Meet Jack & Sylvia
Jack Schott - OWNER & DIRECTOR
Jack leads Kenwood & Evergreen with energy, warmth, vision, and a belief that summer at camp is one of the most important experiences in a kid’s life.
His approach is simple: healthy competition, real choice, steady growth and fun, always fun. If kids are trying hard, playing fair, and a laughing a bunch, then it’s mission accomplished. Jack wants kids to feel surrounded by people who know them, believe in them, and cheer for them.
Jack has spent his career living and breathing camp. Starting as a counselor and director at Stella Maris, he went on to co-found and bootstrap Camp Stomping Ground, a nonprofit summer camp giving thousands of children the chance to experience summer away from home.
He has visited and worked with more than 200 summer camps, studying what makes them tick and thrive. Using this experience, Jack has trained thousands of camp staff on leading with care, setting high expectations, and creating communities where kids can grow.
Jack and the camp pro other camp pros turn to, writing a weekly newsletter read by more than 6,000 industry pros.
What matters most to him, though, is not the big picture of the camping world. It is the daily experience of every child at K&E.
Every camper should feel challenged, supported, and inspired. Under his leadership, K&E is a place where kids return home more confident, more resilient, and more connected to who they are becoming.
SYLVIA VAN MEERTEN - EVERGREEN DIRECTOR
Sylvia believes camp should be a place where girls grow into their strongest, most confident selves while being surrounded by kindness and care.
She knows Evergreen as more than just a few weeks of summer. It is a space where girls can try new things, take healthy risks, and learn how to support one another in ways that carry far beyond camp.
Throughout her career, campers have known her as a steady mentor, parents trust her thoughtful guidance, and her philosophy shapes Evergreen into a community where every girl feels seen and valued.
Her approach comes from decades of experience. After earning degrees in psychology, Sylvia built her early career in youth programs, autism, and family counseling.
At 25, she launched her own psychology practice, which has since evolved into ForumWithin, a leadership coaching company.
When summer ends, she helps families, executives, and YPO forums practice emotional intelligence, deep listening, and authentic trust-building.
Her camp roots run equally deep. Sylvia directed Dragonfly Forest, where she not only led the program but also trained counselors and staff to create supportive, inclusive environments.
At Evergreen, Sylvia combines her background in psychology and leadership with her love for camp to create a program where girls are challenged to grow, supported when they stumble, and celebrated for who they become.
Sylvia lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her { } and { }.
