This Year’s Counselors

This is Flor’s fourth year at Camp Mishawaka! She is from Cholula, Mexico studying her last year in Business Logistics. This summer you’ll see her around the Squonk as the Girls Camp Program Director and helping with arts and crafts! She loves volleyball, hiking, singing and playing along the ukulele! She is super excited to be back at camp and meet all the campers!

Kit is a long-time former Mishawaka camper and this will mark his 8th year on staff. When not leading campers in the Big Show, or cracking kids (and staff) up with his amazing sense of humor, Kit hangs his hat in Denver,CO. This summer Kit will serve up a wonderful slate of activities for campers in his role as Boys Camp Program Director.

Sophia is super excited to be back for her third year on staff! She’s finishing her second year at Illinois Institute of Technology where she studies architecture. She loves anything outdoors and is looking forward to being back on the lake sailing and skiing. She can’t wait to get back to camp and see both old and new faces!

Ben has that electric personality of someone you want to get to know although sometimes his thoughts are too complicated. He loves nicknames, ideas, and britroyals. Having never been a camper at Mishawaka or yet seen a Hodag, Ben leads walks in our nature department. He wishes to tell campers all about Outdoor Education. Currently he serves on an overnight adventures team for Montessori students. Last fall in his first semester at Nature’s Classroom Institute, he taught in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin. Now he teaches at New Ulm, Texas. Originally from the state of hockey he enjoys new scenery and is looking through binoculars at a 6th summer on Mishawaka Staff after his first year at NCI(S).

This is Haley’s second year at Mishawaka, and she is so excited for a fun-filled summer. Growing up in Calgary, Canada, Haley has always loved hiking, backpacking, and all things outside. She loves travelling by bike, rock climbing, and trying out new activities. She is studying Psychology at Concordia in Montreal and works as a baker. She can’t wait for a summer in nature, and to meet all the campers and staff!

Mark will be back at Mishawaka this summer! He lives in Rochester MN area with his wife, Angela, their two year old son and two dogs. He is originally from the UK. He has been on staff at Mishawaka for many years and is a physical education teacher in the off-season. Mark can’t wait to get back and see everyone - and jump in that lake!

Originally from northeast Missouri, Crystal studied Journalism at the University of Missouri before obtaining a second Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. During her healthcare career, she has primarily worked in emergency medicine and critical care. She encourages a holistic approach to wellness that encompasses the the mind, body, and spirit. Crystal currently resides in Tampa, FL, where her husband is stationed at Macdill Air Force Base. During her leisure time, she enjoys staying active through nature hikes, paddling, and pilates. Additionally, she takes pleasure in reading, birdwatching, and culinary experimentation. She looks forward to meeting everyone and spending the summer outdoors!

Mark will be graduating from South Carolina in May and moving to Chicago for a corporate finance job with Cintas. At school he was involved in Greek Life and he’s been competing in marathons and ultramarathons over the past few years. He was also lucky enough to live in Santiago, Chile all of last year to improve his Spanish. His favorite activities at camp are capture the flag, basketball, and stand up paddleboarding. He was a camper for 7 summers and on staff for the summer of 2021.

Frank is currently working as a content creator in Peru. He loves the idea of working at camp and make a positive impact on the campers. Frank will be the boys camp photographer this summer. Frank loves nature and all outdoor acvities and drawing. Without a hesitation, he wants the campers to go home saying that they had a great summer because of him.

Janainna is from Peru and has a degree in communication. She studied mostly audiovisual communications, including making and producing short films. She will be the girls camp photographer this summer. She also loves making jewelry, reading and yoga. She is excited about being at Camp this summer and meeting everyone.

Excited once more for another summer at camp, Nick is in the midst of continuing his education in developmental psychology/behavioral neuroscience. With a soft spot for anything crafted by hand or conjured through dream, he enjoys writing, ceramics, baking and finding ways to use the environment around him to connect with others. He is looking forward to inventing new games and traditions while immersing himself in the traditions he grew up around while a camper. A sauna or two wouldn’t hurt either…

Sara is from Cholula, Mexico. This will be her third year in Mishawaka. She is studying a degree in Biology because she is a lover of nature and animals. She loves to play sports, her favorites are mountaineering, hiking and athletics. She is excited to see everyone again, meet new people, learn new things, and have fun with the campers.

