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, and associated with ICEL. 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 has been happy to return the last several summers in that role. Her children have been attending camp for the last twelve 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 science classes at the Baltimore Homeschool Community Center.

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 thrilled to be returning to the magical woods of Monkton to spend her third summer on staff with children in an environment perfect for cultivating a lasting relationship with the outdoors. She is excited to see familiar faces from last few summers as well as meet new additions.
She enjoys relaxing with her family and friends, traveling, photography, camping, gardening, fashion, reading, and creating. Heidi lives in Baltimore, MD with her two cats and three children. She is certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR, and is studying to be a registered nurse.

Sally Fisher (Administrator) has been with Nature Camps for twenty-one 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.

Autumn Ayers is excited to return to camp as a counselor this year! Having started camp at the age of four, Autumn has been involved with Nature Camps for fifteen years. She looks forward to leading activities that she has always enjoyed, such as stream hikes and macrame, and introducing kids to the wonderful things that nature has to offer.

In her spare time, Autumn enjoys hiking, reading, writing, singing, and collecting and playing various types of flute with the Dover Youth Symphony Orchestra. Autumn also volunteers at her local library and works with an avian rescue organization. Autumn will attend Bennington College in the fall to continue her studies in French, Japanese, psychology, and music.

Andrew Barry is thrilled to return to Nature Camps for his twelfth summer, his third 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 is finishing his senior year at Park School, and will be attending Warren Wilson College next year. He plans to go backpacking for three weeks in the Shenandoah National Park during spring as part of an independent project.

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.

Ryan Bean is eager to begin his first year as a Nature Camps counselor. He enjoys the outdoors, music, reading, cars, cooking, and history. Ryan has worked as a tennis instructor, nature camp counselor, and many other positions. He loves spending time with his family and friends.

He currently attends Towson University and will be starting his fifth semester as a junior this fall. He has strong passions for history and teaching, which have led him to become a history/education major. Ryan is currently in the secondary education program, and is the Public Relations officer for the Future Social Studies Teachers of Towson.

Denise Casey is super excited to join Nature Camps for her first year! She grew up camping, fishing, and hiking with her family throughout the Maryland area. In high school she spent time every summer in the Appalachia Mountains. This is where she fell in love with blue-grass, starry nights, the mountains, and sing-alongs.

After studying Int'l Relations at UMD, Denise accepted a teaching placement with Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Godavari, Nepal. With little resources at the school she used dance, movement, and play as common tools for learning. Last year, she spent seven months as an intern on an organic farm in Kentucky. Denise loves laughing, dancing, climbing trees, singing, and being outside!

Ben Currotto (TA Coordinator) is glad to be returning to camp for his third summer as a counselor. Nature Camps has always revived in him that sense of wonder that is so easily neglected in the day-to-day world of grown-ups and parking lots. Ben loves going on roundabout hikes to old and new places, making up games, building weird structures, yawping, journaling, and leading Teen Adventure outings.

In the (almost) two years since his last summer at camp, Ben spent a semester in Paris, interned at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, and volunteered on an organic farm in northern Spain. He is now finishing up his senior year at Skidmore College where he studies English and Creative Writing and plays lots of music, and is looking into farming apprenticeships in the greater Baltimore area for the coming fall.

Jeremiah Doggett is returning for his 14th year at Nature Camps, and is serving as a counselor for the third year in a row. He loves being outdoors: hiking, cycling, or paddling through it. He is an experienced backpacker, and enjoys all sorts of games, sports, stories, riddles, and myths.

Jeremiah will be attending the School of Visual Arts in the fall to continue working towards becoming a professional illustrator.

Max Kirschner (Intern) is very excited to be a part of the Nature Camps experience for his first year has a counselor. He has many fond memories of being at Nature Camps, especially in the Teen Adventure program.

Max grew up in farm country and was always outside in the woods, or swimming in the pool. He likes to stay active and enjoy what nature gives us. Max looks forward to meeting everyone at Nature Camps this summer.

Louie Krauss (Intern) is excited to return to camp for his seventh year, his first year as a staff member. He enjoys all outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, biking, and just relaxing.

Louie will attend Friends School of Baltimore, and is excited to be starting an ultimate Frisbee club and heading the Asian Culture Club. He has played the alto saxophone since age 9 and has spent the last several years learning about the techniques of jazz as well as improvisation. Louie has played baseball, soccer, football, and cross country running. He worked at Wolfe Street Academy's summer school where he helped teach struggling kids and make it a more fun experience for them.

Lily Kotansky greatly looks forward to returning to her second year at Nature Camps. What a joy to be part of the woods and good company for the summer again!
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.

Lily attends West Chester University as a liberal studies 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 is currently a junior at the Boys Latin School of Maryland. During his fall semester, Andrew attended the Mountain School of Vershire, Vermont, where he learned sustainable agricultural and forestry skills, while simultaneously taking several advanced placement classes. Now back in Maryland, Andrew is involved in the environmental organizations 350, The National Energy Coalition, and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and participates in the fine arts club, the diversity club, the debate club, and the recycling club.

Outside of school, Andrew enjoys playing the bagpipes, biking, kayaking, and walking (as Thoreau defined it).

Renee O'neill (Teen Adventure Farm) eagerly joins the NC Staff for her eighth 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 the 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 is very excited to return to Nature Camp for her second year of being a counselor. She can't wait to spend every day in the woods, hiking and playing and telling stories with everyone at camp.

In addition to school work, Eliza has been volunteering with Unified Theater, a unique and really fun opportunity that involved running a musical written and performed by a mix of teens with and without disabilities. She has also been acting in the show "Dancing at Lughnasa." Next fall, Eliza will be attending University of California-Davis, where she hopes to study wildlife conservation.

Leah Shenfeld is excited to begin her first summer on the NC Staff. She has grown up going camping, hiking, and kayaking with her family. Leah has spent two summers hiking and camping across Israel, and is eager to bring her passion for the outdoors to Nature Camps. Her interests include writing, drawing, kayaking, playing guitar, and hiking.

In the fall, Leah will be starting her sophomore year at St. Mary's College of Maryland, where she is double majoring in Psychology and Biology, and has hopes of becoming a psychiatrist. Aside from academics, Leah is interested in graphic design and won a national award for her public service announcement about safe teen driving.

Devon Smith (Intern) has been in the Camper and Teen Adventure programs for eight years.

He will be a junior at Boys Latin this fall, Devon's interests include wildlife, white water rafting, exploring the Monkton woods and the Gunpowder River, and hiking: on the Appalachian Trail (MD and NH), in Utah, and climbing Mt. Washington. Devon will soon become a falconer, a passion he has been studying with his father.