Helping people draw closer to God!
Our Exceptional Team
At Phantom Ranch, our team is more than staff—we are a community of highly trained professionals dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment. Furthermore, each member brings years of experience, strong credentials, and a deep passion for helping others encounter Jesus. In addition, their combined skills and hearts for ministry allow us to serve with excellence and purpose.
Committed to Care and Safety
Because every camper, guest, and staff member deserves to feel safe, respected, and heard, we make care a top priority. Consequently, our team receives formal training in:
- Youth development and discipleship
- First Aid and CPR
- Mental Health First Aid
- Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
- Other advanced care responses
Through this training, we not only prepare for everyday needs but also equip ourselves to respond wisely and compassionately in more challenging situations.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Drawing from extensive experience with children and adolescents, our staff blends professional training with a heart for ministry. As a result, this balance empowers us to create a supportive, inclusive, and Christ-centered environment. Moreover, it ensures that every camper feels seen, encouraged, and cared for. Ultimately, our goal is to help every Phantom Rancher thrive—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
Olen Johnsen
Executive Director
Olen is a Phantom Ranch lifer! He was a camper in 2nd grade and then joined the summer staff in High School. After graduating from Trinity Western University with a degree in Biblical Studies, Olen was hired full-time and has worked every position at Phantom Ranch! While Olen has vast camp ministry expertise, he is still an eager learner. He became Phantom Ranch’s 8th Executive Director in 2016. Olen has expanded Phantom Ranch’s ministry and grown the year-round staff team from five to fourteen! He is a certified Climbing Wall Instructor and loves getting out of his office in the summer to drive the speed boat. He met his wife Amy while they were both summer staff. They homeschooled their 4 kids who all worked as summer staff while in high school and college. Olen leads a Bible study at his local church and has written and led studies for nearly every book of the Bible.
Dan Mayer
Program Director
Dan grew up in Upstate New York and joined the full-time staff in 2005. He earned a Bachler’s in Youth Ministry from the Moody Bible Institute and Master’s degrees in Discipleship Ministries and in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University. Dan’s previous camp ministry experience comes from seven years of leading summer camping mission trips with local missionaries for Native American kids in Canada. Dan oversees our year round and summer programs and our staff development and training programs. He is a certified climbing wall instructor, archery instructor, and trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Trauma Informed Care, and Mental Health First Aid. Dan is married to Krista and have 2 teenage boys who also work at camp. Dan teaches monthly chapels at Midwestern Christian Academy in Chicago and weekly elementary Sunday School classes at his local church.
Kelsey Klaus
Executive Assistant and Health and Safety Director
Kelsey first came to Phantom Ranch with her church youth group during one of our Winter Camps. She fell in love with Phantom Ranch and was hired as summer staff. She joined the full-time team in 2019. Kelsey is almost done with her Nonprofit Management degree from Colorado Christian University. She is a certified Lifeguard Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and is trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Trauma Informed Care, and Mental Health First Aid. Together with Krista, she oversees and leads the training in our Child Protection Policies.
Mike Doud
Facilities Director
Mike grew up down the street from Phantom Ranch. He worked on summer staff and joined the full-time staff in 2003. Mike knows all the ins and outs of Phantom Ranch. His creativity and knowledge have saved Phantom Ranch hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs, enhancements, and camp expansions. He has an Associate’s degree in Biblical Studies from Ethnos360 Bible Institute. He serves our local community as an EMS and at the local fire department. Mike met his wife, Millicent, while they were both on summer staff. They have 4 elementary-aged children. Mike preaches regularly at his local church.
Mark Green
Sales and Marketing Director
Mark served as summer staff in 2003 and was hired full-time in 2019 to oversee the booking of weekend retreats and enhance our Outdoor Education program. Mark has degrees in Journalism from Northern Illinois University, Education from Illinois State University, and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University. He has worked full-time at multiple camps and is married to Emily. They have 2 elementary-aged daughters.
Krista Mayer
Horsemanship Director and Summer Staff Relations Director
Krista was recruited to work as summer staff by Olen and then joined the full-time in 2003. She has a degree in Equine Science from the State University of New York Morrisville. She also serves as our Summer Staff Relations Director where she guides our summer staff toward excellence. She co-leads the training in our Child Protection Policies with Kelsey. Krista and Dan have two teenage boys who also serve at camp. She is on her church’s worship and tech team playing bass and keys.
Dan Yonke
Operations Manager and Volunteer Coordinator
Dan started working summers as a Cabin Leader in 2020 and then was hired full-time in 2021 as the Volunteer Coordinator, Retreat Host, and now oversees many of our day-to-day operations. Dan has grown our volunteer base to include individual teenagers and their friends, families, retired skilled laborers, whole youth groups, and church young adult ministries. Dan trains our summer staff in cabin cleaning, Dining Hall prep and reset, and in camper care. Dan met his wife, Meredith, while working as summer staff. Dan serves as a Youth Worker at his local church.
