Alumni Spotlight: Kayla Hoecherl – A Path of Faith and Adventure

Kayla (Kaufer) Hoecherl, a proud alumna of St. Francis School, has built an inspiring life rooted in service, ministry, and adventure. After graduating from Ellsworth High School in 2016, Kayla pursued a nursing career, earning her Associate Degree and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Inver Hills Community College and Metropolitan State University.

Since becoming a registered nurse in 2019 and completing her BSN in 2020, Kayla has gained invaluable experience across a variety of healthcare settings. Her journey includes roles in camp nursing, pediatric home care, trauma and surgical care at Regions Hospital, labor and delivery in Hayward, Wisconsin, and currently, the emergency room at Ashland Medical Center.

Beyond her nursing work, Kayla and her husband, Braedon, live and serve year-round at CrossWoods Adventure Camp, LLC in Mason, Wisconsin. Owned and operated by her family, the Catholic adventure camp provides teens from multiple Wisconsin dioceses with opportunities to grow in faith through high-intensity Catholic adventure ministry. For nine years, Kayla has taken on roles as camp nurse, lifeguard, and adventure director. Together with Braedon, she helps manage the camp’s operations and ministers to hundreds of teens each summer.

Kayla and Braedon’s shared passion for ministry extends to music. The couple recently launched a duo band called Little Way. They have been blessed by St. Therese to be successfully performing and bringing truth and goodness to the secular world through beautiful, subtle lyrics.

Reflecting on her time at St. Francis, Kayla credits the school for giving her a strong faith and educational foundation that helped her confidently navigate both a secular world and the challenges of the healthcare profession. One of the most impactful lessons she carried with her is the value of “loving people where they are at.” She explains, “We are called as Catholics to meet the poor, the needy, the lonely and love them there, not expect them to be somewhere in life that they aren’t. The poor and needy among us are not always as obvious to the eye as a beggar on the street. Everyone we encounter provides us the opportunity to love them where they are.”

Of course, St. Francis holds countless cherished memories for Kayla, but one that stands out involves Father Tom Donaldson and his unforgettable ride on a motorcycle through the parish hall—a moment that still brings a smile to her face.

Kayla’s journey exemplifies the mission of St. Francis School, rooted in kindness, faith, and service to others. We are proud to call her one of our alumni!

Explore More:
• CrossWoods Adventure Camp LLC
• Little Way Music