Meet the Staff
Our resident staff team is made up of full-time and part-time employees, but in the ministry of camp our work and personal lives often overlap. You will often find spouses or children working in and around the camp at all times of the year. It is a joy to have such a committed staff who have all been called to Bear Lake Camp for this season to serve as a team.
Monty Harlan - Executive Director
Monty has been Director at Bear Lake Camp since 1992, when he was hired as BLC's first full-time employee. During his tenure of leadership at BLC, Monty has seen God strengthening the impact of this ministry by expanding our summer camping program from 4 weeks to the present 8 weeks, implementing the Summer Staff and Service Crew program, the expansion of the Dining Hall, cabin renovations and other construction and renovations to the facilities, the birth of a vibrant community ministry, and the addition of two additional full-time staff positions - Camp Manager in 2000 and Program Director in 2013 - and various part-time positions over the years. He can't wait to see what God is going to do next and see more lives impacted for the Kingdom through BLC's ministries.
Monty, an ordained minister, holds a B.A. from Taylor University and an M.Div. from Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Monty and his wife, Janette, have four children; Ben (Karli), Abbey (Jake), Rebekah (Connor), and Caleb (Rachel). Janette is also very active in the camping, retreat, and community ministries at BLC.
Ben Harlan - Director of Camping Ministry
Ben has grown up around camp and has been a part of the summer staff in a variety of ways over the years. Ben's gifts in programming and leadership, as well as his in depth knowledge of a camp's inner workings make him a great asset for our team. He coordinates a large portion of the summer program in conjunction with our other resident staff. The addition of his position came at a time when camper numbers were at record highs and will allow for the growth to be accommodated effectively. Ben is passionate about students growing in Christlikeness and providing space, tools, and pathways for them to interact with Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Ben and Karli have two boys; Cooper and Owen, and a daughter, Annie.
Ben received his B.S. from Taylor University in 2013.
Jared Yorke - Facilities Manager
Jared brings years of experience and skills that will be vital to maintaining and improving the camp facilities as well as an excitement to invest in the lives of our campers and staff. After working in appliance repair and owning his own business in Ft. Wayne, IN, Jared and his family have sensed a clear call to transition into vocational ministry at Bear Lake Camp. Beyond overseeing the care of the camp physical plant, Jared has a passion for mentoring and teaching young people that will be a wonderful asset as he leads our LIT program.
Jared and his wife, Emme, have 4 children: Judah, Solomon, Ephraim, and Jubilee. He is an avid apiarist, keeping several hives and harvesting honey; a versatile musician; and a lover of Honda engines.
Karli Harlan - Food Service Director/Guest Group Coordinator
Karli joins the BLC staff team after being around camp for the last 15 years! From being a member of the BLC Summer Staff while attending college at Indiana Wesleyan University to being a "staff spouse" for the last 10+ years, Karli is well acquainted with the mission of Bear Lake! Karli's role at camp is to oversee all food service for BLC (building on a long tradition of "camp food is the best food") and rental programs and to ensure that all of our guest groups throughout the year have an exceptional experience at BLC from the first inquiry email to the (hopeful) rebooking for the next event. When she's not busy at camp, Karli loves being a mom to her three kids: Cooper, Owen, and Annie as well as discovering new and delicious foods that she enjoys sharing with others.
Karli earned her BSN from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2014.
John Scheiber - Communications Manager
After growing up as a BLC camper and attending Bear Lake Ministries, John served as a videographer and counselor for several summers and has a huge love for the ministry of Bear Lake Camp.
John now joins the Year-Round Staff with a desire to tell the story of camp through digital media. If you've seen some of our weekly recap videos in the last several years, chances are John was the creator! You will find him managing our socials, creating more content that will help share what God is doing at BLC, and helping with our worship music.
Trent Grable - Treasurer
Trent is a life-long Bear Laker who has occupied nearly every summer role the camp has to offer: camper, lifeguard, games director, worship team member, counselor, and even Service Crew (which was LIT before that was actually cool). Having done the young folks' work for years, he now handles the books and various administrative tasks because he’s "old and tired" (his words). These days, he serves as Bear Lake Camp's Treasurer, handling the demi-HR and financial tasks that keep the camp's operations turning.
When he isn’t ensuring the tax man stays happy, Trent is a Business Analytics Professor and a bit of a nonprofit finance nomad. He serves as a Financial Deacon, sits on the financial board for Winebrenner Seminary, and is the Innovation Grant Director for the CGGC. Despite the fancy titles, his goal remains the same: ensuring every dollar is managed with the transparency and stewardship necessary to point people toward maturity in Christ. Trent and his wife, Kayla - a fellow camp veteran - are currently raising four future lifelong Bear Lakers.
