Meet the 2026 Leadership Team: Preparing for an Amazing Summer

Behind every unforgettable summer camp experience is a dedicated team working year-round to make the magic happen. As we look ahead to Summer 2026 on Birch Lake, we’re excited to introduce the leadership team guiding our programs, staff, and facilities, and ensuring that every camper has a safe, joyful, and meaningful experience.

This group brings together deep camp roots, professional expertise, and a shared commitment to youth development, community, and fun.

Amber Grundy, Ph.D. (she / her), Chief Executive Officer

Amber has been involved with Camp T since 1985 as a camper, counselor, waterfront director, board member, and now full time staff member. She was the Camp Director from 2006-2017, and has served as Chief Executive Officer for Camp Fire since 2011. Amber earned her doctorate in Developmental Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Her research focus was on middle childhood and early adolescence. Amber has four campers who all love Camp T and Birch Lake – Avery (16), Elyse (14), Kieran (9), and Harrison (7). They live on Birch Lake, about a mile from camp.

As CEO, Amber provides the overall vision and leadership for our organization. She works closely with staff, families, and community partners to ensure camp remains a place where every child feels welcomed, supported, and inspired to grow. Amber’s passion for youth development and inclusive community-building shapes everything we do – from program design to long-term planning. Her focus is simple but powerful: creating camp experiences that change lives.

Lee Watson (they / them) – Assistant Director of Operations

Lee grew up in the Arizona valley, moving to Kansas City with their family at age 16, and a couple years later decided to embark on a new adventure in Michigan for the summer of 2023. That summer changed Lee’s life for the better and kicked off their love of the outdoors as well as a love for Camp T. They were hired as a counselor their first two years at Camp T and in between summers they worked at outdoor education camps including Camp Champions in Texas and Camp Nuhop in Ohio. In January of 2025 Lee was hired as program specialist in the office helping with miscellaneous tasks around camp and writing lesson plans, and a few months later they were hired as the Waterfront Director for summer 2025. After an amazing summer full of kayaks, campfires, and lifeguarding, Lee went back to Ohio for another outdoor education season. Lee is now an Assistant Director at Camp T. They’re super excited for the upcoming summer season! They’ve officially moved to Michigan with their 3 african dwarf frogs (Hugo, Quincey, and Concrete), a snail (Creamsicle), and a betta fish (Mercury)!

Lee keeps camp running smoothly behind the scenes. From logistics and scheduling, to staffing coordination and daily operations, Lee’s attention to detail ensures that camp systems work seamlessly so campers can focus on having fun. With a steady presence and problem-solving mindset, Lee plays a key role in making sure each summer day runs safely and efficiently.

Julianna “Jules” Rosling-Francisco (she / they) – Assistant Director of Programs

Jules grew up in Lafayette, Colorado with a lifelong passion for summer camp. She attended Girl Scout Camp starting at age 7. Through Girl Scouts she completed many summers as a Counselor-In-Training and was hired as a Cabin Counselor in 2018. Jules went on to hold many staff positions at a multitude of camps across the US. Sky High Ranch (CO), Camp Roger (UT), Camp Friendship (VA), Eden Village West (CA), Camp For All and Kin-dom Camp (TX). She graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreation Administration (emphasis in Non-Profit Leadership & Summer Camp Management). She lives with her hairless cat, Daisy Mae and her hobbies include making collages, collecting vinyl records, and going to the movie theater for the extra large popcorn.

Jules leads the heart of the camp experience: our programs. She works closely with staff to design engaging, age-appropriate activities that encourage creativity, confidence, and curiosity. Whether it’s arts, waterfront, nature exploration, or team-building, Jules helps ensure that every program reflects our values and creates space for campers to try new things and discover their strengths.

Carmen Garcia (she / her) – School Year Programs Director

Carmen joined Camp T in the summer of 2020 as a camp counselor and stepped into the role of School Year Program Director in October of 2021. She holds an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Southwestern Michigan College. Carmen has always known she wanted to work with children and youth, bringing years of experience, including time spent in her church nursery and five years as a preschool teacher. Carmen lives in Three Rivers with her husband and their three beloved pets, Hiccups, Queso Blanco, and Mrs. Fishy the Third. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, listening to audiobooks, coloring, spending time in nature, and being at Lake Michigan. 

Camp doesn’t stop when summer ends, and Carmen helps keep the spirit of camp alive all year long. As School Year Programs Director, Carmen oversees off-season programming at three school sites that continues to support youth, families, and community connections. Her work helps campers stay engaged, build skills, and maintain meaningful relationships beyond the summer months.

Brenda Wentzel – Facilities Manager

Ranger Brenda is the Facilities Manager at camp and the go-to person for keeping everything running smoothly and safely. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she grew up in Grove City, Ohio, and has spent over 20 years working in conservation and caring for outdoor spaces. Ranger Brenda has lived in Edwardsburg, Michigan since 1995 and is the proud parent of three adult children. When she’s not fixing, building, or maintaining camp facilities, she loves hiking, fishing, cycling, and spending time outdoors. She enjoys sharing her respect for nature and stewardship of the land with campers and staff alike —and helping make camp a great place for everyone.

Brenda ensures that our camp environment is safe, functional, and ready for adventure. From maintaining cabins and activity spaces to overseeing improvements across camp, her work provides the foundation for everything that happens on site. Thanks to Brenda’s leadership, campers and staff can focus on learning, playing, and connecting in a well-cared-for environment.

Looking Ahead to Summer 2026

Together, this leadership team is already hard at work preparing for an incredible summer – planning programs, hiring and training staff, caring for camp facilities, and building systems that support camper success. Their shared goal is to create a summer filled with laughter, growth, friendship, and memories that last long after the final campfire.

We can’t wait to welcome campers and families back to Birch Lake in 2026, and we’re grateful to have such a passionate team leading the way!