Two former summer-camp counselors, one big idea, and a team of 38 dog people who know every camper by name.
Maddie Ortega and Jules Whitaker met at sixteen as counselors at Camp Laurel Fork, a kids' summer camp outside Brevard. For six summers they ran swim tests, color wars and lights-out, and learned that groups of any species do best with small cabins, clear routines and a counselor who's paying attention.
Jules went on to become a vet tech. Maddie managed a boarding kennel and grew tired of concrete runs and dogs left alone all day. In 2015 they leased an old warehouse in West Asheville, painted it pine green and opened Camp Barkley, named after their first camp dog, a scruffy shepherd mix who still comes to work most days.
The goal hasn't changed: give every dog the summer we had, every day of the year.
It's a camp tradition. Here are a few of the people your dog will see every day. Counselors are shown with their own dogs.
Maddie ran a busy boarding kennel for six years before deciding dogs deserved better than concrete runs. She designs every camp schedule and still runs Morning Muster most days.
Her dog: Honey, 11, a golden who greets every camper at the Trading Post.
A certified veterinary technician, Jules trains every counselor in pet first aid and canine body language, and writes camp's health and play-group policies.
Their dog: Fig, a 6-year-old golden who would live in the splash pond if allowed.
Wren runs First Day of Camp evaluations and has written more Counselor Notes cards than anyone. Fear Free Certified.
Their dog: Pickle, a beagle mix who never walks when he can bound.
Hollis loves the big, wrestly dogs and referees Black Bear play with a whistle and a lot of patience.
His dogs: Juno and Rocket, inseparable since their first day of camp.
Ana runs swim tests and splash pond safety from May to October, and the winter scent-games program the rest of the year.
Her dog: Noodle, a curly mix who wears a life vest with pride.
A certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), Theo leads Skill Sessions and awards most of the Skills badges.
His dog: Echo, a collie with every Skills badge there is.
Every counselor completes 40 hours of training before working a cabin on their own, then ongoing training every quarter.
We hire counselors year-round at all three camps. Dog experience helps; a love of camp songs is optional.