Ian is excited for his fourth summer on staff at Mishawaka. He’s ready to come back to teach all his favorite activities, such as fishing, kayaking, and riflery. He is studying History and singing in the choirs at the University of Houston. He can’t wait to see everyone again and meet all of y’all and make this a fun and relaxing summer.

Jimena is ready to come back for her third year on staff as CIT counselor. She was a camper for five years. She’s from Mexico but loves to spend the summer at Mishawaka. Her favorite activities are fishing, archery and dipping in the lake. She cannot wait to be around this summer, see old faces and get to know new ones! She is already looking forward to be up at camp with everyone!

Ben is excited to be back on staff for his 10th summer and first year as the CIT counselor. Ben lives in Denver, Colorado and will begin pursuing an MBA in the fall. Sailing is his favorite activity at camp, and he is eager to lead the sailing program this year. He is most excited for spending many hours on the lake, taking a boundary waters trip, and fully appreciating the camp sauna!

Shea is looking forward to another wonderful summer at Camp Mishawaka as CIT counselor! Shea has worked at camp for 10 years in a variety of roles including cabin counselor, head of Parkside, and girls program director. During the year, Shea works as an Epidemiologist in Denver, Colorado. She’s excited to work with this years CITs and teach campers to waterski.

Armand is an adventurous person, not afraid of new challenges, and is open to taking the lead in different projects and challenges, like the one he will face this summer at Mishawaka! From Barcelona, he is studying business management and technology. He is passionate about the business world, and spends his days brainstorming new projects to undertake. He considers himself restless and curious, loves to travel, spend time with friends, and engage in sports. He is very exited to be part of the Mishawaka family in 2024!

Shannon is excited to experience her first summer as a counselor at Mishawaka! She grew up in Minnesota and currently attends the University of Minnesota where she studies economics and political science. She loves all things outdoors, including camping, hiking, and hammocking. She also loves to spend her free time curled up with a book. She is beyond excited to spend the summer on the lake and is looking forward to meeting all the campers this summer!

Karol is from Mexico and is studying Art History and Curatorship. This will be her third year as a counselor after being a camper for three years. She loves singing, kayaking, archery, arts and crafts, riflery, and swimming. She can’t wait to be back at camp. She is very excited to see old and new faces and make this summer one to remember!

Jake is originally from Seattle, Washington. He now attends Montana State University where he majors in Sociology and doing Army ROTC. He loves to fish, hike and do anything outdoors. This will be his first year on staff. He’s looking forward to meeting all the campers and staff!

Assistant Girls Camp Director, Marly joined the Camp Mishawaka family in 2018 as a counselor and Trip Director. Since then she has taught just about every program area at least once, although her heart still belongs to trips and camping. During her winters in Minnesota she teaches high school English. She loves being able to return to her hometown to share her love of the Northwoods with campers. Marly looks forward to jumping in the lake every day!

Daniel is from from Colombia and has lived in Spain for several years to study Audiovisual Communication. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess and participating in a variety of sports, including basketball, swimming, and running. He also has a passion for cinema, anime, and reading. Recently, he started learning to play the guitar. Daniel loves spending time in nature. This year is his first at Camp Mishawaka, and he’s thrilled to begin this new adventure.

First year counselor, Layce, is from Lexington, KY. She is a sophomore at Centre College, majoring in Environmental Science. She loves the sunshine and any outdoor activities. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family and playing games!

Hector is very excited to be back for his 4th summer at camp and 1st summer on staff. He is from Paris, France and is studying political science and international relations there. He loves being outdoors and being in beautiful places such as Camp Mishawaka. He also loves travelling, and visited a big part of Asia last summer. Hector is currently doing physical preparation to run a marathon next year. He can’t wait to meet everyone again and be back on the lake!

Quinn is from Winnetka, Illinois. She was a camper at Mishawaka for seven years, and this is her first year on staff. She plays volleyball, soccer, and she plans to study nursing in college. Some of her favorite camp activities are Waterskiing, Arts and Crafts, and Fishing. She is super excited to be back at camp and meet all the campers!

This is Gabriella D’Aquila, she grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, but currently spends her summers here in Grand Rapids and winters in Bluffton South Carolina. Gabriella is currently a rising junior at Loyola University Chicago, where she is studying art history and studio art. She likes all things art, movies, and food. Gabriella will be teaching pottery this summer, a passion she is excited to teach.

