Camp Fire River Bend | Camp Tannadoonah

Council Staff

Amber M. Grundy, Ph.D.

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 worked on several different research programs, looking at parenting during the transition to adolescence, testing a new treatment for elementary and middle school students with ADHD, and an intervention program for first-time offenders in the Juvenile Justice System. In addition, she has been an adjunct assistant professor in the psychology departments at the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and Bethel College. She has taught Introductory Psychology, School Age Growth and Development, Developmental Psychology, Adolescent Development, Research Methods, and Statistics.

Amber has four campers who all love Camp T and Birch Lake – Avery (15), Elyse (12), Kieran (7), and Harrison (5). They live on Birch Lake, about a mile from camp, with their family.

Gabby Bittner

Camp Tannadoonah Director

Gabby was named the new Camp Director for Camp T at our 100th Anniversary Event in September 2021. Previously she served as  the School Year Programs Director. She has been involved with Camp since 2010 as a camper, counselor, and assistant camp director. She is so grateful to have the opportunity to work for the place that helped her become the person she is today.

Gabby graduated from Purdue University in December of 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Prior to working for Camp Fire, she worked at a child care center which nurtured her love for children. In her free time, Gabby enjoys spending time with her family which includes two golden retrievers, Harley and Stella.

Carmen Garcia

School Year Programs Director

Carmen joined the Camp Fire staff as the School Year Programs Director in October 2021. Carmen was a member of our 2020 and 2021 summer camp staff, and is excited to join the Camp Fire team full time. She oversees the After School programs at both Good Shepherd Montessori School and Sam Adams Elementary School. Prior to coming to Camp Fire, she worked in an early childhood development program in Kalamazoo.

Meghan Burmeister

Assistant Camp Director, Alumni Coordinator

Meghan is a native of Mishawaka, Indiana. She joined the full time Camp Fire staff in June 2024. Meghan was a camper and CIT at Camp T before joining our summer camp staff in 2013. Meghan taught Middle School science at Christ the King School in South Bend, IN before moving to London for two years to teach overseas. When she returned from London, she came straight to camp to join our 2024 summer team! Meghan will be our summer camp assistant director, as well as overseeing the After School program at Edwardsburg, and coordinating Alumni relations.

Brenda Wentzel

Camp Ranger / Facilities Manager

Brenda joined the Camp Fire staff as the Facilities Manager in November of 2021. Brenda graduated from The Ohio State University, and is originally from Grove City, OH. She and her husband are current residents of Edwardsburg, MI, where they raised their three children. Brenda loves to be outdoors. She oversees the Camp T property, maintaining buildings, making repairs, and making sure everything is running smoothly at camp!

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Young people want to shape the world.

Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are.

In Camp Fire, it begins now.

Light the fire within