Our Staff are All Volunteers

Camp Butano Creek is staffed completely by volunteers.  Our Camp Directors, cooks, unit staff, range masters, and every other person on staff both during the summer and year-round are all volunteers. 
Most are former Girl Scout troop leaders and parents themselves or girls that have attended Camp for a number of years, gone through our counselor-in-training program and gone on to be staff members.   It takes a special kind of person to give up twelve days each summer to volunteer at camp - that is the kind of person you want taking care of your girl!

There is a core group of volunteer staff members that return every year for camp - they are the heart and soul of our program.  But we love the new staff that join us since they bring fresh faces, ideas, and energy to our camp.  Our staff meet the American Camp Association training requirements including two full days of on-site training before the start of camp.  Volunteers in special positions such as nurses, archery range masters, and cooks receive additional training and certification as appropriate.
In addition, our staff are all registered Girl Scouts and have undergone volunteer screening by Girl Scouts.

Below we highlight some of the volunteers that hold key positions in our camp organization: Camp Directors, Head Cook, Head Nurse, Site Manager and Webmaster.  But we appreciate all our staff, whether presented below or not.

Camp Directors

Camp Butano Creek has four volunteer Camp Directors - together they are known as "CALM" - Cookie/Amity/Lilac(retired)/MacGyver.  They go through multiple trainings each year and are well versed in how to manage camp safety, coordinate staff, and make a memorable experience for your camper!

LINDA "COOKIE" COENSGEN
Cookie was a founding member of Camp Butano Creek in 2004.  She is the only staff member that has attended every  session of camp!  She has experience with the youngest campers, our Tags unit, all the way to the oldest campers, our Voyagers unit.  

"I love watching campers gain confidence in their abilities. It's the best part of camp!"

DEBBIE "AMITY" NAVRATIL
Our newest camp director, Amity, spent many years in her youth as a camp staff member.  She joined our Camp Butano Creek Family in 2013 working as unit staff for several years.  Her camp names means "friendship" which is perfect since our camp is known as the Kindest camp around!​

"My first year on staff at Camp Butano Creek, I did not know a single person. I just volunteered because I missed summer camp. Now, so many of these volunteers are counted in my closest friends and we keep in touch year-round!"

MARY "MACGYVER" CLAUDINO
MacGyver has been a volunteer with Camp Butano Creek since 2014.  Before joining our team, she ran Cresta Blanca's annual camporee for many years.  She has been part of our CORE team since coming to our Camp and took the archery program to the next level!  

"Camp provides an experience like none other for kids. I love watching them grow even over a week of camp!"

Recently Retired

LAURA "LILAC" ANDREWS
​As a founding member of Camp Butano Creek, Lilac has been part of our Camp Family from the beginning.  She has been unit staff, a driver, and an assistant Director before becoming part of our CALM team.  As a teacher in her non-summer time, she has a great ability to work with campers of all ages.

"I come back year after year because we are truly a family. I love seeing 'old' friends and making new ones."

Head Cook

MICHELLE "GIGI" GUIDI
Gigi has been a member of our camp family since 2014 and our head cook since 2018 but she has been cooking for service unit camporees for many more years.  She is food safety certified and oversees the menu for all sessions of camp. 

"As a gluten-free, vegetarian myself I know how important it is to have a safe, and careful kitchen!"

Head Nurse

LAURA "CAREBEAR" SUCHANEK

Carebear has been a registered nurse for 34 years and has been a camp nurse for 10+ years. The safety and well being at Camp Butano Creek has always been our number one priority. Our camp health center staff provides up to date care for campers and staff following Girl Scout Council policy and procedures.

"Camper safety is our #1 priority at Camp! We make sure we care for each camper with skill and compassion."

Site Manager

JIM GUST

Jim is the only member of the Camp Butano Creek team that actually works for Girl Scouts.  He and his family live at camp year round.  Jim has been part of our Butano Creek family since 2005.   He always has an idea about how to beautify the site, or a suggestion about a site improvement that would enhance our resident camp program.

"Keeping the site safe is my #1 priority. I am on-site during camp to handle any maintenance issues that come up promptly."

Webmaster

Aspen has been building websites for volunteer organizations since 2008 using a website builder (she does not know any html!). As a girl, going to summer camp taught her to be self-reliant and to not be afraid of learning new skills.  She is happy to be able to support Camp Butano Creek this way and has been part of our camp staff since 2009.

Notice errors or typos in our site?  Please contact her!

"Both my kids have aged out but I keep coming because I want to see my Camp Family and spend a week with the kindest people around!"

Other "Core" Staff

PROGRAM

CRAFTS

ARCHERY