Meet The Leadership Team
Teachers, nurses, scientists, doctors, social workers, and more! Meet our incredible camp leadership team for summer 2024:
THE ONE MISSION DAY CAMP
July 1-5, 2024 in Wellesley, MA. For patients, survivors, and siblings ages 6-12. Meet the team:
ASPEN “NOODLE”, HEAD COUNSELOR
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For the past two years, I have worked as a research technician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, but I am about to move back to Boston to go to medical school this fall!
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This will be my sixth year volunteering at Camp Casco! I started in 2018, the summer after my first year of college!
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At Camp Casco, I am The One Mission Day Camp Head Counselor. As part of the year-round team, I help plan camp throughout the year, recruiting volunteers, planning activities, and thinking about the logistics of the day camp! At camp I am responsible for all of our volunteers and make sure we can give the campers the best week possible!
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My favorite thing about volunteering with Camp Casco is watching our community and family grow. Six years ago, we had 7 campers at camp; this year, we have 20 coming and have a waitlist! Having grown up in Framingham, MA, and being really interested in oncology and medicine, it has been such a pleasure to give back to my community while simultaneously getting to interact with the bravest, funniest, cutest campers of all time. Giving them a week to remember each summer is the least I could do.
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My favorite camp memory probably has to be participating in egg roulette. Campers get to choose a counselor to smash an egg on, not knowing whether it is hard-boiled or raw! The evil grins of the campers as they approach my clean, dry hair every summer makes me belly laugh, and every year, it is a part of camp I cherish.
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I believe Camp Casco gives our campers a place to be fully themselves in every aspect. In my six years at camp I’ve watched new campers get to experience an activity for the first time while a returning camper helps to explain the best way to succeed. Camp Casco is a place where campers can begin to understand just how special and amazing they are because they’re finally in a place where everyone surrounding them has shared what’s probably been the hardest thing in their life. This opens doors for them to see what they like, what they’re good at, and who they are beyond the current or post-pediatric cancer patient. Casco isn't just a camp; it's a springboard. It empowers these incredible kids who've faced immense challenges to embrace leadership, discover passions, and rewrite their own stories.
DHRITI “DORITO”, ACTIVITIES MANAGER
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I graduated from Northeastern University this year and will be working full-time as a research assistant in a pediatric genetics/endocrinology lab at Boston Children’s!
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This will be my second year at camp!
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I am the Activities Manager for The One Mission Day Camp, which means that I come up with all of the activities for our campers and compile the supplies that need to be ordered for them. At camp, I’m the one who guides counselors to help them run our activities with the kids. I think my job is important because the activities themselves are a big part of camp — and coming up with a variety of activities that strengthen multiple skills and appeal to all kinds of campers is, while challenging, so fun and rewarding.
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The kids, for sure! I love being able to connect with each of our campers, getting to know them better, and hearing their stories. They're so much fun to be around, and I can't wait to see them again this year!
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I'm still relatively new to Camp Casco, but there were definitely a couple of standout moments for me at last year's Day Camp. Since our theme was Disney, we had one activity where the kids had to work together in teams to build the tallest structure and try to levitate it using balloons, inspired by the movie Up. I saw how engrossed the kids were in building their structures and how well they worked together in teams -- which was a really great thing to see as the Activities Lead. Every year, we also have a Dunk Tank, where the kids can pour a bucket of water on a counselor's or fellow camper's head. I'm usually a little reticent when it comes to these activities, but towards the end of the week, I decided to volunteer myself for Dunk Tank -- and seeing how much fun the kids had made getting dunked so worth it.
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I think Camp Casco provides a wonderful space where the kids can just be kids and have fun together. Seeing what a great time they had last year, and how they could really open up and be themselves, was incredible. It was also amazing to see all the bonds they were forming -- with fellow campers and with counselors. Summer camp was so magical growing up, and in so many ways, I see this magic at Camp Casco.
BRIAN “DASH”, CAMP DIRECTOR
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Medical student
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I've volunteered with Camp Casco since 2017.
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I am The One Mission Day Camp Director. I help to oversee the camp in general whether that is activities or staff. I am lucky to have such wonderful peers that make my job exceptionally easy contrary to how official the title sounds :)
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The kids! We have the best campers in the world. They always make Camp Casco one of the best weeks of the year.
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Too many to pick from. I will say most of the memories come with the theme of growth over the course of the week, whether that is kids coming out of their shells to other campers, participating more, or reflecting on how cool something they did was. I love seeing new-found confidence/joy for an activity. A bittersweet memory is always the end-of-week goodbyes.
