2025 Camp KIND Faculty

The Camp KIND faculty and support staff bring their lived and professional experience to their positions at Camp KIND. Each person has a passion for working with people with disabilities and their caregivers and has received training from both outside sources and Amigo Centre on a disability-affirming, person-first approach to care. Faculty and support staff undergo the same hiring process as summer staff: background and central registry checks, character and professional references, and an interview.

Em Hunsbaker

Camp KIND Director

Em Hunsbaker (she/her) is the Program Administrator at Amigo. Emily has worked alongside adults and children with disabilities during her time at camp, in church ministry, and through her work with Anabaptist Disabilities Network. With a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology, Em is passionate about nurturing faith communities where everyone belongs. At camp, you can find Em making friendship bracelets, looking for frogs in the lagoon, and drinking a lot of coffee.

Maria Hosler Byler

Youth Camp Pastor

Maria Hosler Byler (she/her) is lead pastor at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Elkhart, IN, and has previously served as pastor for youth and family faith formation as well as a social worker. Maria is passionate about helping people find their own way to grow in faith and use their varied gifts as part of God's reconciling mission in the world. She lives with her spouse and children in Goshen, where they enjoy reading, board games, and spending time outside.

Dawn Sjaarda

Family Devotion Leader

Dawn Sjaarda is a board certified music therapist who has worked with students in special education for over 20 years. She also is an environmental educator and enjoys dancing, baking, reading, and taking photos of flowers. She's been a camper, camp counselor, creative arts director, and worship director for nature camps, The Fowler Center, and The Church of the Brethren. She is excited that Camp KIND merges her professional and camp skills together.

Cindy Warner Baker

Caregiver Advocate

Cindy Warner Baker has professional training and experience working with individuals and families with disabilities, but her life experience as the mother of now adult children with disability- and mental health-related challenges has taught and shaped her most profoundly. She spent the last ten years focused on supporting caregivers by offering non-judgmental listening and assistance in advocating for the educational, medical, and social services they need. Cindy believes passionately that every individual deserves respect and the chance to use their unique gifts with those around them. She knows first-hand that caregiving is often a lonely, challenging, and exhausting task, and is grateful to be able to offer care and companionship to the Camp KIND caregivers and families. Cindy and her husband share life with one of their sons and his family as part of a three-generation regenerative farm family.

Mary Graber

Camp Nurse

Mary Graber is a mother of an adult with disabilities and has been a pediatrician for over forty years. She attended a family camp for people with disabilities as her daughter grew up, and she is excited to help provide the same experience to other families. Mary and her husband live in Elkhart, Indiana, where they spend their "retirement" volunteering for nonprofits that benefit their local and global community.

Lincoln Waltner

Hospitality Assistant

Lincoln Waltner is 35 years old and lives in Yankton, South Dakota. He lives in his own apartment and is visited by a staff person once a week for a check-in. Lincoln works at a gas station for 12-15 hours a week. He enjoys basketball and track & field Special Olympics events. Lincoln likes to enjoy life and try new opportunities and events.

Camp KIND Support Staff

Sarah Parcell

1x1 Camper Support Staff

Sarah has been involved with Amigo since 2016, and she has taught high school in Indiana since 2018, including a few unified classes. Sarah loves working with children and youth as they learn and experience new things. On her days off, you can find Sarah reading, cooking, sewing, or spending time with friends and family.

Katy Thornthwaite

1x1 Camper Support Staff

Katy is an Elementary Music Teacher in Elkhart, Indiana. This is her second summer at Camp Amigo, and she is so excited to work with and get to know the campers she is paired with. Outside of camp, Katy enjoys reading and anything to do with Taylor Swift.

Nathan Berkey

1x1 Camper Support Staff

Nathan is an orchestra teacher for middle and high schoolers in Elkhart, Indiana. He has been involved with summer camp at Amigo since 2018. When Nathan isn’t practicing his stringed instruments or nerding out about complicated board games, you can find him furiously itching due to his mysterious allergies.

Alisha & Chris Johnston

1x1 Camper Support Staff

Alisha has worked as an elementary school special education teacher for ten years, after many years as a summer staff leader at Amigo. Having helped start the Autism Day Camp program at Amigo Centre, Alisha enjoys supporting the disability-oriented programs that Amigo offers.
Chris is an elementary school teacher who enjoys working with children and helping them learn and grow. He has previous experience working as a special education paraprofessional, self-contained special education teacher in a classroom for students with emotional disabilities, and an early literacy interventionist. This is Chris's fourth year working alongside students at Amigo.
In Chris & Alisha's spare time, they enjoy playing board games, disc golf, and planning enrichment activities for their new baby.

Derrold & Peggy Waltner

Family Support Staff

As parents of children with disabilities, Derrold and Peggy have a desire to share their experiences with parents in similar situations.
Derrold is retired and enjoys reading and writing devotional materials of how he can allow God to work in his life and share His love with people.
Peggy has worked with people with disabilities of various ages for over forty years: this truly is one of her passions. Peggy’s family and church are important to her. Peggy and Derrold love being grandparents, too.

Jordan Smeltzer

1x1 Camper Support Staff

Jordan is an elementary school teacher and father of two children. With almost a decade of experience in education, Jordan enjoys equipping students with the tools they need to grow in knowledge and social skills. Jordan enjoys being outdoors, watching sports, and spending time with his family.