ABOUT

Friends of Kaleo, Inc. is a non-profit organization organized by former staff, former campers, missionaries, pastors, nurses, families, local community members, and people who love Camp Kaleo. Our mission is below:

Friends of Kaleo seeks to sustain the ministry of Camp Kaleo Retreat Center through fundraising, promotion of a discipling/learning environment, and support to campers and staff by investing resources towards efforts which enable the vision of Kaleo.

This organization has been years in the making. Starting in the late 90's, a group of former staff got some groundwork done by creating a newsletter and opening a bank account for membership dues. Due to the busyness of life, the group just stayed in the 90's.

Camp Kaleo has always had a brotherhood and sisterhood relationship, so people kept in touch, donated to different things, and volunteered, but there was never a simple way to do it all.

Fast-forward 25 years, and a new generation, in conjunction with the old one, saw the need for this group. They witnessed how willing people were to donate to different causes and volunteer for events; they just didn't have an avenue to do that.

That is why Friends of Kaleo was established. This is a one stop shop for donations, a member directory, an annual homecoming event, and more. All in order to support Camp Kaleo.

We all love camp and believe that Jesus changes lives there. In the first few months of incorporation, the group has already been able to donate a drink cooler for the camp store, and give towards camper scholarships. We are so excited to see how God continues to use this group to further His plan of camp.

We hope that you will be a part.

FRIENDS OF KALEO BYLAWS

BYLAWS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Check out the Board of Directors for 2023-2024!

ICEMAN (Jim Strickland)

President

Iceman served on staff at camp for five summers, 1989-1993. He served in the roles of counselor, Adventure Coordinator and Program Coordinator.

He went on to work at Centrifuge Camps for four summers while being a science teacher and attending
graduate school. He has served as full-time staff at SAMBICA Camp and Conference Center in Bellevue,
WA and also at Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, NM.

Currently, he is the ER Nurse Manager at Jasper Memorial Hospital in Monticello, GA.

BONGO (Hope Castillo)

Vice President/ Communications

Bongo served on staff from 2010-2014. She was a volunteer in 2010, and then full time 2011-2014. She served as a daycamp staffer, Daycamp Director, and the occasional overnight counselor.

It was at Camp Kaleo that she received her calling of what to do with her life, which led her to GCSU, to major in Outdoor Education, and then to Savannah, where she lives with her husband, Armando, and daughter Isabella.

She and her family enjoy coming back to volunteer at camp any chance they get!

SKY (Jason Duke)

Treasurer

Sky served on staff in 1990.

After camp he began a full time ministry serving on church staff. He served over 20 years as an associate pastor and now an elder. Early on with his degree in accounting, he found a role in helping churches with their nonprofit accounting. It has now become a full time business.

He and his wife have been married for 31 years and have 4 children and a grandson.

WIZARD (Zach White)

Secretary

Wizard Kaleo served on staff for the summers of 2008-2012. He served in the roles of counselor, Adventure Coordinator, and Program Coordinator.

He currently works as a structural engineer in Sandy Springs, GA at a small firm that he’s been at for 10 years.

He looks forward to each summer when he can visit camp to meet the new staff and fellowship with them and other former staff alike.

Yabba (Jason Strickland)

Board Member

SWIFT (David White)

Board Member

Swift was a camper at Kaleo from 1992-2004, and served on staff from 2005-2008. He served in the roles of counselor and Adventure Coordinator.

He met his wife Dori, while serving on staff in 2008, and they, with their family are living in Virginia, while Swift is serving in the Marine Corps as an Aviation Logistician.

ROCKO (Ed Barnes)

Board Member

Rocko served at Kaleo from 1989-1993 in the roles of counselor, Unit Leader, and Adventure Coordinator. During this time, he sensed a call to vocational outdoor/camp ministry.

After marrying Amy in 1994, he and Amy attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and served at Centrifuge Camps during those years. Upon graduation, he has served at Camp Highland, Wahsega 4-H Center, Ridgecrest Conference Center, and Pinnacle Retreat Center.

Rocko and Amy live in Old Fort, North Carolina, and Rocko is the Workplace Safety Supervisor for the Ridgecrest Foundation.

DORI (Mallory White)

Board Member

Dori served on staff in 2008, the inaugural summer of daycamp.

She met her husband, Swift that summer.

She is currently a homemaker and is so thankful to have that opportunity. The family is part of a NAMB church plant in Stafford, VA where there are many opportunities to engage with Military members who are stationed in the National Capital Region as well as Afghan refugee families who have recently moved into their area. Quite literally, God is bringing the nations to their church and it is exciting to be a part of what He is doing.

VIPER (Josiah Helms)

Board Member

Viper was a camper at Kaleo from 2002-2009, and served on staff from 2010-2013. He served in the roles of counselor (cabin 1), Camp Craft Coordinator, Unit Leader, and Program Coordinator.

He currently works as Manager of the Process Excellence Group for SCA Health in Birmingham, AL where he lives with his wife Maggie, and two young boys – James & Mack.

He looks forward to the day when he can bring his boys to camp along with the continued opportunities to visit camp each year.

ABOUT

FRIENDS OF KALEO BYLAWS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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