2025 40 Under 40: Brenda Brandt

Brenda Brandt, 29, began volunteering at Camp Barnabas in 2012. Thirteen years later, she’s camp director, leading more than 2,500 staff and volunteers in serving more than 1,500 campers annually. Brandt’s contributions have been numerous, including creating the camp’s behavioral health program, which provides improved services for campers and bolsters staff training to manage behavioral concerns with respect and dignity.

“Throughout my time at Barnabas, I have played a key role in shaping and developing Camp Barnabas into one of the premier summer camps for individuals with disabilities in the country,” she says. “Now, as camp director, I am leading my team toward excellence and working to make Barnabas even more accessible.”

Brandt also volunteers as a court appointed special advocate for a teenage girl in the foster care system and mentors the camp’s summer leadership team.

First job? A swim instructor and a lifeguard. I loved seeing kids learn how to do something new, something I still enjoy in my job today.

Best piece of advice you’ve received? To make the best decision that I can and to show people that I care about them. This simple advice has helped me in countless decisions both at work and in my personal life.

Favorite hobby or creative outlet? I love to read and enjoy making cold-process soap; you can find me doing one of these hobbies most nights after work.

Favorite local food order? I absolutely love the vegan veggie pizza from Piccolo in Nixa. If you haven’t tried it yet, that balsamic drizzle will change pizza forever.