Leadership & Staff

Kristin grew up in Southern California near the coast. In her teenage years, she was in the National Charity League and earned the 100+ hours of community service award each year during her six years of membership. In 2008, Kristin moved to Southern Illinois and immediately fell in love with the beauty of the Shawnee National Forest. In 2019, she joined the Camp Ondessonk team as Assistant Registrar, and was later promoted to Registrar in 2023. Her role includes managing over 3,000 summer camper registrations each year, ensuring current and accurate camper information, managing the Refer-a-Friend Program, tracking and reporting registration stats, and much more. Kristin also processes year-round open camping and specialty weekend registrations, as well as assists the Data Coordinator with special projects. In her free time, Kristin enjoys spending time with family and friends, photography, tie dye, cooking, and spending time in nature.

Lisa grew up locally in Vienna, Illinois, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Lisa came to Camp Ondessonk after working at Banterra Bank as a Deposit Support Representative in 2015. Lisa’s role includes taking care of business paperwork, payroll/location human resources, finances, audits, supply orders, and Trading Post management. When she isn’t at Camp, she loves cooking, canning, and spending time with her family.

Chris grew up in Springfield, Illinois, and started spending time at Camp before he can remember, thanks to his parents working and volunteering here for many years. Chris attended summer camp as long as he could, joined summer staff in 2012, and worked as a program staff member in 2018. Chris took on his current role in Fall 2021, in which he coordinates the day-to-day operations of Camp’s year-round program offerings, helps with school promotion campaigns, and oversees activity heads and service areas in the summer. In his free time, you can find him hiking with his wife Emily and dog Arlo, reading, or playing the guitar and piano.

Sue grew up on the East coast and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Sue was first introduced to Camp Ondessonk in 2003 by her husband and former Equestrian Director, Danny Clancy, and has continued to be a devoted volunteer ever since.  Sue joined the full-time Ondessonk staff in August 2017. In her current role, she manages summer camp registrar duties, scholarship and Title XX programs, and processes specialty weekend and open camping registrations, donations, and acknowledgments. In addition, Sue serves as the IT point of contact for equipment, network, telephone, and database management. When Sue is not at Camp, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her son Keith, step-daughter Courtnie, and her four grandchildren.

Growing up in Oregon and Southern Illinois, Evan found his way to Camp Ondessonk in 1995 as boating staff. Since joining the Ondessonk community, Evan has served in many roles: summer staff, outdoor educator, Program Director, Camping Services Director, volunteer, and donor. Most recently, he served as the Adventure and Group Services Director. Now serving as the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Evan is focusing on partnerships, revenue growth, and long-term sustainability through projects like Johnson County School Programs, Forest Management Plans, and OWL & Adventure curriculum. During his time away from Camp, Evan obtained advanced degrees in Forest Recreation and Outdoor Recreation Resource Administration. Before returning to Camp in 2022, Evan was full-time faculty at Northland College, bringing many classes to Ondessonk. When not working, Evan enjoys long-distance trail runs, mountain biking, home repair projects, and spending time with his partner, Gabi.

Ellie grew up in Waterloo, Illinois, and attended Southeast Missouri State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Corporate Communication. Although she did not attend Camp Ondessonk as a Camper, she participated at a similar summer camp and was looking to become part of a camp family again. Ellie joined the full-time Camp Ondessonk staff in March 2023. In her current role, Ellie channels her passion for people to provide oversight and support for all fundraising events. In her free time, you can find Ellie tending to her house plants, baking, or picnicking in the park!  

Paula Foley, Camp Ondessonk’s Food Services Director, brings a passion for cooking and a welcoming spirit to the Dining Hall. Originally from Riverdale, Illinois, Paula began her food service career in school cafeterias while raising her children, and later gained valuable experience at a Christian camp in California. Paula’s goal is to create a fun, collaborative kitchen environment that inspires seasonal staff to return each year. In her downtime, she enjoys reading, writing, photography, and perfecting her bread-baking skills!

