Cornelius Broersma 
- Director
How long have you been on Campfire!’s Staff?
I have been involved with Campfire! for a long time. I have served at Campfire! as a Chaplain, a counselor, a relief staff member, and even a cook one year. This will be my second year on staff.
What is your camp name?
My camp name must start with a ‘P’! This has been a standing tradition with me for years, for as long as I can remember. I think only one year I did not have a ‘P’ at the beginning of my name. So keeping with tradition and keeping with last year’s name my name will be Psir Cheez. (don’t forget the period please).
What are you like most about Camp?
I love the fact that there are so many different people dedicated to Campfire!. A lot of people are behind the scenes making this camp possible. So therefore a big thank you goes out to all those have helped, are helping run this camp this year. I like it that children come to camp to learn about God and His Word. I like it that counselors take time off in the summer to help out for a week or two or three. I like the committed staff that is at Camp that wants to serve God with their whole heart by helping children learn about him.
What are you excited about for this coming summer?
Circle prayers, early morning chats with the cooks, campfires, singing, children, teens, service week, the food, the staff, devotions, my trailer, Chloe running around, chapel, chaplains, games, swimming, Wasaga Beach, driving the bus, the breakfast place in town, and dressing up.
What do you do in your normal life?
In my normal life I am a Grade 6 teacher. I have been teaching for 5 years now. I have taught Grade 3, 5 and 6 at John Calvin School in Smithville.
Scott Aasman
– Assistant Director
How long have been involved with Campfire!?
Lord willing, this coming summer shall be my third year on staff, although I had the opportunity to serve as a counselor for 4 years previous to that.
So as simple math can tell us I have been involved with camp for, well let’s see…
BEDMAS- brackets…carry the one… square root of 89… add the decimal point…
7 years. I have been involved with Campfire! for 7 years
What is your camp nickname?
My nickname is (and continues to be) fletch… all lowercase and cursive if possible.
What do you like most about camp?
In alphabetical order: being still, calloused vocal chords, campers, campfires, canoeing, chapel, chaplains, circle prayers, cooks, counselors, critter hunts, early mornings, games, lame jokes, learning, Monday mornings, new friends, old friends, sand castles, sharing, side hugs, singing my lungs out, smiles, swimming, sword drills (I am going to win one yet!), the pond, the stars…
Perhaps the most amazing part is people coming together with the purpose to learn, share, grow and serve under the banner of Jesus Christ.
What are you excited most about this summer?
Learning.
Seeing God at work through the people around me.
Child-like faith.
Achieving new records in verses sang of “Little Red Wagon” and Life-vest wearing competitions (in both the team and singles events)
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
I am blessed enough to learn about and explore how God has revealed himself in creation in both Studio Art and Theology (with some other things thrown in on the side) at Redeemer University.
And sleep.
Peter Vlaardingerbroek
– Program Director 
How long have been involved with Campfire!?
I have been ‘involved’ with Campfire! for about four years now. One year as a counselor, and three years as a staffer.
What is your camp nickname?
zonq!
What do you like most about camp?
K, I’m gonna do my best to just stick with one here. The thing I like most about camp is the worship (in not just singing but also playing, laughing, praying etc…) to our God in His beautiful creation! There’s something irresistibly easy about worship in that setting.
What are you excited most about this summer?
A challenging new role and a challenging new partner…uh...I mean….a great new partner! Just joking Bri! J Oh and three new staffers woot!
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
In my non-camp life, most of my time is committed to my fourth and final year studying Political Science at Brock University. The rest of my time is spent sipping coffee, hanging out with friends and family, volunteering at the youth centre, working, eating, reading, sleeping, napping, and checking my email three and half thousand times per day.
Brianna Veldkamp
– Assistant Program Director
How long have been involved with Campfire!?
This is my second year on staff but I’ve been coming to Campfire! for years. aka my summers would not be complete without Campfire!
What is your camp nickname?
My camp nickname is fynn. Why you may ask? Because I like to swim. And fishes can swim (and they have fynns!).
What do you like most about camp?
I love the Christian atmosphere. I love all the people. I love being able to put stickers on everything, circle prayers, the pocket patch, side hugs, being able to yell as loud (and high!) as I can, singing God’s praise and giggling. And that’s just a start.
What are you excited most about this summer?
To be surrounded by followers of Christ and God’s awesome creation! I can’t wait for sunny morning devotions and moonlit evening fires. To be loved and love.
