Summer Camp Counselors and Staff - 2009

These were our amazing staff members from 2009.  Stay tuned for the 2010 staff as they are hired.

Alex

Hey! My name is Alex, but since my years as a camper, I go by Stikey.  This is going to by my ninth summer at Plantation, third on staff - and I couldn't be more excited! I can't imagine what my life would  have been like without this camp. It has been a huge influence on who I am today. There is this inexplicable magic on the farm that brings  together a wonderful community of people every year and camp becomes a disconnected paradise from the rest of the world that is fun, safe,  and full of friendships and memories that last long past the summer.

As a camper I spent most of my time on the front lawn or in the  beautiful Osprey House working on art activities such as the oh-so- famous friendship bracelet and tie-dye. Now as a student, I have decided to follow those artistic impulses, and I am finishing up my sophomore year at The College of Santa Fe currently with a major in Graphic Design. Now I'm just figuring out what to do next, maybe a school in the East? Who knows! I just know that my closer future is in a place where I would much rather be: On a farm with beautiful people and beautiful nature in the beautiful area that is Northern California.

I'm simply thrilled to be coming back and to meet all the new and familiar faces this summer. I hope you all are excited, positive, and open-minded, because this may just well be the best place on earth.

Excited + Positive + Open-Minded + Best Place Ever = SUMMER 2009 GLORY.

Anne

Hello everyone! My name is Anne, and I'm going to be working in the kitchen this summer. This will be my first summer at the farm and I cannot wait to kick it off! Everyone has already been SO welcoming and my excitement keeps growing!

I'm in the progress of finishing up my freshman year at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon but I'm originally from Oberlin, Ohio.  I hope to be sociology major with perhaps a side of music (bassoon).

My fondest memories from when I was younger are from my numerous summers at sleep away camp. I will never forget all the friends I have made (many of whom I still keep in frequent touch with), the constant stream of laughter, all the amazing counselors, and the plentiful adventures we had. I went to a French immersion camp in Northern Minnesota for seven summers and then a performing arts camp in Northern Michigan where I played bassoon for over six hours a day, everyday and even had to wear uniforms! I can't wait to have a completely new summer experience on a beautiful farm amidst the California redwoods.

Last summer, I was a cook at the French camp I attended for so many years and we cooked authentic French food for every meal. While that was a great time, I am very much looking forward to preparing farm fresh meals for all of you! See you very shortly and I hope you are stoked for an amazing summer together!
 

Ashley

G'Day! I'm Ashley and this will be my first summer at Plantation Farm Camp, in fact it will be my first time at any summer camp! I am most excited about the culture and lifestyle of summer camp and also meeting so many new people! I love change and the great outdoors and couldnt possibly think of a better way to spend my winter than in summer!

I live in Penrith, NSW (Australia) and recently graduated from university as a registered nurse.  I have been working as a nurse for 12 months, most recently on the childrens ward and i love it!  I still live with my wonderful mum but cant wait to get to the US and be independant!

Everything i see and read about plantation camp looks wonderful and magical and i could not be more excited and ready to get there!

I am really interested to experience a Norhtern Californian summer, I have lived in Penrith my entire life and each summer it is HOT HOT HOT! Over Christmas it reached 46 degrees celcius (115 degrees farenheit) but thats whats great about an Aussie summer. I hope to bring some Australia with me to camp and hope to gain lots about other cultures too! Well I guess I'll catch you guys at camp! Cheers!

Emily

Hi, I'm Emily, an eighteen year old from Vermont. I just finished my freshman year at St. Lawrence University in Northern New York where I am a member of the equestrian team. I have never been to Plantation or California before, and am extremely excited to get immersed in farm life.  My father, however, was a counselor at Plantation and I have become very fond of the farm through his stories. For the past ten years I have spent my summers horse showing around New England, and while I will be sad to leave my horse, Rocky, at home, I am eager to have some new adventures.  Along with riding, I love spending time outside running, sailing, hiking, and camping. When I'm not outside or at the barn, I also love photography, reading, acting, baking and being with animals.

This summer I am especially looking forward to meeting new people, making amazing memories, learning the guitar, and doing lots of bareback riding in the redwoods. I can't wait to meet the horses at Plantation and all of you!

Frank

Hello everyone! My name’s Frank, I come from Wales, the land of song! A fiercely proud little country, with its own unique and rich celtic culture and language. With Ireland on one side and England on the other it’s hard getting noticed sometimes, but I think that just makes the Welsh try harder at everything we do, so I guess you could call me British, but I prefer Welsh.

I’m a 19 year old student studying media and cultural studies at the University of Wales in Cardiff. My main interests are hiking, cycling, mountaineering and anything outdoors, as I grew up in a very remote and mountainous region in the North of Wales. I’ve always loved film and music and all aspects of it, having been forced along to piano and trumpet lessons by my parents at an early age, which at the time I wasn’t happy about being more concerned with football and video games, by now I relish any opportunity to play music, or pick up a new musical instrument.

