Homegrown Leadership

Walking around YMCA Camp St. Croix, the echoes feel layered — today’s laughter rising easily over a century of songs, stories, and splashing puddles. The cabins are still the same weathered wood. The flag still climbs the same tall pole. But at the heart of this 117-year-old camp, something new is stirring.

Now imagine a world in which four former Croix campers grew up, got a job working for the Y, and became Camp St. Croix’s leaders. (Somewhere John Duntley and Tom Kranz are smiling as they read this). Those layered echoes just got deeper, and there’s no one better to build new traditions on top of the old ones… together, they have quite the story to tell. 

In this conversation, they reflect on what it means to return — not just to a place, but to a legacy. They share how they’re honoring the camp’s history while reimagining it for the next generation, breathing fresh energy into rituals that have shaped campers for a century. At Camp St. Croix, the story is still being written — by leaders who once sat on these same benches, dreaming of who they might become.

Please note the current Camp St. Croix team includes eight additional full-time, year-round staff who are equally passionate about and dedicated to camp!

Q&A with Camp St. Croix leadership

When you were younger, did you ever imagine working at Camp St. Croix?

Dan: The thought crept into my mind around 2010 when I was helping with some seasonal work at Croix in the winter. I saw how much was going on ‘behind the scenes’ to prepare for summer, AND that Camp St. Croix offers so much during the fall/winter/spring. I wanted to be a part of that!

Nick: When I was a camper, I told myself that I wanted to grow up to become a camp counselor. I just looked up to all of my counselors so much. Through my teens I kind of forgot about camp until I had a friend (it was Dan) who started working at Croix as a counselor one summer. I’d see him on weekends and just live through his stories that summer. The following summer I also applied to work at camp and really never looked back. 

Molly: I did! My dream job growing up was to be a camp counselor. Once I joined the seasonal staff, I continued to learn more about the Y, the Y Adventure Team, and my own personal goals, which furthered my interest in a full-time role. My current role as Sr. Program Coordinator for fall/wnter/spring programming allows me to use the skills I gained as a camper and seasonal staff member, along with my education, while continuing to grow and be challenged as a full-time team member!

Sanora: I always knew that I wanted to come back to camp to be a summer counselor, but for a long time, I was unaware of all of the other year-round opportunities that were available. Young me never thought that I would be able to work at this place that I love so much in a full-time, year-round capacity!

When you were a camper, was there something you loved about Camp St. Croix?

Dan: I just felt like I belonged. I just remember feeling like the best version of myself when I was there, and I wanted to help create that feeling for others.

Nick: There was one week as a summer camper at Croix that is the true roots of my passion for this place. It was a very wet week; a lot of the scheduled programming we had that week was getting cancelled due to the weather, and my counselor really created some of the most special “camp magic” for our group that week. Instead of sitting around and trying to wait out the rain, we went on hikes and truly explored camp in a way that we had never done before with any other counselor. Our counselor had hyped up our group so much about where we were and how far we'd traveled, even though we didn’t go anywhere far, that he created almost an alternate reality we were living in during that hike – so much so that one camper in the back of our hiking line shouted during our hike, “I think I see a moose!” From that point on, our hike turned into a moose hunt. Most of us knew we were not going to find a moose, but there was still a little bit of hope we had during that hike.

Molly: My counselors were my absolute favorite part of camp. I found a strong sense of community and belonging at camp that instilled so much confidence in me as a young person, while also helping me learn to appreciate nature and the outdoors - that experience stayed with me long after my camper years!

Sanora: I always loved to be outside and in nature, getting to participate in trips and activities that I wouldn't typically have the chance to enjoy! I have gotten to go to the Boundary Waters, the Apostle Islands, the Namekagon and Flambeau rivers, and many more beautiful places through our programs. Many of these trips were beautiful experiences that challenged me and shaped who I am today.

Alum (you) to alum (readers), do you have anything you want your fellow Croix alumni to know from your side of camp?

Dan: We’re going to start offering more alumni-specific events, but Croix has so many annual events that alumni should see as an opportunity to be at camp and connect with friends old and new alike.

Sanora: There are so many ways to be engaged with camp and stay in the loop with what is going on! Whether it is attending community events like our Summer Pizza nights or Breakfast with Santa, stopping by to look around and see what has changed/stayed the same, or reaching out to let us know about your Camp St. Croix story!

As full-time Croix leadership, what is a goal or vision you have for camp?

Nick: I just want to create a place that feels like home to everyone. Whether you are here with a school group for a day, or you’re here for a week of summer camp, or you're here for one night as a guest at someone’s wedding, I want this place to feel like home to you. I want to spread the magic that I felt as a camper and still feel today.

Molly: My dream is for Camp St. Croix to continue growing and reaching more members of our community. We offer so many types of programming, and there truly are many ways to be involved - as a camper, staff member, volunteer, participant, and more. I want camp to continue being a welcoming, accessible space where everyone feels they belong!

Do you think that having so many Croix alumni on staff is significant or has any influence on the direction camp is headed?

Nick: It is super fun having so many alumni on our current full-time team. You know that people care for this place in a deep way, as they all probably have their own “moose story.” The team here truly wants the best for both Camp St. Croix and its campers. They all love and care for this space and want to give people the same transformative experiences that they had as campers and seasonal staff.

Sanora: I think that having so many alumni on our full-time team is definitely an advantage, as it allows us to look back at what aspects of camp we appreciated and what worked well in so many different stages of our lives, as well as the things that didn't work as well. Knowing what has or hasn't worked well in the past and present allows you to make more informed decisions about how we want Camp St. Croix to look and be in the future!

What is one main idea that you hope everyone who picks up this article walks away with?

Dan: We miss you! Even though camp has changed a lot over the years, there are so many things that feel familiar. Whether that be a physical part of camp or a program, the ‘bones’ of Croix are still there, and we need your engagement.

Molly: I hope people see just how much love we pour into the work we do. Camp St. Croix is a special place with a community that is always ready to welcome others in!

Give us some insider information, from one alum to another.

Sanora: "Fun fact – the famous Gum Tree still stands, even though now it "grows" less gum"

Dan: The River Center still smells the same, the sound of an arrival day in the summer still sounds the same, and yes, Buffalo Bob still works here and is a key part of the ‘camp magic.’

Molly: There is a bald eagle couple that lives in one of the tall white pine trees near the arts & crafts building. My office has a perfect view of them, and they swoop all around the A-Field collecting sticks. Their nest is getting bigger every day!

Nick: Along with songbirds, you frequently also wake up to roosters crowing now at dear ol' Camp St. Croix.