Camp Namanu
Two Exciting Announcements!
Camp Fire Columbia and Camp Namanu are excited to share two major updates including the status of summer 2025. Read on to learn more!
Welcoming Our New Executive Director
The start of the new year brings a new start for Camp Fire Columbia and Camp Namanu. After six months of service our Interim CEO, Karen Hill, has ended her time with us. She was a great thought partner and stabilizing support during a time of challenging transition for the organization. We are so thankful for Karen’s service and expertise these past few months.
We are thrilled to announce that Gina "Sprout" Sander will be stepping up as the Executive Director of the organization! This role will replace the duties of the CEO and serve as the guiding leader.
Gina has a long history with Camp Fire Columbia and Camp Namanu beginning in 1997 when she first attended Camp Namanu as a Mini Blue Wing camper. Gina’s experience as a Counselor-in-Training and a summer camp staff member were foundational in building her passion for youth development and outdoor programming. Off and on, since 2011, Gina has held many positions with Camp Fire Columbia including three years as a Multi-Site Manager for the Before and After School Program, five years as the Camp Namanu Director of Programs, and most recently she has served as the Interim Executive Director for Camp Namanu.
Gina has been a major player in our fundraising effort and strategic planning over the past few months. She is looking forward to bringing her leadership, creative solutions, and passion for camp to this role.
A Brief & Important Update from Gina
I am honored to step into the role of Executive Director for Camp Fire Columbia and Camp Namanu. This organization means so much to me, and as we step into 2025, the work we do to provide young people a safe and inclusive space has never been more important. I owe so much of who I am today to my experiences at Camp Namanu, including many of my closest friendships. I am energized and dedicated to forging a stable path forward for Camp Namanu and ensuring this safe haven remains for decades to come.
As my first order of business, it is with deep gratitude and excitement that I announce that Summer Camp 2025 is officially on! Through a combination of organizational staffing changes over the last several months, as well as increased fundraising and registration rates, we now have the resources to move forward with summer camp.
While you all helped us raise nearly half a million dollars since November 1, we still face a deficit this fall as we eliminate debt and make final transitions to our new streamlined operating model. This means that the hard work and fundraising will continue as planned to ensure that we end 2025 in a stable place.
I am working closely with our board on our strategic plan for this coming year and look forward to sharing more about our current state and our future in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned!
Gina "Sprout" Sander, Executive Director