Allow us to introduce the fearless leaders that make Experiential Ink possible.
Our Founders
David Yuhaus has worked in the world of non-formal education since 1996. David has taught environmental education and leadership classes at YMCA Camps across Michigan. Driven by his passion for youth work and for education, he has long felt that the pathway to a better world starts with youth who have been provided with an education that meets their needs and interests as well as the needs and interests of the world community.
Katie Kraft is a passionate, youth-focused, empathetic woman who has a wealth of experience at many different camps and organizations around the country. She has spent much of the last 12+ years working with youth in the outdoors through outdoor environmental education and leadership programs.
Our Board of Directors
Jim Austin is an attorney based in Alden, Michigan with over 30 years of general practice experience, with a specialty representing many of the wrecker and towing companies in the State of Michigan. He is also a trained general civil and domestic relations mediator. From 2014 to 2020, Jim was the Development Director for YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps, making friends and raising money, in that order.
While with YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps, Jim was able to see the genesis of Camp 4 All as David Yuhaus created the marvelous safe haven camp for LGBTQ and lend a hand where possible. Jim happily answered the call from David and Katie when they set up Experiential Ink to serve on the board and has served as chair for the past several years. He has been thrilled to watch Camp 4 All grow under the Experiential Ink umbrella and is excited about the potential for reaching more and more deserving youth in the years to come.
Jim has 4 kids and 10 grandkids and spends as much time with them as he can, including at least annual trips to see those based in Australian. He spends his spare time playing squash and strumming a boatload of stringed instruments.
Leland Merrill is a clinical therapist in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan, as well as a BA in Sociology from Kalamazoo College. His current work focuses on the treatment of mental health primarily within the LGBTQ community and people in recovery from addiction. While he currently works with clients in-person and virtually, Leland previously spent every summer at camp from 2006 to 2014.
As a transgender person, Leland began going to Arbutus Hayo-Went-Ha in 2006 as a Bushwacker, returning every summer through his LC year, followed by multiple years on Arbutus staff. After taking time to transition, Leland returned to Hayo-Went-Ha in 2018 where he worked both spring and summer. Leland has immense gratitude for his time at both camps, as he feels each offers profoundly special experiences for both campers and staff alike.
With his YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha roots and passion for advancing the wellbeing of the LGBTQ community, Leland is a proud board member of Camp4All.
Justin Bettcher is the Community Engagement Manager at Affirmations Community Center in Ferndale, Michigan. His work centers around engaging with the LGBTQ+ community and identifying their needs and ways that Affirmations can support those needs.
As a gay man who came out later in life, Justin has been able to connect with the LGBTQ+ community in ways that he was never able to in his formative years. In 2021 when Camp 4 All returned, Justin began attending camps in connection with his work at Affirmations and its connection to Camp 4 All. He attended all of the camps in our 2022 season and was voted onto our board later that fall.
With his connections to the LGBTQ+ community and his career focused in LGBTQ+ advocacy, Justin is proud to be part of the Experiential Ink board of directors.
Jen McDowell is a graduate of CMU with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Therapy. She has 30 years experience working with children and teens through after school programs, residential programs, camping and in the schools. She currently works for Northwest Education Services in the Assistive Technology Department. Jen and her husband live in Traverse City, Mi with their two daughters. The family enjoys spending time together exploring nature and enjoying the many outdoor recreation opportunities the region has to offer.
Jey has been working in Out of School programming for 12 years. He began his career at camps and has since worked in schools, sports programs, 1-on-1 mentoring programs, etc.
In 2018, Jey created a company called Keep Smiling! Apparel, which sold clothing with positive messages and used the profits to fund community programs like warm clothing drives and free lunch days. Recently, Jey began seeking a Master’s degree in Youth & Community Devlopment at Western Michigan University in his hometown of Kalamazoo.
Jey met Katie and David in 2019 and began working with them full-time at Hayo-Went-Ha in March of 2020 (yes, that 2020) which quickly came to a close. Katie, David, and Jey stayed connected and when the opportunity to work together again came along, there was no other option! Jey believes in creating safe spaces for youth to explore their identities and is a proud member of the Camp4All Board.