Meet the Team
Rockhaven Camp and Retreat Center is an outdoor ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Bozeman. All Board representatives are current members of FPC Bozeman. The Camp Director is the only full-time year-round staff member. Rockhaven’s summer Uncamp program is reliant upon exceptional summer seasonal staff, positions include the Camp Cook, Assistant Director, Lead Counselor, and Camp Counselors. Summer contracts begin in June and end in August.
Director
Chandler Joiner
As Director, Chandler handles all the primary responsibilities of organizational management. The Director oversees programs, guest services, property and facilities, and human resources at Rockhaven Camp. Chandler works collaboratively with the Rockhaven Board on long range strategic planning and implementation.
Chandler joins the Rockhaven community after four years serving as the Education Program Manager for a conservation and education nonprofit in Maryland. She received her dual degree in Environmental Studies and Religious Studies from Rhodes College in 2018 and is currently working toward her graduate degree in Science Education at Montana State University. Chandler is passionate about the transformative power of summer camp and strongly believes nature is one of the best places to find spiritual connection. Contact Chandler at [email protected] or (406) 451-7092. Her camp name is Copperhead!
Board Chair
Randy Larimer
Randy Larimer has been involved with Rockhaven since the late 1980’s as a participant, camper, volunteer, committee member, visionary and currently board chair.
A message from Randy: “Rockhaven is a place where you can drop your cares at the gate, look up at Sheep Rock for inspiration and focus on camps and projects while making a difference in this unique location along the Gallatin River. Rockhaven is about relationships and God is at work through each individual that comes thru the front gate. It has been rewarding to have worked with so many people over the years to see Rockhaven grow to what it is today.”
Board Member
John Patterson
A retired Bozeman family physician, John has been a member of the Rockhaven Board since 2014. He and his wife, Judy, appreciate what Rockhaven has provided their own family and to whoever is blessed to be able to spend time there. Peace and connections with God, nature and others in a beautiful setting beneath Sheep Rock and alongside the Gallatin River.
Board Member
Dan Holland
Dan’s soul has long been nurtured by the spiritual healing available at Rockhaven. He has attended camp as an adult, his children attended summer camp as youth, and this summer a grandchild will attend Uncamp for the first time. Although Dan has been privileged to lead many worship services at Rockhaven through the years, he maintains God’s overwhelming presence can be felt just as strongly while performing menial tasks like pulling weeds in the shadow of Sheep Rock on a cool summer evening.
Board Member
Laurel Schlegelmilch
Laurel has been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bozeman for more than thirty years and has served on the Rockhaven Operational Board for the past eight years. Laurel enjoys the community Rockhaven provides and has fond memories from countless potlucks and vespers services over the years. She also loves hiking up Sheep Rock and looking out on the Gallatin River from the famous Rockhaven pedestrian bridge.
Board Member
George Haynes
Rockhaven has been a treasure for the Haynes family. Rockhaven provided a needed diversion from their busy lives and enabled them to develop lasting relationships with the FPC family.
A message from George: “I’ve found being on the Rockhaven Board as an opportunity to consider long-term issues, such as sustaining the camp, to short-term challenges, such as helping at work days to paint, pull weeds, and rake wood chips in getting ready for another camping season. As a FPC community, we’re blessed to have been assigned the responsibility of taking care of this treasure.”
Board Member
Lloyd Mandeville
Lloyd Mandeville was born and raised in Bozeman. He graduated from Bozeman Senior High School (Now Bozeman High School) in 1968. He graduated from Montana State University in 1973 with a BA in Music Education. For his Honeymoon with his wife Charlie of 50+ years, he interviewed for his first teaching job with one of the school board members in his horse corral while dressed in their best clothes. He taught music in various schools in Montana. Lloyd and Charlie moved back home to Bozeman in 1978 when Lloyd received his real estate license.
Lloyd was raised in the First Presbyterian Church of Bozeman. He and Charlie were married there and raised their family of two sons and a daughter in the church. Lloyd has many fond memories of the church family outings at Rockhaven. His love for Rockhaven has never faltered. Lloyd’s goal as a Rockhaven Board Member is to have as many people experience this thin place where Jesus comes to meet us.
