Message to the Four Winds Community
Dear Friends,
Many times in my time at Four Winds, I’ve seen a camper or staff member take a deep breath before performing at Evening Fire, having to settle the nerves a bit, even though they know their audience is the most supportive in the world. I’m taking one of those breaths in now.
I’ve decided that the summer of 2027 will be my last as the Executive Director of Four Winds. Though I love this place deeply, after 22 years, it’s time for new chapters, both for Four Winds and for me.
Twenty-six years ago, I took a job as a trip leader at another camp, in what I thought would be a no-big-deal summer. That summer was transformative, as summers at camp often can be. It led to a decision that could have certainly been interpreted at the time as rash: to try to make a career of working with young people in the outdoors. Four years later, I came to Four Winds as the Assistant Director, and then became the Executive Director five years after that. Four Winds is the place that allowed me to make my crazy dream come true, and I’ll be forever grateful.
Beyond that, I’m grateful for the friendships I’ve made here and the trust that so many of you have placed in me. Four Winds and Orcas Island have become our family’s home. Linda and I got married here; we had our daughters here and raised them. I can’t imagine a better place to call home. The warm, thoughtful, generous interactions I’ve had with members of this community over the years are boons beyond measure.
One of the best things about Four Winds is that, as a nonprofit, we have no owner. Instead, camp belongs to our whole community. That ownership comes with a responsibility for stewardship on all of our part. I’m proud to have been one of those stewards, but I’m far from the only one, past, present, or future. Current stewards will grow, new ones will emerge, and Four Winds will thrive long into the future.
Below, Charlie MacPherson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, will share an update about the Board’s plans moving forward. The Board and I have been working quietly on succession planning for some time now, and I’m confident that the Board will do a wonderful job in managing this transition.
For now, I look forward to continuing in my role through our centennial celebrations and the summer of 2027, and to being a member of this community forever.
Warmly,
Paul
Announcement to Community from Charlie MacPherson, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Dear Four Winds Community,
As Paul has shared above, he has decided to step down as Executive Director at the end of September 2027. We are deeply grateful for all that Paul has contributed to Four Winds and for the passion and care he has brought to his work each day.
Paul came to Four Winds in the winter of 2004 as Camp’s Assistant Director, and became Director in 2009. Under Paul’s leadership, Four Winds has consistently offered summers filled with moments of simplicity, creativity, and community. Alan Schulman, a Lifetime Adviser and Board Trustee for more than 20 years, commented, “Having worked closely with Paul for more than a decade, I believe he rightly belongs in the company of great Camp Directors, along with Ruth Brown and Mike Douglas, whose visionary leadership has transformed Camp over the past 100 years into the jewel it is today.”
With an eye toward development and training, Paul has strengthened the mentorship of the counseling program, impacting at least 800 young adults. When Camp faced its first summer closure in history, Paul successfully navigated us through the summers impacted by Covid through sound fiscal management and robust health and safety procedures. Diana Wiegel, Chair of the Board at that time remarked, “In early 2020, no one could have anticipated a global pandemic on the horizon. But when it hit, Paul got to work. He researched every detail and, working alongside government health officials and our own community, created a plan to safely reopen camp in 2021. Paul’s professionalism, resilience, and creativity during this time made all the difference.”
In recent years, Paul has overseen significant infrastructure improvements, including a recent $3.5 million capital campaign, to ensure Camp is prepared for its 100th year and beyond. Four Winds has benefited greatly from his leadership at Camp, both on Orcas Island through the Orcas Island Community Foundation, and with professional camping organizations nationwide. Paul has exemplified that while there is “no magic in the dirt,” there is magic in steady and committed leadership. With Paul’s departure, we are also saying thank you to Linda and their daughters, Emma and Elizabeth, for their many contributions to Four Winds. Linda, especially, has worn many hats in her role as Special Projects Manager over the years.
Evolving Our Leadership Structure
With Paul’s departure, the Board of Trustees has taken the opportunity to reflect and evaluate the leadership needs for Four Winds going forward. To best position camp for the future, the Board is adding a new Camp Director position that will report to the Executive Director. The new leadership structure is as follows:
- The Executive Director will lead the overall strategic direction and financial management of Camp and the nonprofit organization.
- The newly formed Camp Director will be the primary leader of the summer camp experience.
With that change, we are delighted to announce that Diana Huff has been promoted to Camp Director beginning September 2026. Diana joined Four Winds in 2024 and has become a trusted leader within our organization. Diana has demonstrated a passion and ability to motivate summer staff and engage with campers in all facets of their daily camp life. Please join us in congratulating Diana on this well-earned promotion.
We believe this new structure will allow us to steward Four Winds into the next 100 years.
As we embark on the search for a new Executive Director, we are grateful for the consistent support of Diana and other members of the year round staff, including Daphne Opperman (Family Experience Manager), Macie Swanson (Program Director), Caleb Weichert (Head of Maintenance), Joe Goldsmith (boatwright), Ciaran Willis (Development Director), Kelly Percy (Carlyn Captain), and Sibu Xaba (Groundskeeper).
When you see Paul throughout the next year, we hope you will join the Board of Trustees and Lifetime Advisors with a hearty “Han ska leve” for his wonderful work on behalf of Four Winds.
With tremendous gratitude,
Charlie MacPherson
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Announcement to Community from the Search Committee
The Board of Trustees has engaged CampHire to guide a national search for the next Executive Director of Four Winds. CampHire is a search firm that partners exclusively with camps and youth-development organizations, bringing experience guiding leadership transitions at camps nationwide. They will lead the effort to recruit top talent to Four Winds.
The search is co-chaired by Board members Thomas Russell and Ann Felton. Other search committee members include board members Dave Baker, Becca Wellington, Madison Kaplan, Jeff Winkler, Emily Glass, and Charlie MacPherson.
We are confident that this process will attract exceptional candidates who share Four Winds’ mission, values, and love for Camp. We will continue to keep you updated as the search progresses.
To read the Executive Director job description, please click here.