Don Webb (Director) is a life long outdoor educator, focusing on the unique growth and development of each individual child.

Don holds Master degrees from Antioch University, New England: MA, Master in the Art of Teaching; MA, Marriage and Family Therapy. He is a graduate of Rutgers University, The New York Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy and Training, and The New York Focusing Institute.

Don was in VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America), working as a community organizer and later as a Teaching Principal in a one-room schoolhouse in Appalachia, He taught on the elementary, secondary, and college levels for thirty-three years.

Don founded Whispering Oaks School, a one-room country schoolhouse. He taught at Gilman Lower School, The Jemicy School, and Havre de Grace High School. In 1974, Don founded Nature Camps, Inc. (formerly Don Webb Nature Camp).

Don's Quaker background, his love for nature, and his deep regard for children of all learning styles have led to the creation of nurturing and joyful learning environments for children and families from Vermont to Maryland.
Don served on the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Mid-Atlantic Regional and International Board of Directors. He is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Published Papers.

• Living with the Earth
• Rediscovering Our Sense of Wonder
• Walking with John Muir, Jesse Stuart, and Opal

Other Papers:

• Wondering About Dandelions
• The Joy of Choosing
• In Wildness is Strength

Patty Barry (Co-Director) is looking forward to another summer at Nature Camps. She was co-director of Nature Camps in the late 80’s and was happy to return last summer in that role. Her children have been attending camp for the last nine years. Patty has a degree in Human Development from Marquette University and a Masters of Education from Loyola College. She has taught in both public and private elementary schools in Baltimore, and has now opted for a smaller class size, homeschooling her children. During the school year, she also teaches classes in a homeschool co-op.

An avid book reader, Patty loves singing, exploring in the woods, and visiting new places with her husband John and their three children. She loves spending the summer in a setting so perfect for children’s growth and exploration.

Heidi Silberg (Wilderness First Aid Coordinator) is looking forward to her second summer as a staff member at Nature Camps. She is certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR, and is studying to be a registered nurse.

Heidi is thrilled to be returning to the magical woods of Monkton to spend the summer with children in an environment perfect for cultivating a lasting relationship with the outdoors. She is excited to see familiar faces from last summer as well as meet new additions. She enjoys relaxing with her family and friends, traveling, camping, gardening, reading, and creating. Heidi lives in Sparks, Maryland with her three children, pigs & goats.

Kat McLaughlin (TA Coordinator) is thrilled to return to Nature Camps for her second summer. She looks forward to spending her time exploring the woods, jewelry making, nature journaling, and sharing her love for nature with campers of all ages. Kat is also very excited to be involved with Teen Adventure for the second time and can't wait to be back on the Appalachian Trail.

Kat currently lives in Portland, Oregon, and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at Portland State University in the fall. She enjoys exploring the city but loves taking the train out to the near by parks and taking long strolls through the woods, watching sunsets and sunrises over the mountains. Since being in Oregon, she has learned to snowshoe, taking a winter adventure course out in Crater Lake National Park.

Kat is also very involved in international travel networks as well as WOOF USA. In April she plans to travel to Uzes, France where she will be working on a fruit orchard and family farm. Kat can’t wait to explore the mountains of France and walk along the beaches of the Mediterranean.

Sally Fisher (Administrator) has been with Nature Camps for twenty years, keeping track of registrations, payments, health forms, permits, licenses, MD State Certification (COMAR), staff certifications and paperwork, advertising, insurance, and state and county regulations. She sends updates to the NC webmaster and tends to the details of layout and editing of the catalog. Sally is also responsible for anything mailed, faxed, or emailed to and from camp, as well as responding to questions from parents and staff.

Sally works from her home office, where she has been happy to be home for her three boys, all now grown. When not working for camp, Sally enjoys spending time with her husband and children, reading, being outdoors -- especially the beach, and observing animals of any kind – from birds to spiders to her border collie.

Sammy Atkinson looks forward to his fourth year on NC Staff. For nine years, he has shared his deep love of nature at Nature Camps. Living in the city, Sammy always looks forward to sharing his favorite things with children: hiking (not always on a trail), relaxing around camp fires, having little kids use him for a climbing set, and most of all exploring nature and its wonderful creatures.

Sammy has been involved in after school youth programs. He helped design and initiate a Youth Center in Baltimore -- offering a fun, positive, and safe environment as an option for elementary through middle school students. Sammy has also been involved with other inner city groups, such as the Baltimore Algebra Project: offering one on one peer tutoring, empowering inner city youth, facilitating their demand for equality.

Sammy is looking forward to leading the Teen Adventure program at camp for a second year. He had a ton of fun working with the teenagers last year at camp on projects and away from camp at the farm and especially on the Appalachian Trail.