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
In my *ahem* normal life I am a full- time student. I’ve studied for two years at the University of Toronto but I’m currently studying for a year at St Andrew’s University in St Andrew’s, Scotland. Outside of school my favourite things to do are attend Tuesday evening bible study, giggle with friends, swim (like a fish with fynn’s) and write snail mail letters.
Ryan VandenHaak
– Head Counselor 
How long have been involved with Campfire?
This will be my third summer as a staff member, but I have been coming to camp for eight or nine years.
What is your camp nickname?
Capo. It’s pronounced kay-poe, and if you say it right the first time you see me at camp you get five points.
What do you like most about camp?
It’s tough to say, because almost everything about camp is completely amazing. I think what I like most is seeing people grow in faith over the week and from year to year. Everyone learns so much and is strengthened in their walk with God in so many ways. A week at camp teaches us how to serve our King more faithfully, and it is beautiful to be a part of that.
What are you most excited about this summer?
I’m getting married! Oh, you mean at camp? Well, I’m excited to see old friends and to make new ones. I’m excited to live in a trailer with Fletch, to sing songs, eat spaghetti with no utensils, go swimming, do ridiculous things with campers, and get up early to do counsellor devotions. I am also excited to work with some new staff members and learn how to run camp even better!
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
Did I mention that I’m getting married? Well, I am. But that’s not happening until the end of the summer. At the moment I am finishing up my second year at Redeemer University College where I am majoring in Youth Ministry with a Minor in Philosophy. My studies take up most of my time, and I love it. I also enjoy simple things like reading books, talking with my friends, driving in the rain, and crisp morning air (especially Saturday morning air, with coffee).
Erica Broekema
– Assistant Head Counselor 
How long have been involved with Campfire!?
The first year I’ve ever served as a counselor at camp was a discovery week in 2001! Since then I’ve been happy to serve at each one of the weeks except for Wilderness!
What is your camp nickname?
I really have no idea! Last year I was “kleintje” but only a small minority could pronounce and understand my name. Any suggestions are welcome!
What do you like most about camp?
Wow… that’s an impossible choice. I’ll have to call it a tie! I love being completely immersed in serving God and learning more about Him, singing with your entire heart (even after I’ve lost my voice for the third time), evening campfires, morning devotions, cheering!, crazzzzzy bus rides, chapel & impromptu skits, starry evenings, water fights!, deep conversations, praying and reading together, meeting new friends, being reunited with old friends, wrap sessions, child-like faith and love, acting like a child, sand castles, and the list continues…!
What are you excited most about this summer?
Serving God within the body of Christ. Getting to know and learning from the campers, counselors, staff members, cooks, nurses, and everyone who comes to share their time and gifts at Campfire!
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
I have one of the arguably best, ‘normal’ jobs out there! I am a Grade 5 (soon to be Grade 6) teacher at Timothy Christian School in Hamilton. It is a pretty spectacular blessing to work with children and learn/teach more about God each day!
Sarah VanPopta
– Head Nurse 
How long have you been involved with Campfire!?
I've been a counselor for eight summers (I think) and I've also been camp nurse for three summers.
What is your camp nickname?
Well, as a nurse, I've always been "Itis" (as in, tonsil-itis, bronch-itis, cholecyst-itis, gastroenter-itis, etc.). But apparently the rule is that you must get a new camp name if you become staff! (I dunno, I still have to check the Campfire! by-laws to see if that's actually true . . . )
What do you like most about camp?
Beach day! Singing - on the bus, around the campfire, in the kitchen , at chapel, everywhere! Crazy meal times. Skits. Morning devotions. Meeting new people and making new friends. KIDS! TEENS!
What are you excited most about this summer?
Taking care of people. And of course I hope no one gets hurt, but I'm looking forward to handing out fun band-aids!
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
I'm a nurse in my 'normal' life too! I'm an RN and work in the Emergency Department.
Stephanie VanGroothest
– Head Cook
How long have you been on Campfire!’s Staff?
This is my first year on staff!!!
What is your camp nickname?
Um…a thought in progress...
What do you like most about camp?
It would be easier and shorter to say what I don't love about campfire! I love that you can escape the 'real' world and totally surround yourself with God's creation, watching the kids grow, their excitement in everything, positive atmosphere, special bonds and spiritual growth, spontaneous skits. I can't even think of the words to describe everything I love about camp...
What are you excited most about this summer?
Where do I start...I get to be boss (of the kitchen :) I am looking forward to everything! It is a very rewarding job...wait, is it even a job?
What do you do in your 'normal' life?
For the other 12 months of the year I am the property manager for Campfire!. I also cater, with mom, for groups and events that happen at Campfire!. |
