Any team turns to its leadership to set the right tone. Menominee’s Directors have a combined 125 years of camping experience, and we use the term “Tone at the Top” to describe our leadership’s commitment towards openness, honesty, integrity and ethical behavior. Get to know the directors who lead our camp by example.
Owner / Director (22nd Year)
Hi Everybody! My name is Jason and I'm the Owner/Director of Menominee. I'm a lifelong camper! I started at Menominee when I was 10 years old and after my first summer, I knew this was the place I wanted to be forever.
I was a camper, CIT (Counselor in Training), Counselor and Associate Director during my first 12 years at Menominee, before becoming Owner/Director in January of 2015. I grew up in Buffalo Grove, IL and continued on to the University of Texas. After graduating from Texas with a Masters degree, I spent a few years in public company accounting before entering the camping community full time. I also spent time as the Director of Operations at Camp Lenox in Massachusetts before returning home to Menominee. I spend my year recruiting, hiring, planning and preparing for each summer at Menominee while striving to make sure that each summer at CM is better than the previous. I strongly believe in the core values that have been instilled in Menominee campers for generations and I'm thrilled to help provide the same incredible experience that I had growing up at Menominee to current and future campers.
I'm also very active in the camp/youth development community. I sit on the board of the Midwest Association of Independent Camps and in 2018 I became a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. My favorite camp activities are Tennis, Softball and of course, Green & White. However, my favorite thing to do with the boys each night is record the Camp Cast podcast!
Despite my 22 years of experience at Menominee, I could never do this alone. Below you'll meet all of the incredible Directors that help make Menominee so special. This includes my amazing fiance (and camp's Medical Director) Melanie, and of course Buster the Dog. He's a 4 year old Sheepadoodle and this will be his 5th summer at Menominee. He is the sweetest boy, loves swimming and has converted even our most skeptical of campers into dog people!
“Toombs” here from the Great White North of Montebello, Quebec Canada. Among many things at camp I am probably most known as the Assistant Director and leader of the Camper Development Team at camp. This summer I’m most excited to support our Rookie and returning Campers for this season at CM. I started at Menominee in 1999 and have over 25 years of working with youth for Boys and Girls Club of Canada. The core values of Menominee help guide and focus my support objectives when working with our boys. Our Camper Development Team will look to champion your son's goals for himself this summer and find ways to celebrate those steps towards "mastery".
I also have the privilege of working with our Kitchen (Mess Hall) to ensure dietary needs are met for each member of our Menominee Family. Cooking is a hobby and love of mine and our amazing Chefs and Kitchen staff show their love for our family with delicious food everyday at Menominee. Other hobbies include golf, hockey and camping (tents and all).
One of my goals working for Menominee is to continue its traditions and holding up its beautiful history while also acknowledging our surroundings and culture must pay respect to those who came before us. Camp Menominee is on Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. As settlers, we're grateful for the opportunity to meet here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land - for thousands of years.
Assistant Director (16th Year)
Assistant Director (33nd Year)
Hello Everybody!!
WOODY and 2024 here! The days are getting longer and lighter, and this can only mean that summer is on its way.
That's right; our 97th summer at Menominee is waiting for us.
I have been able to come to camp for 33 years now, and I am always excited to head north and breathe the cool, clean air of the Northwoods. Camp has a special place in my heart, not least because it allows me to relive my youth, play some sports, ride my bike, hang out with old friends (and make many new friends), eat great food, catch some sun, swim in the lake, get away from technology, listen to the wildlife.....and so much more.
Everybody needs camp, so we are fortunate indeed that we are afforded the opportunity to spend the summer in such rural bliss.
Let's make 2024 the best yet!
See you all soon.
This summer will be my 20th official summer at the Friendly Confines, but I actually grew up at Menominee over 27 years of Post Camp (ask Jason about it, it’s awesome!) with my family. I'm from Northbrook, IL, and I currently work as a Special Education teacher in the Chicago suburbs while working on my Master’s Degree in Special Education.
I still remember being dropped off for my very first summer of camp back in 1999. My parents encouraged me to spend my summer doing the things that I could not do at home during the offseason. I spent most of my time as a camper down at waterfront skiing, sailing, swimming and bugging our former Waterfront Director and CM legend, Dennis “Koz” Kozloski. My passion for all things waterfront as a camper naturally carried over to me becoming a boat driver and lifeguard, and eventually Associate Waterfront Director. I know I have some big shoes to fill, and I am confident that our group of experienced waterfront staff will provide a fantastic summer for the boys down at the beautiful Sand Lake!
