Our Team
ALLOW US TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES...
Our staff are well trained to mentor and guide in all aspects of camp life, from developing skills to engaging in conversations about life and faith. We are here to serve you!
Brian Burtchett joined Pioneer Pacific as Executive Camp Director in 2008. He and his wife Kaycie have been involved in Christian ministry with teenagers and young adults for over 20 years in the United States and Canada. For eight years they served with King’s Kids in the Netherlands, a sub-section of Youth with a Mission (YWAM). They have taught and led groups of multinational young people across Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and North America. Team building and relational discipleship are the strength of Brian and Kaycie’s ministry.
The Burtchett family came to Canada in 1997 at attend Regent College where Brian completed a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology in New Testament Studies. Brian and Kaycie have five children. They live on Thetis Island from June to September and in Vancouver the rest of the year.
Email Brian: [email protected]
Year-Round Staff Team
John and his wife Andrea grew up in Grand Prairie, AB and moved to British Columbia in 2002. They joined Pioneer Pacific’s team in 2009. John has attended both Peace River Bible Institute and Briercrest College, where he studied Outdoor Leadership. John and Andrea have been involved in camp ministry since their teens, serving with Scripture Union Camp in New Zealand. They also worked at Camp Qwanoes, BC, where John was part of the camp maintenance team and oversaw the boat driver team and Andrea was assistant to the Director of Staffing. John and Andrea live in the Hawley House on the camp property, with their three children.
Mirjam joined our team in 2017 as the main cook for the summer and as the administrator during the rest of the year. Together with her husband and three children she volunteered at camp in 2016 and fell in love with the work and the community of Pioneer Pacific. As a sixteen year old exchange student from The Netherlands, Mirjam lived in the States for a year and joined the local Young Life group in high school. The unique approach to fun, faith and fellowship was nothing like she had ever experienced before. She knew in her heart that working for this kind of ministry was her calling and 18 years later this dream became reality. It should be no surprise that her passion for food combined with her formal education in international management makes her a wonderful addition to our year round team.
After growing up in Vancouver, I spent almost a decade serving in camp ministry while studying and travelling as much as possible. This all led to a move to Ontario where I married my beautiful wife, Michelle. Our first few years of marriage were spent in Ontario where I worked as a PSW and helped lead drop-in programs at a local youth center. In 2015, while leaning into my growing passion for youth ministry, the Lord led us back to Vancouver where I served as the Student Life Coordinator at a local Christian secondary school, and Michelle works as a nurse.
Since being back, I have had the privilege of being the speaker for Edge Camp and it has been a fantastic journey getting to know Pioneer more and partnering in ministry. We are excited to dive even deeper into this community! In the end, I love Jesus, and I want to share that with others. I look forward to growing in this community as I serve and lead.
Harrison spent the first 12 years of his life living at a camp! He also has many years of ministry experience at camps, both as summer staff and 4 years in year-round positions. He is married to his beautiful wife Alli, who grew up going to Pioneer Pacific and eventually was on summer staff there. They are both from Alberta, but they have always loved going out to the west coast. Harrison has recently finished his Bachelor of Commerce from MacEwan University with a major in management and a minor in accounting. Alli has been a teacher for the last 7 years. The goal of their ministry, and life, is to create space for people to connect with God, others, and themselves.
Each year, Pioneer Camp welcomes many young adults to our Summer Camp programs to teach, guide and support campers and oversee activities. These dedicated youth are the most valuable resource that we have. Positions available vary greatly but the same commitment and hard work is necessary for all.
We look for energetic young people who have a heart for God and who are willing to give of their time and energy to be models and mentors to the many campers who come to Pioneer Camp. Check out Summer Staff & Volunteer opportunities below.