Meet the Counselors!
Your Name Here!
Spend the best summer of your life at Chestnut Ridge! Join our summer staff of over 60 amazing people. Make a difference in the lives of campers and staff. Learn more!
Alexa
Hello, my name is Alexa and I am from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. I am currently a sophomore at East Carolina University, and am a recreational therapy major. Summer 2022 will be my second year as a counselor. I missed camp so much and am super excited to be back. Some things I enjoy are singing, reading, and playing volleyball!
Amelie
Hi! My name is Amelie. I will be attending Voyager Academy in Durham in 2022 for my senior year of high school. This is my first year on summer staff, but I have been a camper for about a decade now. I am so excited to be on the other side of the camp experience this summer. I have always looked up to my counselors and I can’t wait to give back to the camp that I have learned to love so much over the years. Chestnut Ridge has been where I have met some of my closest friends and the weeks I am at camp over the summer are always the highlight of my year. I am so excited to work alongside some of the people that have been role models for me over the years and to learn from the best :)
Amy
Hi! I’m Amy! I am from Hillsborough, NC and this will be my 17th summer at CCR (that has to be a record right?!). I’ve been a camper here since I was 6 years old, and then I was a counselor from 2017-2019 as well as made special end-of-summer appearances during the last few weeks of summer in 2020 & 2021. I am graduating from Elon University in May of 2022 with my BS in Applied Mathematics and Biostatistics with a minor in dance. I am moving to Atlanta at the end of the summer to pursue my PhD in Biostatistics at Emory University. I am super excited to be back at camp and cannot wait for a summer of fun trail rides, morning worship, and of course, making new friends.
Bella
Hi everyone I’m Bella! This will be my second year being a counselor at Chestnut Ridge. I’ll be attending George Mason University this fall to pursue a Bachelors in Global Affairs. My favorite thing about camp is meeting new people, hanging out at the farm, and going out in the canoes!
Bryce
My name is Bryce and this will be my first summer at camp and as a camp counselor. In the fall I will be attending Rockingham Community College for Agribusiness Technology. Some things I like to do in my free time are indoor rock climbing, hiking, and spending time with my family and dog. An interesting fact about myself is that I lived in Alaska for 3 years.
Carson
Hi everyone! My name is Carson and I am from Garner, North Carolina. This will be my second year as a counselor after being a camper for 3 years. My favorite things to do at camp are ziplining, gaga ball, and kayaking. I enjoy swimming, playing sports, and generally being outdoors. I look forward to meeting the new campers this summer and sharing new experiences at camp!
Claire
Hi! I’m Claire and I’m going into my senior year at Enloe High School. This will be my first year on summer staff, and my fifth summer at Chestnut Ridge. I love reading, hiking, and camping. My favorite camp activities are capture the flag, zip lining and tree climbing. I’m so excited to meet everyone!!
Cleo
Hi! My name is Cleo and this will be my first year at Chestnut Ridge. I'm from a little town called Orrum in the south part of North Carolina. In the non-summer months, I work at a grooming shop for dogs and volunteer at a veteran/firefighter camp. I'm very excited to meet the campers and have a lot of fun with the friends I will make.
Emily
Hello, my name is Emily! I am from Raleigh, North Carolina. This will be my second year on staff and I am so excited to make more memories at camp. I graduated high school in January and have been spending the last couple months living in Costa Rica! I am looking forward to meeting new campers and staff, and work to make camp a place where everyone feels at home!
Erika
Hi everyone! My name is Erika and I am from Long Island. I am a senior Physical Therapy major at Ithaca College. I love reading, writing, hiking, and watching sunrises/sunsets. This is my 1st year on summer staff and I am super excited to join a wonderful community. I can’t wait to see what God has planned this summer!
Gene
Hi, my name is Gene and I am in my junior year at Riverside High School. At my school, I am in the engineering program, play oboe in the symphonic band, and am the manager of the cross country and track teams. Some of my hobbies are listening to music, painting, and reading. I love the outdoors, having fun, and being active. I am super excited to start my first summer at Chestnut Ridge as a junior counselor!
