Camp Leadership

Moving to live on camp property in 1997, Camp Director Nanette Baughman says camp is a “Family Thing.” When she took over the leadership of camp, husband Phil, took on the role as Operations Director overseeing all maintenance and upkeep of property as well as overseeing the kitchen and food operations of camp. Mr. Phil, as the campers love to call him, fits right in with his wit and vest for fun. Phil is now a teacher and basketball coach in White County, but he still comes to camp each summer to drive the camp bus for tubing trips and sing the “Buddy Song” with his camp family.

Their children, Daniel and Bekah, literally grew up at camp. Bekah was six years old their first summer of camp when she lived in Cabin Hillside the entire summer as a camper. Although she did attend other camps as well, she always did at least two sessions at Athens YWCO Camp and went into the Horseback Specialty Program when she was 10. She graduated from the CIT Program, and has been a staff member as well. She is in the nursing program at Georgia College and State University, and her mom has high hopes of having a permanent camp nurse in a couple of years!

Being only 10 years old when the Baughmans moved to camp, the first few years were a little strange for Daniel. He helped his Dad with a few chores around the property and worked in the dishroom, and as he got a little older, being at an all-girls camp wasn’t quite so bad! Camp is such a part of his life, he will be having his wedding reception at camp in the very near future.

Not only is Nanette an integral part of the Athens YWCO Camp & Retreat Center, she is active in supporting and promoting camping in general. She has been on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Section of the American Camp Associate and has served for several years as a member of the Council of Delegates to the National ACA. She still is an active part of the ACA and is a visitor who travels around and helps to accredit other camps for ACA.

Before taking over the helm of the Athens YWCO Camp, Nanette was an administrative assistant with the University of Georgia Athletic Association where she worked closely with event management for Gymnastics, Women’s basketball, and other women’s sports. Originally from the small town of Belton, SC, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in Journalism concentrating in Marketing/Advertising.

Camping has been a large part of Nanette’s life and history. She started attending camps at age 7. Camp Rawls was her first camp, and in a round about way, holds a tie to Phil & Nanette’s relationship. This is the camp where Nanette’s sister met Phil’s brother. They were both camp counselors there and this is how Nanette & Phil met. And, Phil’s mother was actually the camp director at Camp Rawls. That is where she met Phil’s Dad in the 1940s and they were married in the chapel at that camp.

So, camp truly is a family thing for Nanette. “All of the campers who come here become my girls. I love being in Atlanta or Athens or South Carolina and have a camper come up and give me a big hug, telling me how much they miss camp and can’t wait for the summer to get here. And I get a little emotional when I receive a call or email from a former camper (who had to grow up!) saying how much camp changed their life. So often I am told that the skills, talents, friendships and values they acquired at camp helped to create the person they have grown to be. And, that’s why we do what we do! It makes it all worthwhile.”

Kristina Lerch has been part of the YWCO Camp family since 1997. Beginning as a camper, she loved everything about camp and always jumped at the chance to share camp songs and stories with anyone that would listen. Kristina, along with her sister, Julia, continued being a camper until she was old enough to become a CIT. After graduating from the CIT program she became a cabin counselor in Dew Drop, Honeysuckle, and Cabin O. After spending a few summers as cabin staff, Kristina became the Outdoor Living Skills Director and Program Director followed by becoming the Assistant Director, her current role. Between her summers at camp, Kristina graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Mathematics Education.

She loves being at camp and working with campers of all ages- even those older campers that come for Father Daughter Weekend, Mother Daughter Weekend, and Wild Women in the Woods! One of her favorite parts of camp is all of the long lasting friendships that are created at YWCO. Kristina still keeps in touch with her friends from when she was a camper! She currently resides in Watkinsville, Georgia with her dog, Ella- that is when she isn’t at camp or on the road to camp. Kristina’s favorite camp activities are OLS and canoeing and her favorite night program is MTV Night.

As her father notes, "giving Kristina the opportunity to go to YWCO camp every summer was one of the best things we ever did, and we would do it all over again." And Kristina couldn’t agree more!