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I think Casco is a great time for campers to be themselves. It is intended to be a safe, low-stakes, relaxing environment which allows them to take a break from whatever is going on outside of camp. Interestingly enough, for many years in a row, this environment (which is largely intended for fun), has fostered much more than cheap laughs and smiles.
CLIFF “DOC”, MEDICAL DIRECTOR
full bio coming soon!
SIBLING CAMP
August 5-10, 2024, in Hinsdale, MA. For kids 9-17 who have ever had a sibling disagnosed with cancer. Meet the team:
JULIANNE “SOX”, CAMP DIRECTOR
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My real world job is Support Specialist on the Family and Clinical Support Team at the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
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I am brand new to a volunteer role at Camo Casco, but I’m excited!
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I will be the Siblings Camp Director to oversee and ensure that siblings get to enjoy camp in a safe and comfortable environment.
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I’m not sure yet, as I am new to this role, but I’m sure I will enjoy it because I love everything about summer camp!
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My favorite camp memory is making lifelong friends. This has been an important part of going to summer camp and working at summer camp.
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Camp Casco positively affects the lives of campers because many don’t realize the value of a camp experience until they are immersed. Fresh air and new friends are both extremely important to “just being a kid.”
LIANA “TWINKLE”, HEAD COUNSELOR
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I'm a Research Scientist working for a company that makes medications for rare genetic diseases.
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1 Year - My first camp was last year's Siblings Camp.
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This year I'll be Head Councselor at the Siblings Camp - my role is to make sure all the councillors have everything that they need to be able to give the kids the best camp experience!
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Seeing the kids have the best time at camp, and seeing them bond with each other.
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The Lip Sync Battle from last year's Siblings Camp definitely stands out! Although it turned out to be less 'Lip Sync' and more 'Karaoke', everyone had a lot of fun!
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These camps all give the children the opportunity to meet other kids who have experienced something very similar to them, and to develop friendships that last long after the week of camp is over.
BETSY “PEACHES”, ACTIVITIES MANAGER
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I teach 5th-8th grade theatre arts.
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I think since 2015? (I started volunteering right after the first session).
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I’m the Activities Manager for siblings camp. I want to create activities that are not only fun but give every camper an opportunity to shine. Some campers are fast, some are artistic, some can solve every puzzle. Making sure that our camp family can celebrate the accomplishments of each and every individual is what makes us strong!
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Our campers and volunteers are the most flexible and wonderful people to be around for a week (or three). We have fun no matter where we are (or what the weather may be)
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Siblings lip sync battle, camping at our first sibling retreat, and the sea monster postcards.
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Our campers gain so much independence at camp. They learn what they are capable of on their own. Also, they learn how to build strong relationships that focus on their talents and strengths.
KELLY “WARRIOR”, MEDICAL DIRECTOR
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Pediatric home care nurse— I take care of medically complex kids at home and at school.
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Since year one.
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I’m the nurse, and it’s my job to keep everyone safe and healthy.
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It’s my favorite part of being a nurse. You see these kids grow so much each time they come. They are a more confident kid at the end of the week compared to day one.
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The talent show and Disney karaoke night at sibs.
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The kids grow self-confidence. They meet friends like them, and they don’t have to share a thin if they don’t want to. They just instinctively “know” what it is like. They can be a kid without explaining their or their siblings’ history. They understand if another camper is having a hard time, and they build each other up.
KELLY “MOO”, CAMPER CARE SPECIALIST
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I am in school studying Psychology and am going to become a Child Life Specialist!
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This will be my first year volunteering at Camp Casco.
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I am a Camper Care Specialist. My role is important because I am an additional resource, for both counselors and campers, whose goal is to meet any extra social-emotional and/or behavioral needs.
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My favorite thing about volunteering with Camp Casco is going to be seeing the campers with huge smiles on their faces, getting engaged and being creative with the activities they are doing. I am excited to be able to support all the campers in doing so!
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I do not have a favorite camp memory yet, as it is my first year, however I am very excited to make some!
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Camp Casco positively impacts the lives of the campers that attend because they form a sense of community and are able to participate in activities they may not otherwise get to experience.
overnight camp
August 19-24, 2024 in Groton, MA. For patients and survivors ages 7-17. Meet the team:
VICTORIA “SCOUT”, CAMP DIRECTOR
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I am a Program Manager for a nonprofit called Voices for Children.
