Steve Hankins has been serving at Sky Lodge since April of 1984. He comes from a family of 4 brothers and 1 sister, all of whom live in the Chicago area. As Steve says, he’s the only one who escaped the city! Steve and Terry were married in 1977 and have two grown daughters and 1 granddaughter.

Steve graduated with a B.A. in Physical Education/Recreation. He is also qualified as a certified emergency response/first aid instructor, lifeguard instructor, and certified in teaching DISC personality types.

Before Steve got involved in camping, he was an electrical tradesman. Outside of his Sky Lodge camping experience, he served as maintenance director at a Wisconsin camp and as session director at various camps.

Steve has attended camps since he was 8 years old and has not missed a summer without some type of camping experience. In his senior year of high school, he recommitted his life to Jesus at a teen camp. That experience and the strong friends developed at camps was a big factor in deciding to enter Christian camping.

Steve says there are two ways to look at why he has invested his life in camp ministry – scientifically and spiritually.

Scientifically, just do the math! A kid spending a week at camp means that there will be 96 waking hours around a godly counselor, in creation, with scripture, Bible verses and songs! That is almost 2 times more experience than a kid will spend in Sunday school. Camp provides so many opportunities to grow and stretch.

Spiritually, while he has seen hundreds of campers take their relationship a step farther with God, he has also seen dozens of kids' lives who were radically changed and restored through their time spent at camp. To Steve, Christian camping is one of the best tools for our local church.

Outside of camp, Steve enjoys action adventure movies, hanging out with his wife, reading (all types of books), golf, hunting and paying for college and weddings!

Terry Hankins
Camp Secretary

I have worked at Sky Lodge since April of 1984.  I am married to Steve Hankins, the Sky Lodge Executive Director.  We have two grown daughters.  Our girls loved growing up at camp with a pool, horses, and lots of excitement!  Helping in the Hitching Post (our snack bar) was a favorite activity.  To them, it was playing store!  They are now grown up and on their own.  Our oldest daughter is engaged.  The other is married and they have the most beautiful, sweet, smiling baby girl you’ve ever seen!  (That’s “Grandma Talk” from a very proud Grandma!)

My choice to work in Christian camping is due to the great experiences I had as a young camper and on summer staff as a teenager.  I’m glad to be part of something that was so influential in my spiritual growth.

Christian camping has been very important to me ever since I was an 8 year old camper.  I loved camp!  I loved the new friends, my counselors, the cabin fun, swimming, horseback riding, crafts, games, and chapel times.  I loved the energetic songs with the guitar; I loved the speakers who were aimed at my age group.  I loved everything!  I kept going back year after year.  Some of the summers, I was even able to go to a couple of different Christian camps. My church also took our Junior/Senior High youth groups on some exciting winter retreats at camp. 

A turning point in my life happened at camp when I was 16 years old.  I worked on summer staff at one of the camps I had attended as a child.  That summer was an eye opening experience for me.  I had a concentrated time (6 weeks) of working with other Christian teenagers and adults.  It gave me a lot of time for growing and learning through Bible studies, prayer times, and just having the examples of Christian leaders and other teenagers who were committed to Jesus.  I rededicated my life to Jesus that summer. My summer staff experience is the reason why I am a huge supporter of our Zone Summer Staff Program.

I also met a handsome lifeguard that summer named Steve Hankins who was also on summer staff.  Steve and I were married two years later at the ripe old ages of 18 and 20.  We lived Chicago and continued to volunteer time at camp.  In the summer of 1981, we had the opportunity to serve on the staff at Phantom Ranch Bible Camp.  It was supposed to be just for the summer, but turned into two years at camp.

God led us to Sky Lodge Christian Camp in 1984.  We looked at several camps, but felt God’s leading to Sky Lodge.  We are thankful for His direction and care.  It has been a great experience to serve Him through Christian Camping at Sky Lodge.

My hobbies are quilting, sewing, reading, walking, and spending time with my husband.  And of course… playing with my beautiful granddaughter!

Brian Hulka
 

Brian has been at Sky Lodge since March of 2000.  He and his wife Annie have 2 grown sons, and one other who still lives at home. 

Brian had lots of good maintenance-like experiences under his belt when he came to camp.  He was involved in woodworking for 22 years.  He also did work in general maintenance and carpentry.  

A family had once invited the Hulkas to a family camp where they attended for 10 years prior to coming to Sky Lodge.  It was then that they began to open their eyes to what God does through Bible teaching camps, and here they are, 9 years later.       

Brian and Annie wanted to be a part of the work God is doing to change lives for Christ.  They weren’t sure what area they wanted to serve in, whether it be camps, schools, or missions.  After a year of seeking the Lord and praying, they sensed God’s leading to Sky Lodge.

When Brian isn’t around camp fixing things up, he likes to spend time with Annie, his sons, his one daughter in law, and a “to be” daughter in law.  He loves commuter bicycling, and even does it when it’s very cold outside!  In warmer weather, he enjoys water skiing.  He also enjoys volunteering time at his church.

Sky Lodge Camp is where I attended camp as a teen, and where I have had significant, memorable, live-changing encounters with God. Working at camp, I enjoy watching God work in people’s lives. Watching God change lives never gets old or stale, but it is exciting being involved in God’s work here. Though groups may only attend once a year, after years of attending, we build relationships with the leaders and some of the youth.

When not at camp, I invest time making improvements on our house. I also enjoy watching my girls in sports, and relaxing or shopping with my family.