Meet the Team!
OWLS is committed to creating an atmosphere of friendship and community, and we believe that putting faces and bios to the names of our administrative staff is a great way to start that relationship. Scroll through this page to meet some of our current year-round staff!
Camp Director
Jason "Maggot" Szostek
Jason comes from a background of outdoor and environmental education and is ecstatic for this opportunity to take his knowledge and apply it in a backcountry setting. Originally from a city in Ohio, Jason has been living in Oregon and other parts of the Northwest for about 6 years now, and loves every bit of it. He spends most of his free time with his wife and children, but does what he can to finish some of the beautiful hikes in the area while also sea kayaking and bird watching.
So far, Jason has generally managed the crap out of us (so to speak) and it is going really well. We are excited to see what more he brings to the company as we progress and add more exciting programs!
Facilities Manager
Kagen "Knee Pad" Luedemann
Kagen has been enjoying the out-of-doors for quite some time, and is excited for this chance to work in the field. He has worked and lived in the Northwest for about two years with his twelve cats: Sparky, Nancy, Stacey, Fireball, Spruce, Bruce, Lucey, Jade, Oreo, Ernie, Bert, and Legolas. His clowder generally follows him as his trots around his favorite hiking spots, and sometimes join him on climbs at the local crags.
Kagen doesn't actually have twelve cats, but he didn't want to write his own bio so we decided to make something up. Don't worry, it didn't take us very long and we have no regrets.
Director of Program Operations
Kate "Couv" Vancouver
Kate comes from good ol' Athens, Ohio. Located in the foothills of the Appalachians and home of Ohio University, Athens raised Kate with the sense of community she brings to all the programs we offer here at OWLS. Now living near our base in Medford, Oregon, Kate spends many weekends surfing, caving, snowboarding, and stand-up-paddling. She also loves taking photos and writing, and sometimes she'll cook up a family dinner (see what we mean about her sense of community?)
Kate has been thoroughly enjoying directing our numerous and exciting programs, and is ready to add more to the docket. Be prepared for new special events and trip programming in the next couple of years; Kate is full of ideas and ready to bring this company to a comfortably sized familiy.
