Laurie Johnston-Garner 
Executive Director
Email: LJ
Laurie “LJ” Garner has been the Executive Director of Camp Carter since May 2000. She has a degree in Recreation Management from UNT and is a member and past section president of the American Camp Association. LJ decided to be a camp director at the age of sixteen and has gone to camp every summer, except one, since age seven. She has a passion for children and camp and truly believes the world would be a better place if everyone got to go to camp at least once in their lifetime! Her claim to fame is that she was the Houston High School Archery champ (but won’t tell you the year!). She is the owner of “Big Sam,” the resident black Labrador and Assistant Camp Director.
Donna Stanton 
Business Manager
Donna was born and raised in Fort Worth, she has been working here at camp since 2000, working as the business manager. She takes care of all finance, payroll, scholarships and overseas registrations. As a child Donna went to Girl Scout camp. She has also worked for Camp Fire and a local hospital in administrative support. She is married to her wonderful husband James , and the proud Mother of two children, Danny, currently going to UNT to be a psychologist, and Samantha, also in college, who has grown up as a Camp Carter camper and now works as a counselor during the Summer. Donna’s passion is her children and music. She is certain that camp has helped to mold her own children into the wonderful young adults they are today. Camp has taught them to be independent, compassionate people and believes each child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in our outdoor environment.
Karen Roseborough 
Equestrian Director
Karen is the Equestrian Director for Camp Carter. She is Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) level two certified in Western and Trail and was previously an instructor at our Equestrian Center. She has been a horse owner and lover for twenty years and currently owns five horses. Karen enjoys camping, archery and most outdoor activities. Karen’s biggest fear is swimming in the ocean because “there are things in it that can eat me!"
Amelia Blenderman
Outdoor Education / Aquatics Coordinator
Amelia Blenderman joined the Camp Carter YMCA staff in May 2012. She brings with her a wealth of professional experience, having worked for the Fairview Lake YMCA camp in her home state of New Jersey and in other organizations in OE programs. Amelia also has a double major in Wildlife Conservation, Agriculture and Natural Resources from the University of Delaware. Amelia is looking forward to growing and fostering the great OE program at Camp Carter!
Nathan Hulcy 
Outdoor Education/ Aquatics Coordinator
Nathan Hulcy, who goes by Mr Dude at camp, is the Outdoor Education (OE) and Aquatics coordinator and also Camp Carter’s challenge course Manager. Born and raised in Texas, he has been working at Camp Carter since 2007. He enjoys camping, hiking, canoeing/ kayaking, snowboarding and pretty much anything outdoors; “life is too short to spend it ‘inside’”. He loves being able to get kids out of school and bring them to the "outdoor classroom."
David Hagel 
Retreat Coordinator & Camp Can-Do Director
Originally from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, David has been working at camp for 4 years now. David attended St. Paul College where he graduated majoring in Watch Making and Repair, after which he spent 1 year studying under a master watchmaker and still works on watches in his spare time. David is also a graduate of the Voyageur Outward Bound School, where in 2001 he attended a semester odyssey. This involved 3 months learning how to professionally teach low impact camping and wilderness travel while canoeing in the boundary waters of Minnesota, and sea kayaking on Lake Superior in Canada. This is David’s 16th year working for the YMCA in some capacity and is currently working at 4th YMCA camp. His favorite job while working in YMCA camping was as a trips guide. He has guided canoe trips through the Superior National Forest of Minnesota and the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan. David is also a folk musician that records in Minnesota, and is hoping to put out his first album soon! He strongly believes YMCA camping helped shape who he has become and wants to give the same positive guidance to others.
Tonya Grabiel .jpg "Tonya 2")
Food Services Coordinator
Tonya, originally from a small town in East Texas, has been working here at camp for 3 years. Upon graduating from High School, Tonya attended Mission Beauty Academy where she received her Cosmetology license. Tonya has two teenagers that keep her extremely busy, especially with all the High School sports. She loves working at camp, as not only does she get to know the parents upon registering their children for camp, but she also gets to see the children throughout the Summer. Tonya says, that she enjoys being able to see the fun children are having and the smiles on their faces while she's at work!
Ciaran “Charlie” Donohoe .jpg "CD")
Marketing Intern
Ciaran, pronounced “Kieran”, was born and raised in London, UK. Both his parents are from Ireland and immigrated to the UK in the 1980’s. Ciaran graduated with a degree in marketing from Brunel University in the summer of 2010. For the duration of his degree he worked for TNT, a European logistics firm, and was also a member of, and helped to organize his university boxing team. He returned to the states in April 2011, where he then worked as an Assistant Day Camp director during the 2011 summer session. He is now working full time as a marketing intern at camp. He says his reason for choosing to return to camp, is due to the rewarding nature of the job, working towards something that has a positive impact on people’s lives, and also to develop experience and skills in this industry.