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Travis Aufderheide | Executive Director
Travis's time at GLLM began as a camper, which sparked a passion for outdoor ministry. In his college years, Travis worked as both summer and winter staff. While teaching, Travis returned to serve as Summer Site Director at Green Lake Bible Camp. In 2015, Travis began full-time as the GLBC Site Director and became the Executive Director in 2018. [email protected] |
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Gretchen Bachman | Camp House Site Director
Gretchen's call to outdoor ministry started as a camper and summer staff member at Green Lake Bible Camp, before it was known as GLLM! This passion led her to work full-time at camps in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Oregon. She is excited to be back "where it all began", and can't wait to invite others into the life-changing ministry that happens at Green Lake, Shores, and Camp House. Gretchen enjoys spending time with extended family, early morning walks, cooking and baking, and a good book. [email protected] |
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Matt Baumhardt | Director of Hospitality
Matt grew up in Indiana and started his passion for radical hospitality in 1997 working and playing in locations others went to for vacation. He obtained his bachelor of science in hotel management with an emphasis in resorts from Purdue University. This journey has taken him to Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming, and the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota. Matt began working in outdoor ministry at Briarwood in Texas (2008-2020) and at Koinonia in Upstate New York (2021-2023). Matt's other passions include spending time with his family, camping, any type of fishing, canoeing, flower/vegetable gardening, and hiking. [email protected] |
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Sonya Erickson | Director of Finance & Administration
Sonya started working at GLLM in 1997, and has served in a variety of positions including summer cook, winter staff, marketing and retreat coordinator. She began as Director of Finance and Administration in 2017. Her hobbies include quilting, scrapbooking and four-wheeling. [email protected] |
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Kyle Gjerde | Shores of St Andrew Property Manager
Kyle Gjerde was welcomed back to our staff in the Fall of 2022. Kyle previously worked in the maintenance department seasonally and will serve as the Shores Property Manager full-time. He brings experience in building maintenance and small engine mechanics along with a love for camp. Kyle and his family live in New London and are excited to be back in the community they grew up in. [email protected] |
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Paul Hanson | Director of Development
Paul Hanson comes to Green Lake Lutheran Ministries with 33 years in several leadership roles with three, multi-site Outdoor Ministries of the ELCA. Paul is a native Minnesotan that never went to camp as a youth. He followed a girlfriend (now his wife!) to be a counselor one summer during college and found an exciting vocation for the rest of his life. Paul is an avid reader of many books, periodicals, and newspapers. Paul and his wife Sara have three adult children and one grandson. [email protected] |
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Samantha Johnson | Program Director: Green Lake Bible Camp & Day Camp
Sam's experience in outdoor ministry started at Sugar Creek Bible Camp in Ferryville, Wisconsin and continued at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Hillside, Colorado where she helped lead worship through music during retreat seasons. She taught elementary music in both WI & CO and served in congregational ministry in a variety of roles such as worship director, director of faith formation, and operations. Sam loves spending time with friends, playing piano & guitar, playing volleyball, and exploring coffee & ice cream shops. [email protected] |
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Sara Jonasen | Director of Serve Boldly
Sara lives and works remotely from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. As a professional in Lutheran outdoor ministry organizations since 2004, Sara loves that we are not just listening to, but also listening for where God is calling us to serve. Sara is energized by activities in the great outdoors, adventures with her family, digging in her vegetable garden, and a good scoop of ice cream. [email protected] |
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Steph Mead | Custodian
Steph joined our team in 2021 and we're so thankful to have her! Steph has an incredible passion for making sure that our sites and spaces are ready to welcome guests with radical hospitality. She's quick to help, isn't afraid of any task, and makes us a better staff. She enjoys making new things and finding good deals! [email protected] |
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Bruce Nelson | Green Lake Bible Camp Property Manager
Bruce started his position at Green Lake Bible Camp in 2018. He previously served as an auto mechanic and environmental services specialist at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London. He and his wife Nancy have 5 kids. We're so thankful to have him here and appreciate his dedication to getting a job done right! [email protected] |
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Per Nestingen|Program Director: Shores of St. Andrew
Per grew up a camper at Sugar Creek Bible Camp in Ferryville, WI. After graduating from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD he joined their staff for two summers driving houseboats across the Mississippi and inventing experiences for campers and co-workers. Since then, he has worked in congregational settings leading trips across the country, creating leadership development systems, and carving out spaces for young people to flourish. Per lives in south Minneapolis with his wife, a pediatric neuropsychologist, and their daughter, a future Nobel prize winner, where they are members of Diamond Lake Lutheran Church. They enjoy staying active around the lakes and cooking together as a family in their free time. [email protected] |
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Kirsten Palan, CFRE | Associate Director of Development
Kirsten joined the year-round staff in 2017 after being being on summer staff in 2016 and 2017. Kirsten has held a number of roles at camp, involved in retreat ministry, marketing and fundraising. Kirsten became a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2024. She's a proud staff alum and enjoys spending time with the GLLM community. Kirsten loves being outdoors, drinking coffee and learning new things! [email protected] |
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Kenzie Ruiz | Director of Marketing & Communication
Kenzie lives and works remotely from Madison, Wisconsin. She has served at Crossways Camping Ministries, Bethel Horizons, and Lutheran Campus Ministries on the UW-Madison campus. She loves growing and preserving her own food as well as baking for stress-relief. She's a big fan of coffee, silent sports in all season and exploring the world through the eyes of her kiddo. [email protected] |
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Lindsey Scheid | Associate Director
Lindsey is a native of the Madison, Wisconsin area. She has served at Bethel Horizons (2007-2015, WI), Holden Village (2015-2018, WA), and Lutheran World Relief (2019-2021, MN). She enjoys photography, hiking, and travel. She brakes for squirrels, tears up when a stadium full of people sing together, and waves to farmers. [email protected] |
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Janel Skindelien | Registration & Reservation Manager
Janel was introduced to outdoor ministry as a child when she attended Green Lake Bible Camp. Those camp experiences along with a strong connection with her church developed into a lifelong love for ministry and a passion for helping others. Janel is married with two grown children. She enjoys gardening, reading, watching the Vikings and snuggling with her new granddaughter. [email protected] |
board of directors
Robert Anderson - New London, MN
Pr. Justin Ask - Willmar, MN
Barb Bornhoft - New Ulm, MN
Carrie Carroll - Saint Paul, MN
Kevin Elton - Hutchinson, MN
Jeff Ettinger, Spicer MN
Kelly Froehle - Maple Grove, MN
David Johnson - Cody, WY
Pr. Troy Pflibsen - Litchfield, MN
Brad Rice - Spicer, MN
Pr. Ann Rosendale - Sioux Falls, SD
David Struck - Moorhead, MN
Pr. Justin Ask - Willmar, MN
Barb Bornhoft - New Ulm, MN
Carrie Carroll - Saint Paul, MN
Kevin Elton - Hutchinson, MN
Jeff Ettinger, Spicer MN
Kelly Froehle - Maple Grove, MN
David Johnson - Cody, WY
Pr. Troy Pflibsen - Litchfield, MN
Brad Rice - Spicer, MN
Pr. Ann Rosendale - Sioux Falls, SD
David Struck - Moorhead, MN