“We consider our staff to be the most important ingredient to creating a safe and wonderful summertime experience for our campers. We select our staff with the utmost care.”
Who do we look for?
Our Stadd set us apart. They are chosen for their character, spirit, and skill. The majority have grown up attending camp and they understand the impact the have on the life of a child. Giving back what so many of them have freely received, our staff takes a strong personal interest in our campers, and often these relationships grow into life-long friendships. As a relational ministry, CKC values a “relationship-first” style, and we value staff with experience with relational ministries (like YoungLife, FOCUS, or SPO).
“The Staff’s maturity, insight, and good character is astounding. After every summer I am amazed at them and their entire program.”
– AB, a parent from Baton Rouge, LA
Health and safety are also of utmost importance to us. Many counselors have been in our skills programs for years and also undergo extensive pre-camp skills training to test their competence before our activities begin with our campers. Furthermore, they certify in Wilderness First-Aid and CPR, and our waterfront staff are Red Cross certified. Our infirmary is staffed by medical professionals around the clock during the summer. Safety is foundational to a happy experience for your child!
Heading our team are the directors, Jeffrey, Adam, and John Trufant. These brothers and their families are devoted to to carrying on the vision of their parents, David and Anne Trufant, and view the stewardship of CKC as their primary vocation and mission. They are also committed to bringing the Kahdalea and Chosatonga core values to life for each camper and staff member.
Meet the Pautlers
Meet the wonderful Pautler family! Dom and Hanna Draddy Pautler met at camp in 2021 and married later, surrounded by close community and friends from camp. With nearly 25 years of CKC summer and year-round experience between them, they are equipped to serve our campers and staff in an unique and powerful way. After serving as full time Program Directors from 2022 to 2026, Dom and Hanna are shifted into some exciting new roles to account for the growth in our camp community. Dom is stepping into our new “Groups and Tripping Director” role to support our growing outdoor and adventure programs, and Hanna as our “Staff and Camper Director” where she will continue to inspire and lead at Kahdalea with new emphasis on enhancing and elevating the community life at CKC. Their dedication to the mission of camp shows in how they live their lives and share their gifts, and we are blessed to have them on board!
Questions about Camp? Connect with Dom and Hanna about how your camper can thrive in our camp family! They are ready to serve you 🙂
Meet our Head Nurse
Meet our Head Nurse and year-round medical staff member, Tiffany Taulbee. She first came to camp as a Family Camper in 1991, then went on to be a Kahdalady in the late 1990’s, followed by being a camp mom for nearly 10 years and a staff member here at camp for the last 4 summers. Tiffany is whole-heartedly dedicated to Camp’s mission and loves bringing comfort to both camp families and campers as she helps them manage their health while they live their best lives at camp.
Meet our Office Administrator
Jennie Elzey Burkett was a Kahdalea camper in the 90s, a counselor for two summers in the early 2000s, and has worked in the camp office since 2012. For the past 15 years she has been involved in every aspect of the camp office, helping parents and staff to register, complete forms and arrange financials. She’s happy to answer any questions that come up–from payment plans to packing recommendations. Her now teenage boys have grown up at camp and been campers and Junior Counselors over the summers. Jennie loves camp and brings a unique breadth of camp experience with her, having been a camper, counselor, office staff, and mama to campers. Feel free to email her at office@twofuncamps.com, or arrange a meeting at: https://calendar.app.google/HmbyBvTvwiBmjRC46
Meet our Head of Kitchen
Julia Williams attended Kahdalea as a camper and staff member, specializing on our adventure staff as Head of Wilderness. Returning to our valleys as our Kitchen Director, Julia’s passion for fresh ingredients, care for our many resources, and a love for the local land are tangible – and elevating CKC’s culinary culture the more time she shares with us!
Meet our Directors
Jeffrey and Brigid Trufant live full-time on the property at Camp Kahdalea. Jeffrey is the Director of Camp Chosatonga. Brigid helps camp run smoothly in many ways, and, as a licensed clinical social worker with a child and adolescent specialty, supports camp operations part time. Jeff is a seasoned international adventure guide and has worked in Nepal, Ireland, Austria, Hawaii, and Glacier, Zion, and Bryce Canyon National Parks amongst others. Jeff’s strengths for designing quality adventure programs and challenging our campers out of their comfort zones create a camping environment like no other. Feel free to reach out to Jeff at jeffrey@twofuncamps.com or click the link below to schedule a call.
Adam Trufant is the Director of Camp Kahdalea. Adam has worked in the outdoor industry in Thailand, Nepal, New Zealand, and with various camps and adventure programs in the United States. His experiences working with YoungLife and Catholic campus ministries have impressed upon him the need for fun, care-free environments in which young people can grow. Adam has also led trips with CKC Staff to Switzerland, Italy, India (including several to Calcutta to serve alongside Mother Teresa’s order), Nepal, Mexico, Ecuador and Panama. Reach out to Adam at adam@twofuncamps.com or click the link below to schedule a call.
John Trufant is the Director of Sites and Facilities for both Camps Kahdalea and Chosatonga. John’s unrivaled knowledge of the National Forest surrounding CKC and our greater region makes him an invaluable companion on and off the trail. An accomplished outdoorsman, handyman, world traveler, and musician, John’s presence enriches the camp environment on multiple levels! He takes pride in making camp beautiful and building up a place future generations can enjoy. Enjoy John’s songs on Spotify and reach out to John at john@twofuncamps.com or click the link below to schedule a call.
David and Anne Trufant are the resident Directors Emeritus of Kahdalea and Chosatonga. For over 30 years Dave and Anne directed the camps and they raised their seven children there. Originally from New Orleans, both Anne and David grew up going to North Carolina summer camps where their passion grew for working with children and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When they married, David was an accomplished paddler and mountaineer and owned a successful commercial photography business. Anne, a clinical social worker, was active in youth and women’s ministries and helped open a home for unwed mothers where she was privileged to work with Mother Teresa. With their love for children and the outdoors, Anne and David were thrilled with an amazing opportunity in 1990 to fulfill their dreams of directing summer camps! Anne is also a renowned retreat leader and musician both in the US and abroad (learn more about Anne’s work with The Mission on the Mountain), and David assists with retreats and school outdoor programs.
Carrying on the work of their parents are Jeffrey, Adam, and John Trufant and their families.
