see more:
Leadership and Staff
Executive Staff:
Camp Highlands is truly a family-style operation. Mike Bachmann, owner and director and President of the board started as a 10-year-old camper in 1950 and has returned ever since, becoming director in 1969. He met co-owner, Secretary of the board and wife of forty-one years, Sharon, at Camp. Their son Andy Bachmann has spent every summer of his life at Highlands and is now Co-Director and Vice President of the board. Andy's cousin, Ross Freeland, has spent more than eighteen summers at Camp, heads one of our divisions, and is the Treasurer of the board. And that's just the family!
Program Director Craig Ericksen adds twenty-seven more summers to the leadership team. The Executive Board of Camp Highlands touts a combined 158 camping seasons at Highlands. Now that's experience!
The Highlands administration has a long history in the shaping of young people.
(From left) Mike retired from teaching at College of DuPage in 1999; Andy Bachmann is an Associate Minister at the United Church of Gainesville in Gainesville, Florida with a focus on youth ministries; Ross teaches math and coaches baseball at Evanston Township High School in Illinois; and Craig teaches middle-school science and mathematics in Shepherd, Michigan. back to top
Counseling Staff:
Our staff has over a 90% return rate. We like to say that here at Highlands, we grow our own. This consistency in leadership allows us to focus on what's most important...your kids! In this year, 2008, our counseling staff has a 100% return rate. They are a great group of people who have dedicated their lives in one way or another to bettering the lives of young men and boys. Many are college students. Many are teachers. Our youngest counselors are college freshmen, and our oldest is in his 60's. Chances are good that your son's counselor was a camper himself!