Our Team

Steve & Jeanette Balzer

Managing Directors & Youth Camp Program Team

The Balzers know first-hand the impact of Christian camp and believe strongly that camp changes lives. Jeanette attended Stayner and Mishewah growing up, and later worked at Mish in various roles throughout her teen years. Steve attended Camp Kakeka as a child and was also a counsellor at Mishewah for a summer. Steve & Jeanette met while attending Emmanuel Bible College and have worked together in children’s ministry for over 40 years. They directed Trail of the Pines at Stayner Camp for 12 years and began directing kids camps at Mishewah in 2006. In 2018, they stepped into their current role as Managing Directors. Camp has played a significant part in the lives of the entire Balzer family: Steve & Jeanette have four adult sons and two daughters-in-law who love camp, and they are Gran and Pops to two granddaughters who love camp too! Steve & Jeanette love to share about camp: if you are interested in having them come and visit/speak at your church, youth group, or other event, please visit our contact page and get in touch.

Heather Brose

Head of Food Services

Heather fell in love with Mishewah many years ago as a family camper. Fast forward many years to when she began cooking for the spring mission trips, which she did for seven years. This brought her loves of cooking and Mishewah together. Heather lives in Stratford, Ontario and has two children and 3 grandchildren. Heather has a seasonal site at Mishewah and loves to spend as much time as she can at her trailer every summer.

Erin Johns

Assistant Cook

Erin and her family first came to Mishewah for a week in 2017 as kitchen volunteers, and have been involved at Mishewah ever since. Erin has enjoyed being the supper cook for the last two years during family camp. She serves alongside her husband, Nathan, and their 3 children who all contribute by pitching in wherever help is needed. They are looking forward to serving together at camp this summer! The Johns family live in Sarnia, Ontario.

Chris & Sharon Jones

Youth Camp Program Team

Chris and Sharon have both been connected to Camp Mishewah for many years. They first met in 2006 while working together on Program Staff, and have played an essential role in our youth camp program for over a decade. Chris and Sharon are both teachers in Waterloo Region.

Heidi & Jonathon Sawatzky

Sr. Teen Directors

Heidi and Jonathon Sawatzky have directed Sr Teen for the past three years. They have loved the opportunity to work alongside an amazing team of leaders and counsellors to bring a week of fun, relationships, and Jesus to some awesome teens. They currently live in Kitchener with their daughter, Finley, who is already a big fan of camp! Jonathon works in tech support, Heidi works as an ECE in a kindergarten classroom, and together they work as the youth coordinators at their church Elevation, in Waterloo. They both have a big heart for camp and teens, and are excited to see how God works at Mishewah this summer!

Nathan Cashin

Winter Custodian

Nathan has been involved with Mishewah his entire life: attending the camps, on staff as a student, serving on the ECM board, organizing spring work days, and most recently, working as winter custodian. Nathan enjoys the beauty of Mishewah and how God works in the lives of the people that come over the years. Nathan is a carpenter, and lives in Pembroke with his wife Beth.

Verlie Koch

ECM Finance Manager
Verlie joined our team as the bookkeeper for ECM in 2005. Since then, she has also taken on other roles, including Camp Registrar for Youth and Family Camps. A gifted musician, she has also had the pleasure of leading worship at both Stayner and Mishewah. Originally from Newfoundland, Verlie moved to Hanover where she met and married Doug. They have 3 married children, and 6 grandchildren. Because Verlie works from home, she looks forward each year to visiting our camps to rekindle friendships and experience the spiritual refreshment that camp provides.