Camp Leadership
As part of the American Camp Association, Kelly has taught the Basic Camp Director Course for the A.C.A. and has sat on the Board of the American Camp Association – Wisconsin Section and served as the Public Relations chair. Kelly has also served as the spokesperson for the American Camp Association in Wisconsin. Kelly has appeared on Oprah, Steve Harvey and the Today Show! Kelly has also authored a book, “Lessons In Leadership” and several magazine articles on summer camp and summer camp staff and leadership training.
Erik Rossebo serves as our Site and Facilities Director. Erik is constantly looking for ways to improve our program and our site.
In 2018, Erik and Kelly built our new Dining Hall/Lodge! The new 5,000 square foot building has an amazing view overlooking the lake, a 50 foot deck, and cathedral ceilings in the dining room. In 2021/22, Erik & Kelly built a new cabin that houses our youngest girls during camp and be available for rental during the non-camp season! They also did a major upgrade to our showerhouses. Prior to that, Erik built a new dock and upgraded our waterfront area, built our slingshot range, developed a walking/running trail throughout camp and designed and built the new camp office.
Erik is also a certified lifeguard and rock climbing instructor.
Erik and Kelly are the proud parents of four children between the ages of 21-29.
Our Staff
Kenzie McKowen is ecstatic to be returning for her 16th summer at camp. Kenzie attended Camp Eagle Ridge as a camper, Counselor in Training, and a Junior Counselor. This is Kenzie’s fifth year on staff. She’s excited to continue working with the CITs and JCs!
She is originally from New Berlin, Wisconsin, and is graduating from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania with a degree in Psychology and Spanish. While at Gettysburg, Kenzie joined Psi Chi, the psychology honors society, and is currently conducting an honors research project about the impact of face-masks on elementary students’ emotion recognition and understanding.
In her free time, Kenzie plays intramural sports and trivia with her friends. She is also a Residence Coordinator, a role in which she supports first year college students in their transition to college and fosters a healthy living environment and community. Kenzie also completed a Leadership Certificate training through the Garthwait Leadership Center at her school, exploring how differences in talents, skills, and values, shape leadership styles. Finally, she volunteers with the Center for Public Service, where she has participated in many programs, mainly tutoring and working with elementary aged students.
At camp, Kenzie loves to do anything and everything on the water, her personal goal for this summer is to spend as much time as she can on Lake Galilee! She also loves teaching outdoor living skills and yoga. Her favorite nights are Talent and Skit nights, but nothing tops cooking over the fire on the overnight tent trips! She looks forward to making many more friends (and, of course, friendship bracelets) this summer!
Nick Baar is delighted to be returning for 2022 as our Assistant Director and Junior Counselor Director! This will be Nick’s 12th summer at camp and 3rd on staff. Nick is from Hinsdale, Illinois, and goes to college at American University in Washington D.C. where he is studying political science and psychology.
Nick is a part of his college’s club ultimate frisbee team (a sport he first learned at camp!) and a member of the school’s ambassadors program which works to help students transition into college life from high school.
During high school, Nick spent time volunteering in a community theatre program, where he assisted in the production of shows for kids in elementary and middle school. Nick has also spent time volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse, a nonprofit organization that works with individuals with Down Syndrome. He recently spent time as a member of their Junior Board as the Head of Communications.
At camp, Nick’s favorite activities include sailing, canoeing, ultimate frisbee and biking. He can’t wait for another great summer of meeting and getting to know all the amazing people!
Cayley McKowen is so happy to be returning to our 2023 staff as our Health Manager! This will be Cayley’s 5th summer on staff and 12th year at camp. Cayley is from New Berlin, Wisconsin and earned her BSN from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Cayley has worked as a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Milwaukee and as a School Nurse.
Cayley loves playing sports and being active and some of her favorite camp memories include the Staff vs. Campers basketball games. Cayley also loves crafting of all sorts; however, as our former Waterfront Director, her favorite place to be is on our lake!
Cayley says she is “looking forward to making new friends, and, of course, seeing old ones, and can’t wait for summer to get here!”
Ethan Rahn is extremely excited to be back Camp Eagle Ridge! This will be Ethan’s 13th year at camp, and his third year as a member of our staff. Ethan is from Sussex, WI, and is studying Accounting at UW-Whitewater.
In his free time, Ethan enjoys traveling with his dog, Bean, playing basketball with his friends, or building a new lego set! At camp, Ethan loves our sports activities! His favorite is basketball, but any game is a blast with Ethan! He also loves our Outdoor Living Skills activities, whether it’s critter catching in the creek or shelter building in the woods. He is also a certified scuba diver and has always gravitated towards the outdoors.
Ethan can’t wait for another summer filled with laughter and love (and Capture the Flag) at Camp Eagle Ridge!
David Volodarsky is greatly looking forward to being a counselor again in the 2022 summer. This will be David’s eighth year at camp and second year on staff. Originally from Chicago, David is studying Political Science at the University of Illinois.
