Camp is a place of endless possibilities, and our staff works hard to make it that way! Meet the people who come together to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children with life-altering medical conditions and their families.
Dan Worra
Chief Executive Officer
Hi! I’m Dan Worra, and I could not be more excited to be Camp Korey’s new CEO. When I first heard about Camp Korey, I knew I wanted to be a part of the team, and as I learned more, I knew this was the place for me. I love being with kids; how could you not be thrilled to be a part of the team creating empowering, adaptive year-round programs for children dealing with life-altering medical conditions and their families, completely free of charge?
I appreciate what Camp Korey and Skagit County have to offer, and I work hard to promote a positive workplace environment. My mantra is “mission, family, work hard, have fun.” I believe in strength through diversity – workplace diversity, community diversity, and national diversity. Quite simply, “we all have different strengths, and through communication and understanding, we can accomplish great things.”
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and taking advantage of many of the great opportunities the Northwest has to offer, including boating in the San Juan Islands, skiing in the Cascades, hiking throughout our community forestlands, and the occasional round of golf.
I look forward to meeting you!
Kathleen Banks
Associate Director of Development
Hello there! I’m Kathleen, the Associate Director of Development at Camp Korey! In this role, I get to support our team in creating opportunities for our generous community to make an impact through camp and responsibly stewarding donors’ gifts.
I joined Camp Korey in 2019 because the role our mission fills in the community inspires and energizes me. I’ve been in the nonprofit world for almost a decade and Camp Korey is the most beautiful and magical place to use my fundraising skills alongside a great team.
As a kid, I loved summer camp but you would have found me under a tree reading! At Camp Korey, my favorite activity is anytime I get to try the archery range. 🎯 ❤️
In my work life, I enjoy problem-solving, supporting my teammates, and stepping in wherever needed to help the generous people who make camp possible!
Steve Bawn
Facilities Manager
Hello, my name is Steve Bawn and I am the new Facilities Manager at Camp Korey. I have a long background in managing businesses and facilities for over 20 years. At Camp Korey, I will be working with the team to ensure all the facilities, buildings, properties and equipment will be in great working order to facilitate a great experience for all of our guests. My goal is to make sure that when I finally leave Camp Korey, it will be better than when I got here. My wife and I enjoy traveling and seeing the world, mostly on cruises and my main hobby is playing poker.
Ashley Chandler
Culinary Director
Hello! My name is Ashley, and I am the Culinary Director at Camp Korey, responsible for aspects of meal service at camp.
I started working with Camp Korey in the summer of 2021 as a part-time kitchen staffer and transitioned into my full-time role in January of 2023. As a child, I attended summer camp for 6 summers and fell in love with the camp culture and the “free to be me” spirit of camp. As an adult, I am a camp staffer through and through, spending time at 4 different camps trying out various roles before landing at Camp St. Albans, a Washington state Girl Scout camp; where I served as Culinary Director for 9 summers.
I have always had a passion for cooking and love how food can bring everyone together no matter how different they seem to be. I love the hustle and bustle of a busy camp kitchen and the reward of spending time with happy full-bellied campers. Some of my favorite meals to prepare at camp are pizza, pasta, chocolate chip cookies, and of course classic grilled cheese with homemade chunky tomato soup.
Timothy Chandonnet
Groundskeeper
Hello, I am Tim Chandonnet the Groundskeeper for Camp Korey.
My typical days at camp are spent working closely with Mother Nature to maintain and improve upon the beautiful natural setting of camp for the benefit and enjoyment of the campers and staff. I hope to assist in making camp aesthetically pleasing, fully accessible, and visually appealing for maximum enjoyment for all that visit us here at camp.
Carly Cooper-West
Director of Development
Hello! I’m Carly Cooper-West, the new Director of Development at Camp Korey! My role is dedicated to overseeing fundraising efforts, ensuring that every child and family can experience the joy of camp completely free of charge.
I am passionate about cultivating meaningful relationships, serving others, and expressing our heartfelt gratitude to those who make the magic of camp possible. I am thrilled to continue moving the mission of camp forward alongside an incredible team to serve even more kids and families!
In my free time, I love hiking, exploring all things outdoors, trying new recipes, and spending time with family!
Evy Couling
Camp to You Coordinator
Hi! My name is Evy Couling, and I’m the Camp to You Coordinator. I bring camp joy and fun to kids at sites around Seattle and Tacoma. It’s important to me to share the camp experience with as many kids as possible. Before coming to Camp Korey, I worked at camps throughout the United States and led many different outdoor activities, from caving to fishing to llama care! I also taught special education for 6 years. A fun fact about me is that I love insects (especially dragonflies). One of my hobbies is taking photographs of dragonflies. I also love kayaking. Hope to see you around the campfire soon!
