Presenter Biographies
Dr. Chris Thurber
www.campspirit.comDr. Chris Thurber is a board-certified clinical psychologist and father. He earned his BA in psychology from Harvard University and his PhD in clinical child psychology from UCLA. During the academic year, Chris serves as a teacher and school psychologist at Phillips Exeter Academy, a coeducational boarding high school in New Hampshire. He also volunteers on the American Camp Association's research committee.
In addition to numerous scholarly articles and book chapters on homesickness and children's mental health, Chris is the co-author, with Dr. Jon Malinowski, of the best-selling Summer Camp Handbook and the host of ACA's homesickness prevention program, entitled The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success.
Chris has traveled extensively throughout North America and South America to provide consultations and training workshops to camps, schools, and other organizations. He is the founder, with Evan Heltay, of ExpertOnlineTraining.com, the premier online resource for youth development professionals.
All of Chris's work is guided by the principles of leadership-by-example and social connection. Since 1980, he has returned each summer to the camp where he grew up to serve as Waterfront Director and a member of the senior staff. Chris and his wife Simonida, a chemist, have two boys: Dacha, born in 2002, and Sava, born in 2004.
Scott Arizala
www.thecampcounselor.comScott Arizala is one of the world's premier camp staff trainers and is CEO of The Camp Counselor. He earned his BA from Ithaca College, completing a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies. Scott has been involved with camps and youth development for over twenty years as a camper, counselor, administrator, teacher and consultant.
Scott grew up at Camp Al-Gon-Quian in Northern Michigan where he spent 18 summers ascending from the youngest camper to the director. He went on to direct traditional resident camps and day camps and is currently the Camp Director for Dragonfly Forest, a resident camp for children with serious illnesses and disorders.
As a professional speaker and educator, Scott has delivered numerous keynotes and educational sessions at professional conferences, training events, and camps. Each summer, Scott shares his skills with hundreds of camps and thousands of staff and administrators.
Scott is on the Board of Directors for the American Camp Association Oregon Trail section and serves as their Education Chair. He has published articles in trade journals and on various industry websites. Scott is author of S'more Than Camp, a vanguard book on summer camp and youth development.
Faith Evans, MEd
www.playfullyinc.comFaith Evans, who holds an MEd in Gifted Education, has worked with camp professionals for more than 45 years. Faith applauds Plato, who said, "You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than a lifetime of conversation." She is a nationally acclaimed camp staff trainer, team builder, author, and speaker. Faith has received rave reviews for her interactive workshops that make action-learning fun and relevant. She is the CEO of PlayFully, Inc, and resides happily near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Faith specializes in experiential learning with small and large groups in the areas of relationship building, creativity, problem solving, leadership, communication, and play for a purpose...or for no purpose!
The American Camp Association twice honored Faith for her outstanding staff training and for excellence in writing for Camping Magazine. The Association for Experiential Education has also honored Faith for her innovative work with youth development professionals.
Faith has written numerous book chapters and articles about play and teambuilding and is a long-standing member of ACA. Her newest book, "The More The Merrier—Games for Large Groups" has received high praise and "99 of the Best Experiential Games We Know," which Faith co-authored, is a perennial best-seller.
Cindy Ziobrowski, MS Ed
www.campcardne.infoCindy Ziobrowski has devoted nearly 30 years working with children and adults with developmental disabilities. She received her Master of Science in Special Education from SUNY Albany and has participated in advanced training at the Autism Institute and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Cindy currently serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) in Maine.
Cindy's extensive educational experience led to her founding Camp CARD New England, a nonprofit outdoor program for children on the autism spectrum. Under Cindy's direction, Camp CARD-NE has touched the lives of hundreds of children and families. By focusing on teaching social skills and educating communities in the practice of inclusion, Camp CARD-NE helps developmentally disabled children and their parents "bridge the gap."
Cindy is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Autism Society of America, and holds professional certifications in special education, reading, and educational consulting. Using a new curricula she developed on autism etiology and treatment, Cindy teaches gradate education courses at Plymouth State University and the University of Southern Maine. Recently, Cindy served on the training task force for Autism Respite and Resource Outreach.
Dr. Joel Haber
www.respectu.comDr. Joel Haber is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of www.toolkitsforkids.com. Under his 'RespectU' banner, he has created and conducted bully training programs for camps, schools, athletic groups, and organizations nationwide. He earned His BA from Binghamton University (Harpur College) and PhD in Clinical Psychology/Behavioral Medicine from the University of Georgia. Throughout the academic year, Joel is consulting with schools and camps as well as working in his private practice in New York.
