Jenna brings her quirky sense of humor to the horse program, and she ain't afraid to get dirty in the process!

Jenna was a horse crazy 11-year-old when she first started coming to summer camp and has been returning ever since then, as a camper, intern and camp staff. In 2013, she graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, with a BA in Studio Art, spent the summer working at camp, and then jumped on a sailboat from Seattle to New Zealand. Ask her about it sometime!

She has experience in the hunter ring and has been teaching riding skills to campers and lesson students for more than ten years. One of her favorite things about summer camp is watching campers' deepening connection with the horses and increase in self-confidence that comes hand-in-hoof with the riding and horsemanship skills.

In January of 2018, Jenna joined the year-round Ekone staff team and now calls the ranch home for four seasons a year!

Adela grew up on her family’s animal farm on Vashon Island where she met Liz, who smuggled her into summer camp in 2010! She has been coming back ever since. Adela can usually be found reading, climbing trees, hunting for treasures in the forest, or in the kitchen making mountains of sauerkraut. Her favorite things about living at the ranch are watching the land cycle through the seasons and being surprised by the unique beauty of every new day— it never gets old! She loves living far away from bright lights, silly noises, and beeping devices and is always excited to help kids learn how to have fun sans technology. She has felt very lucky to spend the past year living and volunteering at Ekone and will attend Amherst College in the fall.

Shonie first came to camp in 1994, because of a picture just like this one.

She first showed up at camp as a horse-crazy teenager, and began serving as the Executive Director of Sacred Earth Foundation and Ekone Summer Camps in 2009.  She lives full-time on the ranch and has a great passion for sharing this special land with children of all ages and inspiring earth stewardship.  Shonie has over ten years of leadership with Ekone summer camps under her belt, and brings her natural sense of responsibility, practicality, and FUN to the task.

Shonie has a degree in Community Development and Food Systems from The Evergreen State College.  She has a wide variety of professional experience in the non-profit, educational, and agricultural sectors, including serving as the Food & Farming Program Manager at Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, WA.  She is certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Her favorite summer activities?  "Watching the kids fall in love with the land and learn big life lessons from our patient horses."

Julia first arrived at Ekone in 2010 as a camper with a fascination and love for horses.

She came for the horses and stayed for the incredible people that make up the Ekone community. Julia is excited to be part of the horse staff and to learn from the other staff, horses and campers. She has ten years of riding experience in western and english riding that compliments her knowledge of Ekone horsemanship. She loves how Ekone’s horse program is focused on developing communication and trust with the horses and enjoys getting to know all of their unique personalities. Julia also loves leading chore crews, helping with bedtime and doing service projects.

When she isn’t at camp, she can be found running, cooking, backcountry skiing or backpacking. She is from Whidbey Island and will be attending Whitman College this fall as a freshman.

Her favorite Ekone activity is coming up with fun, creative challenges for campers to do on horseback!