Meet the Staff

Camp Chief Ouray has always been a place of strong bonds and relationships.  We have a leadership team that cares deeply about camp and giving each child the experience of a lifetime.   Camp Chief Ouray is staffed with a year-round Camp Director, Assistant Director and a Registrar. They are joined on a seasonal basis by college graduates and students to fill many important roles in the counseling and specialist positions.

 
- Camp Chief Ouray understands the importance of positive role models for today’s young people. We carefully recruit, select, and maintain staff for their enthusiasm, maturity, skills and ability to display wholesome values for our campers.
- Staff members are chosen through a detailed application and interview process. All staff backgrounds are checked against the Central Registry for Crimes Against Children and the Colorado or Federal Bureau of Investigation in accordance with Colorado licensing requirements.
- A well-trained, enthusiastic staff is crucial to an exciting and unforgettable camping experience. Each staff member undergoes an extensive and professional training program together in preparation for our campers’ arrival. We emphasize group dynamics, child development, teaching methods, outdoor living skills and safety and health including certification training in First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Aid.

Marty Ferguson - Camp Director

Marty has been with the Camp Chief Ouray Family since 1995. He is a former math teacher and is currently the Vice President for American Camp Association-Rocky Mountain, a Leave No Trace Master Educator, and actively involved with local youth leadership. Marty’s favorite thing about camp is closing campfire and his favorite camp song is “Flea Fly”.  In Marty’s free time he likes to listen to live music and cheer for his beloved NC State Wolfpack!

Katie Block- Assistant Camp Director

Katie has been with Camp Chief Ouray since January of 2011.  Before she joined the CCO team Katie worked for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga as the Director of Youth and Teen Services and served as the Assistant Camp Director of YMCA Camp Ocoee. Katie is a graduate of Elon University with a degree in Human Services.  Her favorite things about camp are theme weeks and the camp dance.  Her favorite camp song is “Chili Chili”. In her free time, Katie likes to hang out with people and listen to live music.

Andrew Klingler- Leadership Training Programs Director

Andrew has been at camp since he was 10 years old, participating in traditional camp, then working his way through the LTP program, and now honored to serve as the LTP director. He has many years of outdoor experience, from climbing the Austrian Alps, to sea kayaking in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, to serving as a trip leader for CCO! Andrew loves everything about the outdoors. His favorite thing about camp is the silverware. In Andrew’s spare time he enjoys reading Car and Driver Magazine, and drinking lots of coffee.  

Jeni Ellis- Camp Registrar

Jeni first came to Grand County to spend one winter as a ski bum.  She never left, she worked for Snow Mountain Ranch from February 1989 until June of 2007. She left the YMCA of the Rockies for 4.5 years but missed the mission and the energy.  Jeni has been with Camp Chief Ouray since October, 2011.  She is still an avid skier, both Alpine and Nordic.  Along with all the local outdoor sports and activities, Jeni enjoys crocheting hats.  “The best part of camp is checking first time campers in, all wide eyed and shy.  Then at the end of camp sending them home all confident and sassy.”  

Meredi Corder- Kitchen Manager

Meet Camp Chief Ouray’s Kitchen Manager, Meredi Corder.  This will be Meredi’s second summer with us.  She is currently in her 14th year working as Lead Cook for the East Grand School District just down the road in Granby.  Check out this recent article in the Granby newspaper in which she is mentioned about the challenges of providing healthy meals for students.
 
If you’ve ever eaten at the Longbranch restaurant in Granby and ordered pizza, chances are that Meredi made it.  She was their pizza chef for 13 years.  Meredi also just recently graduated from Colorado Technical University with her associates degree in Business Administration, all while working for CCO, the school district and the Longbranch. 
 
On check-in days each Sunday this summer feel free to stop by the kitchen and meet Meredi or her assistant, Justin (also in his second summer working in the CCO kitchen), particularly if you have questions about special/allergy diets.