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Athletics Specialists

Adam W., Athletics Specialist

During the year, Adam teaches at Springhurst Elementary school. He attended summer camp as a child in his hometown of Dobbs Ferry, NY. In Adam’s free time, he loves to be outdoors playing sports like soccer, tennis and basketball. He also enjoys water activities such as kayaking and paddle boarding. This is Adam’s second year at Elmwood. He had an amazing time working here last summer and is looking forward to returning and being able to contribute to such a wonderful camp environment. He will be working as an athletic specialist and has been playing sports competitively and recreationally his whole life. A fun fact about Adam is that he studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia.

Heather H., Tennis Specialist

Heather is excited for her fourth summer on the Elmwood staff. She started her tennis career at the age of eight and has played competitively since she was ten years old winning 2nd place for doubles in the Suffolk County HS tournament her senior year and winning 1st place in the NYSAC for doubles during her sophomore year at Binghamton University. Heather continues to play on several USTA and club teams in the Northern Westchester area. When she is not on the tennis courts, Heather can be found in the yoga studio working on her handstand or in her kitchen baking cookies for her daughters’ soccer teams. Her favorite day of the year is the 4th of July – fireworks, barbecue, swimming, warm weather and fruit pies!

Jamie A., Athletics Specialist

Jamie is a rising sophomore at Colgate University and intends to double major in Music and Sociology. Jamie plays rugby for Colgate, and played soccer, lacrosse, and track throughout high school. She worked at Elmwood two summers ago as the assistant ceramics specialist, and she is more than happy to be returning as an athletics specialist. Jamie enjoys listening to and playing music, along with composing her own songs on the piano or guitar. She wants to work at camp again because she enjoys the friendly and familial environment Elmwood provides.

Jamie D., Athletics Specialist

Jamie is an Athletics Specialist at Elmwood for the first time this year. He is studying Marketing at Institute of Technology Carlow in Ireland and has just finished his 2nd year. It will be Jamie’s first time to ever visit the US, but he has always dreamed of coaching soccer to kids in New York. He has experience helping out with underage soccer teams in his area. Since the age of ten, Jamie has played soccer for both club and school teams. He is most looking forward to spending his days teaching his sports skills to the campers. Jamie can’t wait to have the best summer ever at Elmwood.

Jess C., Stepping Stones Athletics Specialist

Jess just completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education. She will be working towards obtaining her Master’s Degree in Literacy and Special Education. Some of her hobbies include watching the Yankees, Giants, and Rangers. Not only does Jess love playing sports with her peers, she has just as much fun sharing her passion with children in her role at camp. Jess is so excited for her fourth summer at her summer home.

Joao S., Athletics Specialist

Joao just recently moved to New York from Brazil! He is 27 years old and has been living in White Plains for 6 months. Before moving to New York, Joao used to work for one of the biggest soccer teams in Brazil in their marketing department. However, after 2 years of working with partnerships and events, he developed a pioneer community program. Joao loves soccer, loves kids and loves to help others develop soccer skills and soccer values, so coordinating this program was something that he loved to do! When his wife found out she was transferring to NY for work, Joao decided to volunteer at Backyard Sports Cares, helping kids with special needs learn to play soccer, and started coaching soccer at Church Street Elementary School. Besides playing soccer, Joao enjoys listening and playing music. He plays a few instruments, especially percussion, and loves to sign popular Brazilian music. He has never been to a summer camp in the US before, but in Brazil he used to attend camp and remembers how much he loved all of the staff! He can’t wait to be at Elmwood to play with and teach the campers (and staff) soccer. He really believes that you have to go out of your comfort zone to grow, and feels like this is the perfect opportunity for him as well as for all of the campers coming to camp.

Michael D., Athletics Specialist

Michael Dunkley is from Yonkers, NY and has his masters in sports management. He has been working with kids for quite some time and truly enjoys is. Working with kids brings him great joy. Michael has the kind of heart where he will care for any child as if they are his own - building his own unique relationships with each and every kid. He is a very positive, energetic, and charismatic person. He loves the game of football and was blessed with the opportunity to play at the collegiate level. He plans to have a great summer with all of the campers, giving them a great experience at Elmwood day camp!

Ryan F., Athletics Specialist

Ryan will be the first Australian staff member to work at Elmwood Day Camp, and he couldn’t be more excited to start working. Ryan has had his eyes set on travelling to America for a while now and is excited at not only being able to see the country as a tourist, but to have the opportunity to live a day-to-day life in a different culture. Back in the land down under, Ryan works as a qualified tradesman in Cabinet Making. Other than working hard on the tools Ryan rarely likes to sit still, getting out and about as much as he can. One of his big enjoyments is playing sports like Soccer and basketball while also keeping fit at the gym. He also enjoys walks and hikes to some of the scenic views his home has to offer. When he is not running around, Ryan enjoys seeing his friends and family, and watching plenty of good (and bad) films, which you will find him quoting on a daily basis.

Sam B., Athletics Specialist

Sam is excited and eager about starting his first summer with Elmwood. Sam just completed his 22nd year as a middle school physical educator in the NYC area. He has been a high school basketball coach for 20+ year’s coaching from fifth grade all the way up to the Collegiate ranks. He currently coaches middle school girls field hockey, middle school boys baseball and junior varsity and varsity girls basketball at The Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY. Sam enjoys playing basketball and baseball, and his secret talents are in Bocce Ball and Badminton playing. He’s looking forward to working with great kids, families and staff members this summer.

