Camp Leadership

Directors

Plantation Farm Camp’s Directors, John Chakan and Kelly Marston, took over management of camp in 2003. They bring their love of the outdoors and are committed to making camp a place that nurtures each and every child so that all children discover their personal best and a place where kids grow.

John first joined the Plantation family as an 11-year old camper. His love of Plantation and the positive impact it has had on children for generations has brought him back, year after year, as a camper, a Counselor, Assistant Director, and now Director. He is currently serving on the Board of the American Camp Association’s Northern California Section and participates on the Education Committee. John graduated from Stanford with a BA in Drama and a concentration in Psychology.

Kelly’s outdoor adventures started running rivers with her family at the age of 10. She has continued her explorations through her extensive travels including trekking on glaciers in Pakistan, rafting the Grand Canyon, and a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course. During her career, Kelly has worked in the corporate and non-profit arenas leading, managing, and training diverse teams. Kelly has degrees from Princeton and Wharton.

As just the fourth set of directors in Plantation’s history, Kelly and John, along with their sons Reilly and Aidan, work to maintain the magic that has made it such a special place for generations.

Camp Office Manager

Tracy Tingle has a long-standing history with Plantation.  She was a camper in the early 1970’s, has been a regular family camper since it’s start in 2005, was a counselor in 2009, and her two children are joyful camp attendees.  Tracy’s love of animals, community, and interest in social justice and issues involving food systems are rooted in her beginnings at camp.  She has worked with high-risk youth in different nonprofit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has been involved in projects improving children’s nutrition, health and appreciation for fresh and healthy food in a number of schools.  She has a BA in Clinical Psychology from San Francisco State University.  Tracy lives in Berkeley with her children.

Summer Team Leaders

Amy

Amy has been coming to Plantation since she came to visit her older brother, Nate, on Visitor's Day. Her parents had to practically drag her back to the car when the day was over. "I knew from that moment that I just had to go to this camp!" That was in 1995, and when the summer of 1997 rolled around she started as an eight-year-old camper.  Since then Amy has gone all through camp, including the Campers In Leadership Training (CILT) program as well as the Counselors In Training program. As a member of the staff for five years, Amy has been a counselor, senior staff, as well as Director of the CILT program.

"Camp has, and always will be, a huge part of my life. I did so much growing up during those summers and I continue to grow each time I step foot on the farm. Over the years I have learned so much and made many life-long friends. Plantation has shaped me into the best person I can be and I am looking forward to creating a similar experience for each and every camper. I am very excited to be back this summer and can't wait for camp to begin!"

Michelle

Michelle joined the Plantation family in 2009 as a counselor and since then has taken on numerous leadership roles.  As an Elementary Education major at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb she has spent semesters teaching both second and sixth graders and is now student teaching at the fifth grade level. She supervises and teaches swim lessons at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA in her spare time. Michelle has also worked at Walt Disney World since 2007.

“From the moment I stepped foot on Plantation soil I knew that I had truly found a magical place. The friends that I have met and the memories that I have made will last a lifetime.   Summers would not be complete without Saturday Night Barn Dances and Plantation’s original drama productions performed each week!

I am delighted to be able to spend another glorious summer at my home away from home! Running across the green meadows on the way to chores, kayaking on the lake on a sunny day, knitting by the warm fire on a foggy one, building a fire and cooking my own dinner over it, finding sea anemones hiding in tide pools, and seeing a shooting star among the sea of stars on a clear night is how I love spending my summers at Plantation Farm Camp. But most of all, I cannot wait to share all of these and new adventures, during the summer of 2011, at Plantation with you!”

Jhenna

Jhenna has spent eight summer at Plantation, three on staff. She is a student at Scripps College, in beautiful Southern California, studying physics (but don't worry she won't ask anyone to calculate the terminal airspeed velocity of an African swallow laden with a coconut). She brings a wealth of experience to the staff as an accomplished hiker, senior lifeguard, and Wilderness First Responder.

"Plantation has become such an important part of my life, with all the friends I have made there and

the amazing memories of summers spent there, that I consider it my second home. I can't wait to go back home and see all of you, both the new and familiar faces, so get excited because this summer is going to be AMAZING!!

As a Wilderness First Responder this summer, I am most excited to go on some crazy hikes down to the ocean...and then the not as crazy hikes back up Stump's Trail! It will be nice to be back at a place where you can stop before crossing a road and sing, "Look to the left, look to the right, shake your booty and hike hike hike!" without looking slightly crazed. And, of course, this summer I am looking forward to my favorite activity at camp, CTF in the BBD! As a camper I never missed a single game, and look forward to running through the trees in search of a well hidden bandana once again!"

Tristan

Tristan started going to Plantation in 1997 and has only missed a couple of summers since then. He has been a Head Counselor, Waterfront Coordinator, and now heads up our Nature and Ecology program.

"I hail from Marin County and right now I'm attending Prescott College. The arid uplands just under the Mogollon Rim are more beautiful than I could have imagined and my awesome school takes me on field trips to all the sweetest spots (Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree NP, Kofa WR). I think Plantation has a lot to do with what I'm studying. Spending those three and a half weeks every summer totally absorbed in one community without distractions and eating food that was grown 100 yds from my tent felt right. Now I'm studying Agro-ecology, a cross between organic agriculture so I can grow my own food and becoming an ecologist so I can help protect the beautiful ecosystems like Plantation that I love. This summer I'm eager to take my knowledge of the ecology of Sonoma Coast to another level and I want people to join me.

Did you know that Plantation has an incredibly diverse population of Damsel and Dragonflies? Can any of y'all tell me what order of insects these fall in? I'm going to identify as many species as I can and the more eyes we have the more we all get to see. Along with the wildlife I can't get enough farm animals. I can't wait to perfect my baah's with the sheep every morning and thank the pigs for so generously taking on the role of garbage disposals. See y'all soon! Tritty"

Meet our Summer Team!