Camp Coleman is Thankful for Bryan Kellert
If there’s a job to be done and you want it done well, with a sense of humor, and maybe a few cow puns along the way, there’s one person Camp Coleman calls: Bryan Kellert.
A lifelong Colemanite, Bryan began his journey in 2001 as a 9-year-old Bonim camper and has been part of our family ever since. Over his 24 years at Coleman, Bryan has worn just about every hat you can imagine: camper, counselor, self-defense specialist, unit head, faculty member, and most recently, the Unit Head of our Machon (counselor-in-training) program. Bryan doesn’t do anything halfway and we love him for it!
That spirit of dedication and flexibility shone especially bright on August 1, 2025, when travel plans for 80 of our campers hit a snag. Their flight from Atlanta to Palm Beach was cancelled, and quick problem-solving was needed. Director Amy Smyler McFarland and Associate Director Adam Griff leapt into action, arranging two buses from Atlanta to Orlando so campers could be reunited with their parents the very same day. But we still needed someone on the ground to lead this journey… enter Bryan.
Originally planning just a quick four-hour round trip from camp to the Atlanta airport, Bryan suddenly found himself on a ten-hour bus ride to Orlando with 80 campers and their flight chaperones. Without hesitation, he jumped right in snagging snacks and drinks from Target with a quick Uber, arranging lunch for 90 people at a roadside Chick-fil-A (even jogging to a nearby Taco Bell to make sure one camper with a peanut allergy had something safe to eat), and ensuring that every camper was reunited with a waiting adult – all without missing a beat. (Not to mention scheduling his own flight back to Atlanta the next day, along with a hotel for the night.)
Thanks to Bryan’s leadership (and the amazing flight chaperones, Dana Bradley, Tamara Palkovitz, and Stacy Gold, who turned this extreme travel pivot into a smooth and positive experience), everything went off without a hitch. Campers were safe, parents were relieved, and our Coleman community once again showed what we’re made of: flexibility, teamwork, and a whole lot of heart.
This is the essence of camp life. We always need a Plan B… and sometimes C, D, and E! But those plans only succeed because of incredible staff like Bryan, who bring competence, enthusiasm, and love for camp to everything they do.
Camp Coleman is truly thankful for Bryan Kellert, and for every member of our team who makes the magic of camp possible. It really does take a village.