This Thankful Thursday, we are shining our spotlight on someone who quite literally keeps Camp Coleman standing strong — our incredible Facility Manager, Carlos Hester.
Since 2015, Carlos has poured his heart, soul, hands, and unmatched dedication into caring for our beautiful home away from home.
Quite simply, no one cares for Camp Coleman the way Carlos does. He doesn’t just maintain camp — he protects it, strengthens it, and nurtures it.
A proud Cleveland, Georgia native, Carlos lives right here on camp property with his beloved puppy, Athena. When he’s not ensuring every inch of camp is in top shape, you might find him enjoying a ride on his motorcycle — but most days, you’ll find him somewhere on property, tools in hand, making Coleman better than it was the day before.
During the off-season, while most of us are counting down the days until summer, Carlos is hard at work behind the scenes. Whether he’s building a new retaining wall by hand, crafting new cabin steps, maintaining and manicuring our grounds, or coordinating the many contractors and workers who come and go, Carlos ensures that when campers arrive, everything is ready.
Much of this important work is made possible through the generosity of our community. Capital improvements, repairs, and upgrades throughout camp are funded in large part by dollars raised specifically to strengthen our facilities. Every retaining wall, repaired cabin step, improved pathway, and refreshed building reflects not only Carlos’s skill and care, but also the investment of donors who believe deeply in preserving and enhancing Camp Coleman for future generations.
And when summer begins – Carlos shifts into an entirely different gear. Alongside his dedicated team — Darrell and Brandon — he is everywhere. Responding to everyone’s maintenance requests. Fixing what breaks. Preventing what might break. Quietly making sure every detail is handled so our campers can focus on singing, swimming, dancing, laughing, and growing.
The magic of Camp Coleman doesn’t just happen. It takes people who believe deeply in this place. People who see every nail, every step, every field, every cabin as part of something sacred.
There is no way we could create the Camp Coleman experience without Carlos. His dedication, pride, and tireless work make excellence possible every single day.
Carlos, we are THANKFUL for you. Thank you for caring for our home so that generations of campers can create memories within it.