These guys really love what they do, and it shows!
Our Leadership Team — all of whom provide guidance, support, and encouragement to the Camp Walden Staff — is composed of camp professionals whose backgrounds and experiences enable them to deal with the daily complexities of “operating” camp. Camp Walden’s leadership team meets regularly throughout the year to plan and prepare for the summer ahead. The Leadership Team is assembled in hopes that each team member can bring a unique perspective and expertise to our group.
Together, our team makes every effort to ensure that campers, families, and staff are afforded the best possible Camp Walden experience! It’s a big job to keep the Walden community happy, content, creative and allowing for lots of fun! Our Leadership Team is up to this challenge and we cannot emphasize how fortunate we feel in having these Walden personalities return summer after summer.
Howie Howie has focused much of his camp leadership on developing creative activities and training our staff to the highest standards. A former high school teacher, Howie has been a camp professional for over 30 years and has been positively impacting campers and staff as our “go-to guy” for creating and nurturing teamwork at camp. Howie is a past President of the Ontario Camps Association and continues to work with youth throughout the year as a club volleyball coach.
Howie and Sari play an important role in all aspects of Camp Walden’s operations in the off-season. During the summer, Howie & Sari are the Directors of Camp Robin Hood, in Markham, Ontario and are the link between home and Camp Walden for our Home & Away campers, as well as valuable resources during their weekend visits to camp.
Sari and Howie are the proud parents of Jordanna, Cole & Zane who all spent significant time at Camp Walden as campers and staff.
Sari Sari has a deep appreciation for the value of camp as she is a 2nd generation camp professional as her parents have been in the industry for almost 60 years. She has been involved in every aspect of camp operations – from Swim Staff to CIT Coordinator and from Section Head to Camp Director. Her training as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist has allowed Sari to provide opportunities for children with special needs at Camp Robin Hood and Walden through our Camper Relations Program and gives her a unique perspective on the needs of campers in any environment.
Howie and Sari play an important role in all aspects of Camp Walden’s operations in the off-season. During the summer, Howie & Sari are the Directors of Camp Robin Hood, in Markham, Ontario and are the link between home and Camp Walden for our Home & Away campers, as well as valuable resources during their weekend visits to camp.
Sari and Howie are the proud parents of Jordanna, Cole & Zane who all spent significant time at Camp Walden as campers and staff.
Sol Sol is committed to providing the very best in creative camp programming. Sol will provide leadership to the various staff teams to assist them in realizing safe and effective programming. Sol has over twenty-five years of camping experience at Ontario camps as a Camper, Counsellor, Area Head, and Director, as well as training and certification as a teacher. Sol makes every effort to hire a committed and highly skilled staff to facilitate camp activities. Sol’s other major focus is on the families of our Walden community. He communicates with families about their questions, cares, or concerns throughout the year and summer. Sol holds a Bachelor of Education degree and is a past recipient of the Ron Johnstone Memorial Award given annually by the Ontario Camping Association recognizing outstanding contributions in the field of camping.
Jen Jen started her camping career at Goldman Union Camp in Indiana, and completed her Bachelor of Education in 2004. Jen’s experience and considerable skill with kids makes her a tremendous resource to the Leadership Team.
Sol and Jen have a busy household with four children aged 10, 12, 14, and 16 preparing them nicely for the household of 500 children who join them every summer.
Seth As Seth begins his 41st summer at Walden, he is extremely excited for a summer full of continuing opportunities as Associate Director. During his time at Walden he has been Head of Swim, Director of Waterfront, Program Director and Operations Manager. He oversees all waterfront specialties and all aspects of safety in camp. Seth will continue to take on the massive job of Walden’s daily, weekly and summer scheduling as well as working with the Leadership Team to develop fantastic programs including the Walden Games. In his capacity as Associate Director, Seth will have the opportunity to contribute his many years of camping experience to the smooth running and supervision of the camp. Seth’s favourite meal at camp is the hamburger BBQ. His fondest Walden Games memory occurred in 2021 when he was able to watch his children co-captain together. During the 1990s Seth spent 4 years as a trip leader on West Coast Connection. Seth is currently a teacher with the Toronto District School Board. He is joined on staff by his daughter Sharon, who will be head of the Camper Relations and his son Jarred, who will be the head of Canoe/Kayak!
Ben Ben looks forward to spending his 27th summer at Walden this camp season. As Walden’s Head Counsellor and CIT Tracker Ben has a very special role in supporting current and aspiring staff members. Additionally, Ben works closely with all of Walden’s canoe trippers to maintain the high standards set by the program. Ben spends his offseason teaching High School English and can’t wait for another amazing summer at camp.
Alicia With a heart full of gratitude, Alicia cannot wait for a regular Walden day. After a few challenging years, Waldeners like Alicia feel so lucky to return to a place of such beauty. A serene physical space but moreover, an emotionally captivating place. Laughter, friendship, simplicity, growth, independence, grit and fun can be seen in every corner. After 25 summers spent at Walden, 8 years as a camper, 17 years on staff, Alicia is returning home. After her years as comic, zodiac and seeker counsellor, seeker unit head and CIT coordinator, Alicia joined the Leadership team to become a tracker. This summer she continues to work with the Seekers and their families. After the wildflower summer, she is excited to help make this one just as special. During the year, Alicia is a teacher, working for the York Region School Board at Doncrest PS, teaching Grade 3 with a focus on mental health and well-being. She enjoys spending her time traveling the world, laughing with friends and family and swimming in Red Pine Lake!
