I am the owner and director of an inclusive residential summer camp located in south east Ohio on picturesque Leesville Lake in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains. Camp Roosevelt-Firebird was founded in 1918 and has a long and storied history. I was fortunate enough to buy this camp recently and will carry on the traditions started by "Dub" Lorimer and his family. Roosevelt-Firebird will continue to be a traditional summer camp hearkening back to the best of its long established traditions but adding in some new twists such as community service, a wilderness trip and outdoor education program,, more arts, and a sustainability focus throughout all parts of the camp's infrastructure and programming. Sustainability will be highlighted in our farming and animal care programs and in the camp infrastructure -- sustainable concepts will be imbedded in camp and clearly seen in the food we eat, in our water treatment system and by the way the camp community uses energy. Campers and counselors alike will learn to interact in a respectful way recognizing that the whole is more powerful than the individual. Camp is really a vehicle for personal growth. The activities are simply the context for such learning. Campers will become more confident leaders and well balanced people. Camp helps us go out into the world and accomplish good things, something lasting, and something -- no matter how small -- that will enrich others lives and the world. These are lofty goals for a place that may seem to have the goal of "just having fun". Camp is a silly and joyful place. But Roosevelt-Firebird is also place where serious work is done. We believe we are preparing youth to confront the complicated ever changing world. And our kids will be prepared and armed with skills and values that will make a difference for us all.

I taught fourth and fifth grade English and Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math. I also coached several after school basketball teams every year for Gearity Students. I helped build Seeds of Success, the Gearity learning garden. Last summer we added a hoop house and a cob pizza oven.