Dear Nor’wester Community,
I am absolutely thrilled to be here as the new Executive Director of Nor’wester, and I’m truly excited about the journey ahead that we’re embarking on together. My roots in the Seattle area and my experiences in the great outdoors and youth programming like overnight camps have shaped my life in profound ways.
My initial foray into overnight camping started in my youth with horse camps in the area. Those early experiences instilled in me a deep love for the sense of community, the safe spaces for personal growth and skill development, and a commitment to environmental stewardship—values I see mirrored here at Camp Nor’wester.
For over 15 summers, I had the privilege of being part of the amazing Camp Sealth staff. Camp Sealth, a Camp Fire camp located on the picturesque Vashon Island, serves nearly 2,000 campers each summer with one- and two-week overnight experiences. My journey there began as a horseback riding instructor and evolved into roles like Assistant Camp Director and Outdoor Education & Retreats Director. While I took time in my career to try both other camps, and a stint as a 911 Operator, these pieces not only built my skill set, but they reaffirmed that my passion aligns best with summer programs, and I returned to Camp Sealth, growing into the role of Summer Camp Director. I have had the great privilege to witness firsthand the transformative power of camp experiences, both for campers and young staff and hone my own skills as a camping professional.
What truly fuels my passion for youth overnight camping and has always brought me back to camping as a profession and here to Nor’wester is my unwavering dedication to building relationships, fostering connections, and nurturing a profound sense of belonging in outdoor spaces. In my time at Camp Sealth, I have worked diligently to operationalize the diversity and equity goals of the organization and create updated systems and spaces that fuse successful, integrative inclusion initiatives and mental, emotional, social, and behavioral supports for campers and staff. These values of ours have been my guiding lights throughout my journey, and I’m eager to continue cultivating them with Nor’wester.
I am incredibly energized about the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead for us as we work together to provide enriching and memorable experiences for our campers and staff. Nor’wester has already achieved remarkable success, and I am deeply honored to be part of its promising future.
Thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful community. I’m looking forward to getting to know each of you and embarking on this exciting new chapter together.
Warmly,
Meaghan Baumgartner, Executive Director
Year-Round Team
Jill Steigerwald: Operations Director
Jill (she/her) came to Nor’wester as a Unit Leader in 2009. Jill’s first summer at camp was life-changing and she has worked hard not to leave since! She spent three summers on staff under Paul Henriksen & Christa Campbell before coming on board as the Assistant Director in March 2012. She brings an enthusiasm and love for camp that is evident through her leadership and vision for the future. Jill received her TEN-YEAR JACKET in 2018! Her title changed to Operations Director in 2023.
Jill believes the sense of belonging and purpose that camp can provide young people and community members is profoundly important and is passionate about ensuring camp can be a place to grow and learn in a safe, supportive environment. She works hard to ensure all facets of Camp run smoothly and to juggle the many logistical elements of summer operations. She enjoys connecting with other camp and outdoor professionals and sharing ideas through involvement in the American Camp Association (ACA), NOLS Wilderness Risk Management programs, and the Western Association of Independent Camps (WAIC).
Jill enjoys Nordic and downhill skiing, hiking, camping, coaching lacrosse, and traveling in her free time, but currently she and her partner, Shawn, are chasing their almost two year-old daughter Riley around the mountains of Colorado! Their dog, Zuke, pulls his weight by being cute and reminding them to get out for adventures together in the snow when they can.
You can email Jill at jill@norwester.org to ask how many sweet teeth she has!
Kathleen Perry: Office Administrator
Kathleen (also known as KP – she/her) joined the year-round team in April 2015 as the Office Administrator.
Kathleen is our queen of organization and keeps all kinds of paperwork and projects in line and moving forward. She will likely be the first person you talk to when you call the office and manages most camper and family communication.
