Early May 2020 we announced that unfortunately we have decided to cancel all the overnight camp programs at Camp Tamarack, our ABC Wisconsin region camp in Waupaca, originally scheduled for June and July 2020 due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. Our decision was made in large part due to our commitment to the health and safety of staff and our campers.
We also remain committed, however, to connecting in creative ways with our campers, camp families and seasonal staff, many of whom had originally planned their summer with Camp Tamarack on the top of their list.
To lead us in this effort, we are excited to announced that we have hired Mrs. Dianna Brophey as our Summer 2020 Camp Director.
A wife and mother of three, Dianna Brophey has spent the better part of her life as an educator. She is a member of First Baptist Church of West Allis and attended Camp Tamarack as a youth. She continued coming back over the years as summer staff, cabin leader, health officer, and Primary Camp director while introducing her own children into the camp family. Her family cherishes the connections made there, and one of her goals is to continue the tradition for new and returning campers.
Dianna shares, “I love Camp Tamarack! This camp season, I look forward to sharing the peace and grace of God I have come to know at Tamarack. The goal this summer will be to make that connection in new and different ways as we embrace transformation.”
As an educator, Dianna has already been pivoting in new ways as she has led her virtual classroom over the past several weeks, and I trust she will bring all her experience, creativity, and skills to the challenge of exploring, designing, and implementing virtual summer camp experiences, and, if safe to do so, alternate in-person activities at Camp Tamarack later in the summer.
She knows it will take a team of leaders and helpers, as has always been needed in all previous camp seasons, and she has many relationships within our Camp Tamarack family with which to draw upon.
This part time summer position is necessarily designed to be flexible, so stay tuned in the coming weeks for ways you can join our “Transformed Summer 2020 Camp Season Team,” learn more about how your youth and families can still experience Christ’s love through “camp” and “outdoor ministry,” or simply offer your support to Dianna. She can be reached at dianna.brophey@abcofwi.org.
Her focus area will be summer programming, and she will work alongside Kim Drost, Assistant Minister Camping – Facilities and Guest Services, who continues to oversee the stewardship of the grounds and manages the rental opportunities of Camp Tamarack.
Please join me in welcoming Dianna to our region staff team, and please keep her and our Camp Tamarack ministry in your prayers as we still have a lot to discern about how God is seeking to transform this ministry through this season.