Leadership at Camp Nor’wester

A Letter from the Executive Director

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

Featured
Jill Steigerwald
Jill Steigerwald

Operations Director

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Kathleen Perry
Kathleen Perry

Office Administrator

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Harper McFadden
Harper McFadden

Program Director

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Kelsey McFadden
Kelsey McFadden

Community Engagement Director

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Joel Kelly
Joel Kelly

Caretaker

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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.

Board of Directors

Camp Nor’wester Board Culture Statement

We embrace our mission.

The mission first and foremost guides our leadership, decision making, and actions.

We value our traditions past, present, and future.

As we honor our history and culture. We respect and learn from the traditions of other cultures as well.

We respect the environment.

We love the land and strive to leave our camp site better than how we found it.

We create community.

We build, grow, and maintain honest and genuine relationships which are foundational to a sense of belonging. The creation of community requires trust, vulnerability, and forgiveness, and with these tenets in place individuals can flourish.

We practice inclusivity.

We accept people for who and what they are. Every person has a right to respect and dignity. Racism, bigotry, and prejudice have no place at Nor’wester. We embrace our diverse cultures, experiences, and backgrounds.

We support the Camp community with our hearts, our time, and our resources.

As members of the Board we value accountability and transparency in our commitment to the organization. We each have a responsibility to participate in the community and to contribute our energy, thoughts, opinions, and spirits.

We strive for an attitude of wonder, curiosity, and inquiry.

We listen to understand, not just to react. We seek new ideas and ask questions in the spirit of experiential learning and growth. We assume best intentions in our interactions. We strive to remain both humble and grateful in all we do.

We are pursuing a journey, not a destination.

We appreciate both process and progress. We enjoy the adventure and celebrate it together with dance and song.

Past Leadership

  • 1938-1966: Frank and Lucile Henderson (Founded in 1935 by Frank 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