HARTFIELD — The hearts of Piankatank Camp and Conference Center directors Steve and Niki Gourley are definitely at the camp. It was there they met and were married and it is there they are working together on a common vision to make the camp a first-class facility.
Steve is originally from Newport News, just an hour south of Piankatank Camp and Conference Center, where he attended Tabernacle Baptist Church. Beginning as a 9-year-old Royal Ambassador, he attended Piankatank Camp and Conference Center every summer until his 13th year. He returned when he was 15 to work for three summers as a camp counselor.
After his junior year at Old Dominion University, Steve returned to Piankatank as the ropes course director in 2003.
Meanwhile, Niki Calhoun was born in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and lived the first few years of her life in the Bahamas. Her parents then moved to Jupiter, Fla., where she lived all her life until she left home for school in Kentucky at Asbury College. As her freshman year at Asbury concluded, Niki developed a burning desire to serve God during the summer of 2003 at a camp for children. After being turned down for a couple different camps, she went home to Florida for the summer resigned to work at the Gap store once again. But God had other plans.
Jeremy Jackson, director of Piankatank Camp and Conference Center at the time, had seen her application on a Christian camp web site and contacted her. In two weeks time, Niki was on her way to Piankatank, little suspecting how her life was about to change.
For Steve, when he arrived at Piankatank Jackson was the only person he knew going into the 2003 summer. Being the charismatic, out-going person that he is, however, he quickly made friends. And one of his new friends was counselor for girls named Niki Calhoun.
Following the summer camping season, the two started dating, and decided that they wanted to come back to Piankatank for the summer of 2004. By this time, Steve was serving as assistant camp director in addition to his responsibilities as ropes course director. And Niki, in addition to being a counselor, filled the role of the unofficial day camp director.
After having a great summer at camp, Niki went back for her junior year at Asbury, while Steve went to Louisville, Ky., to study at Southern Seminary. Not long after starting, Steve decided that it was time to ask Niki to be his wife. On Jan. 5, 2005, on the beach in Jupiter, Fla., Steve proposed marriage and Niki accepted.
Five months later, on June 5, 2005, the two were married at that place they had grown to love more than anywhere else in the world, Piankatank Camp and Conference Center. Jeremy Jackson performed the ceremony in the outdoor worship area, and the reception was held in the Ukrop Dining Hall at the camp. Not many couples can say that their wedding was a whole weekend affair with friends and family being able to experience all the activities at camp on Saturday.
Steve and Niki then moved to Wilmore, Ky., so Niki could graduate from Asbury, while Steve worked full-time and took seminary classes part-time. Had they left Piankatank for good after their wedding and reception?
After a couple of months of marriage, Steve got a call from Jackson, who said that there was a good chance that he and his wife, Michelle, would be leaving Piankatank, and he wanted Steve and Niki to consider taking their places. The two decided that this is what God was calling them to, so soon thereafter they submitted their portfolios and resumes to be considered.
After many months of waiting and two interviews, the newlyweds received word on Dec. 15 that they had been selected to succeed Jeremy and Michelle Jackson. After packing everything in less than a week, the two went to Florida for Christmas, drove on the 28th, moved in at camp on the 29th, and met to sign papers on the 30th to officially start January 1, 2006 where they have served since. They love Piankatank.