Will is excited to be back on the shores of Pokegama after many summers away from Mishawaka. Now residing in Colorado, he is looking forward to being a part of everything Camp has to offer. While eager to be on the lake for any and all waterfront activities, Will is also hoping to join in for some mountain biking, archery, floor hockey, horse back riding and any other spots the energy is present. Most of all, he cannot wait for a visit to the sauna and Mishawaka sunsets.

Stella is from St Paul, MN. She was a camper at Mishawaka for six years and she will be back this summer as a Junior Counselor. She will be attending Cal Poly next year and will be studying Environmental Science. Her favorite camp activities are canoeing, pottery and fishing. She can’t wait to be back this summer and meet all of the campers!

Claudia is from Barcelona. There is nothing she enjoys more than traveling. She has been to over 10 countries and she would like to experience living abroad someday. She studies Audiovisual Communication because she has always been mesmerized by the art of storytelling in movies. She enjoys drawing and baking desserts for her family and friends. She is really looking forward to joining camp this summer, meeting new people and living joyful experiences.

This will be Juan’s first time traveling to Camp in the United States. He is a 4th semester architecture student. He is from Puebla and he likes to play soccer very much. He has basic knowledge about carpentry and he can draw very well. He likes nature and swimming in rivers, lakes, etc. He is a little nervous, but he feels that this summer will be unforgettable!

Will is really excited to return for his fourth summer as a counselor. He is studying at Denison University and is majoring in economics. He is looking forward to teaching riflery, canoeing, fishing and other activities. He can’t wait to see everyone and is ready to have a blast.

Allie is finishing up her second year teaching 4th grade and coaching 6th grade volleyball. When she’s not in school or on the volleyball court, she is been spending a lot of time working with photography! This will be her 5th year on staff and she’s very excited to be head of Parkside again this coming summer! Camp has been her second home since 2007 and she can’t wait to be back!

Markos will be returning to Camp for his second year on staff, sixth summer at Mishawaka. Currently he is studying business management at HEC Montréal. He enjoys canoeing, sailing, biking and group games. More than anything, he is excited to meet the campers and have some fun.

Marta is from Barcelona, Spain. This will be her first year as a counselor, after three years of attending camp. She’s currently studying Audiovisual Communication and dubbing. Marta enjoys traveling, art, books, and cinema, and always seeks to bring laughter and joy to those around her. In her spare time, she delves into photography and video editing. Marta is ecstatic about returning to camp and is eager to meet both familiar and new faces!

Henry is excited to return to camp for his second year on staff! Hailing from London, England, Henry studies in Cleveland, Ohio. He rows on the crew team and loves to read in his free time. Henry looks forward to getting back on the lake this summer and meeting everyone!

Alyssa is excited to start her first year at Mishawaka! Originally from Dallas, Texas, she studies Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Colorado School of Mines. She loves swimming and is excited to get on the waterfront. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking to school, and being outside with her friends. Alyssa cannot wait to meet everyone at camp!

Griffin is excited for his first summer on staff at Camp Mishawaka. He was a camper for 9 summers, and he is a 4th generation counselor. Griffin is from Alaska and is currently attending school at Minnesota North College, Itasca campus. He is studying education. This summer he is looking forward to teaching a variety of activities, and going on trips. He is excited for an amazing summer!

Sophie is from Suffolk, England. This will be her first year at Camp Mishawaka and she is really looking forward to it. She is going to start studying paramedic Science this year in Cambridge because she loves helping people and her dream is to become a paramedic on the air ambulance. She loves doing sports, her favorites are swimming, rifle shooting and bouldering. In her spare time she loves to sing and hangout with her friends. She is excited to meet everyone and have a great time.

Ximena is from Puebla, Mexico. She is studying Industrial Engineering at UPAEP. This will be her first year at Mishawaka. She is a skilled swimmer and contemporary dancer. She considers herself a very enthusiastic person who loves to meet new people.

Terrance was a previous camper for 6 years and on staff for 2 years. His biggest passions at camp are horseback riding, sailing, canoeing and running in the camper vs counselor race during the track meet. He graduated from Aurora University as a communication major. He works as a Travel Interventionist, and during the past few summers he photographed weddings. He is also studying real estate in order to make a career change. He is looking forward to this summer!

Zoë is so excited to join Camp Mishawaka as a counselor for her first summer! She is originally from Minnesota and is graduating from the University of Tampa in May with majors in Visual Arts and Design. Zoë is so excited to spend the summer outside as she loves hiking, water sports, camping, and swimming. She loves all things art related, specializing in illustration and drawing, as well as reading and road trips! She can’t wait to meet everyone and make amazing summer memories!

