Liz Charles McGough (she/her) – Director
Having grown up in the Maine Conference as a pastor’s kid, Liz has deeply enjoyed the gift of spending time at Pilgrim Lodge as a camper, counselor, staff member, and volunteer dean for the greater part of her life. Her experiences at Pilgrim Lodge have reinforced her belief in the transformational power of exploring faith in nature and in community with others.
Liz first joined the Pilgrim Lodge summer staff while attending college at the University of New Hampshire. Liz then spent a year working in Honduras for the Maine Conference UCC, coordinating groups traveling to the country with the Maine-Honduras Partnership, and supporting a rural health clinic. Upon returning to Maine, Liz used the Spanish that she learned to join the Maine Mobile Health Program where she spent over a decade leading a team of passionate individuals providing mobile health services to migrant farmworkers across the state of Maine. Liz is excited to be back on the staff of the Maine Conference UCC, bringing with her all that she has learned in her journey.
Liz lives in Gardiner (and at camp!) with her husband, Cullen, and two children, Benjamin and Nathaniel.
Email: echarles@pilgrimlodge.org
Lydia Hoffman (she/her) – Assistant Camp Director
Lydia is a life-long lover of all things Pilgrim Lodge. She began coming to camp as a toddler, and first joined the summer staff in 2016 as the Camp Photographer. Lydia served as the Summer Assistant Director for three years, and is thrilled to join the team in a year-round capacity. She is proud to be a pastor’s kid, has a deep love for the Maine Conference, and calls Eliot UCC her home church. Lydia is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, called to seminary by her love of all things outdoor ministry. She finds God ‘neath the tall green trees, and in summer sunsets. Lydia believes so deeply in the power of intentional community and believes that the spirit of camp is the balm to an ever-weary world.
At camp, you’ll find Lydia in the office, serving ice cream in the camp store, swimming to the islands, and worshipping alongside the trees.
Email: lhoffman@pilgrimlodge.org
John Steelhammer – Site Manager
John lovingly cares for Pilgrim Lodge and has experience with a wide variety of trades involving many skills that make him a great addition to our facility.
Email: john.pilgrimlodge@gmail.com