I’ve never been to the U.S before and it’s always been one of the things I would love to do. So Plantation, for me, is the perfect opportunity to spend my summer in a beautiful region of the world, surrounded by nature, working, making new friends, and having a great time!

I look forward to meeting you all and spending my summer in sunny California!

George

Bonjour and hello from Paris.  I'm George or "Georges" as they like to spell it here in France, where I've been studying for the past five months. The land of baguettes, cheese and incredible cathedrals has treated me well, but let me tell you, nothing beats the sequoia forests of the Sonoma coast.  I know Plantation well--this summer will be a bit of a milestone for me as I break into double digits with my tenth summer on the farm.  For me, the magic of Plantation never fades.  From when I began as a 10-year-old who was too shy to say anything at his first campfire to watching kids make friends and thrive in my units as a counselor, Plantation has always had so much to offer.

When I'm not on the farm or enjoying pains au chocolat, I'm an American Studies major at Middlebury College in Vermont.  I definitely enjoy my studies, but it's always nice to put away books and my laptop every summer and cook over a wood fire, hike to the beach and watch the stars at night.  Not to mention how excited I am to see the pigs, the meadows, and all the smiling faces. À bientôt, I can't wait!

Jhenna

Hello everyone! I am Jhenna, this will be my seventh summer at Plantation, second on staff, and I could not be more excited to get back on the farm! I am just finishing up my first year at Scripps College, in beautiful Southern California, where I am studying physics, but don't worry I won't ask anyone to calculate the terminal airspeed velocity of an African swallow laden with a coconut. As much as I love the warm weather down here, I am very excited to get out of the desert and back into the lovely redwood groves of Northern California where I grew up, on the foothills of Mt. Tamalpias in Marin County.

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!

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 and it kicks-off with first session in less than 50 days!!

Julia

My name is Julia and I'm thrilled to be working at Plantation this summer! I am currently finishing up my first year at NYU, where I study the wonderful world of food, among other things. This will be my 10th summer at camp, second on staff, and I am so looking forward to escaping hectic city life and joining my fellow staff members in welcoming campers to summer 2009.

Plantation has always been a sort of escape for me-- my first summer as an 8 year old made such a lasting impression that a summer without Plantation didn't feel like a summer at all. I found my niche in the horse program and to this day the thought of a trail ride to the sundial, or down to the beach overjoys me. Being at Plantation means so much to me, and I'm very excited to share that with the campers! See you soon!

Katie

I am super excited for my first summer at Plantation Farm Camp in 2009. I look forward to spending my days in beautiful Redwoods forests and at the beach while having the most fun possible! I am a native Northern Californian and after attending college in Washington State for a few years I am excited to spend a summer reconnecting to plants and animals I grew up with. I am also really interested in localized food production and thus I can’t wait to dive into the camp garden as well!

Mat

Howdy all! I'm Mat. Welsh born and raised, this will be my first time on camp, and I couldnt be more excited! I am a 19 year old student just finishing my first year of english/creative writing degree in university of wales in Cardif. My interests include music of all sorts, have been playing guitar for some time now, and i love film and music. Ive been looking at the photos and from everything Oliver has said plantation looks like exactly my sort of place. I'm coming to realise I'm definately not a city boy, and most of my summers up until now have been spent on beaches and various surfer camp sites around the country, this however will be my first time spending months abroad. My interests revolve heavily around object manipulation, or "circus stuff" as it tends to be called, by this I mean poi spinning, diablo, juggling, throwing and catching etc, and pretty much anything that involves reaction and hand-eye co-ordination. I love it.

I am also very much into the outdoors, and three months of "roughing it" sounds like exactly my thing, especially looking forward to horseriding through the woods, cannot wait to be on my way, and to meet you all in person. Bring on the summer!

Michelle

My name is Michelle and I am a junior at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.  I am currently majoring in Elementary Education and I have a minor in Spanish.  This semester I studied abroad in San José, Costa Rica.  These past few months I have been able to travel all over Costa Rica to learn the language and culture and also visited Nicaragua and Panama.  

My favorite hobbies include swimming, reading, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors.  I was a Girl Scout for 10 years and have also attended the 20th World Scout Jamboree in Thailand as a Venture Scout.  The past few summers I have spent my time in Orlando, Florida making magic for the guests at the Walt Disney World Resort as a lifeguard at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort and at the front desk at the Polynesian Resort.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the experiences I have had and now I am thrilled to be a counselor at Plantation Farm Camp for the summer of 2009.    

I have fond memories of my time spent at camp different camps in past years.  I have always loved the experience of spending all of my time outdoors hiking, swimming, and just enjoying the fresh air.  This will be my first summer here at Plantation Farm Camp.  I am looking forward to meeting my new family and being in a place that I know will be my new home away from home. 