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I’ve volunteered with Camp Casco since the very beginning! I started out as the Head Counselor for Overnight Camp. I met Erin (Sparkles) when we volunteered together at a pediatric oncology camp in Southern California.
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Currently, I am the Camp Director at Overnight Camp. I like to say that the role of camp director is everything and nothing. My job is to support the leadership team in all their goals leading up to and during the camp week, and also just to hang out with the campers and be generally available to all who need me during the camp week.
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My favorite part of volunteering with Camp Casco is seeing the kids year after year after year. It is like a family reunion full of fun, games, and meaningful connection. My favorite part is also being a part of this amazing team. I love my fellow leaders and counselors, and getting to work alongside like-minded people to give back fills my cup. My favorite part of volunteering with camp is that there is a place for everyone. Another favorite part is doing the activities alongside the kids, getting to be a kid again each summer, and dressing up and the camp songs.
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Our very first camp dance is a standout memory from my first summer as a counselor for Camp Casco. We were such a small crew that first summer in 2015. And because the group was so small, the camp dance had that timid feeling of no one wanting to get on that dance floor. Then someone busted out some chairs for musical chairs. Then suddenly, we had a conga line, and then the dance floor was wide open. Seeing the campers come out of their shells was something that happened again and again that first week of camp. And something that continues to happen year after year. Seeing the campers grow and have more trust in us and themselves is a beautiful thing. I love to be a part of that.
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Volunteering at camp is one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. You can make a direct impact on the lives of these kids. As a pediatric cancer survivor, I know first-hand what camp can do for these kids, and I am thrilled to find a way to give back to the community that gave me so much as a childhood cancer patient.
MEG “WINNIE”, CO-HEAD COUNSELOR
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Clinical Trial Coordinator at a center for multiple sclerosis.
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Seven years!
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I am the Co-Head counselor at Overnight, and it is important because we make sure all the counselors and campers are supported and have everything they need to have the best week ever!
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What is your favorite thing about volunteering with Camp Casco? My favorite part is seeing the joy and laughter on the kids' faces, or the deep connections we form with not only the campers but the co-counselors throughout the week.
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The snowball fight at Overnight Camp in 2017!
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I love that Camp Casco provides a supportive and empowering environment for kids with cancer, offering them opportunities for fun, friendship, and personal growth. It helps them feel understood, supported, and surrounded by others who share similar experiences, fostering a sense of community and resilience.
IVELISSE “FRECKLES”, CO-HEAD COUNSELOR
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I am a software engineer and project coordinator.
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This is my sixth or seventh year!
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I am the Co-Head Counselor at Overnight, and we help ensure that all of the counselors feel supported and confident doing their jobs (aka making sure our kids have the best week possible🥳)! We also make sure everyone is happy and having a blast!
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I love the bond that camp creates between volunteers and campers alike. It's a place like no other and really feels like coming home.
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My favorite camp memory is doing a dance in the talent show with cabin 3 girls. We were covered in glowsticks and turned out the gym lights so that we looked like glowing stick figures - very fun!
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Camp Casco gives campers a space to just be kids. They don't have to worry about being excluded and get to just have fun. They try things they never dreamed possible and so many of them leave bubbling over with newly gained confidence by the end of the week!
MEREDITH “BLUEBELL”, CAMPER CARE SPECIALIST
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I am a full-time doctoral student of clincial psychology! I am a therapist for little ones and teens by day and a student by night.
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This is my first year at Camp Casco and I couldn’t be more excited!
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I am the Camper Care Specialist which is a new role for me and for Casco! My line of work is thoughts and feelings and my job is to make sure that camp feels like a safe, fun, and welcoming landing space for all campers and their families. I am here to receive any and all experiences that relate to mental/emotional health and psychological wellbeing that may pop up as you move throughout the week and help you/your family make a plan that feels best in line with your needs at the current moment.
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I have volunteered at other summer camps in the past in a similar capacity, and my favorite part is always the opportunity to laugh and learn alongside such amazing campers!
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All of the ones I’m going to make!
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Camp is a chance for all of us to reconnect with the activities and parts of ourselves that bring us joy - whether it’s something we used to do when we were younger or getting to try something new or feeling free to just be silly with our friends! The chance to feel that freedom is something each and every individual deserves, and I’m grateful to he a part of an organization that honors the power of play, community, and connection as part of one’s healing journey!
GRACE “RAINBOW”, ACTIVITIES MANAGER
