Mac Rand Email & Phone Number

Ridgefield, Ct

I teach 7th and 8th grade science (including Earth, Life, and Physical Science) at a co-ed day school. I am an advisor to seven 7th graders, overseeing their social and academic progress and act as liason with their parents. After classes I love coaching cross country in the fall and spring seasons, and assist with our wrestling team in the winter. Outdoor education has always been a strong interest, and I enjoy taking my students outdoors to explore our campus.

Saranac Lake, Ny

The Saranac Lake Area Youth Program offers a summer camp opportunity to local area kids age 7-13. Last year the executive director retired and the program was in danger of closing. With 17 years of summer camp directing experience.under my belt, I jumped at the opportunity to take over and continue the program. We served over 200 individual kids last summer, providing them with a safe and fun summer. I represent the program and visit local town boards; serve on the executive Board; oversee program and staff development; assist in fundraising; with our camp director and administrative director in the hiring new staff; and update and refine our business and program practices.

Lake Placid Middle/High School

You have to be flexible when you are a substitute teacher. One day it's middle school math, the next it's high school English, or foreign language, or something you might be all that familiar with. I enjoy being in the classroom and getting to know different students, and over the last few years have increasingly felt like I'm part of the school faculty---just without the homework and grading.

Patterson, Ny

After having owned Camp Pathfinder for 17 years, in 2007 I had the urge to be self-employed again. I saw a business opportunity in my local area for an outfitting business, and I started Great Blue Outfitters from scratch. We sold and rented canoes and kayaks, as well as hiking/backpacking gear and snowshoes. Along with the rental operations I also grew a retail side with an assortment of paddlesports equipment, clothing, and camping accessories. Starting the business from an idea and bringing it to reality was a real challenge, but I enjoyed it immensely. GBO came to an end simply because my family and I decided to move to the Adirondacks, but I could see that there was a long term future in the business.

I didn't realize it at the time I was in college, but my degree in Biology ended up serving me well. Through the years I have taught every branch of middle school science: Earth, Life, Physical, Environmental...sometimes all in the same year. I particularly enjoy environmental science and try to get my students to connect with the real world outside the door. At every school I organized and ran school-wide Earth Day celebrations, coordinating teachers, students, and outside speakers into day-long celebrations of our natural world. I love the energy and enthusiasm of middle schoolers!

Danbury, Ct

After working in the science classroom for many years while also running Camp Pathfinder, I jumped at the opportunity to move into school administration at Wooster when the division head position became available. For four years I ran the middle school, overseeing 120+ students and a staff of about fifteen. There were challenges, but I loved working with our staff to keep the program fresh and strong. During my time we offered more sports opportunities, initiated a Student Council; and continued to develop our advisory program. I also oversaw moving into a new middle school facility. I taught health once a week. After four years in the office I came to realize I missed the classroom and the day to day contact with kids.

Algonquin Park, Ontario Canada

In 1983 a dream came true when I became the owner and director of Camp Pathfinder, a wilderness summer camp for boys in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. I had already spent five years there as a camper and eight more on the staff by the time I took over the program. As sole owner I wore every hat imaginable: director, business officer, recruiter, program developer...,you name it. For 17 years I worked hard to constantly develop and improve the program and the facility, and when I sold the camp in 1999 I was confident that it was in better shape than when I bought it. Pathfinder shaped my life, and I am confident that during my ownership years the same could be said for hundreds of other young men.

Riverside, Ct

Insurance...something everyone needs but doesn't necessarily want...until they need it! Finding the right coverage for clients is the challenge for a good agent. I primarily worked with our commercial accounts but was also involved in personal lines. I think I have more of an appreciation today of what it takes to be a good insurance agent than perhaps I did back then. I've seen too many examples of people or businesses not having the proper coverage, then losing everything when disaster struck. That should not happen.

Bachelor Of Arts, Biology

Education record