Matt Matt is very excited to be returning to camp this summer as Program Director. He can’t wait to get back up to camp and bring new and creative programs to life. After many years as an Assistant Director during the Walden Leadership Centre, and a brief hiatus, Matt is excited to take on his new role as Director of the Walden Leadership Centre. The summer can’t come soon enough!
Danielle Danielle is thrilled to be returning for her 18th summer at Walden. During the year, Danielle works in the Walden office managing all cabin placements, as the staffing coordinator, and assisting with the daily tasks during the off season. Danielle’s years as a Walden staff member have always been spent in the Colour unit; either as a counsellor, unit head, or tracker. She is excited to be returning as the Co-Colour tracker this summer, welcoming our youngest campers into the Walden family. Danielle is also the Director of several discovery programs that we offer at Camp Walden! She is the face of our Walden Family Weekend and the Walden Long Weekend programs. Danielle is so excited for camp and can’t wait for another amazing summer!
Nadine Nadine is super excited to return to camp this summer as a tracker on the Leadership Team! She is looking forward to building new relationships with staff and campers, continuing old ones and enjoying the outdoors with her husband Jamie, daughter Kori and dog, Poppy! During her years at Walden, she first worked for the Walden Leadership Centre before coming to camp full-time as a Colour Counsellor and Unit Head. In the off season, Nadine works as an elementary school teacher for the Toronto District School Board. Nadine is looking forward to working and communicating with all her campers and their families! 2023 is definitely going to be the best summer yet!
Sophie Sophie is thrilled to be returning for another summer at Walden. She is from Australia and continues to be excited to be back on the Leadership Team as the Seeker Tracker this summer. Sophie has been a counsellor, a specialist, a unit head and previously directed our Walden Leadership Centre. She is finishing a Bachelor of Social Work and brings her experience and knowledge of development and connection to our campers and staff each year. Sophie loves to meet the new and returning campers, establishing relationships with them and guiding them to achieve goals and have an amazing summer! She is also passionate about creating and celebrating inclusion and diversity at camp through groups, programs and policy. We have loved to watch her grow and advance so quickly and enjoy seeing her thrive in the Walden community.
Jamie Jamie is pumped to be returning for his 23rd summer and his 4th as a member of the Walden Leadership Team. During his many years at camp, Jamie has been a counsellor, unit head, CIT Coordinator, and member of the Program Team as well as spending multiple years as the Assistant Director of the Walden Leadership Centre. He is thrilled to be returning to camp for the summer of 2023! Jamie is dedicated to continuing to bring incredible programming to the campers and staff of 2023. He will be joined by his wife Nadine, daughter Kori and dog Poppy! This will be the most epic summer yet!
Lyndsay Lyndsay is thrilled to be coming back to camp for her 20th summer as the Dining Hall Manager & Co-Kitchen Coordinator. Her claim to fame is that she was Sol’s “first new hire” way back in the winter of 2004! Over the years Lyndsay has been developing her skills and is very excited to continue her role on the Leadership Team this summer. Lyndsay and the kitchen staff are committed to providing healthy and delicious food while having the best time dancing in the dining hall!
Bethany Bethany is really excited to be returning for another year on the leadership team! After many summers she has developed through the ranks from specialist to head staff, unit head to tracker. Bethany came through the Camp Canada program all the way back in 2014. With this, she has started a blog to help and advise new international staff members on everything about summer camp. She loves being part of the Walden community and welcomes everyone with open arms and a big smile on her face. She is looking forward to being part of this amazing team again this summer, and excited to bring fun and laughter to all campers and staff alike!
Melanie Mel is super excited to be back at Walden this summer! During the year, Mel works as a Chemistry teacher in Toronto. Although she spends a lot of time with high school students in the city, Mel has worked with every age group at Walden from Colours to CITs in her previous role as Head of Camper Relations. This year, she is looking forward to joining the Colour Unit tracking team to welcome new and familiar faces to Camp Walden. In this role, Mel is especially excited to help our youngest campers foster independence, friendship, and curiousity. In her free time, she is also excited to get in the lake and swim to the far raft!
Zach Zach is thrilled to be returning for his 20th summer at Walden! Since he began working at camp, he has gotten the opportunity to work in different roles both on water and on land as the head of Sail, to being the Zodiac unit head. This coming summer, he is grateful to be returning as one of the trackers for the colour unit! There is nothing he’s looking forward to more this summer than being able to welcome all the new and returning campers to Walden and continue to help foster a passion for the overnight camp lifestyle! Overall, he is excited to return to a place he calls his second home and to the family and friends that he’s met since growing up at Walden!
Marlie Marlie is grateful to be returning to Walden for her 19th summer and as part of the Colour tracking team! Marlie’s background as an occupational therapist places her focus on supporting others with the aim of promoting their overall functioning and well-being. As a former swim staff and head of swim, she can’t wait for her first (and each consecutive) jump in Red Pine Lake. However, Marlie is most looking forward to connecting with Walden’s youngest campers, their staff and families and encouraging campers to try new things, grow their independence and build lasting friendships to have the best possible overnight camp experience!
Sharon Sharon is so excited to return to Walden on the Leadership Team. Camp has felt like a home away from home for most of her life, and she is so excited to return to camp in a new role! After being the Colour Unit Head and Head of Camper Relations, Sharon is excited to join the Colour tracking team and supervise Camper Relations. Sharon is finishing her Child and Youth Care degree and is already a certified Child and Youth Care Worker. She is looking forward to a fun summer where she can connect her CYC knowledge in a camp setting to best support campers and staff in having the best experience possible!
New to Walden? Have a look at our Information Sessions or find out about our Discovery Programs.
Already registered? Make sure to fill out our Spring Registration Form so we have all of your up-to-date information.
