Visual Arts Specialists
Barry K., Ceramics Specialist
Barry is a Vassar Graduate from 1982 and focused on both mathematics and art history. During the year, he is an arts writer and an arts Editor-In-Chief for broadwayworld.com and also works at a popular Paint and Drink spot in Mamaroneck where he has seen many smiling Elmwood faces in the off-season. Barry has formed galleries in NYC and influenced the development of the South Bronx’s art scene. A regular at Camp Chipinaw from 1966-1976 in Monticello NY, camp memories linger fondly in his heart and mind. Barry’s ceramic background is deep and rich. He has formed panels about ceramics for the Artist Talk on Art (ATOA) non-profit and is now a board member. Barry advises mature artists and enjoys working with children. His art ranges from ceramics to oil paintings and photography using his iPhone and old Polaroid cameras. His themes include ephemera, African power figures-Minkisi, nature, the figure, urban decay and more. Barry is the proud father of three grown children and now one grand-daughter. As his kids grew up he coached many sports including Girls’ softball, co-ed soccer, Boy’s flag football, girls’ basketball and boys’ basketball winning three straight b-ball championship and having a blast along the way.
Brian W., Woodworking Specialist
Brian is an eight-year science teacher and is currently working at the Francis Lewis School in Whitestone, NY challenging elementary students through hands-on experimentation and engineering. He has worked hard to embrace STEAM in his classroom and to broaden students understanding of real world science. Brian has worked at summer camps before sharing his love of the outdoors as a wilderness instructor. This year he is excited to share the Elmwood experience with his wife Kate, a Division Head, and his son, Hudson, a third-year Elmwood camper! Brian likes to spend his time hiking throughout all the seasons and snowboarding in the winter. He also enjoys cooking, photography, and the arts. In college, Brian minored in fine art, focusing his time in the wood studio where he took courses in furniture and cabinetry. He is excited to get back into woodworking and sharing his love of the art with our campers.
Haley F., Assistant Ceramics Specialist
Haley just finished her sophomore year at Colgate University. She grew up as a camper at Elmwood and is so excited to be back to experience Elmwood as a staff member. To this day, she still refers to Elmwood when acknowledging values and sentiments that she has in her life now. Elmwood was truly a part of her upbringing and she is so excited to help campers obtain these meaning and influential experiences that she had while a camper. Although Haley has had many years of experience being a camp counselor, she is excited to start a new role as the assistant ceramics specialist! Ceramics and all things art have always been a passion of hers, so she is excited to combine her love for ceramics and love for camp this summer!
Jessica Craig, Arts & Crafts Specialist
Jessica is thrilled to be back at Elmwood for her second summer! She was born and raised in Massachusetts but moved to New York City two years ago. She graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Art History. During the school year, Jessica teaches general education to three-year-olds in a Manhattan private school and will begin a Master’s Degree program in Early Childhood Education during Fall 2019. Her personal interests include theater, clothing design, history, general trivia, and anything related to animals. Come by the porch and say hello!
Jillian L. Assistant Arts & Crafts Specialist
Jillian attends Fordham University and is currently a General Science major on a pre-health track with a minor in Visual Arts. She attended Scarsdale rec. camp, Badger day camp, and Summer Arts Center at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. She enjoys drawing, painting, and playing sports. She is excited to share her love of art with the campers. She has attended and worked at an art camp for a total of seven years, gave private drawing lessons, and works as a jewelry and beading helper during the year. This will be her second year at Elmwood. She has two cats named Milo and Otis.
Naomi Schachner, Stepping Stones Arts & Crafts Specialist
Naomi is thrilled to be returning to the Elmwood community for her second summer with the Stepping Stones! She graduated from Barnard College with a degree in English and Psychology and then went on to a year of service in AmeriCorps. After working with high-risk youth in AmeriCorps, Naomi returned to school to get her Master’s in Education at Hunter College. She currently teaches at Clarkstown South High School and has worked as a counselor in Massachusetts and New York City. Art and camp have both been essential components of Naomi’s life. She loved to draw before she knew how to write and went on to take art classes using all kinds of mixed media. Naomi grew up attending Camp Ramah. The community and magic of camp were a tremendous influence in her life, and Naomi is very excited to to help create that at Elmwood.
Nico S., Assistant Arts & Crafts Specialist
Nico is a rising sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design and is interested primarily in illustration and comic art. He has also taught art to kids at an after-school program so he’s glad to get the chance to do so again in a summer camp environment where he gets to spend more time with the kids and do more activities. When he was younger, he went to a summer camp in Cape Cod called Camp Farley and had spent a lot of his time there learning horseback riding. Other than art, Nico also enjoys animals and has a pet dog, hedgehog, and lizard. He is excited to be working in the arts and crafts department this summer and looks forward to all the fun projects and activities planned.
Stephanie F., Arts & Crafts Specialist
Stephanie is looking forward to returning back to Elmwood for her second year as a part of the Elmwood Arts and Crafts team. During the year, Stephanie has worked with the NYC Department of Education as an art teacher for nine years most recently at PS MS 95. Stephanie also worked for two summers as a teacher at the SUNY Purchase Young Artists Program. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys photography, drawing, painting, hiking and traveling. She also loves visiting museums and hopes to one day explore art all over the world. Although she did not attend camp herself, Stephanie grew up spending her summers outside and went on to work as a counselor in her community. She cannot wait to meet all of the campers and help them learn and grow through art projects.
Tara M., Assistant Woodworking Specialist
Tara Mitchell is a rising senior at Sarah Lawrence College, where she has taken classes in creative writing, animation, and film history. She plays video games (after her homework is done!) as well as pen-and-paper RPGs. Tara was a co-captain of her high school quidditch team, and she now co-chairs the LARP club at SLC. She looks forward to seeing the creativity of Elmwood’s staff and campers on full display this summer!
Jenny H., Cooking Specialist
Jenny is a mom of two awesome teenagers in Rye. This is her second summer at Elmwood, and she is so excited to be back at Elmwood. She attended an arts sleep away camp in her teens and knows the value of a creative camp experience. Jenny is a Licensed Health Coach and passionate about living the most authentic healthy lifestyle as possible. She creates her own recipes and blogs about them at Jennycreateshealthyeats.wordpress.com. She is most excited to expose the campers to the joys of creating, eating and enjoying simple healthy and delicious food. In addition to health coaching, Jenny also sells houses and walks dogs!
Lisa F., Cooking Specialist
Lisa is a pre-school teacher at Elmwood Day School during the year. She went to day camp as well as sleepaway camp when she was a child and absolutely loved it! Lisa loves gardening and cooking. She is looking forward to being with all of the Elmwood campers and teaching them cooking this summer. She has taught cooking classes to the seniors at Elmwood for the past few years, and she enjoys passing on the love of where different foods come from and exposing children to new flavors. A fun fact about Lisa is that she is a kid at heart, which is why she loves being a part of Elmwood!
Natalie S., Assistant Cooking Specialist
Natalie was an Elmwood Day School student and also attended camp at Elmwood growing up. When she was a camper, she loved swimming and arts and crafts. She recently graduated from Hackley School and plans to attend Trinity College in the fall. Her hobbies are playing tennis, spending time with friends, and yoga. Growing up, she loved helping her mom bake which led to her joining the Elmwood staff as a cooking specialist. Natalie is so excited to meet all the campers and have an amazing summer with the Elmwood staff!
