Kendra Perkins
M.A. Ed., Director of Camp SAY
With 20 years of experience in youth development programming, Kendra has extensive experience in the areas of program management and activity development and adaptation. She also has widespread experience in the complexities of running residential programs for youth, focusing on supervision best practices, providing mental health and wellness supports, food services including managing special dietary needs, and housekeeping.
Before all that, Kendra went to camp in the mountains of North Carolina as a kid where she learned she had a voice and could use it. She started her journey in camping as a Cabin Counselor for Camp Sertoma at the Clemson Outdoor Lab, serving kids who were underprivileged and had a speech or hearing impairment, and spent 9 summers working there in various roles before she made the jump to a full-time position. In 2016, Kendra joined the work at Roundup River Ranch, a SeriousFun Children’s Network camp serving kids with serious illnesses and their families. As the Camp Director, she supported all areas of camp involved in the direct care of campers.
Kendra has been working with youth and adult special populations for the entirety of her career. Her undergraduate degree is in Deaf Education with a minor in Speech Pathology. She has a master’s degree in special education where her culminating thesis was on youth resiliency. As a special educator, Kendra taught deaf education and supported growth and development of children and young adults with special needs specifically in the areas of social/emotional health and 21st Century skills.
After teaching in a traditional classroom, Kendra transitioned her focus to out of school time and year round support of youth and their families, primarily in the camp setting. She believes strongly in the healing power of camp and is committed to helping create the best safe and brave spaces possible for youth to build connections, grow understanding of self and others, and experience the joy and strength found when voices are both shared and listened to. Kendra is an active member of the American Camp Association where she serves on several committees, leads workshops, and is a part of research to improve program quality in youth development agencies.
Kendra has a dog named Harbor who works as a therapy dog with youth and adults in many different residential settings. They make a pretty great team and love seeing all the smiles and hearing laughs from the people they get to be around.