Our Team

Jake served in congregational youth ministry and year-round camp staff before shifting his focus to scholarship and research aimed at enhancing the ministries of camps and congregations. Sacred Playgrounds emerged out of this ongoing work. He has authored numerous articles on camping ministry, has taught in colleges and seminaries, and has presented at camps and conferences across the country.

He is a contributing author to the book Cultivating Teen Faith, and his book is Sacred Playgrounds: Christian Summer Camp in Theological Perspective. He has a PhD in practical theology from Luther Seminary, an Mdiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an undergraduate degree from Wartburg College. He continues spending time with young people as a coach, Sunday school teacher, confirmation instructor, and (most importantly) as a father of two wonderful boys.

He and Anna live in rural Wisconsin, where they enjoy gardening, running, board games, hiking, and bird watching (#theresanappforthat).

CONTACT JAKE

Jared helps keep our team and clients creative and connected, building pathways and assets to tell our stories and theirs. He designs our visual brand, web presence, graphics, and helps strategize and execute our marketing and communications. He also co-hosts and produces the Sacred Playgrounds Podcast.

He and his wife, Anna, along with four kids live in Farmington, MN. Jared spent a number of years in both congregational and outdoor ministry, serving in program and executive leadership, and then as a coach and designer for camps, churches, nonprofits, and small businesses across the country. He loves hanging out with his kids, coaching sports, playing guitar, drinking too much coffee, and paddling his canoe.

CONTACT JARED

Anna served on outdoor ministry staff in four states while discerning her call to ordained ministry in the Lutheran Church. She has served as pastor of four ELCA congregations in rural Wisconsin. She has an STM from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an undergraduate degree from Gustavus Adolphus College. In addition to putting up with Jake and balancing the many responsibilities of a pastor, she serves as a cross country coach, chauffeur of children, and Jake’s most reliable editor. Her work for Sacred Playgrounds includes finances, communication, and presentations.

CONTACT ANNA

Kelsey is originally from Buffalo, Minnesota and currently resides in Mounds View, Minnesota with her husband, Nathan, and two young children Noelle and Charlie. They are excited to share their love of the outdoors with their children and eventually attend camp.

Kelsey attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and graduated with a degree in Religion and Women & Gender Studies. Throughout and after college, Kelsey worked in Outdoor Ministries, including year round at Sugar Creek Bible Camp (WI) and EWALU (IA). In 2009, Kelsey joined Young Adults in Global Missions to serve in Malaysia for a year. Upon her return to the US, Kelsey pursued a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant and still enjoys doing this work on-call today. Kelsey stays connected to her ministry roots in her work with Sacred Playgrounds, Peer Ministry Leadership, and Service Learning Camps.

CONTACT KELSEY