Who We Are


Our People


Monte Torkelsen
Camp Director

Monte has worked at Big Lake Youth Camp for a total of 9 years, and has been Big Lake’s Camp Director since 2003. When not at camp, Monte loves watching his boys play basketball with his wife Darla, and is currently trying out the P90X system. He has worked in Youth Ministries as far as Australia, obtained his Masters of Divinity from Andrews University and is currently working on a doctorate.


Bob Palmer
Camp Ranger

As Big Lake’s longest running Camp Ranger, Bob Palmer has been of service to Big Lake Youth Camp since 1991, and is still going strong. Bob oversees winter management of Big Lake as well as year round maintenance needs. In his off time, Bob likes to snowmobile, hit up the occasional Blazer’s game, or just veg at home with his son Evan and his wife Tammi. He obtained his B.S. in Horticulture from OSU in 1998.


Ross VonPhole
Assistant Camp Ranger

We're happy to have a native central Oregonian on the team at Big Lake.  Originally from Bend, OR, Ross started working for us in 2009 as Assistant Camp Ranger.  As a licensed contractor by trade, Ross's skills have been put to good use up at camp.  In his free time, Ross enjoys spending time with his lovely wife Erinn and son Zeb.  You can often find them skiing, snowboarding, dirt biking, and mt. biking around lovely central Oregon. 


Jillany Wellman
Big Lake Office Manager
jillany@biglake.org

Although Jillany has only worked in the Portland office for a few years, she has been a Big Lake Camp Worker since 2000, and has been a great help to the Portland team for the last 3 years. Jillany loves running, exploring Portland’s unique neighborhoods, and is a connoisseur of cheese. Jillany studied English with an emphasis in Creative Writing at Walla Walla College, and is currently the editor of The Big Lake Trek, Big Lake’s sporadically published newsletter.


Casey Bartlett
Boys’ Village Director

A veteran Big Lake counselor, Casey Bartlett is currently majoring in Theology and Education at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California. Born a twin, in San Diego, California, Casey is a huge Charger's fan and loves surfing in his spare time. 





Julie Betz
Girls' Village Director

Although this is Julie Betz’s first year at Big Lake’s Girls’ Village Director, she is no stranger to counseling. She has been one of Big Lake’s finest girls’ counselors for three years running. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, she is currently a sophomore nursing major at Walla Walla University. She loves to run, rock climb, and swim, and snacks on strawberries and peaches whenever she can get her hands on them.