ADMINISTRATIVE
Jim Bellanca
Director
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and have worked primarily in school settings over the last 12 years. I currently work with kids and families through the Academy of Physical and Social Development in Newton. When not working with kids, I spend a great deal of time in Vermont doing lots of the things I enjoy: snowboarding, snowshoeing, golfing, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking…just being outdoors! I am truly excited for my eleventh summer at Running Brook Day Camp, my seventh as camp director. I am even more excited for you to read on to hear about the amazing group of staff we have for summer 2008. I think you'll be impressed by the level of training, the array of experiences and the diverse talents of these great people who have dedicated their summer to helping hundreds of kids have a wonderful camp experience.
Jenn Burns
Asst Director
I am a teacher during the school year. I graduated from Fitchburg State College and I received my graduate degree in Special Education from Cambridge College. I teach seventh grade in Swampscott, MA. I will be teaching my tenth year starting in the fall! When I am not working with children in school or at camp, I spend time with my sixteen nieces and nephews. One of my favorite activities is to watch them play sports and have fun together. I also love to travel when I am not working. I am planning an end of the summer trip to the rainforest in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks. I am very excited about another fantastic summer in camp.
Molly McMahon
Asst Director, LTP Director
(see below)
Denise
I have been working at Running Brook for 12 years as the bookkeeper and 7 years ago I began doing the camp administrative work. I love being at camp in the summer with all the kids.
GROUP COUNSELORS
Group 1
Head Counselor
My name is Melissa and I go to graduate school at Lesley University. I'm studying to obtain my masters in mental health with a focus on children. I've worked with kids for 10 years. I've been a nanny, preschool teacher and currently I'm interning in a position where I'm working with kids therapeutically. This is my first summer as a camp counselor and I'm very excited. I enjoy being outside, reading, spending time with family and friends, and having lots of fun!
Assistant Counselor
Hello! My name is Ben, and I am a 20-year old college student at
Brandeis University. I have just finished my sophomore year here, and
I'm majoring in Politics and Philosophy. I thoroughly enjoyed my
first year as a Running Brook counselor in 2007, and it was an easy
decision to return for another summer. Going to school at Brandeis
means I am just a few minutes down the road from camp! I love being
outdoors, whether it's playing basketball, baseball, or walking my dog.
I am perhaps best known for winning the sportsmanship award when I
played soccer in the second grade, and for being voted the "Biggest
Red Sox Fan" my senior year of high school. I also enjoy watching
movies and creative writing, and I'm proud to have had a poem
published in a poetry anthology when I was in 5th grade.
Junior Counselor
My name is Sophie Hornick and I will be a Freshman next year at
Syracuse University. I am in the Child and Family Studies program with
a fifth year in Education. I have also been dancing for almost
thirteen years now at a studio near home. I hope to continue dancing
in college. I am excited to return to Running Brook for another great
summer!
Group 2
Head Counselor
My name is Heidi. I grew up in a small, rural town in Vermont. I moved to Boston after graduating from Union College. Once in Boston, I attended Lesley University, earning a Master of Education. I worked this past year in Brookline in a language-based learning disabilities classroom. As a child I spent my summers beside a lake, swimming and reading. Now I look forward to spending my second summer at RBDC as a Head Counselor.
Assistant Counselor
My name is Stephanie. I will be a Senior at Stonehill College this
Fall. I recently returned home to Waltham, after completing a semester in
Spain. My major is Spanish, and I aspire to be a teacher. I enjoy
traveling, field hockey, lacrosse, good friends, music and cooking. This
will be my third summer at Running Brook and I can't wait to get started!
I love the camp, especially the children. At the end of each camp season,
I leave with so many newly formed friendships and numerous [mostly funny]
stories originating from the kids. I look forward to the weeks ahead at
Running Brook.
Junior Counselor
My name is Nell and I'm currently going into my senior year at Arlington High School. As a child, I was a camper at Running Brook for six years before becoming an LTP for one year. This is now my third summer working as a counselor at Running Brook, and I'm definitely excited to be there again! I love to travel and in the past four years I have been to Italy, France, and Costa Rica with trips from my school and traveled to England to visit family. At Arlington High, I like to participate in the school plays and musicals. Though I greatly enjoy musical theatre, after high school I am hoping to major in Elementary Education or Special Education while in college.
Group 3
Head Counselor
My name is Pam and I am new to Running Brook this summer as a head counselor. I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Northeastern University and just received my Masters degree in school counseling from Boston University. I'm looking forward to an exciting and fun summer!
