Middlesex County Camp

Jennifer Bates, Camp Director
Jennifer Bates returns in 2016 as the camp director of the Middlesex County Camp after a successful summer in 2015! Jennifer enjoyed her first summer as Camp Director last year and is excited to build upon that and continue the fun into this summer. She is the owner and operator of Whippersnapper’s Play Gym in Cheshire, CT when she develops and leads gym classes for children. She serves as the Co-President of Cheshire’s Highland School PTO, planning and leading numerous school events. Jennifer also volunteers as a literacy, computer, and math coach. Prior to opening Whippersnappers, she was a successful Project Manager (PMP) with MassMutual. Jennifer also has a long history with the camp, working as the Operations Manager in 1994. She lives in Cheshire, CT with her husband Steve, and two children: Zachary, 12, who has been a camper for three seasons, and Sophia, 9, who fell in love with camp in her first season last year. Jennifer has a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Central Connecticut State University and a Project Management PMP Certification.

Kelly Caron, Assistant Camp Director
After being away for two years, Kelly Caron is retuning to MCC as an Assistant Camp Director! Kelly first attended camp in 2001 as a camper and fell in love with it. Through the years, she has been a CIT, Counselor, and the Camp’s Assistant Director from 2011-2013. More recently, Kelly has been living in Columbia, South Carolina, where she attended the University of South Carolina and earned a dual degree in Marketing and Management. In addition to attending school, she has been working with a small, but growing company called Creative Energy Candles. Kelly is excited to return to Connecticut to spend more time with family and friends, and cannot think of any better way to begin this new chapter than by returning to one of her favorite places in the world, MCC!

Pamela “Cookie” Cook, Assistant Camp Director
Pamela Cook, AKA “Cookie”, will also be retuning to MCC as an Assistant Camp Director this summer. Cookie worked at MCC for 5 years from 2001-2005 as Assistant Camp Director for 3 summers and Camp Director for 2 summers. A native of Scotland UK, Cookie’s first camp experience was at a Girl Scout camp in Maine. She was there for 3 summers and worked as a Sailing Assistant, General Counselor, Lifeguard, Hiking Director, and CIT Director. More recently, Cookie worked as Assistant Director at Camp Claire in Connecticut in 2012 and 2013.

Cookie studied primary teaching and did a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) course, which enabled her to teach business English in Spain and Germany. She also taught in the law and philosophy departments at the University of Ferrara in Italy. Over the past two summers, Cookie has taught business English in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is best known for being Shakespeare’s birthplace. She currently works at North East Scotland College as a lecturer and teaches ESOL students and students with learning disabilities, which she finds both rewarding and challenging. Cookie completed her Master of Science in Information Analysis, and did a lot of her practical research at MCC by looking at how information can be effectively disseminated through the medium of meetings. She is delighted to be returning to MCC and hopes it is the best summer ever for one and all!

Gauge Allen
Gauge returns to MCC for his second year as a counselor, working as the Outdoor Adventure Core Assistant. Last year, Gauge was the Assistant in the Creative Arts Core. Currently, he is a sophomore at Middlesex Community College, majoring in Multi-Media.  His hobbies include hiking, learning how to Box, drawing, prop making, blacksmithing, cooking and talking to interesting people. He is looking forward to creating new and exciting activities for campers using his extensive knowledge and love of the Outdoors. Gauge lives in Windham, CT. 

Mitch Brown
Hi everybody! My name is Mitch Brown and I will be in charge of directing Outdoor Adventure as well as assisting Performing Arts. I am 20 years old and I just recently finished my Sophomore year as a Psychology major at University of Hartford. I’ve been going to MCC for 9 years in a row and this will be my third year on staff. I look forward to camp every year because it is truly the most fun and accepting place I know. Working with the kids and staff each year is always a rewarding experience. I can’t wait for another summer to remember!

Laura Carey
Hey, everyone! My name is Laura Carey. This will be my second year on staff at MCC, and I am so excited! I'm 22 years old and from Moodus, CT. I just recently graduated from UConn with a degree in Math/Stat. In my free time I enjoy reading, knitting, and rock climbing. I'm looking forward to another summer full of laughter and lasting memories!

Joycelyn Carlie Chapman
My name is Joycelyn Carlie Chapman. Most people call me Carlie, and my friends and family call me Bug. I have been coming to camp since I can remember and this will be my fourth year as a camp counselor. The first year I was on camp staff I was the Assistant Arts and Crafts and Assistant Horse. The second year on staff I became the Director of Arts and Crafts, and Kinder Camp. The third year on staff I was again Director of Arts and Crafts, and Kinder Camp. This year at camp I am excited to be a co-director of Barnville. When I am not at camp I am a volunteer for 4-H, and I am in college going for a degree in Early Childhood Education. My favorite color is pink. My favorite animal is a Giraffe. My favorite food is homemade Mac and Cheese. My favorite seasons are summer and winter. My favorite flowers are wild. I am excited to start another year at camp! 

Niki Chapman
Hey Y'all! My name is Niki Chapman, and I will be turning 23 this summer at camp. This will be my 15th summer at Middlesex County Camp! I am so excited to spend my 4th summer as a staff member with all of you. I have worked in everything from arts and crafts to archery, but this year you can find me up at the Barnville core hanging out with all of our furry friends here at MCC! Although I am in CT often, I call Moore County, North Carolina home. While I'm home, I work for various families as a nanny. When I'm not working, I spend my time horse back riding, fishing, and camping. I look forward to spending my summer with all of you, making memories, and enjoying new experiences!

