Staff

Full-time Staff

Dan and Martha Kohns
Executive Director/Office and Internship Coordinator

Dan has been the Executive Director since 2005. Prior to that, he worked at Lake Ann Camp in Traverse City and Skyview Ranch in Millersburg Ohio. Dan also has experience running outdoor education day camps for Montcalm County. He has a varied background of maintenance, development, high adventure, construction, programming
and guest services. Together with Martha’s experience in office and food service they began the journey of rebuilding a ministry that was almost ready to close its doors. Dan and Martha attended Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music where Dan graduated in 1983. He studied missionary aviation. Dan continued classes at Cornerstone University. Within a few years, Dan took a full time position in camping. Martha recently finished her Bachelor’s degree at Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids and then went on to complete her Master’s degree through Clarks Summit University in PA. Martha has worked in many areas around camp but most recently began developing The Quest internship program where students can receive their bachelors or master’s degree while working at camp. Dan and Martha have a love for Christian Camping and see it as a unique tool for God to work in camper’s lives. Dan and Martha have 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren.

Mike Bazzle (Amy Jo, Jonny, Sydney, Brooklyn, Jordyn)
Assistant Director

Mike joined the staff in August of 2018. Prior to that Mike and Amy Jo have been summer camp and retreat speakers here at The Springs. This re-introduced Mike to the ministry of Christian camping. Mike grew up in Ohio and went to Scioto Hills Camp where God worked in his life as a camper and counselor. Mike is married to Amy Jo and they have 4 children. Mike and Amy Jo attended Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids and together they have built a business together over the last 17 years.

Joshua Decker (Braida and Gideon)
Operations Manager/Media Director/Registration

Joshua has been on staff since 2006. He has been a camper and volunteer as well as a summer counselor. He finished his associate’s degree at Mid-Michigan Community College in Criminal Justice and works as a volunteer sheriff reserve deputy for Clare County. Josh is married to Braida who is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and they have a son named Gideon.

Nate and Sarah Burgess (Miriam)
Food Service/Cook

Nate and Sarah have been on staff since 2014. Prior to that, both Nate and Sarah were on summer staff and did a year internship. Nate has attended Word of Life Bible Institute and Appalachian Bible College as well as traveled with Encounter Revival Ministries. Nate and Sarah have one daughter named Miriam.

Andrew Herlein
Kitchen/Housekeeping

Andrew has been on staff since 2013. He worked one summer and then did an internship. Andrew attended Frontier School of the Bible. During the summer Andrew works in our day camp as well as cleaning and kitchen work.

Rebekah Kohns
Baking/Housekeeping /Program Assistant

Rebekah has been on staff since 2015. She has worked in a variety of positions at camp including counselor, guest services, kitchen and program.

BJ and Bethany Merrymon
Program Director/Registration and Office

BJ and Bethany have been on staff since 2017. Prior to coming to The Springs, BJ was the program director at Good News Camp. Both BJ and Bethany have spent many years on summer staff at other camps. BJ is finishing his bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry through The Quest Internship program. Bethany graduated from Cornerstone University.

Steven Damron
Part Time/Kitchen, Cleaning, Lawn Care

Steve has been on staff since 2004. He helps out with kitchen work, cleaning and lawn care. Steve is from Gladwin.

2020 Summer camp update:

We are praising the Lord for 3 weeks of summer camp. We have seen campers make many decisions and have a lot of fun! 25 campers accepted Christ as their Savior and started a relationship with him. As exciting as that has been the health of our campers and staff is very important to us as well.

The last two weeks of camp have been cancelled. We had a camper test positive for Covid after returning home from the week of July 12-17. We were informed on Wednesday July 22. Since then we have tested staff and have had many test positive as well.

We followed our policies and that of our licensing agency from the State of Michigan which we stated at the beginning of the summer, including, limiting camper numbers, smaller cabin sizes and more activities and meals outside, recording daily temperatures of staff (no fevers were evidenced) and monitoring their health, taking temperature of campers on arrival and departure and asking questions about camper’s exposure.

We realize that Covid exposure could happen anywhere and at anytime. We are saddened that it happened here.

We are currently working directly with the local health department and are following their recommendations as we move forward.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve your campers this summer for those that were able to come the first 3 weeks of camp! We also appreciate your prayers as we continue to navigate the days, weeks, and months ahead. We know they will be full of various challenges, but we are clinging to James 1:2-8!

The Springs is a youth camp. That is our focus. We exist to develop and deepen relationships with Jesus Christ. During our summer we run 7 different programs. All of our programs are age specific, counselor based programs with a focus on impacting lives for Jesus Christ. We do this by hiring college age students who love God and love to show our campers how to love God also.