Assistant Counselor
My name is Hannah Dean-Wood. Feel free to call me Hannah Banana, Hannah Montana, HDW's or anything else creative. I am A New Yorker up for the summer but don't worry, I am indifferent when it comes to baseball teams. I attend the State University of Environmental Science and Forestry as an Environmental Studies major. I am considering a career in education. Around campus I am involved in swing club, and the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. This is my first summer at Running Brook Day Camp. Lets make it a good one!
Junior Counselor
My name is Kyle Petersson. I am currently going to Lexington High School. I am 15 years old and I love to work with kids. One of my biggest hobbies is soccer and I am hoping to maybe teach some kids how to play. I chose this job because I work well with kids and it is a fun experience for me.
Group 4
Head Counselor
My name is Dee and this is my first summer at Running Brook. I went to Trinity College in Connecticut where I played basketball for 4 years. Besides hoops, I love dogs, music, being outside and all Boston sports teams. I'm so excited for the summer - its going to be tons of fun.
Assistant Counselor
Hi my name is Rosalie, but most people just call me Rose. I am a student at Middlsesex Community College, and I would love to own my own gym someday. I love to work out and play basketball, basically any kind of exercise is fun to me! I love being with my family and friends, I love the beach and the Red Sox! I have worked at camps before but this is my first time at Running Brook and I am very excited to start this summer!
Junior Counselor
My name is Abby and I will be a senior at Belmont High School next Fall. My interests (after being a camp counselor, of course) include ice hockey, music, and theater. My favorite subject is Spanish, and the most interesting thing I did this school year was participate in a two week exchange program with a school in Argentina in April. I also love animals, and I have a dog and two cats. I have two younger sisters and a younger brother, all of whom have attended Running Brook in the past. I was an LTP at Running Brook for two years, and this will be my third year as a counselor. I'm super excited to be coming back to have another great summer!
Group 5
Head Counselor
Hello! My name is Matt, and I will be the head counselor for Group Five this summer. This summer will mark my fourth year as a member of the Running Brook Day Camp team. Both my sister Marion, and twin brother Mark will also be returning to RBDC this summer. I work at Cameron Middle School as a 6th grade science teacher during the school year. I recently returned from a school funded trip to the Pantanal in Brazil, where I studied Giant River Otter, as well as Herpetology. I plan on leading a teen group on another expedition this coming school year. I've spent many great summers at Running Brook Day Camp, and I'm looking forward to yet another!
Assistant Counselor
My name is Rachel and I am 21 years old. I attend Bridgewater State College and major in Criminal Justice. This fall I am doing an internship in Washington, D.C. to get a better idea of what I would like to do after graduation. I have played basketball and softball for many years and I am a huge Red Sox fan. When I am not at camp I spend most of my summer at the Cape. I am looking forward to my fourth summer at Running Brook.
Junior Counselor
Hello, my name is Tyler. I am 16 years old and will be a junior at Waltham High School next year. I play a bunch of video games. Guitar Hero/Rock Band are probably my favorites. I also play the keyboard/piano and have been playing it since I was young. I also like sports. I have been involved with Running Brook for about 8 years and am happy to be returning this summer. Last year was my first year being a counselor and it was great. We did lots of fun activities with the campers and had some fun with staff outside of camp as well.
Group 6
Head Counselor
My name is Marion, and this will be my fourth summer working as a head counselor at RBDC. I have a bachelor's degree in secondary education and a master's degree in speech-language pathology. My brothers are identical twins who work at camp as well, and I am looking forward to a fun-filled summer with everyone!
Assistant Counselor
My name is Erin LeBlanc. I am going to be going into my fourth year at Framingham State College for Elementary Education and Language Arts. I love to babysit, go to the beach, and go to the movies. My friends and family mean the world to me and I love being with them. I am a huge Boston Red Sox fan and love spending Summer nights at Fenway Park. This will be my second Summer at Running Brook Day Camp and I can't wait for the summer to get started : )
Junior Counselor
My name is Meghan. I go to Waltham High School and I'm going to be a junior. I play soccer, basketball and lacrosse for the high school. This is my second year being a junior counselor at Running Brook. I also was a camper at Running Brook for several years before becoming a counselor.
Group 7
Head Counselor
My name is Jonathan Newell but everyone calls me Jon. I am a guidance counselor at the Randolph Community Middle School. I have a master's degree in Education. I was married last June and recently bought a new house in Woburn. I enjoy camping, playing sports and spending time with my friends and family. I look forward to having a fun, safe and educational summer here at Running Brook Day Camp.
