FOWR Member Spotlight - the fabulous Camille Hiltz!
Camille was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas by a mother who grew up on a cotton farm on the Tallahatchie River in Mississippi and who instilled in her a deep love of the land. Camille’s love for nature was further shaped in the mountains of Colorado at her family’s cabin on the Conejos River. Her grandfather bought the remote cabin in the 1920’s because he and her grandmother loved the river, flyfishing, the cool weather, and the beauty of the mountains. She grew up thinking everyone knew how to handfeed chipmunks and hold a hummingbird on their finger. At age four, after her dad tried to kill a snake she’d been playing with, she found it and put a BandAid on it. That pretty much set the tone for her life.
Camille’s family moved from Texas to Sweetwater Oaks in 1977, and two weeks later she left for Mercer University. During her college years, she worked one summer at Disney, then two as a camp counselor in the north Georgia mountains—basically getting paid to be outdoors. After college, she came home, reconnected with Resurrection Episcopal Church (her mom was a founding member), and met Katie Moncrief. Camille already loved Wekiva Springs, but Katie introduced her to the real Wekiva—paddling adventures, youth group chaos, and one overnight canoe trip where it’s honestly a miracle they didn’t lose a teenager to an alligator. They survived through laughter and questionable judgment.
Camille’s daughter, Jane, also has a deep affection for the outdoors and grew up loving Colorado trips, hiking, diving, and paddling the Wekiva with her godmother, Katie. Jane is always on the lookout, scanning the world for birds, lizards, other critters, and beautiful flowers. Camille is thrilled about her wedding in October 2026. She’s getting married outside, near the water, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Camille spent 43 years at Siemens before retiring in April of ’25, moving from Financial Analyst to Head of Purchase‑to‑Pay Processing Services. Years ago, she took her office team on a “team‑building” canoe trip down the Wekiva. The clear, beautiful water, chaotic portaging, and alligators made it especially exciting - and definitely unforgettable.
Camille is so glad to finally have the time to be back on the FOWR board.
Camille shared some of her background and hopes for the Wekiva Basin and answered a few other fun questions for us. Enjoy!
What’s your earliest memory of the Wekiva River? The old Wekiva Marina restaurant - eating fingerling catfish and watching the racoons and deer across the river.
What do you wish people knew about the river? How fragile this river is, how much it needs to be advocated for—and how lucky and blessed we are to have it.
What’s your favorite thing about the river? The beauty and peacefulness of a quiet paddle on crystalclear water of the Wekiva.
How and why did you get involved with FOWR? Katie and Russ pulled me in, and Katie’s passion for protecting the river kept me there.
What do you like to do for fun? I love tennis, Pilates, books, kayaking, playing Mahjong, hiking, spending time in the Colorado mountains, and volunteering at All Saints Episcopal Church. I’m also thrilled about my daughter’s wedding in October 2026.