Hello! My name is Lydia Wilson and I am so excited to be joining Birchwood as the new executive director. I join Birchwood having most recently served as the Missioner for Camp and Young Adult Ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota, as well as the Rector of Christ Church Episcopal in Lead, South Dakota. Born and raised in South Dakota, I attended college at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, where I studied philosophy, Spanish, and music. After college I attended Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia where I received my Master of Divinity degree. I then returned to South Dakota where I was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church in 2021.

Camp ministry has planned an essential role in my personal life and formation. Growing up I attended church camp every summer in Wisconsin. As soon as I was old enough, I served as a junior counselor followed by serving as a full counselor then as a seminary intern and finally as Missioner for camp. It was also through camp that I was able to begin discerning a call to ordained ministry. Participating in camp was the highlight of my summers. Influenced by years in a diversity of camp settings, my personal camp philosophy is that camp should strive to ensure that each and every person that encounters camp knows that they are loved and welcomed by God and by those they encounter at camp. This is a philosophy I hope to bring into my work at Birchwood.

When I am not at camp, I love to spend time with my husband Tyler, who is a Methodist camping ministry alum, Luna, our 3 year old labradoodle, and our son, Soren, who was born in late December! I love traveling and being outdoors when I can and can otherwise be found with my nose in a good book or baking any number of treats!

I look forward to joining the Birchwood Camp family!