Miriam acosta
Director of Health Services
Miriam began her journey at Blue Lake in the summer of 2016 and served in a variety of roles including Cabin Counselor, Unit Director, and Assistant Bernstein Director. Miriam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at El Paso, and worked as a public school music teacher for several years. She is also a licensed EMT. As the Director of Health Services, Miriam hopes to make camp a healthy, inclusive, and growth-focused environment for campers and staff alike. In her free time, Miriam enjoys playing bassoon, reading, and exploring new places. Having moved to West Michigan from West Texas, she is in awe of the beauty that her new home provides, especially the snow.
Ariel Anderson
Lead Business Assistant
Ariel holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ferris State University and joined Blue Lake as a Business Office Assistant in 2018. Her favorite part of working at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is taking in its beautiful setting and enjoying the wonderful people who work here. Ariel has three children, two cats, and two dogs. Ariel is an active Girl Scout leader for two troops and Service Unit treasurer for the White Lake and North Muskegon area. In her spare time, she enjoys pool time with her family, home renovation, and snuggling with her fur babies while watching a good Hallmark movie.
Kim Bentley
Admissions Registrar & Front Office Manager
Kim holds the distinction of being only the third Admissions Registrar in Blue Lake’s 58-year history and the first to help usher in online registration. Kim comes to Blue Lake with twenty-four years of experience in administrative work within an educational organization. She holds two degrees from Baker College, most recently completing a master’s degree in Leadership. Within her work at Blue Lake, she enjoys knowing she is enrolling campers for a great learning experience and to better themselves in their art. She has two daughters and sons-in-law, two grandchildren, and three grand-dogs. When not at work, she loves family time and friend time, along with golf, bowling, softball, photography, and traveling to Florida.
Nick Brough
Network Systems Administrator
Nick Brough is Blue Lake’s Network Systems Administrator, providing leadership and consultation in IT, programming, customization, hardware, and web design. In other words, he is a magical wizard. Before he joined our administrative team in a full time capacity, Nick was on the summer counseling staff for eleven years with positions including Camp Bernstein Counselor, Unit Director, Camp Bernstein Director, and Associate Staff Director. He holds a bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a bachelor’s in Computer Science from Oregon State University. Outside of work, Nick is a sports fan who roots for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, and Fighting Illini; is an active guitarist; and enjoys a range of hobbies including music, movies, books, comics, and computer programming.
Caitlin Cowan
Director of International Tours
Caitlin is passionate about fostering life-changing arts and cultural experiences for young people at home and abroad through Blue Lake’s International Exchange Program. She arranges tours and host stays for Blue Lake’s traveling student ensembles and welcomes visiting guest groups and campers from our European hosting communities. A multi-year camper, she traveled with the 2003 International Youth Symphony Orchestra as a violinist. Caitlin also serves as the Chair of Creative Writing in the summer camp program. Caitlin holds a BA from the University of Michigan, an MFA from The New School, and a PhD from the University of North Texas. Her writing regularly appears in national and international literary journals and her first book of poetry, Happy Everything, is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press in 2024.
Richard Erne
Director of Arts Programs
Since first becoming a Cabin Counselor back in ’87, Rich has worked in many capacities at Blue Lake spanning four decades: Unit Director, Health Lodge Director, International Group Leader, Program Assistant, Conductor, Program Coordinator, and now Director of Arts Programs. Through it all, he has enjoyed working creatively in an arts environment to provide quality educational experiences for our campers. He holds degrees from the University of Louisiana and Michigan State University and is completing his 31st year of teaching at Reeths-Puffer Schools where he leads several middle school and high school ensembles. Rich has been married for 29 years with two wonderful children. When not working, you will probably find Rich enjoying the outdoors, or listening to all kinds of music and Chicago Cubs radio.
Joshua Farmer
Director of Student Services
Josh has been at Blue Lake every summer since 2007. He has served as a Cabin Counselor, Unit Director, Associate Staff Director, and Director of Health Services before his recent appointment as Director of Student Services. Josh holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University and worked as a public school music educator for several years before joining the full time staff at Blue Lake. He is also a licensed EMT. Josh is passionate about making camp a safe and welcoming environment of growth for staff and campers. He lives in a beautiful forest with his wife, dog, and two cats. He believes s’mores are health food and that Sasquatch is a wise and gentle creature.
