|

Sky Lodge
Christian
Camp
Where
Relationships
Take Flight
| |
Hello!
Thanks for learning more about our staff. We're a team that loves
Jesus, loves people and loves working at Sky Lodge. We have many
different qualifications and training – but here's the deal – we
really
enjoy kids!
So
read about us, pray for us and keep trusting your precious kids to
Sky Lodge – we'll treat them like they are ours!
Steve Hankins
Executive Director

Steve Hankins
Executive Director |
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.
|

Bill Moyers
Assistant to the Camp Director |
I moved to Montello
in December, 2000 with my wife, Renate and 2 girls. Before moving to
Montello, I was pastor of a church in Madison, Wisconsin, and was
assistant pastor in Seattle, Washington before that. I am an ordained
Elder in the Free Methodist Church. Renate and I met at Greenville
College where I graduated in 1983 with a degree in Youth
Ministry/Psychology. 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|