Gracie
My name is Gracie and I am a rising junior at Meredith College. I am currently majoring in Social Work and minoring in Sociology. This will be my first year here counseling and being at camp! I am excited to meet everyone on staff and also the campers! Also, I am excited to hopefully pick up new hobbies this summer at camp! I am a HUGE Carolina Hurricanes Fan! I can't wait for this summer to start!
Hannah
Hey, my name is Hannah and this will be my second summer on staff here at Camp Chestnut Ridge! I am finishing up my senior year at the University of South Carolina and will be teaching full-time in the fall. I am from the coast of South Carolina, and in my free time I love hanging out with my friends and being near the water. Camp Chestnut Ridge has quickly become such a special part of my life and I am so excited to be back and share this special place with my campers!
Heidi
Hi! My name is Heidi and I’m going into my senior year at Enloe High School. This will be my sixth summer at Chestnut Ridge, but my first as a counselor. In my free time, I love to read and crochet. My favorite camp activities are ziplining, morning worship, and capture the flag. I am so excited to see what this summer has in store!
Ian
I’m Ian and I will graduate in the spring from Appalachian State University with an Electronic Media and Broadcasting Degree with a Photography Minor. This will be my second year on staff at Chestnut Ridge as the media specialist. I am excited to jump back into the camp experience for one last summer before going into the workforce.
Jack
Hi! My name is Jack and this will be my first year on staff. I’ve been a camper at Chestnut Ridge five times, and I can’t wait to come back as a counselor. I have a lot of energy and love running around and exploring the great outdoors. I’m going into my senior year at Riverside High School, and in my free time I enjoy reading. My favorite camp activities are tree climbing and anything on the lake. Looking forward to an awesome summer!
James
Hi, my name is James and I am a sophomore at Appalachian State University where I am majoring in Environmental Science. This will be my 2nd year as a counselor at Chestnut Ridge as I loved it so much last year that I HAD to come back. I am excited about the high challenge course, water activities, and making many new friends this summer!
Your Name Here!
Spend the best summer of your life at Chestnut Ridge! Join our summer staff of over 55 amazing people. Make a difference in the lives of campers and staff. Learn more!
Jenna
I am a senior at West Virginia University studying Animal and Nutritional Science with a minor in Equine Studies. I currently ride for the WVU IHSA Western Equestrian Team and I am involved with Nutrition research. My hobbies include horseback riding, painting, hiking and line dancing. I have a rescue dog named Prince and a chinchilla named Caspian.
Justin
Hi, my name is Justin. I am in college studying to become a physical therapist. My favorite color is blue and I have a huge fear of spiders. I hope to build a better relationship with God this summer, which is only one of the many reasons I can't wait to work at camp!
Katherine
Hey folks, my name is Katherine and I’ll be starting college in the fall as a Biology major. This will be my second year as a counselor. My favorite camp activities are visiting the farm, taking care of the horses, and capture the flag. I am excited for this summer, and can’t wait to meet you all!
Katie
Hi everyone! My name is Katie and I’m so excited to be a part of Chestnut Ridge this summer! I will be taking a gap year this fall and backpacking Europe before I head to UNC for college. This will be my second summer at camp! I love to read, play guitar, travel, and am very excited to be on the horses staff. I can’t wait to meet everyone!
Kelly
Hey everyone, I’m Kelly! I’m a rising senior at Middle College High School. This will be my 12th summer at Chestnut Ridge, but first as a counselor. My favorite activities at camp are morning worship, capture the flag, and horseback riding. I can’t wait to meet all of you this summer!
Le Saux
Good day, I am Le Saux. I attended Monument High School which is in South Africa. This will be my first time joining the team at Chestnut Ridge and I am very excited about it! I love everything golf and soccer. Anything sports related actually.
Leopard Family-- Mike & Sophie
Hey we are the Leopard family, Mike, Sophie, Jade, Riley, and Toby. Our whole family is traveling for over 30 hours to get to camp all the way from New Zealand. Soph and I (Mike) were camp counsellors way back in 2009, but camp is so cool and we can’t wait to share some memories with you all. We hope you will make great friends with our 3 children who are excited about summer camp. Sophie and I have always worked with young people, even at a camp in New Zealand called Camp David. We have also led our church’s youth group for the last 5 years. See you all very soon!