Waterfront Director (20th Year)
Associate Director (13th Year)
Hello CM family! My name is Pamela and I have a storied history in camping. I look forward to sharing it with you when I see you but basically I have been in camping since 1979 with a small hiatus, I was fortunate to have my life come full circle and marry one of the best not only on this earth but in the world of camping!
Tom and I had the pleasure of owning Chippewa Ranch Camp for girls and few years after the sale came on to be part of the CM family!
Around the friendly confines I can be HEARD from Sand Lake coaching waterskiing and teaching yoga at the flagpole. I love to help the boys and staff with their fitness goals and teach some pretty invigorating workouts at the near basketball courts. In addition to helping boys achieve physical goals and teaching of activities I am here to be an ear, a shoulder, a resource, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, and most of all - a friend. I am here to support Jason and the Administration to see that the values and fundamentals of this special place seep into the fiber of EVERYONE at camp. See you soon!
After 27 years as the Owner and Director of Chippewa Ranch Camp for Girls in Eagle River, Wisconsin, Tom brings his unique passion, warm personality, and a wealth of experience to the Menominee family. With over 50 years in resident camping Tom has touched the lives of thousands of campers. Tom is notorious for being a "friend to all mankind", wearing his sunglasses 24/7, never being able to beat a camper at a competition and never managing to smile in a photo...But we know he is smiling on the inside because Tom loves Camp! Tom is also the acclaimed author of Campingly Yours, a heartfelt memoir of his years at summer camp.
Associate Director (14th Year)
Camper Development Director (4th Year)
Hi Menominee universe. Im Fernando Rivero, you can call me Fer. I was born in Mexico (east coast) and I have lived in the Canadian Pacific Northwest for the last 16 years. I'm passionate of the outdoors and I have dedicated a big portion of my life to explore and learn. I have taken training in Canoeing, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Navigation, First Aid, Canyoneering, Trail Running and fun stuff like that. After University I invested some time working with Immigration and Refugee groups in Canada, Scouts Mexico, Scouts Canada, Boys and Girls Club, and some other organizations that support kids and youth. In addition to working as a Camper Development Director, I help manage the Rock Climbing tower and support the Canoeing and Camping trips. I also got involved in supporting and supervising counselors. This upcoming summer it sounds like I will be doing some other tasks as well, which are all very exciting ideas. I hope the efforts and my contribution in Camp Menominee create an environment where campers can grow not only physically but in a more integrative way. I have worked with youth for some time and I find it very satisfying and rewarding to be there and support them on being their own architects and build the better version of themselves. I hope this world eventually benefits from having healthier, happier, more responsible men out there.
Hello Menominee Family! I'm Henning Van Der Merwe and I am 37 years old from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2020 was my first Summer at Camp Menominee, and I'm excited to be part of such an amazing program in 2024. I have been a professional Rugby coach in South Africa for many years, and in 2019 I started my own rugby kicking academy where I work with children in elementary school, high school and university level. Building healthy relationships is a core value for me. I always have this in mind in whatever I do or say and this drives every decision I make when it comes to coaching and working with todays youth. I have got interests in playing golf and kicking a ball around, so you will find me either at Woody's Pitch or at the Driving range during Big Ten Activities. Mostly, as one of our Camper Development Directors, I'll be working with the boys this summer helping them grow into the amazing men they want to be. This year I will also be taking on the role of Athletic Director where I will supervise our activity instructors and help them develop the most impactful lesson plans and programs for the boys.
Athletic Director/Camper Development (4th Year)
Tennis Director (4th Year)
Hi Everyone!! I'm Kevin Davis a certified USPTA "Elite" and "PTR Level 2" High Performance Development Coach.
It's an honor to get the opportunity to lead the tennis department for the 5th year in a row! I will be conducting private, semi-private, group lessons, clinics and tournaments weekly for the whole summer for all levels of play. My hobbies are being a good servant to my fellow human and going to the gym.The tennis courts will be open to first-timers and other levels. I'm thrilled to be back on the Jim Wyeth courts for another summer at Menominee!
Hi everyone! My name is Melanie and I'm one of the camp nurses and the Medical Director. This is my second summer at Camp Menominee and I'm so excited to be back at camp supporting the campers and staff in the health center. I’m a registered nurse but I'm also currently in school working towards my Nurse Practitioner certificate. I grew up going to camp and was a camp counselor in college, so I am incredibly lucky to be able to spend my summers with Jason, combining my love of camp with my passion for taking care of people. This summer, in addition to taking care of our boys, I'll be out and about enjoying the friendly confines, getting to know our campers, and of course hanging out with Buster. I’ve been busy learning the camp songs and cheers so I can sing around the campfire with everyone! See you all very soon!
Medical Director (2nd Year)