Nichol Ellis
Community Engagement Manager
Hello, friends of Camp Korey!
My name is Nichol Ellis, and I am proud to be the Community Engagement Manager for camp! I am over the moon excited to be part of this amazing community and be a small part of the magic of camp. I come from many many (no need to put a number on it) years of camp and volunteer experiences, and I so strongly believe in the incredibly transformative experience that camp has for all!
In my role as the Community Engagement Manager, I have the privilege of going out into the community and sharing a small sliver of the incredible things that happen here at Camp Korey. I speak to service clubs, share with various groups, network, go to events, plan and implement large corporate volunteer groups, and in general get to be a cheerleader and storyteller of the beauty that camp experiences offer to campers, families, staff, and volunteers! You are all officially invited to come out to Camp Korey and tour the site and learn more! Also, I would love to be invited to your next event to present to your team or group, or of course, to sit with you at the next Seahawks game!
Have a great day!
-Nichol
Top 10 List of Nichol’s favorite things!
10. Daisies! They are my favorite flower. I love the bright cheerfulness of daisies. And fun fact…it is my “camp name” and I will answer to it!
9. I think that puppet shows might be some of the funniest things in the history of the world!
8. I love mascots! Dinger, the Bellinghamster for the Bells holds a very special place in my heart!
7. To me, there is nothing more beautiful than the power of live music. A group of strangers coming together to hear the story of a song they are all individually experiencing together.
6. I love themes and costumes and believe there is magic in a tutu!
5. I love to travel and truly experience people and cultures! I even lived in Papua New Guinea for 5 months!
4. I volunteer for another camp called Camp Phoenix where we serve kids who are burn survivors!
3. I am a huge Seahawks fan! I love being a 12 and cheering for my favorite team!
2. I am in fact the Seagull Calling Champion of Kitsap County 2013!
1. Camp holds a very special place in my heart. I have had the privilege of working at 4 different summer camps. I started as a counselor in 1997 and… the rest is history. That summer was the first summer I really understood who I was and what I was meant to do in this world. I have been striving to do that ever since. Camp is a place where we truly get to be ourselves. It is a safe place to fail, learn, grow, love, and explore. It is a place to welcome our insecurities and embrace our need for community. It is a place where the hours are long, showers are few and far between, our hair smells like campfire, camp songs are sung on repeat, the first stars at twilight shine brighter as the conversations go deeper, and it is a place where lifelong friendships are solidified over the endless inside jokes and moments that can never be repeated. Camp is a place where we all belong.
Shayna Ely
Housekeeper
Hi, I’m Shayna, a Housekeeper on the Facilities Team.
My joy is to provide a clean and comfortable space for campers and their families so they can freely experience the magic of camp.
When I’m not on-site, I spend most of my free time with family.
Elicia Giffin
Director of Camp Experience
Hello! I’m Elicia Giffin, the new Director of Camp Experience for Camp Korey! Growing up, summer camp was my highlight and place where I felt most myself, and in 3rd grade, I told my dad I wanted to go to college so that I could work at camp and here I am achieving that dream! As Director of Camp Experience, my days at camp are spent supporting our Culinary, Facilities, Medical, and Program Teams to deliver kids and families a fantastic experience at Camp Korey.
In my free time, you can find me exploring with my family in the woods
, reading a book 
, or on the phone with friends or family far away 
.
Polly Hopkins
Major Gifts Officer
Hello! I’m Polly Hopkins and I’m delighted to be Camp Korey’s Major Gifts Officer. My role is to connect philanthropically minded people with the opportunity to help camp grow and thrive, increasing the number of children and families we can welcome.
As a child, attending summer camp in the redwoods of northern California was a life-changing experience for me. It was a place that modeled independence, self-esteem, teamwork, and love of nature. Camp Korey provides these lessons for our campers and families completely free of charge. For those who can’t attend in person, our Camp to You program offers children individualized experiences focused on having fun and taking a moment to step outside of their daily concerns.
In my spare time, you will find me snuggling my rescue kitty, gardening, reading, walking, and swimming in the Salish Sea.
Malon Kelly
Communications Coordinator
Hello! My name is Malon Kelly, and I am a part of the Communications Team here at Camp Korey. My role is dedicated to assisting our wonderful Communications Director, Christy Lyman, with telling the stories of camp and developing engaging content to share our stories with the community.
Through my background in community organizing around healthcare access and workers’ rights, I fell in love with the power of storytelling. It was this love that led me to transition my career to communications about five years ago. My mission throughout my career has always been to break down barriers and support communities through creativity and joy.
