🌿 Meet the 2025 Nature Center Camp Crew! ☀️🦉
Summer is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to welcome a brand-new season of adventure, exploration, and unforgettable memories at Johnson Nature Center Summer Camp! With trails to wander, mud kitchens to stir, animals to meet, and songs to sing, we know it’s going to be a season filled with discovery and joy.
But what truly makes our camp so special? Our incredible staff. These are the nature lovers, bug catchers, animal whisperers, song leaders, and confidence builders who bring the camp magic to life. Whether they’re leading forest hikes, encouraging creativity, or simply sharing a silly joke, our team is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and wonder-filled environment where every camper can thrive.
We’re excited to introduce you to the 2025 Nature Center Camp Staff—a group of passionate, fun-loving educators and role models who can’t wait to meet your campers and help them connect with nature, new friends, and themselves.
Let’s meet the team! 🌞🌲🐾
🌳 Meet Ms. Lou – Nature-Loving Camp Coordinator with a Heart for Adventure 🌞
Hi! I’m Ms. Lou, your friendly neighborhood Camp Coordinator, and I can honestly say—this job fits me like muddy boots after a forest hike. I'm an early childhood teacher by trade, a natural educator at heart, and someone who’s been happiest outdoors for as long as I can remember.
I was born in Basildon, England, and grew up just down the road from Norsey Woods in Billericay. My childhood was filled with tree-spotting, wandering leaf-strewn paths, and belting out “If You Go Down in the Woods Today” at full volume. I’d hunt for the shiniest chestnuts to play Conkers or take home to roast over the fire with my family. Nature wasn’t just a backdrop—it was where my imagination lived and where my love for learning began.
My dad had a firm philosophy: the best experiences don’t come with creature comforts. That meant pulling off the road in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains or Appalachians, loading up what we could carry, and setting up camp under the stars. Those rugged adventures taught me resilience, curiosity, and that you don't need glamping when you’ve got a tent, a good campfire, and a handful of foraged mushrooms.
Now I live with my family on a horse farm in Rose Township, and every day I get to bring those same values—exploration, wonder, and deep-rooted connection—to my work at camp.
This is my second year as Camp Coordinator, and after 25+ years in early childhood education (plus years spent leading at MSU Tollgate Horse Camp), I’ve learned that the best learning happens outside—when kids are muddy, laughing, and don’t even realize they’re learning. My role lets me weave together everything I love: teaching, nature, animals, and building confidence in others.
What do I love most about working with kids? It’s their wild brilliance. One moment they’re asking profound questions about frogs or tree bark, and the next they’re giving a pinecone a name like “Sir Wiggleface.” They keep me grounded, inspired, and constantly entertained.
This summer, I’m most excited about that perfect mix of old and new—returning campers stepping up as leaders, first-timers discovering the forest, and our team growing stronger with every step down the trail. I especially treasure mentoring our amazing staff, helping them find their confidence and voice in outdoor education.
My goal? To make camp a place where every child and every staff member feels seen, supported, and inspired. Long-term, I’d love to help expand programs like this throughout Oakland County—so more children can experience the power of the outdoors and the growth that comes with it.
Working at camp is the ultimate win-win: I get to live out my passion, and my own kids get to be part of the magic too. One is returning as a teen Steward, the other is already packed for Creating & Climbing Camp—and you’ll probably catch them teaching horse tips on the side.
If I were an animal, no doubt—I’d be an owl. Calm, observant, and quietly wise. Like a true forest guide, I help campers and staff navigate their journeys with courage and curiosity—encouraging them to explore, reflect, and discover just how capable they really are.
My love for wildlife runs deep—I once raised a red-tailed hawk named Carl, who now serves as an education bird in Lansing-area schools, helping students connect with raptors and the ecosystems they depend on. And yes, I also had a flying squirrel named Geronimo who loved to leap around my house like he owned the place. These experiences have deepened my belief that every animal—and every child—has something unique to teach us, if we’re willing to slow down, watch closely, and listen.
Secret talent? I’m a confidence builder at heart—whether it's helping a shy camper find their voice, teaching a green horse to trust, or guiding a new team member into their stride. There’s nothing better than watching people (and animals!) grow into themselves, right here in nature.
🐦🌿 From Camper to Coordinator: Meet Alex, Our Nature-Loving Camp Leader! 🎒✨
If you’ve ever met Alex Delmotte, chances are she greeted you with a bright smile, a fun camp song, or a helpful hand—probably all three. As the Assistant Camp Coordinator at Johnson Nature Center, Alex brings nearly a decade of camp experience, a deep passion for the outdoors, and an unstoppable love for learning and leading.
Born and raised in Michigan, Alex spent her childhood in Shelby Township and Rochester Hills, eventually moving to Bloomfield Hills, where her journey with Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center began. What started as a one-week community service requirement in high school turned into a life-changing adventure—and she’s never looked back.
“Many people say Disney is the happiest place on Earth. For me, it’s here—on the 150 beautiful acres of Bowers and Johnson, where I found inspiration, purpose, and passion.”
Over the past nine years, Alex has worn many hats: volunteer, lead steward, camp counselor, and assistant coordinator at Bowers. This summer, she brings her energy and leadership to Johnson Nature Camp, where she’s excited to help create new memories in a new environment.
🧠 When she’s not organizing magical camp moments, Alex is pursuing her dream of becoming an Agricultural Educator. She’ll return to Michigan State University this fall to continue her studies in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education—with plans to earn her teaching certificate and inspire future generations through hands-on learning and environmental advocacy.
What makes Alex such a joy to be around? Her curiosity, warmth, and commitment to kids.
🌱 “Working with children keeps your own sense of childhood alive. They challenge us to learn, to adapt, and to reimagine the world around us.”
