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| 2008 Camp Sertoma Staff |
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 Camp
success depends heavily on the quality of our staff. We
start looking for qualified staff as soon as camp is
finished for the season. Many of our staff return year
after year. Camp Sertoma staff contribute to the
vitality and reputation of camp. We know the skills and
competencies that are necessary to give our campers a
fulfilling experience. Our screening process gives us
the answers we need to choose staff that have the right
attitude and motivation. We want staff that are fully
engaged, highly productive, and work together as a team
sharing ideas and giving each other support. The
interview process gives us an excellent means of
evaluating the individuals communication skills which
are imperative to our Deaf and Hard of Hearing campers.
We run background checks on all staff, counselors, and
volunteers. Past performance and job performance are
also checked. Our number one priority at Camp Sertoma is
to keep all of the campers safe and make sure they have
a great time with us!
Every year, in March Camp directors Jenni & Emily make a
week-long trip to Washington, DC to recruit students at
Gallaudet University who are interested in becoming a
part of our team. The first day, they have an
information booth to spread the word about Camp Sertoma,
students apply for counselor positions. The next three
days, are filled with interviews.
Each interview tends to last about twenty minutes. A
couple of interview questions from the past, "What would
you do if a camper becomes homesick?", "If you have
thirty minutes of free time before dinner, what would
you do?", "What is your worst and best trait?", "What
would you do if you found out or know that one of the
counselors had alcohol or drugs at camp?" (We have a
strict policy of no alcohol or drugs on the camp
property). The pool of applicants are often very
competitive and hard to choose from. We look for
applicants who have the right attitude about Camp
Sertoma, who understands the need for the campers to
meet others like them, without communication barriers,
and have the energy to keep up with all of us at camp!
The counselors come to camp to go through a week-long
intense training period before the campers arrive. The
counselors learn all the safety procedures required by
Camp Confidence, participate in all the activities the
campers will do once they arrive at camp, create new
activities for the campers, and learn about child care.
We have two on-site Registered Nurses, Kirk Alford &
Sara Gerdts. They take vacation time from their
jobs and come to volunteer at camp. They are
responsible to give out medications to campers and deal
with sickness and injuries if any. They also sleep
at camp, so they are with us 24/7.
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Camp Sertoma 2008 Staff and Counselors |
Camp Directors: Jen Bailey and
Emily Lundberg |
Camp Nurses: Kirk Alford and Sara
Gerdts |
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Tyler Kerger
Tyler hails from Iowa, the state
of corn! This is Tyler's third year as a
counselor at Camp Sertoma. He loves to do all
outdoor activities. He is currently playing for
the Gallaudet University football team. |
Sis Chhun |
John Specht
John is from Minnesota. He loves
to fish, snowmobile, and to camp. He is excited
to meet all the campers, teach them what camp is
all about. He is also excited to show the
campers all the fun activities. |
Sam Sherman
Sam is from Minnesota and
graduated from RIT as a machinist. He loves to
travel, the outdoors, flying airplanes, and
camping. Sam is excited to be working at Camp
Sertoma, being with the Deaf kids and staff. |
Shaylea Jay
Shaylea has been taking ASL
classes at Central Lakes College for the past
three years. She likes to play softball and
dance. This is Shaylea's first year at Camp
Sertoma. She is excited for the experience of a
lifetime! |
Elizabeth Oberg
In the summertime, Elizabeth
likes to go swimming, biking, and play outside.
She is very excited to be a counselor at Camp
Sertoma because of all the memories that will be
made, and all the fun! |
Cynthia Hamilton
Cynthia comes from the peach
state, Georgia! She is an athletic and loves to
interact with new people. She is excited for the
campers to be at Camp Sertoma, and to get to
know the campers. |
Andy Schdmit
He grew up in Mound, Minnesota -
just west of the Twin Cities. Some of his
favorite things are country music, baseball,
camping, fishing, and woodworking. He grew up
with a hearing loss and am now excited to be
part of Camp Sertoma. |
Shawn Vriezen
Shawn is a loyal Minnesotan! He
loves to read, camp, rock climb, and technology.
He loves to go on random adventures in the
woods. He looks forward to sharing his love for
free spirited adventures and humor with the
campers of all shapes and sizes. |
Diana Berrigan
Diana is a senior at Gallaudet
University and is from Maryland. She comes from
a Deaf family of six. This is her first time at
Camp Sertoma. She can't wait to have fun with
the campers. |
Erin Ginn
Erin comes from Sourth Carolina.
She is entering her fourth year at Gallaudet
University. She is a member of the Gallaudet
Dance Company. She is really excited to be at
Camp Sertoma for the first time and to get to
know the campers. |
Everett Carpenter
Everett is from North Carolina.
He loves doing all outdoor activities. He loves
working with children. He looks forward to have
all the campers and to get to know them. |
Katie Johnson
Katie first started learning sign
language here at Camp Sertoma in 2006 when she
was the camp lifeguard. Since then, She has been
taking ASL classes and she will attend Gallaudet
University in the fall as a visiting hearing
student. She loves to swim and enjoy outdoor
activities. She is looking forward to another
fun summer at Camp Sertoma! |
Marty Blomquist
Marty is from New Jersey. He is a
senior at Gallaudet University. He is on the
Football and Track teams at Gallaudet
University. This is Marty's first year at Camp
Sertoma, and first visit to Minnesota. He is
really excited to play with the campers and do
all the outdoor activities. |
Mark Thompson
Mark grew up in Waseca,
Minnesota. Mark's favorite sports are football
and golf. This is Mark's third year at Camp
Sertoma. Mark is always excited to see the kids
come together, see old and new faces. |
Bill Jacobs
Bill is a Texan who bench presses
325 pounds. He loves to to play all sports. This
is Bill's first year at Camp Sertoma. He is
really excited to meet all the campers and make
this a memorable summer for everybody! |
Kelli Beechy
Kelli is a girl who is crazy
about sports and is from Oregon. She played on
the Deaf Olympic Soccer team in 2005. She also
volunteered as a snowboard instructor at the
Aspen Deaf Camp. Kelli is looking forward to
interact with all the kinds of kids here at Camp
Sertoma! |
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by 