Assistant Counselor
Hello! My name is Aaron, and I recently graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio (with a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy). I've been working at Running Brook as either a counselor or an LTP (the Leadership Training Program) for at least 10 years and before that I was a camper. I have been practicing different styles of martial arts for 16 years and hope that I'll be able to spend a lot more time practicing (and hopefully even teaching it) now that I've graduated. I expect that this summer will be just as much fun as the last and I can't wait to get back!
Junior Counselor
Hi, my name is Arthur Camuso. I am 18 years old, and I just graduated from Malden Catholic High School. I plan to study engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. I first went to Running Brook Day Camp in the second grade because my mother became the camp nurse. I continued to come back each year as a camper even after my mother stopped working for the camp. This is my tenth year at Running Brook, and my fourth year as a counselor. I have fun working with the kids and Running Brook is my home away from home in the summer. I can't wait for the summer!
Group 8
Head Counselor
My name is Lisa and this is my twelfth summer as a camp counselor. This will be my sixth year at Running Brook and I'm just as excited as ever to be back! I live in Dedham with my wonderful husband Jeff. During the school year, I am the coordinator of an after school program, grades 1-5. I love to read, cross-stitch, play poker, scrapbook, go camping, learn about history, decorate cakes, and I'm learning to knit. I graduated from Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire in 2003 where I majored in American Studies and Elementary Education. I am also the director of the Extended Day program at Running Brook. Summer is my favorite time of year and I'm looking forward to being back at camp!
Assistant Counselor
My name is Sarah and I'm going to be a Junior at Muhlenberg College. I'm a Theatre/English double major and am traveling to London in the fall for a semester abroad! I've been acting in plays since I was twelve and directed a comedy my senior year of high school. I"m also a member of Muhlenberg's Improv Association. I love to read, act, write, dance, and laugh. I'm so excited to begin my first summer at Running Brook Day Camp!
Junior Counselor
My name is Rachel and I just graduated from Lexington High School, where I spent much of my time singing in two a cappella groups and participating in student government. I am going to attend Cornell University next year! I look forward to going to college in the fall and am interested in studying environmental science. This summer will be my third year working at Running Brook, but I have been connected to the camp for quite a while - several years ago, I, too, was a Running Brook camper.
Group 9
Head Counselor
Matt is very excited for his first summer at Running Brook. During the school year, he is an elementary school teacher in the Boston Public School District. He graduated from Providence College in 2002 and recently received his masters in special education from Boston College. He loves being outdoors, BBQing and rooting on the Boston Red Sox.
Assistant Counselor
Hi, I'm Matt Fahey. I'm 20 years old and will be a junior at Quinnipiac University. It's my first year at Running Brook and I'm looking forward to a great summer. I like playing lacrosse, visiting Cape cod and watching the Red Sox.
Junior Counselor
My name is Matthew but most of my friends call me Matt. I go to Arlington Catholic High school where I will be a senior this fall. I play hockey and rugby for Arlington Catholic and I play baseball in Waltham. I also have been playing the guitar for a few years. This will be my second summer at Running Brook Day Camp and I am very happy to be returning.
Group 10
Head Counselor
My name is Sarah. I am a high school teacher at Malden High School. I am originally from California and love the outdoors. I enjoy hiking, kayaking and coaching the crew team at the high school. I'm looking forward to having an exciting summer with all of you.
Assistant Counselor
My name is Kim and this is my fifth summer working at Running Brook. I
am a junior nursing student at the University of New Hampshire and a
licensed nursing assistant. I hope to do a lot of traveling with this
career in the future. Some of my hobbies are cross country running and
Irish step dancing. I am also a member of my schools rugby club which
is a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to returning to Running
Brook Day Camp and getting to know all the kids. I know we are going
to have a great summer!
Junior Counselor
My name is Danielle. I go to Waltham High School and will be a junior. For the high school I play basketball and soccer. This will be my second year as a junior counselor at Running Brook. I went to Running Brook as a camper for several years.
Group 11
Head Counselor
My name is Mark and this will be my 4th summer working at Running Brook Day Camp. I am a 7th grade Science teacher at the Pollard Middle School in Needham and I love working with kids. Outside of work, I am an avid collector of classic video games and try to keep up with new games too. My brother and sister (Matt and Marion respectively) both work at Running Brook and we are all eager to have another fun and successful summer!
Assistant Counselor
Hi, I'm Seth! You can find me outside enjoying the sun or playing music. I go to school at UMass Lowell for performance and sound recording, and I host a radio show on WUML (91.5 fm). Can't wait to meet everybody at Running Brook!