Board Member
Emily reeves
Emily is a native Alabamian who moved to montana 4 years ago. Emily has been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bozeman since arriving in Montana. She is the newest member of the Rockhaven Board and is enjoying learning about Rockhaven’s long standing history. When she isn’t working as a registered nurse, she is exploring this beautiful area with her husband, 2 young sons and dogs.
Board Member
Suzanne Bratsky
Suzanne attended Vacation Bible School at Rockhaven when she was just nine years old and absolutely fell in love! She has been an avid supporter of Rockhaven since, joining the Board around the year 2000. Collectively, she has been a Board member for over 20 years. She enjoys helping in the kitchen and planning for camp. Her favorite thing to do on site is slowly walk across the pedestrian bridge and look for fish in the Gallatin.
2024 Summer Staff
Assistant Director
Andrea Knorr
Andrea comes to Rockhaven from St Louis, Missouri, where she is a special education teacher of 5 years. She fell in love with the freedom and fun of summer camp after working at Montreat Conference Center, in the North Carolina blue ridge mountains. There she found a love of mountains and hiking, made life long friends, and played like a kid again. She rarely turns down a good card game or book when camping!
Camp Cook
Aaron Blakeslee
Aaron has always had a fondness and fascination with food (growing, cooking, and eating). He has worked in many different restaurant concepts and is excited to be spending the summer exploring healthy and delicious food options. While this is his first summer at Rockhaven, he has spent 10 years as the Program Leader for grades 7/8/9 at a camp south of Big Timber.
Lead Counselor
Jlana Von rohr
I am a recent graduate with Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a focus in education. I have been working with youth for many years now as a swim instructor, lifeguard, and camp counselor back home in the suburbs of Chicago. My last four years studying in Florida allowed me to explore nature through hiking, water sports, and getting to know the critters of Florida through my work as a kayak trip guide through my school. I’m so excited to explore the state of Montana and continue my passion of education youth !
Lead Counselor
Zack "Buck" Pharr
Hello! It’s super awesome to meet you all. My name is Buck, and I have three summers as a camp counselor under my belt, including the 2023 summer at Rockhaven, which marked my third consecutive “last year as a camp counselor.” Try as I might, though, I just keep coming back to it, the most rewarding job I’ve ever had by FAR and one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, period. The positive impact on the lives of the kids and the community as a whole is tangible and beautiful, and there is no more profound garden of creativity, joy, and adventure in the world as Rockhaven. I have an academic interest in nutrition and psychology, and a hobby interest in songwriting and tree climbing, all of which reflect my love for the core values fostered at Rockhaven: simple, mindful, peaceful, playful. I can’t wait for another year of playing, singing, telling stories, and doing it all in the gorgeous state of Montana!
Counselor
Katie Riggins
Katie is pursuing a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology at Montana State University with the goal to one day become a marine biologist. Outside of her studies, she loves to trail run, ski, climb, swim, or do just about any activity that involves being outside. She is no stranger to the summer camp scene as she grew up spending almost all of her summers in any kind of camp you can think of. Katie loves the experience and forever memories summer camps provide kids. She is most excited to work at Rockhaven this summer as it is the perfect place for a kid’s camp to be with access to endless hours outside and looks forward to helping campers become excellent friendship bracelet makers. Her favorite camp game to play is gaga ball.
Counselor
Olivia Fletes
I’m from eastern Montana and I enjoy all things outdoors! In May, I will have earned my bachelor’s degree in biology. I love animals, being out in nature, and being active! Some of my favorite things about camp are making fun memories, experiencing God’s creation, and learning new things. A fun fact about me is that I play the piano and oboe!
Counselor
Delaney Laing
Currently an overnight camp newbie, I have led day camps since high school for many different age groups. I am excited to arrive at Rockhaven this summer, as I have never been out west before! Camp was one of my favorite things to do every summer growing up, and I am a huge camp song enthusiast. A fun fact about me is last fall I hiked 7km in the Welsh countryside with no map!
Counselor
JT Lewicki
Hi there! I’m JT Lewicki, coming in from beautiful Boulder, CO! Having graduated from camper status, I’m thrilled to bring my wealth of awesome camper experiences to Rockhaven this summer. The name Rockhaven speaks for itself so I can’t wait to be surrounded by majestic mountains and boundless adventure My favorite camp game? Without a doubt, it’s Infection, because of the versatility of strategies that can be employed to win!