Whether she’s leading animal chores, fishing and hiking, or just goofing off with a game of Herman the Worm, Alex brings heart and humor to every moment. Oh—and ask her to say the alphabet backwards. She’s got that skill down.
🕊️ If Alex were an animal? “Definitely a Black-capped Chickadee—curious, cheerful, adaptable, and full of song!”
From cross-stitching and gardening to snuggling with her orange cat, Mac N Cheese, Alex makes life—and camp—a more vibrant, meaningful, and magical place. Her final summer in this role is sure to be one filled with wonder, wisdom, and a whole lot of laughter.
Thank you, Alex, for your years of service, smiles, and chickadee spirit. 💚
🌲🐴 Meet Breanne – Forest Explorer, Thoughtful Guide & Mud Kitchen MVP! ⛳📚
Say hello to Breanne Held, our compassionate and nature-loving Group Leader with Forest Friends at the Johnson Nature Center! Back for another year! Originally from Indiana, Breanne is now in her third summer helping young campers explore, wonder, and play in the forest—and she brings a beautiful blend of curiosity, kindness, and science-backed knowledge to every trail and tree stump.
With a Master’s degree in Forestry and a passion for early childhood development, Breanne is especially interested in how children connect with the natural world. Her dream is to pursue a PhD and become a research scientist studying how nature-based play supports child development and learning. Until then, she's bringing that big-picture thinking right into the forest with our littlest explorers.
🌿 “I love their curiosity,” she says of the kids. “The stories, the games, the way they discover something new in a stick or leaf—it’s magical. I learn just as much from them as they do from nature.”
When she’s not leading adventures under the canopy, Breanne is a Preschool Teacher at a private school with a farm, where she continues to nurture her love of animals, outdoor learning, and open-ended play. Her favorite camp moment? Playing in the mud kitchen and watching imaginations run wild!
🐴 If Breanne were an animal? “A trail horse,” she says. “I’d take each step of the trail slowly and intentionally, bringing gentleness and compassion to the kids in my group.”
Outside of work, Breanne loves hiking, reading, watching Charlie Brown, and playing golf—a sport that helped spark her love for being outside. Fun fact: She scored a hole-in-one in high school! ⛳👏
This summer, she’s most excited to return to the forest, reconnect with her campers, and continue blending her deep-rooted love for nature and education in the most joyful way.
🎶 Singing Through the Trees with Miss Megan 🌳
Say hello to Miss Megan—one of our awesome Forest Friends Counselors! Whether she’s guiding little explorers through the woods or leading a muddy masterpiece in the mud kitchen, she brings joy, patience, and a whole lot of camp spirit to everything she does. Known to campers as “Miss Megan,” she’s here to help make forest magic happen all summer long! 🌿🦋
When she’s not teaching Tree School at the Nature Center, you can find her gardening, leading camp activities, or cheering from the sidelines as a softball coach for her daughter’s team.
Megan’s heart for camp runs deep—some of her earliest jobs as a young adult were in summer camp programs. Now, as a parent, she’s seen firsthand the powerful impact that camp can have on kids. Her mission? To help give other children the same magical, confidence-building experiences she’s watched her daughter grow from.
Miss Megan’s favorite part of working with kids is witnessing their curiosity and wonder as they explore the natural world. Whether it’s spotting bugs on the trail or dissecting a owl pellet, she’s always ready to encourage hands-on discovery and joyful learning outdoors.
When asked what forest animal she’d be, Miss Megan smiled and said:
“A songbird—so I could fly and fill the forest with music!” 🎵
Her favorite camp tune? The Ants Go Marching, of course.
Her favorite camp activity? Playing in the mud kitchen and getting gloriously messy with her campers.
Miss Megan is a joyful presence in the woods and a dedicated educator who brings her classroom to life through the rhythms of the forest. We’re so lucky to have her as part of our Nature Camp crew for another year!
🌞 Meet Louis – Our Adventure-Loving Nature Leader! 🚲🛶🐦
Say hello to Luis Orellana, known around camp as Louis, one of our energetic and passionate Group Leaders at Johnson Nature Center! Originally from Brooklyn, New York by way of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Louis brings his love of the outdoors and a wealth of educational experience to our camp family.
When he’s not leading campers through forest trails or splashing into a canoe adventure, Louis enjoys cycling, kayaking, and rock climbing—basically anything that gets him outside and soaking up the sunshine. For him, spending the summer at Nature Camp is the dream: nature, fresh air, and curious kids all in one perfect place.
By day, Louis works in a K–12 Special Education setting, holding certifications in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Emotional Impairment. His passion for inclusive education and child development shines through in everything he does at camp. Long-term, he hopes to grow into a leadership role in Special Education, and this camp experience is just one more step toward that goal. Additionally, Louis is a dedicated swim coach for Bloomfield Hills, where he gets to inspire young athletes to reach their full potential in the pool.
What does Louis love most about working with kids? “Their inquisitive minds and their willingness to learn new concepts,” he says. Whether he's answering questions about forest critters or showing off his bird knowledge (he can identify over 20 local and regional species!), Louis is always encouraging campers to look closer and think deeper.
If he could be any animal, Louis would choose to be a barn cat—independent, curious, and with full freedom to explore (with a cozy nap spot or two, of course).
His favorite camp song? The “Campfire Song Song” from SpongeBob SquarePants 🔥🎶
Favorite activity? Canoeing, hands down.
Fun fact? See a bird? Ask Louis—he probably knows its name, call, and where it nests!
We’re so excited to have Louis as part of the 2025 Johnson Nature Center crew—he’s all about adventure, learning, and helping every camper feel right at home in the great outdoors.