Junior Counselor
My name is Nick. I've just finished my Freshman year at Brimmer and
May School. At Brimmer, I play guitar in the school ensemble. I have
been playing guitar for many years, and enjoy music such as Pink
Floyd, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and U2. I also love to read, and have
read authors such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, and also
books such as To Kill a Mockingbird, and Flowers for Algernon. I have
been a Running Brook camper, and have just finished two years of being
an LTP. I am incredibly excited to be coming back again, this time as
a counselor!
Group 12
Head Counselor
My name is Ana and I am the head counselor of group 12. I am a senior at
Earlham College (a small Liberal Arts Quaker school) in Indiana, but I
grew up in Arlington, MA. I am studying Comparative Languages and
Linguistics (Spanish and German) and TESOL (teaching English to speakers
of a different language). I run the woman's lacrosse club at my school
and I work with a Latino youth group in Richmond, IN. I just got back
from a semester in Morelos, Mexico, where I studied and worked with
children, and also helped street animals. I really love animals and I
love to travel! After college I plan on doing relief in various countries
in South America. I am excited to be returning to camp this summer and to
be working with group 12 for my fourth consecutive summer!
Assistant Counselor
Junior Counselor
Hi! I'm Katie, I've been going to Running Brook since I was about 8 or 9. I was an LTP for two years and this is my first year of being a real part of the staff, which I'm SO excited for! I am going into my sophomore year at Arlington High. One thing that is a big part of my life is softball. I've been playing my whole life, and I was on the freshman team at my school this past year. I'll be on a summer team for the next few months, and I hope to make JV as a sophomore. I'm looking forward to another great summer at camp!
Group 13
Head Counselor
I'm Brian Rossi and I've been the Group 13 counselor at Running Brook
for many years. During the year, I am a middle school teacher, as
well as a baseball and basketball coach.
Assistant Counselor
Hi, my name is Seamas. I just completed my sophomore year at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and am a member of their varsity track and field program throwing the javelin. I am majoring in Geology and Anthropology and hope to join the Navy after graduation. Some of my hobbies are windsurfing, hiking, aviation, football and pretty much anything outside! This will be my first summer at Running Brook!
Junior Counselor
Hey, my name is Kenny. I'm 17 years old and am going to be in my senior year at Waltham High School starting in September. I've played lacrosse there now for two years but I also enjoy other sports like football and baseball. This will be my eighth year at Running Brook and I can't wait!
Leadership Training Program
Director
My name is Molly McMahon and I am both the LTP (Leadership Training Program) director and an assistant director at Running Brook Day Camp. I am originally from New York, but I'm not a Yankees fan. I did my undergraduate work at Villanova University in both Psychology and Elementary Education. I taught third grade and then seventh and eighth grade English language arts on the Southside of Chicago and completed my masters in Advanced Teaching at Northwestern University. I am currently working on my PhD in Educational Administration K-12 at Boston College. My hobbies include triathlon racing (swim, bike run), hiking, rollerblading and skiing. I am very psyched to be back at Running Brook for my second summer!
Specialists
Arts & Crafts
Hi, my name is Jessie and I am the Arts and Crafts Specialist this summer at Running Brook. Last summer, I was the head counselor of Group 6A, and I'm very excited to return to see all the familiar campers I got to know last year! I just graduated with a master's degree in special education from Boston College. I currently live in Brookline and I will be teaching in the Boston area in September.
Co-operative Games
Hi, my name is Alex and I can't wait to spend a third terrific summer as the cooperative game specialist! When I am not chasing kids in a game of tag or getting pegged by dodge balls, I spend my time in Jamaica Plain with my two dogs; Hank and Atticus. I just spent a very busy first year as a Behavioral Therapist in a middle school program and I am looking forward to stepping out of the classroom and being back on the playing field at Running Brook!
Creative movement
My name is Ashly and I am 22 years old. This is my last semester at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and I am majoring in Dance Education. I will be graduating in May 2008. I have been dancing for 18 years now and I will hopefully be teaching dance starting in September in the Boston area. I enjoy going to the beach, hanging out with friends, choreographing dances and performing. This is my second year at Running Brook as the Creative Movement specialist and I could not be more excited to be back!
Drama
Michael is over-the-moon thrilled to be back as the Drama Specialist at RBDC after having spent the summer of 2007 behind the scenes as a Production Assistant at the North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, MA. Michael recently returned to the stage as Marty in Appolinaire Theatre's "The House of Yes." He is also an aspiring playwright forever in search of a good story. He collects bookmarks, movie ticket stubs, and Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers. He can't think of anywhere he'd rather spend his summer than at Running Brook Day Camp. Have a Great Summer!