Stacy Farmer
Development Coordinator
Stacy has always had a deep-rooted love for learning and the arts. Growing up in a family brimming with educators and musicians, she immersed herself in books, music, community theater, choir, marching band, and more! With a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a minor in Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University, Stacy served as an educator in Title I public schools for 12 years. Now, she combines her background and passion for education and the arts with her position at Blue Lake. Nestled in the woods, she finds joy in sharing her life with her husband, dog, and two cats. In her downtime, Stacy indulges in her love for books, coffee, doodling, and tacos.
Andy Lofgren
Vice President, Finance & Development
Andy Lofgren is the Vice President for Finance & Development at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Andy has a B.A. in Economics and Psychology from the University of Michigan and a M.S. in Public Policy and Analysis from Carnegie Mellon University. A native Michigander, Andy’s career has taken him to Washington, DC, and Kenosha, WI, before settling in Muskegon County in 2001. During his career, he has served in various capacities related to financial analysis and planning, as well as community and economic development at several public sector and non-profit organizations. Andy and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for 37 years. They have two human sons and one beagle son. While only a mediocre musician in his youth, Andy enjoys music from Beach House and Radiohead to Beethoven and Handel and is a loyal listener of Blue Lake Public Radio.
Rebecca Scouten
Business Manager
Bringing extensive experience in the areas of finance, management, and customer service, Rebecca has provided essential leadership and guidance within our business office since 2019. She also manages the Happy Camper, Blue Lake’s camp store and snack bar, providing Blue Lakers with a steady supply of camp essentials, ice cream, and hoodies. A lifelong resident of West Michigan, she loves hiking, running, bicycling, kayaking, and just being outside in general. She enjoys time with family and good friends, and believes that pizza is the perfect food. An avid listener of Blue Lake Public Radio’s jazz programming, her favorite part of working at Blue Lake is being part of a great administrative team.
Heidi Stansell
Vice President, Operations
Currently in her 32nd year as a member of the year-round team, Heidi has provided guidance and support within Blue Lake’s administrative operations for her entire career. Serving as Vice President for Operations & Finance for eleven years, with previous appointments focusing on development of the camper experience, arts programs, seasonal employment, and logistical operations, she holds the distinction of longest serving Camp Director in Blue Lake’s 58-year history. After having attended many summers as a camper, followed by eight summers as a seasonal employee (her first job was cleaning the pools), she now enjoys working to further Blue Lake’s mission for generations of students to come. She is a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees. Heidi attended the University of Michigan and is married with two great kids, both of whom continue as 4th generation Wolverines.
Belinda sterling
Music Librarian and Archivist
Belinda first began working at Blue Lake in 2015, and was on seasonal counseling staff for five seasons. As Music Librarian and Archivist, Belinda oversees the operation of the Kutschinski Music Library- where all music for the summer ensembles is prepared, manages the organization’s archives, and aids in managing Blue Lake’s Antique Musical Instrument Museum. She studied Music History and Piano Pedagogy at Ohio University and came to Blue Lake with a background in academic, music, archival, and public library settings. Outside of work, she enjoys watching Cleveland Guardians baseball, reading, and exploring with her dog, Hildegard. Belinda loves that Blue Lake is a place where much joy and growth is to be found, and loves to provide materials as a part of that process.
Terri Thomas
Registration & Scholarship Assistant
Brianne tyler
Executive Assistant, Summer Camp
Before accepting her new role as Executive Assistant for Summer Camp, Brie Tyler has been seasonally employed with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp since 2013. A lifelong learner, Brie is currently finishing her Master of Arts in English at Northern Michigan University. Brie has taken on the jack-of-all-trades route at Blue Lake: from being a residential camper and international choir member, to working as a music librarian and a receptionist, she’s seen quite a bit! More than anything, Brie believes in the mission of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp: providing a focused and fun atmosphere to learn while also inspiring passion for the arts in the next generation. On her days off, Brie enjoys snuggling her cat, playing video games, and going on road trips.
