COUNSELOR BIOS

We welcome back Dustin Handrich to his 13th year at Camp Eagle Ridge!  Dustin is our Program Director.  Dustin teaches a number of activities at camp including canoeing, golf, ultimate Frisbee, guitar, soccer, kayaking, archery, martial arts and leadership workshops.  He is also a part of our lifeguarding team.  Dustin studies Hwa Rang Do and is an Assistant Instructor at the UW-ED Hwa Rang Do club. Dustin graduated from UW-Eau Claire with his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.  During the winter, Dustin has worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Chippewa Valley and is currently a site coordinator for the tutor program of the Chippewa Falls School District.

This will be Amanda Brown’s 13th summer at Camp Eagle Ridge!  Amanda is the counselor in our oldest girls’ cabin, Serenity.   She teaches soccer, art, drama, sailing, kayaking, rugby, tennis, volleyball and several of our leadership workshops.  Amanda is also a lifeguard.  Amanda is attending UW-Stevens Point where she is an Art and Arts Management Major with a Art History Minor.  Amanda also plays rugby for UW-Stevens Point and is a Community Advisor.  Amanda is originally from New Berlin, Wisconsin.  In her spare time, Amanda enjoys acting and singing. 

Nellie Spayer returns for her 8th summer at Camp Eagle Ridge as the counselor of our second oldest girls cabin, Challenger! Nellie is from Glen Ellyn, Illinois and is currently studying English at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Nellie is a certified Archery, Rock Climbing and Sailing Instructor and also brought Field Hockey to Camp Eagle Ridge. In addition to her studies, Nellie is the manager for the University of Illinois’ Varsity Women’s Volleyball team and hopes to bring some newfound experience in volleyball and sports management to the camp setting. In her spare time, Nellie is also the Editor of the national Architecture and the Arts magazine and newsletter.

Coming back for his 9th summer at Camp Eagle Ridge, Ronny Dolgin returns as our counselor in our second oldest boy's cabin- Explorer! Ronny is a certified Archery and Rock Climbing Instructor. He teaches a majority of our ball sports at camp including football, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, disc golf, dodgeball and soccer. He also enjoys teaching mountain biking and outdoor living skills. He is a certified lifeguard and teaches kayaking when out on the water. When not on a court or field, Ronny instructs many of our leadership workshops. Ronny is originally from Lake Bluff, Illinois and attends the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where he is majoring in psychology and sociology.

Ashley Koenig is returning for her second year on our counseling staff. Ashley has been a part of Camp Eagle Ridge for the past 12 years!  She started as a camper, Counselor-In-Training, and Junior Counselor.  Ashley has lived abroad in Panama learning about the culture and improving her Spanish.  She is currently living in Colorado working as a nanny for a family with three children.  She believes that camp gives kids the confidence to be themselves, experience new things and the opportunity to experience love, laughter and friendship.

Jason Colvin is returning for his second summer at Camp Eagle Ridge as the counselor in our oldest boys’ cabin, Wisdom.   Jason comes to us from The Outdoor School in Marble Falls, Texas where he has been working with their outdoor education program.  He graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from MICA with a focus on painting.   During the winter, Jason is the Manager of Adventure Programs with Friendship Ventures, a nonprofit agency that creates unique educational, recreational and social opportunities for people with mental and physical developmental disabilities. Jason is also a certified ropes instructor.  Jason’s goal at Camp Eagle Ridge is to enhance our campers’ views of the world through nature and art.  Jason is also a rock climbing instructor.

This will be Anke Bieler’s 9th year at Camp Eagle Ridge!  Anke is originally from Oak Park, Illinois and is attending Tulane University in New Orleans.  There, Anke is studying political science and German languages and literatures.  Last summer, Anke spent 4 weeks in India assisting Tibetan refugees.  Anke teaches many of our leadership workshops.  She is a lifeguard, archery instructor and works with many of our sports programs.

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We welcome Mac Jaehnert to our 2008 counseling staff!  He will be the counselor in our youngest boys’ cabin, Discovery.  Mac has been attending Camp Eagle Ridge since the age of 13.  He was a C.I.T. (Counselor-In-Training) and  J.C. (Junior Counselor) before becoming a staff member.  Originally from Bayside, Wisconsin, Mac is attending St. Mary’s—University of Minnesota where he was a recipient of both music and academic scholarships.  He is currently pursuing a major in Business with plans to go to law school after completing his undergraduate work.  Mac is a member of American Mensa.

In his free time, Mac plays lacrosse and writes music.  He has been playing the piano for twelve years and the guitar for six.

Mac is an American Red Cross certified lifeguard and has taught swim lessons to children at the YMCA.

Owen Daniels joins our 2008 counseling staff as the counselor in Endeavor, our 12 and 13 year old boys’ cabin.  This will Owen’s eleventh year at Camp Eagle Ridge!  Owen spent last winter living in Denmark.  Owen enjoys teaching many of our outdoor activities and looks forward to helping kids learn about and experience nature and the outdoors.  Owen also instructs mountain biking, lacrosse, canoeing, soccer, archery, rugby and sailing.  Owen believes that camp should give kids a chance to experience things outside of the ordinary in a safe and above all, fun environment.