• executive staff
• counseling 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

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!

Our 2008 Staff:

The counselors are all Highlands veterans. They include: Charlie Alter, Ian Astle, Dave Baker, Russell Bernhardt, Ben Brown, R.J. Bruce, Dan Davis, Will Faber, Grant Glowiak, Tom and Tyler McDonald, Evan O'Brien, Joey Popalisky, Nick Reed, Steve Ronkowski, Steve Shuba, Eric Simpson, and Ben Waldman.

First Term Counselors are: Nolan Col, Ian Licata, Paul Kieffer, Jim Ott, and George Swarts.

Second Term Counselors are: Tom Faber, Nick Katzmarek, and Martin Miller. The Head Counselors are: Kent Overbey, Ross Freeland, and Matt Stepanich leading the Cubs, Colts, and Seniors. Shaun Trenholm will head the Juniors first term with Loren Shinn taking that spot second term.

Activity Counselors include Kent Taylor - Tripping, Byron Shinn - Sailing, and Nanette Shinn - Riflery.

The Assistant Counselors are: Andy Doten, Corey Eiferle, Matthew Ericksen, Riley Ewen, Ryan Griffin, Jack Lassaline, Joe Masterman, Tom Maxwell, Bryant Nishida, Zach Romer, Kyle Sennott, Brad Shewalter, and Tim Silver.

Joining the staff after many camper summers are the Counselors-In-Training: Keith Adler, David English, Pat Hanlon, Will Kohl, Dan Noyes, Phil Vainikos, and Jay Wilcox. First Term CITs are: Matt Cook, Ben Grassi, and Jack Rogers. Second Term CITs are: Conor Johnson, Joseph Kern and Caleb Kline.

The Camp Nurse is returnee Mary Grones.

We know we will have fantastic food again this summer. In the dining hall Sharon Bachmann plans the meals and Lois Craig will be back as our Head Cook, Chuck Liedtke will share the cooking, and Alex de la Parra will be returning from Mexico to prepare those yummy deserts. Marian Phillips will be taking over as stewardess. Marian learned about camp from her friend Mary, the camp nurse.

In the lodge Jani Freeland will be back helping Sharon as a Highlands Lodge hostess. Jill Wright will be heading the Lodge kitchen crew. Mayla Roa is returning as a Lodge Helper. She will be joined by a friend, Karen Alvarado, who is also from Ecuador. Helen Baker will again be lending a hand at the lodge and with trips to town. Judah and Stella Bachmann will have Evie Haselden back in her child care position. Donna Ericksen will be doing more videoing of camp in action.

Kevin Rasmussen is the Camp Caretaker. Kevin lives at camp and watches over the buildings and grounds throughout the year.