Dan English couldn't have guessed where he would land after over 15 years in public office as Kootenai County clerk, overseeing several departments with nearly 100 employees.

He went to camp.

The former clerk is settling into the routine of yard work, counselor interviews and facility upkeep in his new position as resident manager of Twin Lakes Friends Camp.

Although English admits he is edging closer to retirement, the job has all the trimmings for someone just starting out, including most of his compensation in the form of free housing in the caretaker home.

"As a kid I used to think 60 sounded so old, and now I'm 60 and starting out running a youth program," he said with a chuckle on Thursday, speaking at the Press office. "Maybe God has a good sense of humor."

The camp manager's duties will run the gamut of duties to keep the facility humming, like hiring lifeguards, maintaining the several lodges, picking up food for campers and mowing the lawn.

It's not as much of a transition from his former job as one might think, he said.

"It's a lot of interacting with people, helping support causes I believe in," he said.

The stress level is about the same, he estimated.

Only now, instead of the responsibility of monitoring municipal elections and county payables, his focus is on ensuring kids are healthy and happy, and getting all the basics they need.

"It's a tremendous logistical undertaking, with campers, counselors, lifeguards, food," English said. "But it's a very positive stress. Most of the negative stress has gone away."

The camp work, which he started in March, also steers him back on his initial career path working with kids. Before his terms in office, English worked in juvenile detention for the Sheriff's Department, and developed youth nonprofits like North Idaho Youths for Christ and Anchor House.

English likes the frank and open nature of children, he said. Spending time with them gives him a glimpse of the future.

"I have had lots of interviews for summer staff, and the kids who are going to be counselors and junior counselors, it really does energize you," he said. "You interact with some of the kids and see their motivation and the energy they have."

The 18-acre, Christian-based camp is sponsored by Hayden Friends Church. It usually sees 100 kids cycle through each summer.

English is also charged with finding groups to rent out the facilities during the offseason, he said, which would help fund camp operations and scholarships for campers.

He and his wife Cory are settling into the caretaker house, he said, which he acknowledged is smaller than their previous home.

But the view includes moose, eagles and wild turkeys, he said. And the couple had already put their Twin Lakes home on the market before the job offer, prepared to move anywhere English's new career path took them.

"We had already in a sense made the mental transition," English said, adding that they were relieved the camp was only about four blocks away.

He receives a moderate monthly stipend on top of the free housing, he added.

Maurice Roberts, Hayden Friends Church administrator, said English's experience in human relations and youth organizations made him the perfect fit.

"It just seemed like a God thing," Roberts said.

English also helped fill the church's very immediate need, Roberts said, when the last manager had to suddenly relocate.

"We really are grateful that he became available," Roberts said.

English, who served as county clerk from 1995 through last year when he was defeated by Cliff Hayes, said he may run for office again.

But that's not in his immediate plans.

"At this point it's way, way in the background," English said. "And I like the feeling of that."

For now, he can't wait to get to know the ins and outs of the summer schedule, he said. And he looks forward to visits from his three grown children and several grandchildren.

"They get to come to grandma and grandpa's camp, which is pretty nice," he said.

By ALECIA WARREN

Staff writer

Like most Americans, Dan English had a lot of questions running through his mind Sunday night when he heard about the death of Osama bin Laden.

But on Monday, one detail prompted a few more.

"I heard the report that it (bin Laden's burial) was off the Carl Vinson," he said.

That's the aircraft carrier his daughter Mamie English-Ciscernos is stationed on.

"We knew they were in the Middle East region," English said, adding that the warship's location isn't typically revealed. "We heard that he had been buried at sea, and it immediately went through my mind, 'Could Mamie's ship have been involved?'"

According to news reports, bin Laden's body was placed aboard the U.S.S. Carl Vinson, where the body was packaged and placed into the Arabian Sea.

English said he is amazed that his daughter was on the same ship.

"She would've been right there at that part of history," he said. "It's kind of one of those Forrest Gump moments."

English hasn't been able to contact his 32-year-old daughter yet, he said. In fact, no email communication has been possible for several days with the ship.

He isn't worried.

He and his wife Cory know from experience that the carrier shuts down email communication when something significant happens.

"It's not unusual to have a communication blackout," he said.

At least they know why this time, he added.

His daughter, who has been in the Navy 14 years, is a hospital corpsman and works in the lab on the warship that carries about 5,000. Her six months on the ship end in June.

English doesn't know how much information she would be exposed to.

English's wife will meet their daughter in June in Hawaii, when the warship docks at Pearl Harbor.

"That will probably be one of the biggest ship homecomings since World War II," English said.

He thinks she might be restricted on what she can say.

"Obviously like everybody, we're curious," he said. "Was the crew aware of this happening? Did they observe the ceremony?"

His daughter served a tour in Iraq before being stationed on a warship to support the mission in Afghanistan, he said.

His son, Joel English, just finished his second tour in Iraq.

English has always trusted his children's training, he said, but is also aware of the constant risks they've faced.

"Certainly it's in your mind," he said.