As a staff kid, Silas enjoyed a childhood of adventure growing up at Fort and has since served here in many different capacities – including Summer Staff, TruNorth, and Apprentice Staff. After leaving for a season to work in the trades, he felt called back to serve at camp in 2021.

Maddie comes from a family with a long Fort history and grew up family camping Week 8. She spent many summers volunteering and on Summer Staff (all in the Stables!) before joining Apprentice Staff in 2021 as well! It was that year that Silas and Maddie began dating and were eventually married at Fort in 2023.

Fast Facts

Silas has been a wrangler as far back as he can remember – he’s one of the few people who can say they’ve ridden a horse to the school bus stop!

Fort Firsts

Silas enjoyed his first long-distance backpacking trip in TruNorth – it was one of the highlights of his year!

Maddie experienced berry-picking (outside of a grocery store) for the first time during a summer volunteering in the Stables! Afterwards, Katie Kusilek even taught everyone how to make pie with the spoils.

What passage of scripture is meaningful to your family?

“While considering Missionary Staff, we’ve been meditating on Deuteronomy 31:7-8: ‘Be strong and courageous…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’” (NIV)

What is your favorite Fort memory?

Both: Getting married at Fort in the Gathering Place! Even though we got married at the end of April, in classic Northwoods fashion, it snowed 7 inches on our wedding day (it just made it all the more memorable)

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Silas: Telepathy – so that I could understand people better but also know exactly how to mess with them

Maddie: To be able to rewind the last 5 minutes of time whenever I want to – it’d be like having a real life “undo” button. Plus, I’d be scary good at Trivia.