Sam is attending the University of Maryland, College Park, where he is studying architecture and volunteering at the Maryland Food Cooperative and occasionally helping out with a couple of the sustainability groups on campus.

Andrew Barry is thrilled to return to Nature Camps for his eleventh summer, his second on the NC Staff. Before being a counselor he was an Intern, Teen Adventure Explorer, and Camper. He has grown up through camp, and can’t imagine a greater way to spend his summer. He is looking forward to seeing returning campers and experience with them a summer of playing in the stream, building leprechaun houses, going on fun hikes, and going on the Ropes Course.

Andrew will be a senior at Park School, where he is involved with his school’s newspaper, a leader of Amnesty International club, student government, and debate club.

Andrew loves hiking and fun walks in the woods. He has backpacked on portions of the Appalachian Trail and in New Mexico. He has developed a passion for creative writing, and enjoys simply being surrounded by nature.

Catie Davis cannot wait for her first summer as a Nature Camps staff member! Catie loves to spend time outdoors, especially hiking and camping. She is currently trying rock climbing as well. Catie has a strong interest in environmental conservation. She was an avid member of her high school’s Earth Science Club, and served as Earth Science Club President during her senior year. Catie has also interned for Environment Ohio and The Wilderness Center in Wilmot, Ohio.

Catie currently attends St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. When not in class, Catie enjoys exploring Maryland, reading, skiing, and spending time with friends.

Jeremiah Doggett is returning for his 13th year at camp and is coming on as a full Counselor after serving as an Intern last summer. He loves being in the outdoors: hiking, cycling, or paddling through it. He is an experienced backpacker and enjoys all sorts of games, sports, stories, riddles, and myths.

Jeremiah is currently attending Friends School of Baltimore, and is always working to improve his painting and drawing skills to work towards his goal of becoming an illustrator.

Sarah Elizabeth Jennings was born and raised at Nature Camps. Sarah enjoys all Nature Camps activities. These include journaling, hiking, stream exploring, playing in the mud, hard labor, building fairy houses, natural crafts, and being a compost ninja. She especially likes to share in the joy of the 4-year-olds in Camp Wonder.

Sarah graduated from Millersville University in December 2009 with a dual-degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. She hopes to have a full time Special Education Teaching position for the upcoming school year. In the meantime, she is working as a substitute teacher for Maryland and Pennsylvania schools. She also teaches Hebrew at Temple Beth Israel in York, PA.

Lily Kotansky is eager to join Nature Camps' community. Having grown up in the middle of the woods, where her closest neighbors were cows, horses, and the occasional peacock, Lily is thrilled to work at Nature Camps.

Lily participated in the Envirothon throughout elementary school. In high school, she wrote one acts and performed in plays and musicals. As Assistant Editor, she wrote on local and school newspapers. Lily participated in the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Teaching, where she created and taught lessons for elementary school children.

Currently Lily attends West Chester University as an English Education major through the Honors College. She is the Vice President of National Council of Teachers of English at West Chester, expanding her love of teaching and literature. Other interests include great discussions with friends, geocaching, and getting back to her kid-at-heart mindset by going to the playground and exploring the children’s section of the library (best section!)…and of course, getting back to nature.

Andrew McGowan (Intern) can’t wait to start his first summer as a NC intern. Having attended Nature Camps for 8 years, Andrew looks forward to hiking the many trails of NC, biking on the NCR trail, games in the field, and of course, big circle.

Outside of Nature Camps, Andrew attends The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland where he is involved with the soccer and squash team, the debate team, the honors program, the fine arts council, and the Genocide Awareness Club.

When he is not in school, Andrew enjoys being involved in two bagpipe bands, biking, backpacking, canoeing, and working for The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.

Robin Monaco is happy to be working at Nature Camps for his second summer. Robin studies photography and film in school, and helps teach a physical education class of children ages 7-11. He likes skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing.

Robin has enjoyed his time at Nature Camps, especially the overnights, and spending time with the campers.

Renee O'neill (Teen Adventure Farm) eagerly joins the NC Staff for her fourth year. She and her husband Scott share so much knowledge with all of us -- from beautiful wildflower gardens and building beautiful stone walls at camp, to providing remarkable farm living experiences for Teen Adventure teens.

Renee is a home schooling Mom of 5 children. The O'Neills run a five-acre working farm, which yields most of their food. They raise many different animals, grow various types of food, and run a masonry company, On Common Ground, Inc. The O'neills are dedicated to green sustainable living, natural and environmental education, and reconnecting people with nature. The first Teen Adventure five day experience is located on Renee's and Scott's farm.

