Staff

Our Leaders and Staff 
Liz Goodman, Kristi Hoopes, Mike Land and Scott Hoopes are leading our summer ministry under the direction of John P. Ryser. With a combined 25 years in staffing and leading camping ministry, our leadership staff is excited to lead Camp Gideon into another exciting summer. Our staff is a vital part of our successful summer program. Each staff member is selected by a thorough application process on the basis of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, maturity, leadership ability, and a desire to disciple children.


 

All Staff 

 
Leadership Team
  
  
Counselors
 
  

Assistant Counselors
 
 
 
Servants In Training

Liz Goodman

When is your birthday?
 - March 4, 1985
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Summer Camp Director
 
Where is your hometown?
 - Lakewood, Ohio
 
What is your favorite …
  • Flavor of ice cream - cotton candy :0)  
  • Place to go - I love the ocean and to go to my grandpa's cottage up in Canada  
  • Scripture - James 1:2-5 and Philippians 2: 14-15
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
- I am so excited to see what God has in store for us this summer and to be in    His amazing creation with wonderful kids again.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
-         I would bring all of the people who are starving together and set up a huge banquet to feed them all. I would also find jobs for everyone so that there was no longer any poverty in the world.
 
Kristi Hoopes
 
When is your birthday?
 - August 1,1984
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Assistant Director
 
Where is your hometown?
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - Cookies and Cream
  • Place to go  -Cousin Estle’s house on the Oregon Coast
  • Scripture – Psalm 139

What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
 - Singing silly songs!
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
 - Have the whole world play a giant game of Wind in the Willows.
 
Mike Land
  
When is your birthday?
 - May 11, 1984
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
Program Coordinator
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Barnesville, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream -  I like them all to be honest!  
  • Place to go  - Florida with my friends  
  • Scripture  - Romans 6:23 
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - I love working with people that love Christ.  I also love hanging out with kids that make me feel like I am not so old after all.
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - Well first I will make all the Taco Bells in the world free for the whole hour.  Then I would set up a very large table where all the people of the world can come together and eat Taco Bell!
 
Scott Hoopes
 
When is your birthday?
 - March 9, 1983
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Head Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - none
  • Place to go  - anywhere, as long as I am hanging out with cool people
  • Scripture 
    “ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. ” - Acts 20:24
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
 - Going on an adventure with God and contemplating physics experiments of counselors rolling down a big hill.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
 - I honestly have no clue. 
 
Autumn Bates
  
 When is your birthday?
- May 3, 1986
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
- Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
- Salem, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Ben and Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cookie Dough mmm… 
  • Place to go  - New York City  
  • Scripture  - Jeremiah 29:11
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
- I can’t wait to hang out with all my campers again and meeting new ones.  Oh yah…I like s’mores too.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
- I would have a world-wide coloring contest and give everyone a puppy.
 
Justin Ferrel
 
When is your birthday?
- April 10, 1987
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
- Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
- Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Moose Tracks
  • Place to go  - Bowling Alley
  • Scripture  - Ephesians 4
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
- I really am looking forward to getting to work with the staff again and having fun with the kids.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
- I would spend that hour setting up the governments of the world so that when the hour was up, I could walk in and continue ruling the world for a longer time.
 
Abbey Furey
 
When is your birthday?
- Feb 4th, 1987
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
 - Malvern, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - Chocolate 
  • Place to go - Outdoors 
  • Scripture - Jeremiah 29:11 
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
- I look forward to working with and ministering to the kids.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
 - I would end abortion and promote adoption.  I was adopted and my birth-mom was minutes away from aborting me.  People need to realize the importance of adoption.
 
Dawn Hoffmeyer
  
When is your birthday?
- August 23, 1985
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
 - Minerva, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Chocolate Peanut butter 
  • Place to go  - Sunset Beach, North Carolina 
  • Scripture  – Romans 8:38-39
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - The people!  Everything that we do at camp wouldn’t be any fun if it were not for all of the amazing people you get to be with every day!

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
- I would reverse the social status of the human race so that the poor would be rich and the rich poor. And I would outlaw bikinis.
 
Kimbery Park
 
When is your birthday? 
 - June 15, 1985
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
  - Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Dalton, Georgia
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough  
  • Place to go   - The beach/ocean  
  • Scripture  - Colossians 3:23
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
 - Hanging out with awesome kids, doing crazy things, and going deeper with my amazing Father.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - I would have everyone join the “World Choir” and sing, sing, sing!
 
Brittany Spaulding
 
When is your birthday?
 - April 11
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canfield, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream – Mint chocolate chip 
  • Place to go   - The ocean 
  • Scripture  - Psalm 37:4
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - Meeting new people and strengthening my relationship with God.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - Buy everyone ice cream and make sure that everyone gets a big hug!
 
Ryan Hutsell
 
When is your birthday?
 - February 9, 1986
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream – Neopolitan 
  • Place to go   - Either France, Japan, or somewhere in Africa 
  • Scripture  - I can’t pick a favorite. It is all so good!
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
-         Building up relationships rooted in Christ.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
-         Change the trade laws that are keeping Africa impoverished.
 
