April 25, 2026
A note from our Board Chair Rev. Stefanie Wilson
Dear Camp Stevens Community,
When I last wrote to you, just a month ago, we were saying goodbye to Kathy Wilder as she and her wife, Hannah, headed off to new adventures in Tahoe.
We are delighted that Gabby Coburn has stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director. Given her eight years of strong leadership as Program Director at Camp Stevens, this role is a perfect fit. Gabby’s reputation for innovation and genuine care for everyone at camp made her a natural choice for the job. She continues to work closely with Sam Robinsted and Kevin Burmeister, our other incredible camp directors, who have six and five years of experience at Camp, respectively. With the entire staff, this team continues to ensure every group is taken care of and that the program and place are thriving.
Now that Gabby has a month to settle in, I sat down with her to talk about her love of Camp Stevens, what makes working for camps so special, and what’s on the horizon.
Stef: On my favorite television rewatch podcast, “The Office Ladies,” they always begin by asking guests, “How did you get your job on The Office?” So, I am beginning the same way, “Gabby, how did you get your job at Camp Stevens?”
Gabby: I feel like I’ve been orbiting Camp Stevens for a long time. I knew Kathy Wilder from another camp, and worked with John Horton and Beth Bojarski through the American Camp Association and the local Julian camp community. My sister worked in the kitchen here for a bit. Whenever I came here to visit, I met creative, interesting, loving people, and I left inspired. I even started a garden program at my former camp. When the Program Director job became available, I knew I had to apply.
S: You have been working in the camping world for many years now. What keeps you working at a camp?
G: Kids are often cut off from the natural world. Nature is so critical for kids and people in general. When people arrive here, you can see them settle into themselves. You can see people take a breath here. At camp, you also build community and work together to solve problems. Our world needs more of that. And here, mindfulness is easier, as simple as listening to the birds.
S: What do you love about Camp Stevens in particular?
G: I worked for many years in secular camping. At a secular camp, you cannot acknowledge spiritual questions. Yet when you are in nature, spiritual questions just bubble up. Here, we choose to acknowledge the spiritual questions and wonders. We can have people from a wide variety of backgrounds and ways of approaching the world, and we can make space for all of their answers. We can be present with the questions.
S: Now that you are the Interim Executive Director, how has your role changed?
G: I used to work to make sure that the community at Camp Stevens had everything they needed for the day-to-day working of camp. Now I work with our larger community – the board, community partners, donors, the Dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego. My view of the beautiful community has expanded.
S: Camp Stevens is always busy! Is there anything coming up in the next few months that folks should be getting excited about?
G: Memorial Day Family Camp is around the corner! You can still sign up. And, we are getting ready to celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2027. Look out for events celebrating this milestone all year long.
S: What keeps you busy outside of all things Camp? I know you have some great hobbies!
G: I have several creative pursuits. I am a fiber and textile artist, so I quilt, sew, embroider, mend, dye, and needlepoint. The camp goats, pig, and chickens are my personal animals, and I like spending time with them and taking care of them. I love hiking and exploring nearby nature, and I also like to challenge my mind and my body by lifting weights.
I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did. As anyone who visits Camp Stevens can see, the camp is in great hands, with steady leaders who love the work they do. The board and search committee will keep working over the next nine months to develop a profile and conduct a search for our next Executive Director. Meanwhile, Camp Stevens continues to be run by strong, thoughtful, dedicated leaders. We could not be luckier.
Blessings,
The Rev. Stefanie Wilson
Board Chair
March 5, 2026
A note from our Board Chair Rev. Stefanie Wilson
Dear Friends of Camp Stevens,
With deep gratitude and admiration, I write today to honor the remarkable leadership of Kathy Wilder over the past eight years. After much discernment, Kathy and her wife, The Reverend Hannah Wilder, are moving on to a new chapter in Nevada, where Hannah will serve as Rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sparks. This move will also bring them closer to family and new opportunities. While we will miss them dearly, we are excited for their next adventure together.
Kathy’s last day as Executive Director will be March 31. True to her spirit of leadership, Kathy leaves Camp Stevens in the hands of a committed, experienced, and loving team. Our staff and board will continue to further the work of our strategic plan and care for this community.
Through seasons of change and challenge, Kathy has guided Camp Stevens with extraordinary creativity, dedication, and resilience. Her vision and relationship-building have shaped not only our programs and facilities, but also the vibrant, welcoming spirit that defines this community. As Executive Director, Kathy has cared deeply for each person and staff member who has set foot at Camp Stevens, while also working to ensure a sustainable future for the camp.
As we bid farewell, we are thrilled to share that Gabby Coburn, our Associate Executive Director, has accepted the call to serve as Interim Executive Director as the search for our next leader begins. Gabby’s vision, dedication, and steady presence will ensure that Camp Stevens will continue to thrive. The Board is deeply grateful for Gabby and the entire team working at Camp Stevens as we move through this transition, and they have our full trust. Gabby’s willingness to step forward, as well as the incredible work and dedication of the entire staff, are great gifts to Camp Stevens.
As we embark on this new chapter, we invite your prayers, support, and continued engagement. You can honor Kathy’s extraordinary service by writing her a note here and donating to Camp Stevens in her honor.
We are truly blessed to have such a devoted staff and team of leaders, as well as a vibrant community of support for Camp Stevens. Together, we will keep leaning into Camp Steven’s vision of a world of whole-hearted belonging.
With gratitude,
The Reverend Stefanie Wilson
Board Chair
January 15, 2026
Dear Camp Stevens Family,
After great consideration and discernment, Hannah and I are moving on to the next chapter of our lives. Hannah has been pursuing a full-time Rector position, and we have accepted an opportunity near Reno, Nevada, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. This will also move us closer to Hannah’s aging parents and to our son, Owen. In addition to being the best clergy spouse ever, I’m exploring teaching and research opportunities with local universities to further my doctoral work.
My last day as your executive director is March 31. Rest assured, camp is in competent and loving hands! The staff and board are committed, experienced, and so good at what they do. Together, they will continue to run the operations and further the work of our strategic plan. A transition committee, consisting of staff, board, and community members, will work in partnership with the Diocese of Los Angeles and San Diego to support interim and long-term planning.
Peter Bergstrom taught me that the most important part of leadership is embracing change. Rebuilding after the Angel Fire and the pandemic included reimagining our space, our community, and our vision for a world of wholehearted belonging. The ethic of embracing change inspires us to be the best version of ourselves. It is our guiding light and will continue to shine bright as we navigate this season of change.
Learning from, leading, and loving this community, near and far, has been the honor of my lifetime. I’m so proud of the important work we’ve done together, the challenges we’ve overcome, the relationships we’ve built, and the joy we’ve shared along the way. You are our family, and we will take you and the spirit of Camp Stevens with us wherever we go.
I’d love to stay connected. Feel free to reach out directly.
Peace and love to you all,
Dr. Kathy Wilder
