Our Team
We have a professional team, who love and follow Jesus, with a variety of youth development experience. We are enthusiastic about fostering an environment of growth for your child this coming summer. Meet our team!
Drake O’Bryant
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Drake and his wife Brooke have been part of the summer camp world since 2014, serving in a wide variety of roles along the way. They first met while working at an outdoor education program called the Institute of Wilderness Studies and transitioned to Camp Huawni in Spring of 2020
Drake is a fan of being outdoors, making good coffee, playing drums, Alabama football, and can drop a quote from The Office in just about any situation. Brooke is an avid reader who has traveled to five continents, loves the color yellow, and never met a potato she didn’t like. Together, they have two wonderful daughters and recently welcomed a baby boy to the crew!
This will be Drake’s sixth summer at Camp Huawni. As Executive Director, he’s deeply committed to making camp a safe, joy-filled place where meaningful traditions are honored and every camper feels at home.
Natalie Stillwaugh
CAMPER EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR
Natalie, her husband Joshua and daughter Juniper live in Tyler. They were all born in California and have been in Texas since 2014. She loves to gather with friends and family and share meals and conversations. Having people in their home really fills them UP! She also enjoy being outdoors, hiking and bike riding with the family.
Lainey Buchanan
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
Lainey, along with her husband Davis, both have a decade of camp experience in a variety of different roles from summer camp to outdoor education. They met working as summer camp counselors in 2013! Lainey most recently worked for the Institute of Wilderness Studies. Lainey is passionate about providing administrative support in order to free those around her up to do what they do best. Outside of camp, Lainey is a big-time morning person, and someone that is her best self when she’s meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking for her friends and family. Davis is a board game hobbyist, loves the Georgia Bulldogs, and is usually the funniest guy in the room. Lainey is excited to continue serving in the camping world as a part of the unique Huawni family!
Andrew Rogers
MEN’S DIRECTOR
My name is Andrew Rogers and I am from Abilene Texas but have lived in Tyler Texas for the last eight years. A few things I love in life include pickleball, photography, leading worship, skiing, good coffee, my amazing fiancé Bailey, and my golden doodle Sulley! I have six summers of summer camp under my belt where I got to serve in almost every role you can think of and am a firm believer that camp is a place where fun, growth, and community can thrive. I am excited to jump on the team here at Camp Huawni and help foster an environment where staffers and campers can have fun and become more confident in who they are. Looking forward to making lasting friendships with the guys this summer and I heard Fourth of July is gonna be a blast!
Maddie Maxwell
WOMEN’S DIRECTOR
My name is Maddie Maxwell! I am from Wimberley, Texas, and I recently graduated from Abilene Christian with my Masters in social work! I’m passionate about creating fun and intentional environments that makes sure to see and serve everyone involved! I love things like road-trips, concerts, walks and trying new restaurants especially if it’s with friends! I’ve grown up summer camping and have spent 6 summers serving as camp staff. I am so excited to serve our staff and campers and eager to get to be apart of the Huawni family!
Ms. Ada Earl
HEAD COOK
Ms. Ada has been serving her famous fried chicken for over 30 summers at Camp Huawni. Ms. Ada makes sure that your camper is happy, healthy, and never leaves the dining hall hungry. Ms. Ada is a great dancer, loves to laugh, and constantly embodies love at Camp.
Steve & Lesa Abney
OWNERS
Lesa is the daughter of past camp owners, Pat and Linda Adams, and is the granddaughter of Huawni’s founders, Earl and Retha Adams aka “Mimi and Daddy Earl.” Until the age of 22, Lesa lived at camp every summer with her family. Steve has been involved with Huawni almost continuously since 1998. Over the past 15 years he has served with the Huawni Alumni Association and as a member of the Huawni Advisory Board. Lesa and Steve met at Huawni! Together they have three girls, Evan (10), Faye (5), and Ada (6 months). This will be Evan’s third summer and they are eager for their other two to experience the Huawni magic! They love Huawni, its rich tradition, the foundation on which it was built, and are excited for the opportunity to continue the legacy of Huawni for generations to come.