OUR TEAM
Like many of our campers, the Nobles Day Camp staff considers the camp a second home. Many of our staff have been at the camp for over ten years. Nobles is known for the balance of staffing between adults, college students, and high school students. The Head Counselors are qualified and experienced staff members, with many being educators and/or parents. They lead a team of caring, energetic counselors, many of whom are former Nobles Day Camp campers. Here’s more about our fantastic staff:
- 45% of our staff is made up of adults, parents and/or schoolteachers
- 40% are college students (many majoring in education fields)
- 15% are high school students (usually previous campers and/or CITs)
- 73% return each year to work
- 28 is the average staff age
You may be wondering how many counselors are dedicated to any number of campers. The counselor-to-camper ratios are according to age groups: Owls Nest is 1:4, groups entering 1st grade is 1:5, groups entering 2nd and 3rd grades is 1:6, groups entering 4th-7th grades is 1:7, and groups entering 8th and 9th grades is 1:10. These ratios do not include the activity and pool staff or the leadership team. The total camp counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:3.
Camp Directors
Beth Johns-Thomas, Director
I am thrilled to be a part of the Nobles Community! I have been a summer camp director for the past 30 years in both day and overnight camps, profit and not for profit and most of my time has spent directing camps at Independent Schools. I love working in camp! Camp to me is about friendships, community and learning something new, encouraging staff to do their best work with campers and most of all having FUN! My wife and I live in Nashua NH, we have 4 adult children and an amazing granddaughter. In my spare time I enjoy photography and quilting and most of all routing for the Red Sox!
Gary Ross, Assistant Director
It is my honor to be a part of the Nobles Day Camp community. I have a passion for providing children with fantastic growth experiences surrounded by incredible role models, and am glad to be a part of providing extraordinary moments to all of our campers. I have been involved in the camp industry for 20 years, working at a premier sleep-away camp in New York, where I have held Group Leader, Staffing Director, and Program Director positions. I am excited to bring my knowledge and experience to Nobles. I am looking forward to my wife, Bridget, my son, Max, and my daughter, Rosie, also being a part of the Nobles community for many years to come.
Year-Round Leadership
Colleen Collins, Camp Administrator
I started working at Nobles Day Camp in the summer of 2014 as the Co-Head Counselor of 1B. I loved working with the 1’s families and meeting all the wonderful 1st-grade campers. My children and I looked forward to spending our summers at Nobles Day Camp. In September 2016 I was hired as the Camp Administrator of the Day Camp Office where I’ll be helping parents plan the best summer possible for their children by answering phone calls and emails, processing changes to registrations and managing payments and weekly communications. I look forward to meeting and helping all the Nobles Day Camp families.
Summer Leadership Team
Jess Jarvis, Owls Nest Coordinator
I have been at Nobles Day Camp since 2010, first as a Head Counselor as well as in the office. As I counselor, I loved going to boats and swimming in the Owl’s pool every day! As the Coordinator of the Owls Nest program, I feel so fortunate to be able to be a part of every nest and activity! During the school year, I am a pre-kindergarten teacher at the FJECC at Temple Israel in Boston. I also coordinate the Extended Day program and manage the school’s social media and web presence.
Heidi Brown, Aquatics/Safety Coordinator
I have been working at Nobles since 2005. Among other roles, I have led the boating activity, served as program director and train the boating and aquatics staff prior to the start of camp. My main focus is risk management, observing activities to make sure we are safe while having fun and coordinating our compliance with American Camp Association Standards. I am an American Red Cross Instructor, training and certifying Nobles Day Camp staff in Lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid, and I ensure our boating staff is trained in small craft safety. I am also a Massachusetts EMT-B. During the school year, I am a high school history teacher at Thayer Academy; I also coach girls’ soccer and downhill skiing. I keep coming back to camp because I was a camper myself, first at a day camp and then at Girl Scout resident camps. In time, I coached sail racing, served as CIT director and became an assistant camp director. I come back to THIS camp, Nobles Day Camp, because the staff is experienced and caring, and there is a sense of community here. Many of the staff return year after year– and if they are no longer able to work at camp, they stay in touch with camp friends, both from their days as campers and from their years as staff. A cohesive staff is the starting point for providing good experiences for kids. (Those of us who are teachers especially like working with kids here, where there are no tests or homework!) Finally, the camp leadership is top-notch. There is no other camp I want to work at; the commitment to providing kids with a terrific camp experience underlies everything we do.