Oliver
Jolly nice to meet you. I am Oliver, British, born-and-bred. I study Biology at the University of Bath (the well-known World Heritage Site that boasts residents such as old-time writer Jane Eyre and new-time novelist Danny Wallace – author of Yes Man that recently featured Jim Carrey in the screen adaptation).

A 21 year old vegetarian, I enjoy reading, nature and walking. When I am not living in Bath, I stay with my family in Kent and as this county is adjacent to London, I often explore the city on foot and bicycle, visiting friends in the many suburbs that house more than 7 million inhabitants.

Although I cherish the buzz of a metropolis, the countryside means just as much to me (I grew up in a village surrounded by fields). As a returning counsellor in 2009, I look forward to the bucolic bliss of Californian-based Plantation. Last year, I discovered an affinity for living amongst the redwoods, caring for charismatic goats and working/playing alongside staff and campers that appreciate the history of camp and its ϋber-cool quirkiness that is so refreshing in a decade as materialistically extravagant as the noughties.

I can’t wait to share the Plantation spirit again, sing camp songs, hike gulches, eat gluttonous amounts of local, organic food and wake up in Alpine Meadow to the sound of the 8 am bell. Bring on the summer!

Ruby

Hi everyone! I'm Ruby, and I hail from Burlington, Vermont. I'm in my first year at Smith College in Massachusetts, where I am studying studio art and education and planning to become an art teacher after graduation. I'm looking forward to spending this summer on the West Coast frolicking, making things, enjoying the sun, and being outside!

I am new to the world of Plantation. My aunt and uncle worked there, and brought me to visit one summer before campers got there. I was amazed by just how gorgeous the place is! However, what seems to make Plantation so special to everyone who goes there is not just the beauty of the place itself, but the family created there. It will be great for all of you first-time campers (including me!) to meet everyone and be part of that community. I have heard of so many people who love the camps they went to wholeheartedly, and everyone I know from Plantation have this huge love and devotion for the place, people, and unique experience that it offers. I can't wait to meet all of you and have a serious blast with you this summer!

Sam

Hello, my name is Sam, and this will be my fourth year coordinating the Camper in Leadership Training (CILT) program. I've been working with kids since I was one, and though I'm pursuing a year-round career with adolescents, Plantation is still where I feel most at home. My experience ranges from classroom teaching during college to a variety of outdoor industry jobs I've held as a raft guide and kayak instructor everywhere from the Grand Canyon to the steep creeks of New England. Since last summer, I've moved to Montana to pursue a career as a clinical social worker at a boarding school for troubled teenagers. The last winter and fall have taught me more about myself and the process of growing up than I could imagine, and confirmed my suspicion that working with adolescents is my greatest calling. This summer, however, there's nothing I'd rather be doing than returning to my favorite place in the world, to run my favorite program in theworld. I think that the reason that Plantation has that special feel for me, other than the incredible natural beauty, is that it holds a community that invites us to be the very best, freest, and most honest people we can. And then, it invites to get together and dance like fools.

But if there's one place dearer to my heart than camp, it's the little clearing in the woods just up the hill, that's the base of (secret) operations for the CILT program. I've grown to love the CILT program over the last three years as I've helped generations of campers go through their unique struggles and triumphs, always emerging richer and stronger, with a whole new sense of self. To be a part of that always makes for the most rewarding 25 days of my year, and I just can't wait to get going on the best part of 2009!

Tracy

Hello all!  My history with Plantation goes WAY back, and I'm pretty sure that I'm the only counselor this year who can claim to have been a camper in the 70's, a family camper the last 3 years, and a parent of a camper last year!  Clearly the ties are strong, and for good reason.  As anyone who has been here knows, it is a magical, special place, and you'd have to be a bit nuts not to be compelled to come back!  It's been really wonderful to reconnect with Plantation over the last few years and to be able to share the wonder with my family.  I am SO excited, and feel very privileged to round out my Plantation experience with being a counselor during first session this summer! 

I live in Berkeley, California with my family. Even though I'm older in years (I will celebrate my 48th birthday with all of you this July 3rd at camp!), do not think that makes me no fun.  I'm extremely immature for my age, and love to be juvenile and foolish, (much to the embarrassment of my children, I'm sure). I'm athletic, goofy, artsy and craftsy.  I'm passionate about social justice and healthy food. Oh, and I'm kind of a freak for animals of all sorts.  I can't wait to meet everyone and share an incredible time at one of my very favorite places in the world...

Tristan

YEEEEEEHHAAAAW T  MINUS 50 days and counting! My name is Tristan Brenner but you can call me Tritty! I started going to Plantation in 1997 and have only missed a couple of summers since then. I hail from Marin County and right now I'm in Prescott (pronounced Pres"kit") Arizona attending Pres"kit" 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(The 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.  I cant believe its only a month and a half till Work Camp  starts and we start preparing camp for the incredible summer to come! See y'all then!  Tritty

2008 Biographies -- We had a wonderful staff and a fabulous summer!