Leelanau Summer Staff | Kohahna Summer Staff

Clark Shutt / Director for Camp Leelanau

Clark has been a part of Camps Leelanau and Kohahna for over 25 years. He started in 1970 as a CT on the Green team which then led him to 7 years on staff as a canoeing counselor and Head Counselor. Later, he took a job at the Leelanau School for 8 years. His positions included dorm parent, Dean of Boys, Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and baseball coach. Fortunately, he returned to camp in 1985 and has been with us ever since.

Since his return he has helped move camp to Pyramid Point and has been an integral part of upgrading the camp facilities. Clark is also the director of the Leelanau Outdoor Center. During the fall, winter, and spring, schools throughout the state of Michigan come to play and learn on Pyramid Point. Through Clark's leadership the Outdoor Center has quickly developed into a quality program.

Clark Shutt is not only well known for his corn-doggin’ and cherry Boston coolers but also his high expectations of the staff and his spiritual intuition. A moment never goes by without Clark reminding you to “have gratitude in your attitude.” He loves to hear the highlight of your day and never fails to let you know how much he appreciates you and your work.

Clark has a wonderful daughter, Mattison, who started at Kohahna as a 6 year old and now is a high school student at Leland. Clark loves to go for runs along Basch road and take dips in the blue waters of Lake Michigan, no matter what the month or temperature. He loves his job and he loves to watch and hear how the camp spirit nurtures everyone who sets foot on the property. If you are ever in the area, stop by and say hello. Clark will greet you with a beaming smile and open arms.

Sue Pierce / Director for Camp Kohahna

It is great to be back HOME!  I am so excited to be at camp again!!!  I look forward to serving you in any way that I can.  As the camp liaison last summer I had the privilege to be involved as an important part of camp.  It was so heart-warming every day to see the love and support expressed by counselors and campers.  The staff was incredible and I left each day knowing that my daughters were embraced, loved, and that all their needs were being met.  It was inspiring to see that the foundation of quality character that was established by the founder, Maude Beals ( M.B.), is still the heart of Kohahna.  I can’t think of a better place than Kohahna to enhance a child’s relationship with God!

I have been involved with camp for over sixteen years with a nine-year gap as I raised my family.  During my years at Kohahna I have been a camper, C.T., counselor, camp liaison, and I now have the honor of being Kohahna’s Director.

I’d love to respond to your questions or thoughts so please feel free to contact me.  Hope to see you this summer!

Katie Wallingford / Assistant Director for Kohahna

I am heading into my eleventh summer at Kohahna in 2008! I was a camper for four summers, Silversmithing counselor for three, and in North Star as a head counselor for two more. I have been serving as the camp's Assistant Director since January of 2007 and am looking forward to my second summer in this position.

I grew up near Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from Principia College in 2006 with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology. During my college years I volunteered at a youth detention center, a shelter for battered women, and a homeless center. My yearning to be involved in social advocacy is largely what drew me to a full-time position at Kohahna. Here I have the opportunity to help individuals find self-worth and a solid sense of integrity, and I believe that spiritually minded people with strong character uplift the world around them. Camp is evidence to me of the ripple effect, because what happens on this peninsula never stops spreading outward as people leave here and share the lessons they've learned at camp.

Over the years, I have come to highly appreciate the varied activities Kohahna shares with its campers. For me, these activities have developed into a wide variety of interests, from studying classical music across Europe to backpacking in New Mexico. I am grateful for all of the lessons that I've gained from my years at camp, particularly the spiritual qualities of womanhood and the constant and practical application of Christian Science. I am so grateful to be at Kohahna and cannot wait for another significant summer!

Pamela Chernivsky / Office Manager

Camp has been a cherished part of my life since the 1960’s when I attended Kohahna as a small child. While my children attended Leelanau and Kohahna I continued listening for new ways to support the camps and came back for three summers as a cleaning mom. These were some of my favorite times at camp!

In 2005 I joined the full-time, year-round staff as Office Manager and have found this to be a rewarding role here at camp. One of the most special aspects of my job is working with families to overcome barriers that might try to keep a child from attending camp. I have seen families overcome financial challenges and parenting concerns in order to give the gift of camp to their children. This has special meaning to me since my husband Andy and I worked through many of these issues ourselves during our time as camp parents.

We are so happy to have a home in northern Michigan, and I love being able to support Christian Science, young people and the camps in this joy-filled work.

Wendy DesAutels / Business Manager

It is an honor to serve Leelanau and Kohahna in the role of Business Manager. I came to northern Michigan in 1994 and soon became one of the original staff members of the Leelanau Outdoor Center. I was also privileged to direct Harvest Weekend for Women for the first five years. As a child, I spent nine summers on the shores of Long Lake in Maine, so while I’m not a Kohahna alum I deeply cherish my Christian Science summer camp experience. My husband, David (a.k.a. “Desi”) and I have been together for over 10 years and live in a peaceful meadow home in Empire. I have two grown stepsons, Travis and Lane, who currently live in Seattle and Kalamazoo.

Amber Rand Watt / Director of Development

Amber is happy to serve the camps in the role of Director of Development and witness the progress that is made each year at the camps.  She is a Kohahna alumni; she absolutely loved her 5 years as a camper and 4 years as a counselor.  Amber considers it quite a treat to once again work for an organization that she loves while helping to ensure that others will be able to experience the joys of Kohahna & Leelanau.

Amber grew up in the Chicago area, in Naperville, IL.  After receiving a Masters degree from Eastern Illinois University, she worked in the technology and business consulting field for 7 years.  She worked for a small technology firm, as well as IBM before coming back to work at camp.  Amber lives near Tampa, FL with her husband, Morgan, and their sons Jonathan and Jamie.

Marcia Hufstader / Director of the Endowment Campaign

When I received a call asking if I would help to grow the Endowment Fund for the camps it was a simple and enthusiastic “Yes!” It was simple because I love the camps and what they stand for, and enthusiastic because I'd love to see them stand forever. I thought, “What a blessing and a wonderful opportunity; it’s an answer to prayer.”

Camps Leelanau and Kohahna have enriched my family’s life immeasurably. My husband, Paul, and I spent over 20 summers as campers, counselors, head counselors and then directors in the 1980’s. Our three sons have shared the Leelanau experience totaling over 30 years; one will be a Head Counselor for the third year this summer. It doesn’t end there! Our sisters, brothers, in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews have also been rewarded in their experiences as campers and counselors. You can imagine the memories and camaraderie this brings to a family with over 240 combined years of rewarding summers at Camps Leelanau and Kohahna! We are all grateful.

Life for me beyond camp included getting my Masters degree in Sports Administration, teaching PE and coaching. Being at home with our children was also a priority. In 1998, I began working full-time for The Mother Church and did that for five and a half years. The past few years, I’ve been substitute teaching and coaching, apparently just waiting for this new opportunity. It is a joy to be giving back to the camps that have blessed me and my family in profound ways.