This year, our Trailblazer Camp speaker is Hannah Cowman.

Hannah works at The Simple Room in Greenville, IL. She has been to Durley as a camper, counselor, and cook. At Durley, she learned to canoe, braid hair, and follow Jesus more wholeheartedly. She loves puzzles, chocolate chips, and all things outdoors. She lives in East St. Louis with her husband Matt (camp pastor for Young Teen 2!) and three children, Adelyn, Isaiah, and Andrew.  She is excited to grow in Christ together at Trailblazer and is ready to challenge any camper to a headstand contest. 

We are excited to welcome Lee Coakley as our Guide Camp speaker.

“I am a father of 3 boys ages 14, 11, and 7, husband, high school teacher of Spanish and physical education at Greenville High School, head girls volleyball and head boys track and field coach, and volunteer worship leader at the Greenville Free Methodist Church. But my identity is that of a child of the Most High God, Yahweh, my Abba.”

Coakley was raised in a devoted Christian household as the son of a Free Methodist pastor (father) and nurse (mother). He has many interests, from sports to movies to music. He plays guitar and loves to play board games as well.

Coakley has lived in Greenville for the past 15 years and is married to an ordained Free Methodist minister (his wife, Ginger). 

This year, our Young Teen 1 Camp speaker is Pat Coakley.

Pat Coakley grew up in Aurora, IL, the oldest of 4 children. He was saved at 12 years old after attending a Free Methodist camp. He had a life-transforming encounter with Christ while visiting with friends at Greenville College in April 1972.

Coakley traveled across the country with a tent-based “Jesus People” evangelism ministry from the summer of 1972 to May 1973, and married his high school sweetheart, Cheri, in February 1972.

Coakley graduated from Greenville College with a Psychology/Religion degree in 1980. While attending Greenville, he pastored Campground Cumberland Presbyterian Church. After graduation, Coakley pastored in Free Methodist Churches in northern Illinois and Wisconsin until retiring from pulpit ministry in 2019. Coakley has often served as a camp pastor at youth camps and a speaker at retreats and other camps.

He retired to Greenville in June 2024. Pat and Cheri have three children and nine grandchildren, all located in Janesville, Wisconsin, Austin, Texas, and Greenville, Illinois.

We are thrilled to announce that Matt Cowman will be our Young Teen 2 Camp speaker.

I am so excited this year to get to spend time at Durley as this year’s Day Camp speaker. This place is very special to me as my husband and I attended family camp for many years with our children. And then our children have gone on to work at camp in a variety of roles.

During the school year, I am a kindergarten teacher, having taught young children for 34 years. At home, I am wife to Brian, who is also a school teacher. I am a mom to five children and have the gift of two daughters-in-law. I love to be active, which might be riding my bike, going for a walk, or going out for a run.

But my ultimate goal is to follow Christ in all things. I believe that Jesus wants us to learn more about Him and grow in our relationship with Him, and we will do that together at day camp this year.