Operations
Dan Morris
I am on the operation team at Nobles Day Camp. This is my 25th summer as I started as a camper in the Owls Nest. Prior to working in Operations, I was a counselor for many years. When not at camp I am a Police Sergeant and EMT in a local town. I enjoy spending summer days at Nobles Day Camp.
Bill Tompkins, Operations Coordinator
I started working at Nobles in 1981, and I have been here ever since. I am retired now, but I coached girls soccer and boys baseball and taught physical education in the Walpole Public Schools for 42 years. My favorite thing about camp is meeting all kinds of new people.
Joel Chamberlain
I started working at Nobles in 2013 and the time has gone quickly! I spent the first several years as a head counselor at archery, and then moved over to the operations side of camp. During the year, I work as a Social Studies teacher at a local high school, along with coaching the high school girls tennis team. I have an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science, and a Masters in Secondary Education. In terms of family, my wife and I are expecting our first child soon! I enjoy the collegial atmosphere at Nobles and love being able to help campers make life-long memories.
Marco Pisano
I’m on the Operations team at Nobles Day Camp. I have been at Nobles since 2008 when I was a camper in the 1s. Prior to working in Operations, I was an OLS activity staff member for a summer. Outside of camp, I’m a college student studying Criminal Justice. I enjoy working with my Ops team as we make a difference!
Medical Staff
There are three registered nurses on site during camp hours. Many of our staff are certified in CPR and First Aid. The entire camp staff is trained on how to use an EpiPen. Parents have the right to review background check, health care, discipline policies, and grievance procedures upon request.
Sheila Bennett, Camp Nurse, Maurice Sicard, Certified Athletic Trainer
Sheila Bennett. I have been a camp nurse at Nobles Day Camp since 2001 and have loved every minute of it. I am a school nurse for the Town of Dedham and teach CPR as well. The best thing about working at Nobles Day Camp is the staff and the campers. They bring so much energy to the day, and there is always something fun going on.
Maurice Sicard. I’ve been working for Noble and Greenough School as a Certified Athletic Trainer since 2003. I started working at Nobles Day Camp in 2008 in a variety of positions.
Kim Nehiley
I started working at Nobles Day Camp as the Owls Nest Nurse in 2015, and I loved it! During the rest of the year, I am a substitute school nurse at a number of school districts in Massachusetts, and a stay at home Mom. I also work in the medical tents of the Marathon, Half marathon, and Jimmy Fund Walk. My daughter, Annabelle, is a camper in the big camp. I love being a nurse, and I love getting to know the campers; seeing them having fun and keeping them healthy and safe. The Owl’s Nest is like a small family, and it makes for a wonderful and fun summer!
Office Support
Britt Young
I have enjoyed working at Nobles Day Camp since 2015. I started as a head activity counselor in Beads, and transitioned to the camp office in 2022 where it is my pleasure to help our camper families. I have two sons who are former campers and current NDC activity counselors in fishing and sports. When I am not working at Nobles Day Camp, I am a co-director of an instrumental music non-profit in the Boston Public Schools.
Sandra Wainwright
I started working at Nobles around 2009 as a head counselor in 2B. In 2019, I moved into the camp office. During the school year, I teach for the Needham Public System. I’ve been an assistant teacher for 24 years working in grades K to 5th grade. I also bring in and coordinate community service projects for children to engage in at a local after school program in Needham. I enjoy seeing the children get involved with all the fun activities that Nobles has to offer.
Shelagh Sabourin
Hi, my name is Shelagh and I started working at Nobles Day Camp in 2014 as the Head Counselor in the Orange Nest before transitioning to the Owl’s Office. Each summer I love getting to know the campers. Watching them have fun, make friends and become more independent brings me such joy! During the year, I work at an Early Intervention Program in Boston. My three boys have all come to camp at Nobles and we wouldn’t want to spend our summers any where else!