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 Executive, Summer Camp Director, Leadership & Trips Director and Business Manager. 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.

Michael Ohl – Executive of Camp Chief Ouray

Mike is no stranger to YMCA Camp – he comes to us from Akron, OH where he was part of YMCA Camp Y-Noah for 15 years and got his start as a part-time Outdoor Education Instructor! He has been with Camp Chief Ouray since late April 2015.

Mike loves to keep active both physically and mentally (which is great, ‘cause he and his wife Kyle have two young children) and knows that the mission of the YMCA and the impact of camping programs on future generations is immensely important.

Jeni Ellis– Business Manager

Jeni came to Grand County for just one winter to learn how to ski. She never left. Jeni has been with Camp Chief Ouray since October, 2011. Along with all the local outdoor sports and activities, Jeni loves to crochet hats. “The best part of camp is checking first-time campers in all wide eyed and shy, then sending them home all confident and sassy.”

Alison Lum – Summer Camp Director

Alison is excited to join the CCO team, bringing over 12 years of youth development and YMCA experience with her. Serving as Senior Program Director at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin and Camp Birkett Director at the Ann Arbor YMCA, Alison is passionate about the mission of the Y and helping youth learn, grow, and thrive in a safe environment. Hailing from Michigan, she is in awe of the mountain scenery and wildlife CCO has to offer! She loves the outdoors and is looking forward to exploring Colorado. Her first day was January 6, 2021 and she is very excited to be part of the future of Camp Chief Ouray.

Kelvina Doss – Leadership & Trips Director

Kelvina has been on many adventures leading up to this one! Most recently she has been teaching outdoor education on the ancestral land of the Southern Sierra Miwok in Yosemite National Park. She has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine and a master’s degree in Agricultural and Environmental Education. Kelvina is thrilled to join the Camp Chief Ouray team in this role and begin her career with the YMCA. Mentoring and leadership development have been valuable in her efforts of helping youth build confidence and make lifelong connections to the natural world around them. Kelvina is eager to be back in Colorado and begin creating new memories. Kelvina will start at CCO the week of March 15 and we are excited to have her join us!

Chad Fossen – Head Cook

Chad started in the kitchen way back in 2016 and has been a fixture every year since. You may see him in his Chef gear, or his chain mail for Medieval Week, we don’t know what to think but we know we will have great food and an entertaining atmosphere in the dining hall!