Lucia has been a member of the Ondessonk community since 1960, her first summer as a camper. Lucia has held many positions during her tenure with Camp, such as Handicrafts Director, C.I.T. Director, and Head Counselor, among others. Her first year on staff, 1964, Lucia found herself as a 17-year-old Unit Leader in Lalemant – an accomplishment she is very proud of. In her current role, Lucia works with summer volunteers, is in charge of lost and found, and late-arrival/early-departure campers in the summer, and helps all staff maintain their active Child Protection Training and other paperwork. In her free time, Lucia enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her wonderful husband, Larry.

Nolan grew up outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spending many weekends camping with his family and friends. He attended Ithaca College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Adventure Leadership with a minor in Religious Studies. Nolan came to Camp Ondessonk in February 2017, starting his journey as seasonal program staff. After a brief time away, he returned to accept a full-time position. In his current role, Nolan oversees the day-to-day operations of summer camp as well as the program department that operates year-round. When not focusing on work, Nolan enjoys rock climbing, running, hiking, and spending time with close friends and family. He can also be found drinking a good cup of coffee with a crossword puzzle or book somewhere outside.

Kav grew up very close to Camp Ondessonk and joined the maintenance crew full-time in January 2019. Kav helps the Ranger maintain the safety and beauty of our Camp in his daily work, which could involve any number of tasks from baling hay to fixing the Shawnee Screamer. When Kav is not working, you can find him riding horses, mules, or four-wheelers, listening to music, and spending time with his friends and family.

Dan’s history with Camp Ondessonk began in 1981, his first year as a camper. Dan spent the summers of 1987-1994 on the summer staff, which included co-leading the first ever Camp Ondessonk Horse Adventure trip. Following college, Dan gained program planning and administrative experience at several other camps as a wrangler, outdoor educator, Program Director, and Summer Camp Director. He returned to Ondessonk in 2006 and became Executive Director in 2008. Loved by campers and staff alike, Dan inspires with a smile and has a talent for bringing meaning to the Camp experience with his unique humor and devoted love of Ondessonk. Dan lives on site with his wife Suzy, and they feel lucky to be raising their four children in the Camp Ondessonk community. In his free time, you can find Dan hiking, trial-running, wood-working, or canoeing on Ozark streams.

Catherine grew up in Northern Kentucky, working in a show barn and owning several horses. After college, she spent time working year-round as the Head Wrangler for a large horse camp in Washington state. She then served as the Equestrian Coordinator at HoneyRock Camp, the Outdoor Center of Wheaton College, where she received her master’s degree in Christian Formation and Ministry: Outdoor Adventure Leadership. She joined Camp Ondessonk full time in October 2017 as the Equestrian Director. Her current duties include overseeing all equestrian activities, programs, and maintaining the health and well-being of the herd. Outside of work, Catherine enjoys spending time with her two girls Mary and Noelle, as well as hiking, kayaking, and family walks around Camp.

Scott grew up near Chicago, Illinois, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Scott first discovered Camp Ondessonk through friends, officially joined the full-time maintenance crew in May 2021, then was promoted to Ranger in April 2024. His day-to-day involves keeping Camp maintained, and no day ever quite looks the same. In his free time, Scott loves to tinker with anything that has an engine and spend time with his family and friends.

Whitney grew up in Clifton, Illinois, and attended McKendree University, where she earned a Bachelors of Speech Communication. She joined the full-time Camp Ondessonk team in December 2021. Whitney did not have the chance to attend Camp Ondessonk, but attended a similar camp near her hometown and loved the experience. In her current role, Whitney works with individuals who give of their time, talent or treasure to support the programs and administrative needs of Camp, and create scholarships for children whose lives are changed by a week in the woods. In her free time, you can find Whitney cooking, watching the St. Louis Cardinals or Chicago Bears, and spending time with her husband, Kent, their three sons, and dog Sparky!

Tony joined the Camp Ondessonk team full time in 2010 and has been managing the realms of marketing, public relations, and communications since. Tony gained a great deal of his professional marketing experience working for private sector businesses including the award-winning Lightstream Studios, RTS Sentry, and Serum Security Solutions. Tony works from his home office in Millstadt, IL. In his free time, Tony enjoys playing music and watching English Premier Football; Go Liverpool! He, his wife Kim, son JP and daughter Emma enjoy visiting Ondessonk as often as possible.