Welcome Home, Daniel!
Boy, have I got some news for y’all:
I am so excited to introduce all of you to our new director, Daniel!
Daniel (he/him) is coming to us from Indiana, and he was born in Ohio. We talked to several extremely qualified and wonderful candidates, and Daniel was the one for us. I want to take a second to thank everyone who talked with us and our hiring committee of Stomping Ground stakeholders who helped us make this decision.
Daniel is a self-proclaimed hype man. He comes from a background in theater, having spent the first couple years of college majoring in performance. I can already tell he will become a fixture on the campfire stage (and maybe even some showcases and some night games as well).
Daniel's a long time camp person and has worked at multiple camps in his journey to find the right camp home. His camp journey began at YMCA Camp Nissokone where he started as a counselor, and then he gained experience at other camps, taking on new and more challenging positions along the way, including a position as Age Group Director at YMCA Camp Loma Mar. I was so excited to hear he had past work with teens specifically, because he will be a HUGE asset during staff training and to our teen programming.
The thing that was most special to me was Daniel’s love for camp magic. Anyone who is familiar with summer camp has heard the phrase ‘camp magic’ a thousand times, but Daniel understands at a deep level that the magic of camp lies in the people who create the community, and he thrives on being one of those magic makers. At Stomping Ground, he plans to work to push growth and energy through those magical activities and conversations.
Some quick hot takes from Daniel:
His preferred camp shoes are Tevas
He doesn’t love pineapple on pizza, but understands it
When asked, he said his favorite Disney movie is Oliver & Company, but that ‘wasn’t set in stone’
Daniel expressed to me that he loves the idea of a camp home, and that the practices and beliefs at Stomping Ground really resonate with him. I think he’ll also resonate with us. I can’t wait for y’all to meet him.
