Executive Director- Jane Vitek  
 

Jane has been Director of Camp Newaygo since 2002.  She first came to camp as a counselor in 1975 teaching archery and tennis.  She went on to be Pioneer Director, Arts and Crafts Director, CIT Director, Program Director and then assistant Director through 1990. Jane has a Masters Degree in Art Education from Central Michigan University.  She taught Middle and High School Art for 25 years and retired from teaching in 2001.  Jane was an independent consultant in Middle Level Education for CMU, wrote art grants and started a program called Jump Start Art in Newaygo County for young aspiring fine artists. She lives in Fremont, just 9 miles from Camp Newaygo.

Cultural Events Coordinator- Brenda Huckins-Bonter

 Brenda first came to Camp Newaygo twenty five years ago with her high school art students for an TrueNorth Art In. She has slept in the cabins when it was snowing, hiked the trails, and created art in the lodge over the years. She is an avid camper, hiker, kayaker, skier, and snowshoer, as well as a lover of all music. Brenda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from CMU and has done graduate work in studio art through U of M. She is retired from thirty three years of teaching high school art and directing the theatre program at Grant High School. She currently teaches art at Grant Christian School. She is a former board member of TrueNorth, NCCA, and currently serves on the board of The Dogwood Center. As well as planning parties, booking weddings, receptions, and other events, Brenda teaches African style drumming and facilitates drum circles. Brenda lives in a log home she designed on the Muskegon River in Newaygo with her husband Steve and Airedale Murphy. She has two grown daughters and four wonderful grandchildren. 

Program Director - Jalisa Johnson 

 Jalisa is orginally from Tallahassee, Florida. When she was 8 years old, she won a county speech contest and her prize was a trip to summer camp. She vowed to find a way to live there forever. She grew up in Florida 4-H Camping but has also worked at YMCA Camp Immokalee and Montgomery Presbyterian Center. Jalisa graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Services. Jalisa has presented at sectional and national American Camp Association conferences and served on the commitee for Buckeye Leadership Workshop. She moved to Michigan in May of 2011, and has not yet experienced a northern winter. Jalisa enjoys singing camp songs, teaching morning yoga at camp, and helping campers make lifelong friends. She currently lives behind the GaGa court. Plan to visit during the winter Camp Reunion to watch her build her first snowman!

Christa has been with Camp Newaygo for a number of years: first as a camper and then as a counselor, day camp director, administrative assistant, and event volunteer.  Christa is a native of Fremont, growing up just twelve minutes away--she knows because she counted once.  She holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Central Michigan University and served as a board member for CMU's event planning committee. She's met such celebrities as The Mythbusters and Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell, which she thinks is pretty cool.  She has previously worked for Project FOCUS in Hart, another TrueNorth community service.  Christa currently lives at the end of Camp's Wetland Trail and loves reading, hiking, snowshoeing, and Camp (of course)!

 Meet Our Summer 2012 Counseling Staff