Luke
Hi, I’m Luke, a rising senior at Durham Tech Middle College. I plan to study graphic design in college. This will be my first year on staff at Chestnut Ridge, and I’m very excited to start this summer! I’ve been to the camp a few times in the past but I’m looking forward to getting to know it better. I enjoy hiking, swimming, animal care, and games. I’m looking forward to being outdoors and getting to know you all this summer.
Maddie
Hi! My name is Maddie and I am a rising senior at Eno River Academy. This will be my 12th year at camp, but my first as a counselor. Every year, Chestnut Ridge is my favorite part of the summer and I love meeting new people.
Madelyn
Hello! My name is Madelyn and I am currently attending East Carolina University and will be a junior in fall 2022. I’m majoring in recreational therapy and minoring in psychology. This will be my first year as a camp counselor and I’m very excited and can’t wait to get to know everyone.
Mateusz
My name is Mateusz and I am from Poland. I studied Spanish Philology and Interdisciplinary European Studies at the University of Wroclaw. Now I am continuing my education as a Ph.D student. I am keen on foreign languages, apart from English I also speak German and Spanish. I enjoy reading books, traveling, and outdoor sports. This will be my 1st year on summer staff in the USA and I am really excited about it. I am excited to experience new adventures and challenges, meet fantastic people, improve/develop my old skills and discover new ones.
Rayven
I attend NC State University. I will be graduating in December 2022 with two associates in Agriculture and Business. I will be moving on into my Bachelors of Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems in Spring 2023. I have never attended camp before and this is going to be my first year on staff. I am super excited to meet everyone and to give all the campers an incredible summer experience! I look forward to awesome camp opportunities, especially interacting with the campers at the camp farm.
Rico
Hi, my name is Ricardo but I go by Rico. I’m 19 years old and I am a Jesus lover. I’m from Fayetteville, NC. I have a big family in which I'm the third eldest and the oldest son. My family and I enjoy making memories together. I play four different sports and also love fishing. My dream is to attend Johnson & Wales University and become a private chef. I went to camp Chestnut Ridge for a very long time as a kid, and this is my second summer as a counselor.
Samantha
My name is Samantha. I am currently attending Gardner-Webb University where I am majoring in marketing. I am from Mebane, NC and I went to Chestnut Ridge as a camper for 6 years. This will be my first year on staff at Chestnut Ridge, and I am so excited! I am also on photo staff at Gardner-Webb and enjoy hanging out with friends and family, exploring outdoors, and animals.
Sarah Joy
Hi! I’m Sarah Joy (or SJ), and I can’t wait to be back at camp for my fourth year as a counselor! This will be my ninth summer at Chestnut Ridge; it goes without saying that I love the community here. In my free time, I love to sing, ride my bike, read, play the guitar, explore, hang out with animals, and learn. I’m going into my third year studying Recreation Management and Spanish at App State in Boone, NC. I’m excited to meet all of you!
Sean
My name is Sean and I'm a student at NCSU. I was a camper at Camp Chestnut Ridge for 8 years and can't wait to be a part of the ministry team for my 3rd summer. I enjoy playing video games with friends, cooking and baking with my family and friends, and going on outdoor adventures.
Sylvia
Hi! My name is Sylvia and I am currently a senior at Riverside High School. I will be attending NC State in the fall to study engineering. I am looking forward to my second year on summer staff and am so excited to hangout at the farm and do some tree climbing!!!
Tristan
Hi! I’m Tristan and I am super excited for my 1st year working at Chestnut Ridge. I was a camper at Chestnut Ridge for 11 years, so it feels a bit like a second home for me. I’m going into my senior year of high school and my favorite subjects are Science and History. Chestnut Ridge has a special place in my heart, and this summer I hope to bring the joy it has given me to as many campers as I can.
Z
Hey! I’m Z, and I’m a sociology major at Appalachian State. I was a camper for 1 year but lived at Chestnut Ridge for several. I enjoy reading, listening to a lot of different kinds of music, and falling down rabbit holes on Wikipedia. I’m really looking forward to contributing to a place that means as much to me as camp does. I’m really excited to get certified to work on the high ropes and to tell jokes at dinner!