Renee brings to NC an understanding of children and their ability to learn outside of a classroom.

Eliza Oldach was a camper at Nature Camps for several years before moving to North Carolina. As a Teen Adventure Explorer, she had a wonderful time hiking the Appalachian Trail, working on the O'neill family farm, and helping counselors at camp. Now she's ecstatic to be back for her first year on Staff.

Eliza has just finished her junior year at Chapel Hill High School in North Carolina, where she focuses on biology, in hopes of studying it in college, and choir, for fun.

When not in school, Eliza enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, hiking with her dog, and being in musicals. She's excited for another wonderful summer in the woods of Monkton.

Brooke Pearson (Support Staff) returns to Nature Camps for her seventh summer. Growing up near the mountains in Frederick, she developed a profound curiosity and respect for nature. Brooke graduated from UMBC (B.A. -- Art History), and from Towson University, (B.S. -- Animal Behavior). She is a certified Primary Montessori teacher, teaching in Frederick. Brooke has been a kayak eco-tour guide along the Outer Banks, a volunteer at Days End Farm and Horse Sanctuary, and an intern with the Marine Animal Rescue Program at the National Aquarium. Reverence for animals is deeply important to her.

Brooke is fond of gnome quests, faerie excursions, mushroom hikes, reading, and walking through the woods. She has been involved in most aspects of Nature Camps, becoming enchanted by Camp Wonder, to co-counseling Teen Adventure through the Laurel Highlands Trail and Appalachian Trail. Brooke is overflowing with joy to be returning to the magical Never Never Land of NC. She is eager to teach, as well as learn from, campers and fellow counselors. Brooke views life as one big adventure. She is always on a journey to learn and grow as an individual.

Andrew Rainey is excited to become a part of the Nature Camps community. He’s looking forward to teaching and learning along side everyone, finding cool bugs, and standing on his head.

Andrew just finished his Sophomore year at Goucher College where he’s studying Spanish, Latin American Studies, Jazz, and Environmental Science. At school, he’s been apart of some Baltimore-based community learning programs including the Read A Story Write A Story program at Dallas Nicholas Elementary School and the Saturday School program at the Education Based Latino Outreach Center in Fell’s Point.

This past summer, Andrew participated with WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) where he lived and worked with a farm family in the Catskills of New York for the month of August. He also had the opportunity to work with Bayou Rebirth in New Orleans over Spring Break where he planted trees in the Bayou and led “habitat analysis” expeditions through Audubon Park.

Kimberly Schubert is brand new to Nature Camps. She cannot wait for the muddy swamp walks, canoe trips, journals, and adventures. In nature, she finds peace, beauty, and inspiration. She hopes to help children to discover these qualities of nature.

Kimberly attends the University of Maryland, College Park. She will graduate this December with a degree in environmental science and policy. During the semester, she works at the performing arts center on campus as a backstage crew member. In 2007, she volunteered in New Zealand doing environmental conservation. Last spring, she studied abroad in Mexico and became intimately acquainted with the Grey whale and Green sea turtle.

As a team leader for the Green Summer Job Corps, she spent summer 2009 teaching, working, and playing with D.C. youth ages 14-19. Together, they cleaned parks around D.C. to encourage co mmunities to gather and have fun.

Besides schoolwork, her time is filled with books, walks, bike rides, and the occasional camping trip. If you're lucky, she'll share one of her creative stories!

Allie Semenza is thrilled to be returning to Nature Camps for her 16th summer, her fifth as a counselor. Allie has always been curious about the world around her and has loved spending her summers immersed in the woods of Monkton.

Allie participated in the Teen Adventure program for four years and thoroughly enjoyed backpacking, kayaking, biking, and working at Spoutwood Farm. For two summers as a counselor, she participated in Teen Adventure once again, this time as a trip leader. Allie considers Nature Camps her second home and has made friendships there that are unmatched and unrestricted by age. Her favorite activities include exploring in the stream, frolicking in the woods, drawing in her nature journal, making music, and participating in the many wonderfully unique activities that only Nature Camps can offer.

Outside of camp, Allie's interests include playing guitar and mandolin, drawing, creative writing, and recording and producing music. Allie attends New York University, studying within the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.

Anna Taylor is returning for her 10th year at Nature Camps, and her third summer on staff. She specifically enjoys working with the younger children, but holds a special place in her heart for all the kids at camp. She enjoys stream hikes, constructing dream catchers, and making pottery.

Anna has just finished her fist year at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and will be returning in the fall to hopefully major in Psychology with a minor in Outdoor Education. While at school, Anna volunteers at Richmond Friends School in the Pre-K/Kindergarten class and babysits the "professor's kids."