Guest contributor Michael G. Thompson is a psychologist, school consultant, and author or co-author of eight books, including three New York Times bestsellers Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most-Asked Questions about Raising Sons and Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children.

His newest book, It’s a Boy!: Your Son’s Development From Birth to Age 18, has been hailed as “The definitive guide to raising boys in today’s world, revealing with humor, compassion, and joy all the infinite varieties of boys and the deep and profound ways in which we love them.”

Dr. Thompson’s forthcoming book, Homesick and Happy examines children’s experiences away from their parents—when they are at summer camps or years abroad—and reminds parents that children grow and change when they are away from home.

A dedicated speaker and traveler, Dr. Thompson has spoken at or consulted to more than 500 schools in the United States and abroad. He has appeared on the Today Show, the Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC 20/20, and 60 Minutes. He was the co-author, host and narrator of a two-hour PBS documentary entitled Raising Cain: Focus on Boys which aired in January of 2006. He currently serves on the American Camp Association’s National Board.

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www.michaelthompson-phd.com

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Mike Sladden is the director and co-owner of Camp Pathfinder, a century-old boys’ canoe trip camp in world-famous Algonquin Park, Ontario. A third generation Pathfinder camper and guide since 1969, he now lives for six months each year at camp’s rustic island base in the Algonquin interior, where he leads Pathfinder’s wilderness tripping, scholastic outdoor education, and in-camp programs. “Sladds” and his wife Leslie have raised two sons at camp and in their hometown of Rochester, New York.

Mike received bachelor degrees in History and English Literature from Connecticut College, where his interest in photographic history led him to graduate work at SUNY’s Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester. He joined the curatorial staff of the International Museum of Photography and Film/George Eastman House in 1986, becoming curator of education in 1989. Over the next decade he directed the museum’s school-aged and lay audience education programs, and worked as both a team member and manager on numerous exhibitions and public programs interpreting the history, art and technology of photography.

As Pathfinder’s director, Sladds has overseen a comprehensive preservation of this historic camp as a low-technology, small-footprint community. He has also led the camp through a long-term refinement of its staff and wilderness guide training, CIT leaders program and Pathfinder canoeing curriculum. His certifications include Wilderness First Responder (WMA), Level II Instructor in Ropes Course leadership (CUI/ACCT), and ORCKA Canoeing Moving Water. He is a member of the Ontario Camps Association. In 2012, he was elected to the Canadian Society of Camp Directors.

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www.camppathfinder.com

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Dr. Cathy Scheder is internationally recognized for her knowledge and experience in the areas of camp, youth development, and recreational programming. She is particularly well known for her leadership in the area of aquatics management and recently authored the industry standard text, Camp Waterfront Management. Cathy is a faculty member for the American Camp Associations Basic Camp Director Course and is a national trainer for the Standards and Accreditation program. She is a current adjunct faculty at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point, where she teaches in the College of Natural Resources Human Dimensions Department.

Cathy is the founder of CampAquatics, an educational organization dedicated to enhancing the safety of waterfront programs at camps and other recreational organizations throughout North America. Extending pool-based safety constructs, CampAquatics focuses on the challenges of natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. Cathy is frequently asked to design, consult, and train multi-faceted programs for camps and youth-serving organization that combine swimming, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, and waterskiing. She has over 20 years of professional experience as a camp director and program director for profit and not-for-profit programs. Cathy also served for six years on the American Camp Association’s national staff, where she provided education and professional development to thousands of youth development professionals.

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www.campaquatics.net

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Kurt Podeszwa is a camping professional, husband and father. He has a bachelor’s degree in English Education and has spent much of his adult life working in outdoor and adventure education. Kurt, a former Marine, is committed to safety, fun, and learning in the outdoor environment. He has more than 18 years of professional recreation experience.

Kurt got his start in camping working with children from inner-city Chicago. He now serves as Camp Director for Camp For All, a camp for children and adults with special needs and chronic illness, in Burton, Texas. He is proud to have had the opportunity to work with a variety of special populations, including children with: traumatic brain injury, spina bifida, Down’s syndrome, muscular dystrophy, cancer, kidney disease, autism, cerebral palsy, and burns.

Kurt is an accomplished presenter whose sessions are in high demand at regional and national conferences for youth development professionals. He also provides training workshops to companies and schools and camps on topics ranging from staff training and development to adaptive programming and processing. Kurt is a published author and a contributor to trade publications including Camp Business and Camping Magazine. He is also the founder of Journey Consulting, which hosts blogs authored by Kurt and other innovators in outdoor education. Kurt has held various positions within the American Camp Association and currently serves on the ACA’s national board.

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www.journey-consulting.com

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