Elias Chohan
Program Manager
Elias started his camp journey as an 8-year-old camper. He grew up in Chicago attending Midwestern Christian Academy. His family moved to Texas when he was in middle school, but he kept spending his summers at Phantom Ranch. He worked as a summer staff Cabin Leader and then Staff Supervisor. Elias joined the full-time team in 2023 and works alongside both Dan’s. He is a retreat host and maintains many of Phantom Ranch’s fun programs. Elias is a Youth Worker at his local church and is a quarterly preacher at Mike Doud’s local church.
Travis Tetting
Facilities Manager
Travis graduated from Carroll University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. He taught in public schools for 3 years before he started homeschooling his three boys. Travis is a highly-recognized Parkour instructor and has worked with kids with different physical and emotional abilities. He joined the full-time team in 2022 with his wife Jenny. Travis supports the Facilities team with his vast vehicle repair knowledge and all the staff with his whimsical leadership style. Travis is a worship leader and disciples young men at his local church.
Jenny Tetting
Marketing & Communications Manager
Jenny earned a B.S. in Mathematics and worked for 12 years in different industries specializing in Marketing. She started volunteering as a wrangler because she also loves horses and later joined the full-time team in 2022. Jenny still works as a wrangler when she isn’t showcasing Phantom Ranch’s unique qualities online and on paper. Jenny is married to Travis and they homeschool their three boys. She loves working with children and discipling young ladies at her local church through worship and AWANA.
Tim Bast
Food Service Director
Tim worked many summers on staff while attending Crossroads College in Minnesota. He worked as a Cabin Leader, maintenance member, assistant cook, and summer Staff Supervisor. Tim was then hired as Food Service Director in 2019. Tim has a ServeSafe certification and loves to explore new recipes for campers with special dietary needs.
Tiffany Hendriks
Climbing Center Manager and Ski Boat Driver
Tiffany joined the summer staff team while a student at Emmaus Bible College. After graduating with a degree in Biblical Studies, she joined our full-time team in 2019. She is a certified Climbing Wall Instructor and lifeguard. In the summers, she splits time between teaching kids to rock climb and taking them tubing behind the speed boat. She loves to help wherever needed and has worked in nearly every position at camp.
Our Extended Camp Team
Thankful for Our Part-Time Staff and Volunteers
At Phantom Ranch, we are deeply thankful for the part-time staff and volunteers who make the camp experience possible. Their dedication not only supports our ministry but also helps create meaningful connections and lasting memories for every camper.
A Team That Enriches the Experience
Alongside our core staff, the extended camp team includes part-timers, volunteers, and family members. Together, they bring a wide range of skills that enrich life at Phantom Ranch. For example, some contribute through creative arts, while others share outdoor adventure expertise or specialized knowledge. Because of this variety, their combined efforts strengthen every part of camp and open the door to new opportunities for growth.
Committed to a Positive and Fun Atmosphere
Most importantly, this extended team shares a deep commitment to building a safe, fun, and supportive environment. Through their diverse talents and servant hearts, Phantom Ranch becomes more than just a camp. Instead, it grows into a Christ-centered community where campers feel valued, encouraged, and ready to grow in faith and friendship.
Chohan Family
Sajid and Lisa teach at Midwestern Christian Academy in Chicago and spend their summers at Phantom Ranch. Sajid is our videographer and is a Phantom Ranch Board Member. Lisa provides advanced camper care alongside the Program Team. They have 2 elementary boys and they both serve in a variety of ways at their local church.
Meredith Yonke
Meredith is married to Dan Yonke and works at the local elementary school in Special Education. She spends her summer teaching Phantom Ranch campers how to rock climb and provides advanced camper care alongside the Program Team. She sings and plays keys for her church’s music team and is a Youth Worker at her local church.
Laurie Hogan
Laurie lives down the road from Phantom Ranch and loves being able to work alongside her son, Mike Doud. She is a Head Cook and loves making “Grandma’s famous cookies” and other family-favorite recipes for campers and staff.
Mark Carstens
Mark is a Head Cook and loves being able to work alongside his daughter, Jenny Tetting. He came out of retirement to cook his specialty breakfasts! Mark enjoys flipping pancakes and making French toast for his grandkids and all the other kids in the Dining Hall. He adds a special “Grandpa touch” for all the campers and staff.
Roy Tanner
Roy was a summer camper for many years before working as summer staff in 1973. He retired as Phantom Ranch’s 7th Executive Director in 2016. Now, Roy and his wife, Anne, travel the Midwest serving as volunteers at a wide variety of camps. In the summer, Roy returns to Phantom Ranch as a Project Manager and to spend time with his grandkids.
Emily Green
Emily is married to Mark Green. While their children are at school, she works as a consultant for a local nonprofit. Emily maintains Phantom Ranch’s prayer team with monthly prayer emails.