In my after-work life, I am a surrealist painter and share my home with two cats named after great artists, Edgar Allen Paw and Marguerite Purrr-ard. I get immense joy from cooking for people that I love and am always down for a craft or board game night!
Melanie Kooch
Staff Accountant
Hello! My name is Melanie Kooch, the Staff Accountant here at Camp Korey.
My day consists of making sure the financial transactions, records, and reports make for a healthy sustainable organization..i.e. (coffee) Bean Counter. I LOVE working for a nonprofit that allows children to experience a magical moment in their lives and forget about their medical conditions. Their smiles say it all.
In my off time, I enjoy spending time with my family (my 💜)…knitting 🧶… and spending time with friends 👭.
Paige Mackintosh
Volunteer Manager
Hello!
I’m Paige, and I am the Volunteer Manager at Camp Korey!
I started my involvement with Camp Korey back in 2008 (when I was 17 years old). I have been a Volunteer, Summer Staffer, and intern to now a full-time Volunteer Manager. It is truly a full circle moment in starting out as a volunteer, and now being able to recruit and support so many amazing volunteers, and see camp change their lives! Along with recruiting and supporting volunteers, I do a lot of administrative work, like making sure I have all paperwork I need from volunteers, as well as collecting all the volunteer numbers and hours for data purposes. 😊
I have lived in Washington State my whole life. I graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in Therapeutic Recreation and a Minor in Psychology. I love playing/watching sports (especially soccer), dancing, doing puzzles and word/number games, trying new restaurants, and spending as much time with my friends and family as possible!
Meghan McKnight
Human Resources Manager
Hey, I’m Meghan McKnight, the Human Resources Manager.
I’m thrilled to bring my experience in HR to the amazing people who staff Camp Korey. My HR philosophy is to serve those who serve others in our community and I’m so impressed by the dedication, compassion, and expertise of the CK team!
I hope to be of value and support as they provide wonderful programs and I am honored to be part of the services Camp Korey provides to families.
I enjoy traveling to new countries and love the universality of food bringing people together.
Abby Parnell
Admissions Coordinator
Hey there! I am Abby Parnell, the Admissions Coordinator at Camp Korey.
In my position, I’m fortunate to serve as one of the initial touch-points for campers and families, guiding them through the admissions journey. I am dedicated to supporting them throughout the entire application process, striving to ensure it’s seamless and free from unnecessary stress. It’s my hope to help families have a smooth application process so they can experience camp to the fullest! I know camp can be such a transformative time, where lasting memories are forged. I am driven by a deep passion to help others experience Camp Korey!
When not at camp I can be found in my hammock reading a great book or possibly strolling a local farmers market. My husband and I love looking for local ingredients to cook a new meal together. I am an outdoor enthusiast who lived in Montana for 15 years and never turned down an adventure! If music is playing, I can’t help but dance! I am a coffee lover and enjoy exploring shorelines with my fun-loving Golden Retriever, Sperry.
Kortney Smith
Camp Director (Programs)
Hey there! I’m Kortney Smith and I am the Camp Director (Programs).
My journey with Camp Korey began as a camper in 2009. Growing up with the shadow of a diagnosis can be really hard. But I was raised to believe that my medical condition gave me something other kids didn’t have – a unique perspective on life, a superpower.
One reason why I love my job so much is because I can encourage more people to share that perspective. I can help others recognize their superpowers and use them to better the world. Since my time as a camper, I have worn many hats, with my new favorite being Camp Director!
Around camp, you will see me planning, preparing, and executing all things programs, activities, and fun! I also supervise and support an amazing team of seasonal staff who have the uncanny ability to turn traditional activities into uproarious spectacles. At this camp, fun is not just an option – it’s a mandatory skill.
Outside of camp, my time is spent taking up new hobbies, practicing new skills, and learning what it means to be a new mom.
Larkin Starkovich
Maintenance Lead
Hi! My name is Larkin Starkovich I am the maintenance lead. I do a little bit of everything from ditch digging to vehicle maintenance and repairs. So, our campers and families can have a wonderful experience at Camp Korey.
As for me, I enjoy going camping and fishing as much as possible. Go, Camp Korey!!!
Kyle Thomas
Controller
Howdy, I’m Kyle and I do the numbers for camp. I oversee our accounting operations and ensure that camp is a good steward of your donations.
Working at camp is such a rewarding experience and nothing brings me more joy than the sound of campers arriving.
Outside of camp, I enjoy hiking ⛰️ the Mariners ⚾️ Animal Collective 🐼, and Jamie Taco 🌮.
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