leaders in their own right— as camp counselors and, in Aaron’s case, as summer staff. Rounding out their experience in Cameron House youth programs, both Aaron and Lydia were also part of Friday Night Club for several years.

Throughout their time as youth participants, Aaron and Lydia developed a strong sense of community with their peers. They learned to interact with and learn from people from different geographies, experiences, and languages. While helping to prepare for the annual Carnival, they worked with a team to design and make creative prizes and keep the various Carnival booths running smoothly. Through all of this, Aaron and Lydia learned to collaborate effectively, communicate clearly, and lead confidently— all skills which stuck with them into adulthood.