Hi-Ropes
Hi! My name is Erin and I am the Challenge Course facilitator at Running Brook. I have been working with high ropes courses and in adventure education for over a decade and all over New England. I attended Saint Michael's College in VT for a B.A. in English Lit and then moved to Waterville Valley, NH and earned my M.Ed. in Counseling from Plymouth State University. I first joined the staff at Running Brook in 1996, where I fell in love with the highly-enthusiastic, nurturing, challenge-by choice environment our day camp provides. During the school year, I am a high school guidance counselor in Malden and in my spare time I love to snowboard, bike, eat, hike, write, kayak and watch movies.
Hello, My name is Eric and this will be my second fun filled summer on the ropes course at Running Brook. I am currently a freshman at Hartwick College in Oneonta NY and am studing psychology. I enjoy anything outdoors like hiking and rockclimbing. I am also working at the ropes course here at school. Have a good summer. See you soon!
Music
I'm Kim, and I'll be joining Running Brook this year as the Music Specialist. I recently graduated from Brandeis University, where I studied teaching and International and Global studies. I love singing and playing my guitar, so I'm looking forward to a summer of great music!
Nurse
Hi, My name is Tami. I have been a registered nurse for 8 years and an elementary school nurse for 2 years. This will be my first year being the camp nurse at Running Brook. I will be coming to camp with my two daughters, and the three of us are looking forward to a great summer.
Self Defense
Casey Kearin grew up in the Malden/Medford area and moved around the east coast consistantly since birth.
He started training in martial arts in 1997 and has been teaching since the early millenium. He also likes music and film and has been working with that for a long time as well. Goals right now are to keep teaching/training and keep producing quality students.
Sports
Timothy Alford
Originally from the deep southern (and glorious) state of Mississippi, I now teach middle school in Framingham. In between those two milestones, I went to a small liberal arts college in Tennessee named Sewanee, and got my Masters of Theology from Harvard Divinity School. This is my first year at camp, and I am excited for some good times at soccer, basketball, archery, and more.
Yoga
Janelle moved to Boston two years ago from North Carolina where she taught 3rd grade for two years. She just completed her master's degree in educational administration from Boston College and plans to attend Harvard in the fall. Janelle's favorite food is watermelon and Pirate's Booty and she loves being in the sunshine. Janelle worked as the head counselor at Running Brook Day Camp with the girls of group four last summer and is excited to come back as the Yoga specialist this year. Look for her under the Yoga tree!
Swim Staff
Pool Director
Hi, my name is Cori Phillips. This is my first year at Running Brook. I will be joining the staff as the pool director. I just graduated from Wesleyan University this spring. I have been lifeguaring and teaching swimming lessons for the past seven years. I love being in the water and I'm psyched for the summer.
Asst Director
My name is Erin and this will be my sixth summer teaching swim lessons at a summer day camp. I graduated from Loyola College in Maryland and will be attending BC Law School in the fall.
Hi, I'm Colleen I have been teaching swim lessons here at Running Brook for a lot of years and life guarding as well. I have been a swim teacher and lifeguard for about 15 years now and I am also an EMT (I have been certified for almost 20 years in this). I am looking forward to another year at Running Brook, it is the highlight of my year. I hope you all have as much fun as I do here. Let's look forward to a great summer adventure!
My name is Christie and I am currently attending Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, pursuing a career in Pediatric Dentistry. I recently received a BS in Biology at UMass Amherst where I also participated on the dance team for all four years. This summer I will be training to run the Chicago Marathon for the American Cancer Society. I have been lifeguarding for almost seven years and have been teaching swimming lessons for the last three years. I absolutely love the water and believe that it is very important for children to learn how to swim. I can not wait for another great year at Running Brook Day Camp!
Float Counselors
Chris Petersson is an extra hand at the camp, helping out wherever he is needed. At 19 he has just graduated from the New England School of Photography so he loves to take pictures of everything going on at camp. Chris's interests include backing packing, music, rock climbing, fun adventures and photography. This will be his 3rd year back at Running Brook day camp and he has always enjoying working with kids.
Hi I am Kelci, I am currently a senior at Brandeis University in Waltham majoring in Sociology & International Relations. I am originally from Wyoming where I actively participate in a wide range of outdoor activities, including white water rafting, snowboarding, hiking and skiing.