Meet the Counselors

Now it's time to meet the amazing people that make the magic happen every day at Hitchcock Center camp: the counselors! These dedicated and talented staff work hard every day to make sure Hitchcock campers have fun learning experiences every day outdoors!

Alia

This is Alia's third year at the Hitchcock Center. She has
worked for Mass Audubon, Trustees of Reservations, the Turners Falls
Fishway and has had other teaching and naturalist jobs. Currently
during the school year she works at a private school as a science and
nature teacher for a kindergarten class. She studied various science
subjects at UMASS, has a Master's degree in Education from Antioch
University and is a cerfitified teacher. Alia loves to spend time outside
gardening, hiking, fishing and just hanging out in her yard in Worthington!

Keegan

This is Keegan's second summer as a camp counselor at the Hitchcock Center,
and fifth year as a camp counselor.  Keegan has been teaching elementary
schoolers since he was in Middle School. Graduating from Hampshire College
in 2008 with a degree in 'Kinetic Sculpture' he is gearing up to go to grad
school for his MFA in 2012.  During the school year he is an after-school teacher
at the Common School, and spends the earlier parts of the days substitute
teaching in schools around the valley.  In his free time, he is hiking, biking,
making art, and juggling.  On the weekends he often finds himself at town
functions with his Circus Performance Troupe.

Sandy

Sandy has enjoyed exploring the natural beauty of New
England for most of her life. Her interest in nature has
opened many wonderful opportunities to learn, grow, and
discover. She has spent the summer learning to live without
water or electricity while serving as a crew member with the
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. She later went on to
share her skills and knowledge with the Girl Scouts where
she supervised several summer camps. When not spending
the summers outside, Sandy works as a special educator at
a local elementary school.

Bob

Bob has a degree from UMASS in Plant and Soil Sciences.  He also has a
degree in education and has several years experience as a high school biology
teacher.  Prior to joining the staff at the Hitchcock Center, he spent the last nine
summers as the Nature Educator for a large camp in New Jersey.  He enjoys camping
and hiking the many great trails the Pioneer Valley has to offer, and enjoys
catching and identifying fishes.  He is very excited to be a part of the Hitchcock
Center staff.

Group Challenges

Every day at camp here at the Hitchcock Center, we have a morning circle time that includes getting to know you games, nature discussions, songs and group challenges. We do this in order to come together as a group before we embark on our day of fun and learning.

Group challenges are one way each camp group becomes a team. They always include a problem that the group has to solve together. Campers are encouraged to stay positive and help each other through the process. Counselors stand back and provide encouragement and guidance but never the solution to the problem! Campers work through it together, coming up with different strategies of tackling the challenge. When they complete the challenge, the feeling of accomplishment is amazing! Often their roars of triumph can be heard throughout the Hitchcock Center.

Above, the Explorers do the "Silent Line-up" challenge. The goal is to line up according to criteria such as height, birthday, or alphabetically by name, but without speaking! This challenge was made extra hard because campers could not step off the narrow plank. You can see that campers need to come up with creative ways of moving on the plank, and that often, they need to rely heavily upon each other for support! Ask your camper about their daily group challenge today!

First Day of Camp!

What a beautiful first day of camp! All day long the Hitchcock Center has been alive with the sounds of summer camp. Both groups went on hikes in the morning and this afternoon the Young Naturalists had sprinkler play time while the Explorers worked hard on making their nature journals, which they will use for the rest of the session.

Tomorrow is the first field trip: the Explorers will go strawberry picking and then swimming at the Mill River pool! Please remember bathing suits and towels!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Hitchcock Center for the Environment’s first camp blog! The purpose of this blog is to share stories and photos from the camp day with families. We hope to post three to four blog entries per session showing the fun we are having going on hikes, singing songs, making nature crafts, and a lot more. Staff training week is coming up fast, and we are all getting excited for an awesome summer. We've got some great activities planned and some exciting field trips too. We can't wait, and we hope you are excited too!