Our Staff

Laity Lodge Family Camp Staff

Our dedicated staff come from a variety of backgrounds but share a commitment to make your experience at Laity Lodge Family Camp as memorable as possible. If you’re ever in the area, please come by the office in Kerrville and say “hello.” Otherwise, we’ll meet you in the Canyon during the retreat. Please meet our team.

If you are interested in the Laity Fellowship Program, please see the following links:

John Hill
Director of Family Camp
830-792-7562

“I want to bring families together in a situation where they can experience sharing,” John said, “Laity Lodge Family Camp is a place where families can spend time together, play together, and communicate more about who they are with each other.”

John Hill is accompanied by his wife, Holly Baker Hill, and their two children, Haddie and Emory. During the year, John is the Executive Director for Laity Lodge Family Camp . . . a Christian family camp in Texas where parents and families can experience camp together! The Foundation ministries, as well as the landscape of the Frio Canyon, have provided profound and virtually lifelong influences upon John. “I started attending LLYC when I was seven,” John said, “and returned every summer through college, either as a camper, volunteer, or counselor. The Canyon is where I accepted the Lord into my life and where I met my wife. When I was 16 and part of work crew, I met Holly who was also serving on work crew. Some years later, while we were overlooking Echo Valley from Antenna, I asked Holly to marry me. Our relationship and our family is rooted in this place and in the Foundation ministries.” John has a BBA from Southwestern University and an MDIV from Virginia Theological Seminary. John has served as Director of Program for Sky Ranch and Executive Director of Camps and Conferences for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. John and his family returned from Melbourne, Australia, where John was Vicar of St. Paul’s Anglican Church. WOW! He’s really spiritual!!! He’s excited to be back in the Canyon and loving on our staff and campers.

Dana Williams
Family Camp Registrar and Assistant
830-792-7571

Dana serves as both Registrar for Family Camp and Assistant to Director John Hill. She received an Associate of Arts in Education Degree from Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde and later her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services from Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. Her passion is singing, dancing, and performing in community theater. Dana, her husband, Billy, and their daughter, Andrea, relocated from Cedartown, Georgia to Boerne. Their two grown sons, daughters-in-law, and grandson, Matthias, live in Alabama.

Mary Echols
Director of Hospitality

A long time ago, in a land far away, Mary Echols graduated (cum laude) from California State University Long Beach with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation and Leisure studies. Mary has had a wide variety of camping experience having worked in camps every summer since age 14. She first came to the H. E. Butt Foundation in 1983 with her husband, Glenn. She has worked as an Arts and Crafts director, Sugar Shack director, Kitchen director, and Program Services director at Laity Lodge Youth Camp, as well as serving as a Hostess at Laity Lodge. During the school year, she is a substitute teacher in Kerrville. Her husband, Glenn Echols, is the Director of Operations for the H. E. Butt Foundation Camp.

Tammy Soth
Director of Food Service

Bernadette “Bernie” Byars
2011/2012 Intern

Bernadette “Bernie” Byars grew up in Castroville, Texas, and accepted Christ as a young girl at LLYC one summer at Singing Hills. Bernie graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Political Science. During her first few years at college, Bernie served as Public Relations officer for Maggies. She is currently involved in Jesus Said Love ministry. Bernie comes to us from Hole in the Roof, a printing company out of Waco, and knows firsthand how experiences at LLYC can lead to positions of servant leadership and relational ministries. Bernie brings to the Fellowship Program a passion for relationships, restoration, and administrative work.

Rachel Horsley
2011/2012 Intern

Rachel Horsley grew up in Amarillo, Texas, and started a lifelong love with LLYC at the age of 12. It was during her years as a counselor at Singing Hills that she began to recognize a passion for children and art. Rachel joins us as a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Art Education. While at UT, she served as part of the Young Life community, transforming the lives of girls in the Austin area while building a team and being a leader. Rachel believes God’s plan for her has prevailed throughout her time at LLYC and will continue as she serves through the Fellowship Program.