Annie is from Geneva, Illinois, but she currently works as a ski instructor in Vail, Colorado for the winter. She is super excited to be back again this summer! She was a camper for six years and has been a counselor for a few years too. She can’t wait to see everyone and meet all the new campers!

Nina’s getting ready for her second summer at Camp Mishawaka! She’s from Grand Rapids, MN, and loves sports like hockey, golf, and soccer. When she’s not playing sports, she’s hanging out with her family and friends, and in the summer, you can find her enjoying water sports and athletics. Swing by the office and say hi!

Ella is new to the Camp Mishawaka team! She was born & raised in Grand Rapids, MN & she & her family live on Loon Lake in Cohasset, MN. Ella loves children & has worked as a nanny & a babysitter. She enjoys everything outdoors, including hiking, running with her dog, Rosie, camping, boating, fishing, paddle boarding. She is on her high school soccer team & also plays the flute in her high school band, is in the Key Club & Rapids Rising groups at school & has played the piano for nine years! She is very excited to meet everyone at camp this summer & is looking forward to being an Office Assistant.

Tess is excited for her first year at camp. She enjoys running, paddle boarding, scuba diving and travel. Perhaps her favorite thing is to take her friends for a pontoon or jet ski ride on Lake Pokegama. During the school year, you can often find her in the ballet studio or at the track. Please introduce yourself to her when you come into the camp store!

Sean has been at camp for ~25 summers. He’s been a counselor, program director, trip director, BC director and head of volleyball :). He winters in the Kansas City area with his wife Vanessa, daughter Allie, and dog Pepper. Sean recently retired from middle school teaching and coaching. He’s looking forward to fishing, kayaking and Humberto’s pizza!

Uncle Humberto just graduated as a Mechanical and Electrical Engineer; this will be his third year at camp Mishawaka. He is from Cholula Puebla, Mexico. He lives with his 3 dogs and enjoys adventures in high altitude mountains in Mexico, He loves teaching Campers in the woodshop, playing any kind of games and of course make and eat PIZZA. He is excited to go back and meet old and new friends.

Kat is delighted to be returning to the amazing peaceful woods and lake in the north, where she loves wandering the woods with her husband Duane, who is lead of boy’s camp crafts! Kat is planning some more stuffies this year with some more sewing happening and lots more crafting and imagination and her favorite, PAINTING!

Duane is a multi-medium artist with over 25 years in puppet and mask theatre. He loves being outside and bird watching and hiking, especially with his son Max. He really likes making things and will try any medium available.

Kari has been coming to Camp for a while. She met and married her husband, George, at Camp and their two boys were campers and staff. She is looking forward to helping at CampCraft and arts & crafts.

George has been around longer than anyone and will be back this summer teaching canoeing, campcraft and bugling among other things.

Alec grew up in Rochester, MN, and is a former camper (with George Lottes) and counselor (1970) when he focused on canoeing. He credits Mishawaka for exposing him to the outdoors which led to a life of many outdoor activities. He has lived in Seattle for 50 years and still participates in sailboat racing in Puget Sound. With his return to Mishawaka last summer, he suspects he set a record for the longest interval in history between summers as a counselor. Alec is excited about returning to camp and renewing his friendship with campers and counselors alike.

Mary Jane is a retired teacher but just doesn’t have the heart to leave her second home, Camp Mishawaka. This will be her 29th summer at Camp, and when she isn’t working to find the most interesting, committed, adventurous young people to work as counselors, she can be found on her bike, exploring the many trails around Minneapolis/St. Paul, skiing around its lakes (not this winter), camping in her sprinter van, traveling, visiting friends, volunteering, and enjoying much more time (post retirement) with her beloved grandchildren.

Nate will be spending his fourth summer at Camp Mishawaka! Nate is in his 20th year as a teacher and coach in Manakto, Mn. He teaches High School History and Psychology and coaches the Bpys Varsity Golf Team. He also used to coach Varsity Girls Hockey for a dozen years. Nate has three wonderful kids, an amazing wife of 19 years and Tala (his 4 year old dog). He enjoys being active and loves the outdoors. He spent 5 summers as a Waterfront Director and Activities Dirextor at a camp on Lake Winnipesaukee, before making Camp Mishawaka his summer home.