Sarah Morgan
Executive Director
Employed Since 2016

Sarah Morgan is graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, but is originally from Colorado. She holds degrees in Broadcast Journalism and French. She started her broadcasting career at KMEG 14 in Sioux City where she met her husband, Travis. After getting married, they moved to Omaha, but they missed their family, friends, and home in Sioux City and moved back. Sarah was the morning anchor at KTIV News 4 for four years. After 12 years in the TV biz, Sarah decided it was time for a change. Sarah began working at Camp High Hopes in March of 2016. She and Travis live in South Dakota with their daughter, Cate, son, Cameron, and Boston Terrier fur babies, Mugsy and Finnegan.

smorgan@camphighhopes.com
712-224-2267 ext. 100

Derek Bergman
Camp Director
Employed Since 2021

Derek Bergman has a passion for camp! He earned his degree in elementary education from Peru State College in Nebraska. Derek has been involved with summer camps for more than 20 years prior to arriving at Camp High Hopes. Twelve of those years have been in a full-time position. Derek loves the power of camp. He said, “We all learn something about ourselves and each other when we experience camp. Camp helps us push our perceived limits and grow beyond them.” Derek is excited to make camp accessible for everyone. Derek brings his wife, Amy, and their three kids, Tava, Kaden, and Kyler with him to Camp High Hopes.

dbergman@camphighhopes.com
Phone: 712-224-2267 ext 102

Katie Garvey
Health Care Director
Employed Since 2021

Katie is a Siouxland native.  Born and raised in South Sioux City, NE, graduating in 2001 from South Sioux City High School.  She went away to college at South Dakota State University and graduated in 2005 with a degree in Public Recreation with an emphasis in Recreational Therapy.  The City of South Sioux hired her for a few years as a Recreational Therapist and she worked at a local hospital as an EMT.  Her passion for helping others sparked her to pursue her career as a nurse.  She graduated with her BSN from Nebraska Methodist College in 2009.  Now a traveling nurse, she has been traveling the world as a traveling nurse. She has been involved with CHH since summer of 2021.  She looks forward to working with the campers and the staff here at CHH.  In her free time, she enjoys traveling, working out, paddle boarding, boating and spending time with family and friends.  She has 2 brothers, 2 sisters in-laws, and 5 beautiful nieces with another niece on the way.  She looks forward to making smiles happen and being part of the Smile Squad.

kgarvey@camphighhopes.com
Phone: 712-224-2267 ext 103

Teresa Brus
Office Manager
Employed Since 2022

Amy Bergman
Registrar
Employed Since 2021

Amy Bergman is a graduate from Sioux City’s very own Morningside University. She has been involved in camping since the summer of 2002. She is bringing a wealth of knowledge from prior camping experiences. Amy has served as a volunteer, summer counselor, and in a variety of seasonal positions at previous camps. During her time working in the elementary school system, she enjoyed the challenge of working with children with special needs and loved watching them succeed academically and socially. Amy has always dreamed of working at a camp year-round and is excited to have the opportunity to do so at Camp High Hopes!

registrar@camphighhopes.com
712-224-2267 ext. 108

Ashley Ayala
Program Director
Employed Since 2022

Ashley is a graduate of Ferris State University with a major in Criminal Justice and DeVry University with a major in Technical Management. She comes with experience in working with the homeless youth population and working at previous summer camps in Michigan, where she is from. Ashley believes that being outdoors and enjoying nature is the best medicine. She is adventurous at heart and enjoys hiking, backpacking, white water rafting, gardening, and bonfires! She plans to one day to start her own practice bringing the outdoors to service youth and families with mental health issues. She brings with her to camp her husband, Aaron, and her two standard poodles, Auggie and Axel.

aayala@camphighhopes.com
Phone: 712-224-2267 ext 105

Camila Tadich
Assistant Program Director
Employed Since 2022

Camila is a new member of the Siouxland community. She moved from Argentina after her husband, Mike, took a coaching job with the Musketeers. She attended Law School at Universidad Nacional de Rosario and sustained a position in law before moving to the United States.  Cami was introduced to Camp High Hopes after volunteering as a counselor over the summer. She discovered how much she enjoyed working with people with disabilities and the impact she could make and decided she wanted to stay involved with Camp High Hopes. Her favorite part of the job is seeing campers enjoy their time at camp and planning activities for them, but she also feels the big camp family that is created by campers, parents, staff, and volunteers makes it a very special place. Camila enjoys traveling with her husband, being in contact with nature, going on walks, and having a good time with her friends. She also wouldn’t miss a Muskies game! She looks forward to impacting campers’ lives with Camp High Hopes. 

ctadich@camphighhopes.com
Phone: 712-224-2267 ext 107

Kyle Knaack
Advancement Director
Employed Since 2022

Kyle comes to Camp High Hopes with years of experience working in cattle farming. He is passionate about being involved in his community and building relationships with local organizations and people. Kyle lives in Pierson, IA, with his wife, Lora, and their three amazing boys, Easton, Ean, and Kaiden. Camp High Hopes is near and dear to Kyle’s heart. Kyle witnessed first-hand the incredible experiences and benefits camp’s programs give campers after his middle son attended camp sessions. Kyle and his family raise goats and donkeys at their homestead, and camp loves when their amazing animals visit. Kyle continues connecting with many local establishments and bringing his marketing and public relations expertise to camp. Kyle is also our go-to for anything social media and has allowed camp to thrive in that aspect of marketing.

kknaack@camphighhopes.com
Phone: 712-224-2267 ext 107

Dr. Thomas Wente
Volunteer Medical Director
Volunteer Since 2012

Siouxland Native, Dr. Thomas Wente, earned his degree in Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines.  As a provider of family practice medicine, Dr. Wente has been in practice with Family Health Care of Siouxland clinics in South Sioux City, NE and Moville, IA.  Dr. Wente provides knowledge, direction and oversight to the camp’s medical policies and procedures and is accessible to the camp’s onsite medical staff to help in guiding them as they care for the medical needs of individual campers.