Meet Dave Cohn

Dave Cohn will replace Rev. Lee Padgett as the Director of Aldersgate Camp, effective April 4. Here is Dave in his own words:

I was born and raised outside of Atlanta, GA in the town of Roswell.  Growing up, Church and Church Camp was an important part of my life.  My parents raised me, as well as my brother and sister, outdoors.  What that means is that TV was not a big part of our upbringing, but rather we were heavily encouraged to spend our time outdoors playing.  I joined Scouts, which helped grow my love of the outdoors and eventually received my Eagle Scout Award, of which I am still very proud.

When it came time for college I chose Montreat College in Black Mountain, NC.  It is a small Christ-centered college that was a perfect fit for me.  I majored in Outdoor Recreation and minored in Outdoor Education.  After my freshmen year we were encouraged to work the summer season in the outdoor field.  I chose to work as a counselor at the camp I grew in.  That camp, Calvin Center, is just south of Atlanta.  During the school year I would contract with local camps facilitating their high ropes courses and climbing towers and then in the summers would go back to Calvin Center.

After my sophomore year I was given the opportunity to take a semester off and do a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) Semester.  Basically I lived for three months in Washington State hiking, climbing and sailing.  It was an amazing experience. One night while sitting on a cliff looking out at the ocean I had a moment.  That moment where I knew God was telling me that though I was learning a lot, this is not where my focus was supposed to be.  My focus was to be in Camp and Conference Ministry.  From that moment on, that has been where my focus has been.

After college, in 1997, I was hired as the Program Director at Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center in York, SC.  In 1999 I was hired as the Interim Director/Program Director at Calvin Center, the Camp I grew up in.  Then in 2001 I was given the opportunity to become the Director at Camp Pee Dee in Bennettsville, SC.  In 2005, I joined the team at Camp Grier and have served as their Executive Director.  I have loved my time here and will miss Grier, but I know that God has called us to Aldersgate and give thanks for this new ministry that we are joining.

In 2011 I was married to Laura and together we have two dogs (our boys Blue and Cletus).  We are still very active in the outdoors and enjoy hiking; mountain biking, white water kayaking and most recently have gotten very involved in Paddle Boarding.

I am so excited to be with everyone soon and have felt so welcomed from the very start.  My hope as I join the family is to learn the amazing ministry that is Aldersgate and sees how we together can create another 55 years of camping ministry.