During high school, David was a member of his school’s debate program, Latin Honor Society, Model UN and Finance Club, in addition to tutoring a first grader in math and English as a part time job.
In his spare time, David enjoys reading, cooking gourmet meals and conversing with interesting people. At camp, his favorite activities include kayaking, improv and the Copper Falls hiking trip. David is most drawn to the community aspect of camp, and the fact that anybody can be themselves there.
Lily Pilkington join us from Christchurch, New Zealand! When she was four, her family moved to northern Australia for seven years, where Lily’s parents taught in a remote indigenous school . Having grown up in New Zealand and Australia, Lily had her fair share of outdoor experiences. Not surprisingly, Lily is passionate for the great outdoors and wildlife. Camping, swimming and surfing are amongst Lily’s favorite pass-times.
For seven years, Martial Arts has held a significant place in Lily’s weekly routine. She has been training in BJMA Zen Do Kai and was thrilled, and very proud, to attain her black belt in December, 2022! Lily volunteers at her club teaching younger students.
In addition to her physical pursuits, Lily is creative and loves embroidery, painting, baking, upcycling, and sewing. In fact, she wore her own design to her school’s senior formal (prom) in 2021. Lily pursued new skills and taught herself to crochet via You Tube during lockdown.
In 2022, Lily started an Electrical Engineering degree. She has chosen to defer her studies for the time being to travel and experience life. Lily says “I am very excited to join the staff at Camp Eagle Ridge and hope to share some of my kiwi culture with you when I arrive in June!”
Boys’ Counselor, Carlos Ac Bacelis is from Yucatan, Mexico. Carlos loves sports, especially soccer. Carlos enjoys being surrounded by nature. He likes kayaking, snorkeling and fishing. Carlos has a strong interest in videography and in the future, Carlos would like to be a graphic designer.
Since the age of 8, Carlos has been involved in theater and has acted in plays. He says ” I am a very outgoing person. I always like to be in activities where I can connect and help others. I like to be creative. I want to help children learn, while having fun and without a doubt I try to do learning activities outdoors.”
Zoe John is from Wellington, New Zealand. Her parents are Welsh and immigrated to New Zealand in 2001. She also has a younger sister. This will be Zoe’s first summer at Camp Eagle Ridge!
Zoe loves music, travelling, hospitality, cooking and anything to do with the water! She also loves a good games night and a dance party!
Zoe is an outgoing person, always keen to try new things and give anything a go. She enjoys interacting and meeting new people! For just over a year, Zoe has been working as a waitress at a local vegetarian and vegan restaurant, where she recently found that she enjoys making coffees too!
Ahmetcan Selek is 21 years old and comes to us from Adana, Turkey!
Ahmetcan (also known as Ace) is a computer engineering student with plans to work as a software developer in the future. In his spare time, Ace likes to travel, play games, listen to music, spend time with his friends, and dance! One of his biggest hobbies is traveling and learning languages. Ace is currently learning German.
Ace teaches math to 15-year-olds. He enjoys teaching and laughs a lot with his students. He also loves animals and plans to get a cat when he has his own home. Ace is a strong swimmer and looks forward to spending lots of time with campers on the lake.
Ace says “I get along well with people and people say I radiate good energy. I hope we have a great time at the camp ❤.”
Hannah is very excited to be coming to Camp Eagle Ridge, all the way from Scotland, for her first year as a Counselor in 2023. Hannah is currently in her first year of university, studying english and journalism at the University of Stirling. This will be Hannah’s second time in the United States!
Hannah has previously spent two summers at a summer day camp for tennis, and still plays in her spare time on campus, and with her friends when she is home for holidays. She is also a part of her university’s newspaper, and has hopes of becoming a journalist, or a travel writer.
In her free time, Hannah enjoys going out with her friends, visiting new places, and doing a variety of outdoor activities. Growing up in a small village surrounded by woodland, Hannah spent most of her free time growing up in the outdoors, hiking and cycling to pass the time where she developed a love for nature.
One of Hannah’s favourite classes in high school was art and design, which she elected every year she could! She also took dance classes at her local studio from ages 9-16, including ballet, jazz, modern and tap. Her favourite part of her dancing years were her dance studios yearly summer and winter performances.
This summer, Hannah is most excited about experiencing a new place and meeting new people!
Joe Traynor is from Glasgow, Scotland. Joe used to play soccer in the states for a few months for Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia, where he coached young children and won the Region 10 Championship. Joe also plays and coaches soccer back in Scotland, as well as going into schools to teach physical education lessons for young people.
Joe is extremely positive and passionate about developing young people and getting them to find the best in themselves no matter what they are doing. Joe is a very funny and approachable person, who is always here for whoever he can be when possible. He is extremely excited to come out to Camp Eagle Ridge and continue to help others develop a love and passion for soccer and other camp activities.
Please make sure to make yourself known to Joe whenever you see him as he always wants to get to know lots of people and learn of their interests and hobbies. Joe is also a very useful person and will go above and beyond to help the needs of any person at camp.