Meet the Directors

Kyle & Emily Courtiss

Vega Directors, Kyle and Emily Courtiss

Kyle and Emily strive everyday to create the best experiences for Vega’s campers and staff through their love and knowledge of camp, and positive outlook on life.  Their passion for camp started at a very young age as a result of their own camp experiences.  Kyle was born into the camping world and spent his first summers at Camp Vega before attending Camp Winadu and Camp Takajo.  Nearly every summer of his life has been spent as a camper, counselor, sports coach, program director, staff recruiter and now, director.The pandemic has forced us all to change and grow in countless ways.  It is important for us to reconnect and stay connected, both individually and as a larger community.

Kyle went to Bowdoin College and Emily went to The University of Puget Sound.  They met during a college semester abroad in 2001, and were married in 2006.  Emily fell in love with Vega during her first summer as a counselor in 2002.  Her summers were spent as a camper with the girl scouts in her home state of Colorado and then several years at Teton Valley Ranch Camp in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  Since 2002, Emily’s roles at Vega included equestrian and bunk counselor, sub-junior and junior group leader, staff recruiter and bookkeeper, and since 2010, director.

Kyle and Emily are completely committed to each camper’s happiness and take the time to get to know every girl and her family.  Their knowledge of camp extends to all areas.  Kyle specializes in staff and program, and Emily focuses on camper well-being and bunk life.

They have two boys:  Paxton was born in 2010, and Cameron was born in 2014.  Both attend an all-boys camp in Maine. As camp parents themselves, Kyle and Emily understand the trust that parents place in them and their staff to care for the girls who call Vega their summer home. When asked how many kids they have, they have been known to say, “2 boys and 300 girls.” They welcome each camper who comes through the Vega gates as family, and believe wholeheartedly in the magic of camp and the power it has to transform lives.

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