Jamie Jo here! The Alumni Questionnaire is one of the things that I am most excited about on the new Kanakuk Alumni website. (If you haven’t signed up yet, it only takes a few seconds here.)

I can’t wait to hear about all of our Alumni’s favorite memories and about their lives since Kanakuk. The questionnaire will serve as just a little snippet of a bigger story to be explored.

Once you fill out the questionnaire, I’ll be in touch for more information. Maybe you have a great Kamp story, or your life since Kamp has been unique and exciting! Some of you may have so much to say not related to either, but your heart for our Alumni could translate into a blog post that inspires us all. The sky is the limit, and I am so excited that I have a small hot air balloon through this Alumni Questionnaire to meet you in the sky!

To get things started, below are just a few Questionnaire samples that will lead to Alumni Spotlights and/or blog posts this spring. Maybe you remember one or two of these people!

Chuck Sullivan

What are some of your favorite Kanakuk memories?

“Dustys” with Spike White. I loved Spike sharing the “I’m Third” message, camping with Rocky Ford and meeting Uncle Bill Lance and Pardner!

How did your time at Kanakuk change your life?

Great memories of better more simpler times

What are you doing now that you would like to share?

Starting a new career after 40 years in energy. Reflecting on what I learned running around in shorts and tennis shoes teaching kids about sports, Christ and life early on. I draw on those lessons to this day.

What are you most proud of in your life since Kanakuk?

My marriage of 43 years, two fantastic daughters that were counselors at Kanakuk Colorado and two awesome grandsons who will attend Kanakuk!

Tell me about your favorite Kamp friend or staff member.

Joe White and Spike White were great mentors. I loved Darnell and Pardner. Enjoyed working with Big Jim – the Caretaker/Carpenter. All wonderful souls.

Bradly Willet

What are some of your favorite Kanakuk memories?

Cabin devotionals as a Kamper and as a counselor; serving as Choctaw Chief, the energy and excitement of opening day, trips

How did your time at Kanakuk change your life?

I became a follower of Jesus at K-1 when I was 11 thanks to the teaching, my cabin mates and my counselors. It has been something I have carried with me after each term there as well as throughout my life. I owe much of my ideas of discipleship, digging into the word, praying with friends and living out the ideals of Kanakuk in my daily life. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.

What are you doing now that you would like to share?

I am currently living in the Washington DC area with my wife and son. After serving in the United States Air Force in the UK, I have continued serving our servicemen and women in the Department of Defense as a Program Manager over DoD acquisition programs.

What are you most proud of in your life since Kanakuk?

Serving my country in the military and striving to know the Lord more and more each day.

Tell me about your favorite Kamp friend or staff member.

Just one!!? This is so hard! There are so many great stories to tell and such fond memories I have of so many people. One of my favorite memories of staff members would be my Choctaw Medicine Man – Todd Harris (Auburn). He really stepped up to support what I was trying to do to encourage the guys in the tribe but then really stepped up to encourage me and used some “tough love” to ensure my eyes were focused on what mattered. Kris Cooper was similar. Having served under “Coops” for a number of years I was encouraged by his energy, his dedication to his family and the way he approached life. He was someone who would bat for you, pray for you, cry with you, and joke with you all in the same day!

Amy McNamara

What are some of your favorite Kanakuk memories?

As a Kamper, I loved it all!! The parties, K-Life, Sunday mornings, the lake, the friendships, dance specialty, and I have to admit….the boys! I loved that I was blessed to have Kamp friends all over Texas and other parts of the country. Many of us would get together through out the school year.

How did your time at Kanakuk change your life?

I remember as a young child at K-1, asking Jesus to live in my heart during church on a beautiful Ozark Sunday morning. As a counselor during my Baylor years, I was blessed to be on staff for the first summer that Kids Across America opened. After that summer I changed my major to social work and I am a social worker to this day!

What are you doing now that you would like to share?

I am a social worker with a mater of counseling with Symetria Recovery, a substance use disorder facility in College Station, Texas. I have 2 sons who have both been Kampers. My older son, Tanner, pitches at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. My younger son is a Junior in high school and will be Cherokee Chief at K-2 this summer while I will be a nurse helper at K-West.

What are you most proud of in your life since Kanakuk?

My 2 boys!

Tell me about your favorite Kamp friend or staff member.

My favorite friend that I was in Super Deal with is Stefani Marshall. She was Kiowa Princess and we got together at each other’s homes for a few years. So many amazing staff members that include Kay Holiday, Joe White, Keith Chancey, Ward Wiebe, and Stefan Moore!

Cale Dowell

What are some of your favorite Kanakuk memories?

I learned to be a man at Kanakuk. I learned how to make things happen and get things done. To serve others. To go above and beyond, and be a leader. It’s been foundational to my life.

How did your time at Kanakuk change your life?

Our leadership team at K-2 — amazing times. Standing on top of Cardiac Hill with Joe dreaming about a giant slip and slide. The next year, it happened! Having so many meaningful conversations with the kids.

I was on leadership at K-2 during pivotal years. Joe was there for me when my family fell apart, and when my dad became a drug addict and lost everything. Fast forward, and my father is on his last leg. COVID has been excedingly challenging for addicts everywhere, and my dad was no exception. This lead to multiple strokes, and he’s currently in the hospital likely in his last days. Having amazing people around me, not the least of which are long-time Kamp friends, through this decade long experience has been such a blessing and a privilege.

What are you doing now that you would like to share?

My wife and I live in Houston, TX, and are now taking our kids to Kamp via K-Kauai. When our oldest turns 6, she’ll be headed to K-1! I run a wealth management company that manages about $500mm in client assets. We’ve modeled it after a lot of Kanakuk principles, and every Wednesday, we have a team devotional and optional prayer. The power of presence is a big part of what I learned at Kanakuk. And we try to pay that forward to our clients: to be present in their lives. My wife and I serve on a number of boards, and are striving each day to raise our kids by staying on our knees.

What are you most proud of in your life since Kanakuk?

My family. We’re breaking off strongholds and starting a new family tree.

Tell me about your favorite Kamp friend or staff member.

Has to be my old K-2 leadership team: David Liggitt, Shay Robbins, Adam Donyes, Don Ford, Brian Wang, Kevin Harrison, Hunter Lee, Brad Musso, Pat Dodd, TK McKamy, Will Heydel, Jared Kolter, etc. But I also remember my first counselor at 7 years old — “Cheez” Denard. Kamp legend!