Camp Northern Lights - Meet the Leaders
The YMCA Camping team has welcomed several new leaders in recent months. We are excited about the passion, energy and experience they bring to their roles and look forward to seeing what they can achieve. Please help us welcome the following leaders to the Northern Lights community.
Isaac Patterson, Executive Director
Isaac’s journey with the Y began as a four-year-old family camper at Camp du Nord, where he and his family quickly found a home within the camp community. His love for camp led him to work as a seasonal staff member at du Nord for five summers before joining the inaugural staff team at Camp Northern Lights in 2019. Over the years, Isaac has embraced camp life year-round, serving as the first Fall, Winter, and Spring Program Director, later transitioning to Summer Program Director, and most recently, Senior Program Director. Throughout his time at Northern Lights, Isaac has been instrumental in leading operations through various transitions and remains committed to providing families with meaningful outdoor experiences.
Isaac, his partner Birdie, and their son Teddy currently live on-site at Camp Northern Lights. Together, they enjoy exploring nature, hiking, getting out on the water, and playing in the snow. As he steps into this new leadership role, Isaac is excited to build upon the progress at Northern Lights and continue working to make natural spaces more welcoming and accessible for families.
“Family camp is part of who I am as a person. It helped shape my values, showing me the impact that nature can have on people. I think we have the unique opportunity to not only aid the growth of the individuals we serve, but also the families and larger camp community. I am grateful to continue the growth of this space that has given me so much growth and opportunity.”