Stanley L., Athletics Specialist

Stanley is very excited to be joining the Elmwood staff this summer as an Athletic Specialist. During the year he’s a teachers aide at a middle school in Mamaroneck and also teaches basketball clinics. He graduated with his associates from BCC in liberal arts and is working towards his teaching degree. Stanley has been playing competitive basketball since the 4th grade. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging with his family and friends and loves watching, playing and teaching basketball. Stanley is looking forward to share his knowledge and passion for the game at Elmwood.

Steven G., Athletics Specialist

Steven Grimes is a Social Studies teacher at The Pennington School, which is a k-8 public school in Mount Vernon, NY. He teaches grades 6-8 in both Ancient World History and United States History I & II. One great part of being a teacher for Steven is the fact that he has time off in the summer where he can spend doing some of his hobbies here at camp! Some of his summertime hobbies include fishing, reading and hiking with his wife Brittany and their dog Pete!! This is Steven’s first year working at Elmwood, and he is most looking forward to days spent outside, helping campers achieve their goals and have some fun. If he was to describe himself in three words, they would be “Glass Half Full”. Steven always try to stay optimistic in any situation! A fun fact: despite living in New York for his entire life, he is a diehard Boston Redsox fan!

Tommy B., Athletics Specialist

Thomas goes to Springfield College in Massachusetts and is majoring in Sports Management. He is a Sophmore and is very active within the school participating in athletics and community service events. Thomas did not attend a camp like Elmwood as a child but was involved in many sports camps. His hobbies include going to the gym, playing pick up basketball with friends, practicing/drilling for lacrosse and spending time with family and friends. Thomas has been playing lacrosse since the third grade. He now is a collegiate athlete playing at Springfield College. He has worked many other lacrosse camps and has helped out the youth lacrosse program by coaching in the winter and spring. Three words to describe Thomas is Passionate, Flexible, and Hard Working.

Matt C., Adventure Specialist

Matt is excited to be returning to Elmwood for his fifth summer. He graduated with his bachelors degree from SUNY Brockport where he studied physical education and was in the teacher certification program. During his spare time, Matt enjoys playing video games, watching tv and playing a variety of sports. His favorite sport to both play and watch is basketball. His favorite team is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Matthew is excited about seeing the campers and staff this summer.

Nicole A., Gymnastics Specialist

Nicole Aliberto is the Gymnastics Specialist here at Elmwood Day Camp this Summer! Nicole graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and coached at various cheer and gymnastics gyms in South Florida while she was there. She is an active, energetic, Disney fanatic who loves cheer, gymnastics, and all types of sports and has played them all growing up here in Westchester, NY. Nicole has been coaching and teaching gymnastics, dance and various other sports for over 10 years! Her love for coaching came from the amazing coaches and teachers she had growing up, and she can’t wait to impact her campers/students in the same way. Nicole is so excited to start teaching here at Elmwood and can’t wait to make a positive difference in children’s lives with the rest of the awesome Elmwood team!

Laura G., Yoga Specialist

Laura is so excited to begin her second year at Elmwood where her son and husband have spent the last five summers. She is a third-grade teacher in Dobbs Ferry and has been teaching for twelve years. She is combining her two favorite things this summer- kids and yoga. Laura has been practicing yoga since she was 18 years old and is constantly learning and growing with yoga. Last year, Laura completed her training to become a certified children’s yoga instructor and has been using yoga and meditation in her classroom ever since which her students love. Laura also teaches a YMM (yoga meditation and mindfulness) after school class that is the best part of her week! She is looking forward to bringing this joyful practice to the Elmwood yoga deck.

Sophie V., Assistant Hiking Specialist

Sophie is starting her first year at Bates College this fall where she plans on double majoring in mathematics and politics. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time outside. During high school, she played field hockey and ran track and cross country. This is her first summer at Elmwood, but she attended sleep-away camp for five summers and loved all of them.

Tyler H., Archery Specialist

Tyler has recently graduated from Manhattanville with his Masters in PE. He is an assistant physical education teacher at the Graham School and personal trainer specializing in youth fitness and athlete development. Tyler attended Bedford Hills Day Camp as a child. He loves to exercise, go on hikes, watch and play sports and spend time with family and friends. He is really looking forward to helping the campers enjoy their camp experience through the use of sports. Tyler also enjoys rooting for the Jets and Yankees and also really likes superheroes like Batman and Spider-Man.

Cris D., Assistant Archery Specialist

Cristofor just finished his senior year at Irvington High School where he was on the Soccer, Baseball and Wrestling team. Cristofor has been a Boy Scout for 12 years and just completed his Eagle Scout rank. In his free time, Cristofor enjoys assisting the coaches with the Youth Wrestling Club and mentors younger scouts in his troop to help them move up the ranks. Cristofor attended summer camp for 8 years at the 10 Mile River Boy Scout camp in Narrowsburg, NY where he did various sports, recreational, nature and scout skills including archery where he will be specializing in at Elmwood. A fun fact about Cristofor is that he is ambidextrous.