Kathleen spent many summers attending camp in her home state of Missouri and has previously worked for three other camps in Missouri, California, and Washington. She has spent at least 22 summers at a camp as either camper, staff, or volunteer. Fun Fact: She was a member of the Whale Museum of Friday Harbor back in middle school and high school. Her adopted orca is L-25 Ocean Sun. Kathleen had never been to the San Juan Islands until her first work weekend after being hired by Camp!
Kathleen enjoys reading, waffles, archery, hula hooping, making Morse code jewelry, ferns, facts about jellyfish, sending/receiving snail mail (especially postcards), road trips, learning to play the guitar (still not very good – maybe she should practice more), and dyeing her hair pink.
You can email Kathleen at kathleen@norwester.org to find out how many books she read last year!
Harper McFadden: Program Director
Harper (she/her) is Camp’s first Year-Round Program Director! Harper first came to Camp Nor’wester as a camper and then returned as a summer staff for 5 years. After her first summer working on the waterfront and leading trips, she realized how much she loved working at camp and providing experiential education for kids. She shifted her whole career path to dedicate her life to creating meaningful experiences in the outdoors, and has never looked back!
After working for various outdoor education programs, including in schools, mental health treatment centers, outdoor adventure sports programs, nonprofits, and more, she is excited to be back at Nor’wester in a new capacity! In her role as Program Director, Harper will work with the rest of the team to ensure that all staff members at Camp Nor’wester are supported and set up for success. Harper is committed to providing the resources and guidance that staff members need to provide strong programming and trips so that they can make a positive impact on campers.
Fun fact: Harper’s name is actually a nickname that she picked when she was a 9-year-old camper in the Archer unit. It has stuck with her ever since and she now goes by Harper all the time!
When not working Harper loves backpacking, skiing, mountain biking, or really any exploring outside, as well as knitting and general crafting, and trying new recipes.
You can email Harper at harper@norwester.org to see what cookbook she’s checked out of the library!
Kelsey McFadden: Community Engagement Director
Kelsey (she/her) has spent every summer since she was four years old at summer camps. She was a camper at Nor’wester for several years before becoming a staff member and Advisory Board member of the Safety and Risk Management Committee. She also worked on the waterfront for a long time and it will always have a piece of her heart. 2023 will be Kelsey’s tenth summer working at Nor’wester!
A passion for adventure and education led Kelsey to study in India, research education in Cameroon, teach in Martinique, work in wilderness therapy in Vermont, and most recently, act as Teacher/Athletic Director/Basketball Coach at an alternative school in Austin. Kelsey is at the tail end of a Master’s in Outdoor Education Leadership from Prescott College, focusing on social justice.
The Community Engagement Director role is an exciting combination of Kelsey’s graduate degree coursework, experience working with nonprofit organizations in DC., and passion and commitment to Camp Nor’wester’s mission. Kelsey is excited to connect with individuals all across Nor’wester’s community – from campers to staff, to families, to alums, and beyond – and help everyone stay connected and feel at home with Camp Nor’wester.
When not at Camp, Kelsey loves traveling, practicing French, and spending time outdoors, including paddle boarding, hiking, and camping. Kelsey is a sometimes successful plant parent, avid reader, and casual boxer.
You can email Kelsey at kelsey@norwester.org for solo road trip and camping tips!
Joel Kelly: Caretaker
Board of Directors
In May of 1996 Camp Nor’wester was converted from a privately owned, for-profit corporation to a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit corporation.
Since that time its mission and vision have been guided by a Board of Directors.
Our current Board Members are past campers, past staff, parents, volunteers and donors – cumulatively, they bring literally hundreds of years of Nor’wester experience to the table, and work diligently to continue spreading the mission and story of the camp to our ever-growing community.
Please see our Board of Directors Page for more information.
Past Leadership
Founded in 1935 by: Frank Henderson
1938-1966: Frank and Lucile Henderson
1968-1980: Jack and Jan Helsell
1981-1989: David and Susan Formo
1990-2011: Paul Henriksen and Christa Campbell
2012-2023: Sheila Tallmon and Jill Steigerwald