Kooch-i-ching People Kooch People Leadership Trustees People are the essential ingredient of the Kooch experience. We have an outstanding program and top-flight facilities, but it is people—young and old, new and experienced—who provide the magic that makes Kooch the special experience that it is. 2008 Kooch-i-ching Staff (click for larger version) Our staff is one of the very finest in the world of camping. In maturity, professional standing, sincerity of purpose, length of service and genuine interest in young people, Kooch-i-ching's staff is unequaled by that of any other camp in the country…without exception. The overall staff to camper ratio is 1 to 4.5. For the Prep Unit the ratio is 1 to 3. Most of our staff members first came to Kooch-i-ching as campers themselves. They return as adults to help new generations of Kooch campers experience the same fun, adventure and growth that they experienced. Kooch-i-ching draws its campers from all over the United States and the world. In 2008, for example, our camper group included young men from 25 states and 5 foreign nation. Most Kooch campers attend for more than one summer. Our return rate is typically 70 percent. Many campers have been with us for four or more summers and every year there are at least four or five young men who are in their seventh or eight summer. Leadership Steve Heinle became Kooch-i-ching's 10th Director in September, 2005. He served as Kooch-i-ching's Associate Director from 2000-2005. Steve grew up in Columbus, OH, began his Kooch career as a camper in 1978, served on the staff while in college, graduated from Wittenberg University, spent 9 years in the business world, and joined Kooch's year round staff in 2000. He, and his wife, Kara, reside in Cincinnati, Ohio with their daughters Katherine and Madeline and son, Charlie. J.R. Verkamp joined the full time staff as Associate Director in September 2006. J.R. works with Steve on recruiting and staff development, while serving as Program Director during the summer. J.R. began his Kooch career in 1987 as a camper, worked as a cabin counselor amd most recently, as Junior and Intermediate Unit Head. Originally from Cincinnati, J.R. had been residing in Denver, CO teaching multiple grade levels. He and his wife, Tenney have moved Cincinnati and have an adorable daughter, Sidney. return to top Trustees Edward Betz - Sr. Emeritus Bill Brewer Stuart Cohn Kathy Dix - Director, Ogichi Daa Kwe Steve Eha John Grate Lon C. Haines Hugh Haller - President Steve Heinle - Director, Camp Kooch-i-ching Tim Heinle - Sr. Emeritus Tom Martella Lee Potter-Murray Jeff Patterson Jim Shook George Simmons Will Slade Jay Stoehr Richard Thompson Janet Vandenbark John Wildman Jeff Wilson return to top