Kevin DeLisa
Kevin is excited to be back as the Performing Arts Director for his second year on staff!  He has been heavily involved in his school’s theatre and music programs, and as of this year, he will be attending Ithaca College for Music Education!  Kevin loves working with kids of all ages and expanding his teaching capacity.  This will be his 10th year at MCC.  Kevin is excited to take on new challenges and meet new friends this year at Middlesex County Camp!

Liam Flannery
Hi everyone, my name is Liam Flannery. This will be my eighth summer at camp and my first year on staff as the assistant sports director. I'm seventeen, eighteen in July, and will be attending Maine Maritime Academy up in Castine, ME next year for marine engineering. I've been an ice hockey player my whole life and participate in track and field at my high school. I'm looking forward to another great and memorable summer at MCC!
 

Julia Haartz
Hi Friends! My name is Julia Haartz and I will be turning 22 this summer at camp! This will be my 6th summer at camp and my 3rd year on staff. I have decided to follow in the foot steps of my previous summers and remain guarding your lives at the pool. I am originally from Massachusetts but now hang my hat in Moore County North Carolina. While at home, you can find me at the barn with my 3 horses, fishing, playing with Mr. Pooh my dog, or of coarse swimming! I can't wait to make tons of memories with each and every one of you this year!

Elena N. Havlena
My name is Elena N. Havlena. I am recent graduate from University of Hartford, where I attended the Art School. I have always loved being outdoors especially hiking and swimming with friends. I was raised as a girl scout when I was in middle school and once I was in high school I ended up working at my Church Nursery as a Nursery Attendant. I have also volunteered in the past every summer for my Church’s Vacation Bible Camp, leading the arts and crafts for two summers. No matter where I go in life, or what I am working on, somehow my path leads to working with children. I am hoping to eventually go back to school for MFA, which will hopefully lead to teaching someday.
 

Max Hodgkins
I'm Max, a 21 year old student from Oxford England, studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southampton and I will be on the Climbing wall and Zipline this summer! I enjoy participating in anything active, including soccer, basketball, hiking and of course climbing! I regularly climb in my spare time and have just finished being Secretary of the University Hillwalking club and am currently the Vice President of the Mountain Biking club. I can't wait to come over to the US and make a load of new friends this summer!

Dan Hornik
Hey, everyone! My name is Dan, but everyone calls me Doody! I am currently in the professional program for Physical Education and Human Performance at Central Connecticut State University. I attended MCC as a camper for six years when I was younger but this will be my first year on staff! I will be one of the three lifeguards so you will find me around the pool most of the time. I am adventurous and love being outside, exploring and camping. I am very easy-going, have a great sense of humor and get along with all types of personalities. I am so excited to create memories with the next generation of campers at MCC because camp friends are forever friends

Claira Janover
Hi everyone! My name is Claira Janover, this will be my first summer on staff and eighth summer returning to MCC. I’m eighteen years old and from New Haven, CT. This fall I will be attending Harvard University in Cambridge, MA concentrating in social sciences. I enjoy being active through sports and outdoor activities, as well as reading and friendship bracelet making. I can’t wait for this summer to meet everyone and have another fantastic summer at MCC! 

Lottie McAdam
Hi My name is Lottie McAdam, I'm from Brisbane Australia, and I will be turning 21 in July! This will be my 2nd year at Middlesex Country Camp, and I couldn't be more excited. This year I am sports director with my co captain Liam - and we plan on making this the greatest summer ever. Feel free to come and talk to me about anything your heart desires or if you just want to laugh at my accent. Oh and if you don't know who I am, just look for the tall kid in a band shirt, singing and eating fruit. Can't wait to see your happy faces again! 

Shuaib Meghji
Howdy guys, I’m Shuaib Meghji and I’ll be you pool director this summer. This will be my second year at camp, and I hope to add to the amazing atmosphere created at MCC. I’ll be flying over from England where I am currently a medical student at the University of Southampton. Asides from my academics I am also the Run Captain of university triathlon team, a keen soccer player and massive fan of any food with chocolate in it!!!!!!! Words cannot describe how excited I am to come back to camp and reunite/meet all the wonderful people who will make this summer the most memorable in history!!!!!!!!!!!!

Emily Molina
Hi, I am Emily!  I am a registered nurse and I graduated from UConn in 2015, I am really energetic and outgoing, I enjoy kayaking and hiking and playing tennis, I am a big soccer fan and my favorite team is Atletico de Madrid. I enjoy traveling and I am looking forward to meeting you all this summer! 

Josh Mondriaan
Hello everybody! My name is Josh Mondriaan, I'm 20 years old, and from South Africa. This will be my second summer at MCC and I am super excited for this summer. I am an adrenaline junky and absolutely love climbing and being in the outdoors. I am currently traveling the world and learning about different cultures and meeting new people. 

Shanice Obey 
Hi Everyone! My name is Shanice Obey, I’m 23 years old and from Neptune, New Jersey. This is my first year as a counselor and at camp. I am your director of Mad Science and Rocketry. I am currently a junior at Southern Connecticut State University studying Math Education and minor in Studio Art.  My hobbies are reading, hiking, swimming, and meeting new people. I can’t wait to meet you all and create amazing memories.

Jenny Pionzio
Hi, my name is Jenny and I am archery director at Middlesex County Camp. I am going into my senior year at UConn as a music student and I play clarinet. I have been going into camp for thirteen years now; this being my fourth year on staff. I am an avid knitter and crocheter and have my own online knitting store to share my projects and creations. I love videogames; my favorite is The Legend of Zelda. I also am an avid reader and I am currently learning how to play piano.