Kate Beck
 
When is your birthday?
- March
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
- Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
- Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - Chocolate Peanut Butter  
  • Place to go  - The bookstore 
  • Scripture  - 2 Corinthians 4
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
- The awesome campers and Capture the Flag!
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
- I would make everyone stand on their heads the whole time so all the blood goes to their head, so when they go to stand up they just get dizzy and fall over.  It could be funny.
 
Karin Case
 
When is your birthday?
 -October 23,
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
- North Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Peppermint 
  • Place to go  - The hammock in my back yard  
  • Scripture  - Matthew 11:28-30
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?
 - I am most excited about meeting all of the kids coming to Camp Gideon:  getting to know them, laughing with them, seeing them smile, and watching them grow spiritually.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
 - If I was in charge of the world I would request prayer and advice from my family and friends.  I honestly don’t know that much would get done because I would be in shock.
 
Chris Harris
 
When is your birthday?
- August 30,
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - Mint Chocolate-chip 
  • Place to go - Anywhere that has a basketball court  
  • Scripture   - Psalm 139:1-24
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp?  
 - I am looking forward to lots of laughs and goodtimes, but most importantly seeing them grow closer to the Lord.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - I would make everyone go to Camp Gideon.
 
Tiffany Hurless
 
When is your birthday?
 - March 5th,
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough  
  • Place to go  - Library  
  • Scripture  - Matthew 25: 34-40 
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - I cannot wait to get to do all the activities with the kids.  It’s going to be so fun!

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - I’d have everyone be silent so they can hear things they have never heard before.
 
Amy Loy
 
When is your birthday? 
 - May 18, 1988
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - St. Clairsville, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Cookie Dough 
  • Place to go   - The beach in Hawaii 
  • Scripture  - 2 Timothy 2:15
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - I love being around kids - they bring an amazing energy around that makes me feel good.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour?
 - I would have everyone eat ice cream and invite all the cool people to hang out at Camp Gideon, and we could make awesome nature crosses in the craft shack. 
 
Rachel Millican
  
When is your birthday?
 - June 1, 1989
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
- Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream  - Mint Chocolate Chip 
  • Place to go  - The campground with my dad. 
  • Scripture  - Proverbs 4:23
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - I am looking forward to meeting some really cool kids and seeing the campers from last summer.  I can’t wait to see how they are grown with God.  I also can’t wait to be back in the beautiful lodges of Camp Gideon!
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - I would take half of the food Americans eat and give it to people less fortunate.  Then I would have a giant party.
 
Halle Morris
 
When is your birthday? 
 - December 26,
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Chocolate Chunk 
  • Place to go  - Dominican Republic 
  • Scripture  - Isaiah 40:30-31
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
-         I am looking forward to campfires.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - If I were in charge of the entire would for one hour, I would make sure every person gets a hot meal and a hot shower.
 
Kyle Otto
 
When is your birthday?
 - December 22, 1986
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown?
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Chocolate Marshmallow 
  • Place to go   - A quiet park on a sunny day  
  • Scripture  - 2 Corinthians 3:18
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - Spending time with the staff and the kids and having fun while sharing the Lord.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - I would put someone else in charge who actually knew what they were doing and would help the people in every way possible.
 
Derek Urey
 
When is your birthday? 
- February 28, 1989
 
What is your position at camp for the summer? 
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - North Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   - Cookies and Cream 
  • Place to go  - Camp Gideon of course! 
  • Scripture  - Philippians 4:13
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 -The thing I am most looking forward to about camp would have to be telling stories around the late night campfires.
 
What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
-         Hmm…  If I were in charge the world for one hour I would have everyone in the world come out of their houses and do the Chicken Dance because that would be really funny.
 
Sean Youngman
 
When is your birthday?
- July 17, 1989
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Assistant Counselor
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Navarre, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   -Mint  
  • Place to go   - Camp  
  • Scripture   - Psalm 27:4
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - Music and serving God.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
 - I would have everyone learn to love and share with each other.
 
Melissa Millican
 
When is your birthday?
- May 25, 1991
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Servant In Training
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   -Strawberry
  • Place to go   - Out to eat
  • Scripture   - Matt. 22:37-39
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - I am looking forward to impacting kids lives and building relationships not just with staff but with campers too.

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
-I would change the world by getting rid of violence and making more peace.
 
Emily Wolf
 
When is your birthday?
- March 8th, YEAR?
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Servant In Training
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Louisville, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   -Vanilla!
  • Place to go   - The beach
  • Scripture   - Jeremiah 29:11
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - Chapel and swim time!

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
-Go shopping then have a worship time so as one group we could worship our Creator.
 
Derek Reiman
 
When is your birthday?
- May 17, 1990
 
What is your position at camp for the summer?
 - Servant In Training
 
Where is your hometown? 
 - Canton, Ohio
 
What is your favorite…
  • Flavor of ice cream   -Cookie Dough
  • Place to go   - Pat Fye’s house
  • Scripture   - Job 11:7
What is your favorite thing (or thing that you are looking forward to the most) about camp? 
 - Archery and music!

What would you do if you were in charge of the entire world for one hour? 
-  Give it back!