Here are just a few of the amazing folks on our staff this summer.  Stay tuned for more as we get closer to summer.

Annie

Hey everyone! I'm Annie from Palo Alto, California and I couldn't be more excited for my first year on staff! I am just wrapping up my first year at the University of Southern California, where I study both Communication and Anthropology. My favorite past-times down here include helping out at our college radio station and volunteering at a local preschool in South Central LA. It's been a swell year, but summer at camp will be even better!  

Both my younger brother and I spent many years as campers at Plantation, and after one year in the CILT program and a couple summers off, I am more than ready to return to the farm. My family has adopted four kittens from Plantation over the years, who have all grown up to be beautiful cats and serve as daily reminders of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Summers at Plantation were definitely one of the most awesome parts of growing up for me and so many of my friends, and I am very passionate about spreading the love of the Plantation family and making sure that all our new and returning campers get to make the most of their summers here at camp! I'm especially excited to help lead campers through arts and crafts activites and amazing hikes through the 500 acres. 

Looking forward to meeting all the staff, campers, and their families in a couple of weeks and making this upcoming summer one for the books. See you all at the farm!

David

Hi everyone, I’m Dave! Born and raised near Newcastle on the North East coast of England.  This will be my first time coming to camp and I am extremely excited having only heard fantastic things about Plantation. I can’t wait to get into the swing of things and meet all the staff and of course the campers!

I am 19 years old and I’m just finishing my second year at Northumbria University where I study for a Business with Finance degree.  My interests are centred around sport and music, I’m a keen sportsman willing to try pretty much any sport but I have a real passion for football (or soccer to you guys) and hope to get the chance to pass on some skills to you at camp.

Another passion of mine is music; I have been playing instruments since I was 6 years old when I started to learn the trumpet, which I still play now. I also play the guitar and I am excited to get the chance to play during sing-a-longs at camp.

My family home is just across the road from the beach and the North Sea so I often enjoy spending time taking long walks along the coast, so it will be exciting to go on some hikes to the Pacific Coast.  I really can’t wait to spend my summer in California and I am counting down the days till the start of camp!

Elizabeth

My name is Elizabeth Piatt and I'm happy to be joining the 2010 family.  The summer of 1996 I turned 13 at camp and have since held a special place in my heart for Plantation.  Last year I received a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Southern Illinois University,Carbondale and my undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Art in Art Theory and Practice with a concentration in Painting and Photography.

With the core of my undergraduate experience in the Chicago area at Northwestern University, the city and university duality provided a rich assortment of opportunities for growth which I'm eager to lend to the Plantation experience.  I was also a student-athlete competing as a part of the Northwestern women’s softball team and had the honor of advancing to the Women’s College World Series where we played for a National Title- a super exciting adventure.  I studied abroad as an undergraduate in Croatia, served as an English Instructor at a small private academy in Japan post-undergrad, mural painted in Mexico, and now am resting my head at Plantation for the summer.  I'm thrilled to have this opportunity in beloved Northern California and look forward to the ever so special Plantation Farm Camp experience.

Emily

Hamjambo Plantationites! I’m Emily, a Global Studies major, African Studies and Education double minor at St. Lawrence University in New York. Currently, I am completing my sophomore spring abroad, where I have been studying culture and development in the fascinating country of Kenya. In the conclusion of my semester long program, I am teaching primary level English and Social Studies at an orphanage in Kisumu on Lake Victoria. The Kenyan life has been full of challenge, adventure, tremendous opportunity, and plenty of memorable, eye-opening learning experiences. Lately, however, I have had Plantation on my mind…

            This will be my second summer as a counselor, and I am especially excited to be coordinating the horse program. City life in Nairobi has been fun and exhilarating, but I am ready for the change of pace that comes with farm life and to embrace the serenity of the redwoods as my home once again. I am eager to get back in the saddle (figuratively speaking, of course) and take some epic trail rides down to the bluffs. After recently climbing Mt. Kenya, my legs are itching to conquer some gulch hikes, engage in some quality CTF in the BBD, frolic in the meadows, and cozy up to campfires. I have also been trained by a world champion archer while in Tanzania, and cannot wait to share my new skills with some lucky campers.

            When I’m not at camp or on an African adventure, I love to spend time with my family in Vermont, running, hiking, camping, sailing, cooking, skiing, and riding my horse, Rocky. Leaving Kenya and then saying bye to my family and Rocky after less than two weeks will be tough, but joining the Plantation family for the summer is where I belong. So, dust off your cowboy boots and I’ll see you in less than 60 days!

Michelle

Hi! My name is Michelle and this is my second year as a counselor at Plantation.  As an Elementary Education major at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb I have been spending these past spring and fall semesters teaching both second and sixth graders.  Amidst the writing of lesson plans I also have been loving teaching swimming lessons at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA.   While I have been enjoying my time at school, I also have been counting down the days until I’m back on the farm.  (Even though, I was lucky enough to make it back for New Years.)  I’m so excited to be coming back to northern California to spend the summer in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.  

Not only am I thrilled with spending my summer nights sleeping in my tent under the stars again but I am very excited to see all of smiling faces of the campers and counselors that became my Plantation family last summer and meet my new Plantation family for the summer of 2010!

I can’t wait to cannon ball into the lake, swim in the glorious pool, hike down a gulch to Stump Beach, see all of the animals, cook “Mickey Mouse” pancakes over a fire and sing my favorite camp songs at the top of my lungs after breakfast.  Most of all I cannot wait to escape the hustle and bustle of modern day society and realize that life can be glorious and simple.  Hooray for another summer at Plantation Farm Camp! “Kruse Ranch Road, Take me Home”… See you all real soon! 

Oliver

Hi everyone! My name is Oliver and like Jamie, Cromwell and Twist, I’m English. I’m a student of the University of Bath, majoring in biology. I have a natural intrigue for the outdoors and a passion for food. I’m an active person whom enjoys cycling and hiking but I also get pleasure from reading and music.

This summer will be my third on staff and I’m thrilled to be returning to magical Plantation. The ethos of Camp really appeals to me and I relate to the sense of community well. I’m also interested in sharing cultures and experiences which PFC encourages. I’ve met some wonderful people through Camp and I’m keen to welcome new and returning campers.

Although I enjoy many aspects of Camp, I’m not shy of confessing I’m particularly fond of the goats; their quirky nature amuses me and I have an unconditional – though often unrequited – adoration for the funky ruminants.  Animals aside, I’m also inclined to request activities such as gulch hikes, frog village and CTF in the BBD because being active helps me to rationalise the quantities of food I ingest at Camp; I should also mention that after a day of activities involving tramping through the forest, showering is so much more satisfying by applying tecnu.

See everyone soon!

Rachel

Hello! My name is Rachel, and I am a senior at Murray State University in Western Kentucky. I am an art education major, so for the most part I get to spend my days painting, printmaking, and making artist books. After I graduate, I hope to hike the Appalachian Trail (Maine to Georgia)and then attend Graduate school before I start teaching middle school art.

I love spending time outside! After a long day of working in the art studio, there is nothing better then escaping to the woods for a night under the stars. I worked at a Girl Scout Aquatic camp for five years where I fell in love with kayaking, sailing, camp songs and cooking over a campfire.

I am an active member of my school's environmental club, and through that I have had the opportunity to make real changes at my school towards making our campus more sustainable.

 I can not wait to spend my summer at Plantation making new friends and getting to work with my awesome brother, Josh, who will also be a counselor! I can not wait to meet everyone, and have an amazing summer learning new things and spending time outside! See you all soon!