Lee and Vanessa Strappello

Lee has served at Camp Mantowagan full-time since May 2005 and grew up at camp working summers and breaks at camp during college.  He graduated from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, with both Business Administration and Marketing majors and a Biblical Studies minor.  Lee is the Executive Director, which includes planning and strategizing programming, projects, philosophy, and the future of camping and retreating. Lee also serves as the Business and Facility Director which involves improvement of the camp property, managing camp finances; leading programming such as rock climbing, canoeing, challenge course, and mountain biking; and creating communication tools such as newsletters and brochures. Vanessa works as an RN in a hospital setting but enjoys helping out at camp when she is able. Ness brings a sensational sense of humor and charm to whatever task she sets her mind to, whether that’s drywalling her house or blowing leaves at camp. National Park adventures are high on the list of likes for Lee and Ness.

Rick and connie Strappello

Rick has served at Camp Mantowagan since God led him to camp in September 1977.  He was the Executive Director of Mantowagan for over 42 years. He is a graduate of Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, with a BA in Bible.  Rick worked at the YMCA of the Rockies in Colorado for a summer.  Then he arrived at Camp Mantowagan after it had its first two weeks of summer camp in 1977.  Since then, the camp has grown to be used year-round and has challenged thousands of students and adults to follow Jesus.  Rick is now the Retreat Director, coordinating the 30 to 40 retreat groups.  In the summer he manages the kitchen staff, purchases food, and oversees the volunteer nurses.   Rick likes to read, hike, kayak, snowshoe, travel and spend time with his wife and grown children in Charlottesville, VA, Seattle, WA, and Houghton, NY.

Connie is a follower of Jesus and Rick's wife.  She has been at Camp Mantowagan since September 1977.  While living at camp she taught their four children--Jessica, Carina, Lee, and Larissa--at home for 19 years.  During that time Connie was the camp photographer and summer camp registrar.  Since 2003 she has been the counseling director and store manager.  In 2009 she became the camp Facebook administrator.  Connie enjoys being in the outdoors, whether it be hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, or photographing God's creation.  She loves visiting and traveling with the family, time in the kitchen, and reading in front of the fire.  

Joe & Kate Salyards and family

Joe serves as the facility specialist. Joe and his wife, Kate, have felt a desire for a long time to serve in camping ministry and in the Spring of 2018 decided to follow that call. Joe served as a truck driver in the past but is excited about serving at Camp Mantowagan. Joe and Kate live on site at camp with their four daughters. Joe spends his time on facility maintenance and upgrades, groundskeeping, and cleaning. Kate jumps in with cleaning and wherever else she is able. Raising four kids is their highest calling and Kingdom work through the ministry of Camp Mantowagan is a bonus.