About

Mission

The Camp Stevens mission is to inspire, challenge, and empower personal, social, and environmental transformation.

Rooted in the Episcopal Church and our natural world, Camp Stevens’s core values are:

    • Openness: We celebrate diversity and welcome all to our table to listen to and learn from one another.
    • Gratitude: We believe that gratitude toward one another, the natural world, and God is the foundation upon which humans build a healthier, more sustainable, and loving world.
    • Connection: We challenge all who experience this peaceful place apart to reconnect with themselves and connect meaningfully with one another, the natural world, and the Divine.
    • Wonder: We believe that a sense of wonder transforms adults and children alike, renewing joy, excitement, and mystery in the world we live in.

Click here to see Camp Stevens’ Code of Conduct


Staff

Supported and propelled by the mission and magic of this place, the Camp Stevens staff lead programs, wash dishes, plant seeds, raise money, repair waterlines, plan retreats, and everything in between. (Want to join them? Check out our job openings.)

Kathy Wilder
Executive Director

Kathy (she/her), her wife Hannah, son Owen and dog Sadie love spending time on the water kayaking, reading in coffee shops and playing guitar by the fire. Kathy is a lifelong camp and youth development professional who has dedicated her life to advocating for justice and compassion.

kathy@campstevens.org

Gabby Coburn
Program Director

Gabby (she/her) was born and raised in San Diego and has a passion for kids, community, and the outdoors. She joined Stevens in 2018 as the Program Director after spending 15 years in the camp industry in a variety of roles. Her spouse Jaimie also lives at camp and spends their days hanging out with camp kiddos and exploring trails on and around Camp Stevens. Gabby exists in a constant state of curiosity, so don't hesitate to share the weirdest or most wonderful thing that happened at camp today; she's excited to hear all about it.

gabby@campstevens.org

Laurie Walsh
Food Service & Hospitality Director

Laurie (she/her) is the Food Service and Hospitality Director and when she's not at work loves reading, doing yoga, and catching up with family and friends who are scattered across the country. Keith was a camper, counselor and staff person and spends lots of time at the disc golf course in Pond Meadow. Luka (4) can be seen doing tractor work or riding his bike and Naomi (1) is toddling around and enjoying the delicious culinary creations coming out of the Camp Stevens kitchen. 

laurie@campstevens.org

Sam Brasted
Retreats Manager

Born and raised in San Diego, Sam (she/her) is excited to be a part of the Camp Stevens' team. She loves getting to know people and can't wait to hang out with you during your stay. She also enjoys yoga, video games, and eating bean and cheese burritos from any hole-in-the-wall taco shop.

retreats@campstevens.org

Ariel Robinson
Program Manager

Hi folks, Ariel (she/her) is here to tell you that she likes birding, photography (film and DSLR), playing video games, and playing her Cajon. She was born and raised in Michigan and loves to talk about it, but she has been in California since 2013. She has recently started mountain biking around San Diego County and can’t get enough of it! Ariel has called Camp Stevens home since March 2020 and if you know a lot about rocks, find Ariel and tell her! She likes to learn from people. See you then.

programs@campstevens.org

Janel Susko Alexander
Kitchen Manager
Janel (she/her) blazed her way into this world with a heart bursting with love for all people, dancing and especially food! Her world travels inspire an expansive palate.  From fine dining, casual to cafeteria, count yourself lucky to be at Janel’s generous table where you’ll find your soul as full as the breadbasket was before dinner.  As her little sis, I leave you with one final truth:
The only thing bigger 
than Janel’s heart
is her love of Doritos 
True story.
 
Kevin Burmeister
Maintenance Manager

Kevin (he/him) spent most of his life in Tennessee until a volunteering opportunity led him, his wife, Rhi (She/Her), and their two boys, Bo and Jack to California and eventually to Camp Stevens in April 2021. As the Maintenance Manager, he can be seen around camping fixing whatever needs it with the powers of trial, error and YouTube. His passions include songwriting, coffee, and (despite having taught Freshman writing courses for over five years) he remains an enthusiastic reader.