Nationally recognized as 'The Bullycoach,' Joel is one of the foremost experts in the prevention of bullying. A pioneer in the field, he has worked with thousands of children, parents, teachers, camp directors, counselors and others to understand the causes and effects of bullying. He has recently had his second book published by Penguin/Perigee entitled, Bullyproof Your Child for Life: Protect Your Child from Teasing, Taunting and Bullying for Good.”
Joel has consulted with schools and camps internationally and has helped the American Camp Association develop materials to help summer camps overcome bullying. He is a frequent keynote speaker and presenter at major conferences, and has appeared on CNN, CBS News, NPR and ESPN radio.
Joel is a dedicated father, husband, colleague, and friend. He has spent his life improving the quality of life for others.
Steve Maguire
www.maguirepresentations.comSteve Maguire has tremendous expertise in the fields of education and children's camps. He earned his BS in Education from Plymouth State College with a concentration in special education. Steve has been involved with camps for over twenty years as a camper, staff member, and now consultant and staff trainer.
Steve grew in Burlington, Massachusetts and attended day camp there as a child. He went on to direct traditional resident camps and day camps and is currently a full time public school teacher in Scituate, Massachusetts, where he teaches physics and astronomy.
When he's not spending time at home with his wife Jessica and their new baby, Steve travels the globe as a professional speaker. He has been invited to deliver numerous keynotes and educational sessions at professional conferences, training events, and independent schools. Steve has also presented educational workshops to thousands of camp staff across the US since he began his business in 2004.
Steve is a member of the American Camp Association and a member in good standing of the National Speaker's Association; one of only four thousand people in the world who hold this distinction. He is currently writing his first book due out in the spring of 2010.
John Paul Erler, Esq.
www.curtisthaxter.com/attorney_detail.php?a=51Jack Erler is an attorney in Portland, Maine. Jack earned his BA in psychology from Grinnell College and his JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
For over 35 years Jack has been representing youth camps in all aspects of their operation including issues related to children, employment, health and safety, regulatory compliance, organizational structure, land use, environmental, tax, purchase and sale transactions and transition planning.
In addition, Jack represents and lobbies for youth camp organizations. Jack is the recipient of the Halsey Gulick Award for distinguished service to the organized camping movement in Maine.
Jack worked with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to draft the original youth camp rules in 1974 and assisted in each subsequent substantive revision. He is a member of the American Camp Association.
Jack is a speaker on legal issues affecting youth camping including the duty of care, risk management, child abuse, sexual harassment, laws regulating alcohol, drugs and tobacco and confidentiality.
For more than sixty years, Jack has been in camp as a camper, then counselor, activity director, unit director and assistant camp director. His wife, Ellen and his children, Mark, Todd and Anne also have extensive camp and youth development backgrounds.
Dr. Warren Katz
http://www.camphealthusa.comDr. Warren A. Katz, the founder and president of CampHealthUSA, earned his MD from Thomas Jefferson Medical College. He is currently Chairman of Medicine at Penn-Presbyterian Medical Center and president of its Internal Medicine Foundation.
Dr. Katz is widely renowned as a medical education expert, with a specialization in cutting-edge online education. He has participated in Harvard's Interactive Medical Education program and has developed many CD-ROM and Internet-based learning programs for nurses and physicians around the world.
Dr. Katz also helped pioneer Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation for nursing and medical e-learning. For example, he formulated an online Pain Certification Program and is currently developing online certification programs for various diseases. Doctors and nurses who participate in his online Medical Essentials library can also earn CMEs toward their licensure requirements.
The author of three medical books, several book chapters, and numerous scientific articles, Dr. Katz was named in Woodward & White's “Best Doctors in America” and “Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare.” Most importantly, Dr. Katz served as a camp doctor in New York State, an experience that ignited his passion for making summer camps safe and healthy experiences. He is a longtime member of the American Camp Association.
Dr. Edward Walton
Dr. Edward Walton earned his BA in biology from Middlebury College and his MD from Dartmouth Medical School. He then went on to complete Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics residencies at the University of California, San Diego. He is board certified in Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, and Pediatric Emergency Medicine.For 10 years, Dr. Walton was Assistant Professor in the departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan. Currently, he is the Division Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Dr. Walton has been involved in camping and camp health research for twenty years, and his scholarly articles concerning camp health issues have appeared in major medical journals. Having served several summers as a camp doctor in New Hampshire, he now consults on camp health issues for the American Academy of Pediatrics and serves on the National Board of the American Camp Association. Dr. Walton has shared his youth development and camp expertise at medical and other professional conferences, in broadcast and print media, and on the Internet.
Dr. Walton has received a variety of honors and recognitions for excellence in education, service, and patient care. Most recently, the Michigan College of Emergency Physicians named him "Emergency Physician of the Year" in 2007. Dr. Walton is a longtime member of the American Camp Association.