Blaine Sloan
Kitchen Assistant

Blaine (he/him) was born in Corona where he grew up with the love of cooking. Blaine has used his skills in kitchens to bring happiness and joy to the people he was feeding. When not in a kitchen, Blaine can be found listening to his records, drawing, or writing. He is a warm-hearted and wisecracking guy who found the perfect home in Camp Stevens’ kitchen.

Emkat Earls
Kitchen Assistant

Emily Kate ‘Emkat’ Earls (they/she/he)  is excited to be back at camp making delicious, from scratch food. Talk to them about your favorite camp meals. 

Brendan Peralez
Ropes Course & Outdoor Education Coordinator

Brendan (he/him) has always had an intense curiosity for nature, and is excited to share this curiosity with campers in another season of Outdoor Education. He loves when hikes become adventures, seeking out new birds to add to his life list, and talking trivia. Need a plant or animal identified? Go talk to Brendan, he's your guy! 

Reese Kirkpatrick
Resident Staff and Artist in Residence

An avid chaser of rainbows and sunsets, Reese (she/her) is thrilled to spend the year doing just that at Camp Stevens. After working at Camp Stevens seasonally since 2017, she’s excited to experience cold, rainy days in the Dining Hall accompanied by a hot mug of coffee. You might see Reese around camp with her caffeine of choice in one hand and letters from various pen pals in the other. Talk to Reese about astrology, Taylor Swift or her fish, Finley.

Jacey Myers
Hospitality Intern and Support Coordinator

Jacey (she/her) was born and raised in Pennsylvania and is excited to make her way back to Camp Stevens. She’s a lover of all things green: the color, the outdoors, and matcha. She likes to spend her time hiking, climbing, and has found a recent love for snowboarding! 

Hans Hodges
Resident Staff

Hans (he/him) is from the rural Mojave Desert, loves to talk, and is endlessly curious about the world around us. Don’t hesitate to strike up a chat with him! 

Freddie Gutierrez
Resident Staff

New to SoCal life, Freddie (he/him/they) is excited to be a part of a new culture and community. Freddie likes to embrace his love for wildlife and remains on the look out for new hobbies and ideas to quench their curiosity. If you have anything you are enthusiastic about from food to philosophy, they are always eager to lend a listening ear.

Nico Colaluca
Resident Staff

Nico (he/him) started working at Camp Stevens in summer 2021 and he’s excited to grow into this new season of his life as the seasons change. He’s passionate about being outside and sharing that with others. He loves climbing rocks, music, and hammocking around camp, and would love to talk about all three! 

Elena Turner
Resident Staff

Elena (they/them) first came to Camp Stevens as a camper in 2009, and has returned nearly every summer since. They spent the last four years in Portland, OR, and although they miss the green ferns of the PNW, there's a special place in their heart for the colors of mountain desert shrublands. They love analog watches and smelling the morning air with a hot cuppa in hand. 


Partners

  • The Episcopal Dioceses of Los Angeles & San Diego: Camp Stevens, at its current location, was founded in 1952 by two priests living in the San Diego area of the then Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Still owned by the Los Angeles diocese, Camp Stevens is now geographically in the Diocese of San Diego (which extends to Yuma, Arizona) and serves both dioceses and the entire region of Southern California and beyond. The Diocese of San Diego was created separately from Los Angeles in 1974. The Bishop Diocesan of Los Angeles is directly responsible for the camp and the Advisory Board by-laws require seats for clergy and laity of both Dioceses, as well as for those outside the church.
  • Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers: Camp Stevens is a member of the nationwide network of 100+ summer camps, retreat centers, and conference centers affiliated with the Episcopal Church.
  • American Camp Association: Camp Stevens is accredited by the American Camp Association, which assures our programs, facilities, and policies meet a national standard for quality, health, and safety.
  • Volcan Mountain Foundation: From many spots at Camp Stevens, you can see Volcan Mountain, a 5,000 foot mountain that is one of the last privately-owned and relatively untouched areas of Southern California. Campers and guests have the chance to hike this beautiful piece of land, which offers views extending over the Anza-Borrego Desert and out to the Pacific Ocean sixty miles away.
  • Sage Mountain Farm is partnering with Camp Stevens to bring CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes to Camp Stevens for you to pick up.

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