Our People

Staff

Our staff members are carefully chosen for their leadership skills, compassion, creativity and enthusiasm for working with children. The staff consists of teachers, college and high school students, including previous campers who have completed our two-year Counselor-in-Training program. Every staff member undergoes an extensive background check including a CORI/SORI check and appropriate reference checks. All camp staff attend a one-week training and orientation program. This training includes CPR, First Aid and AED certification; conflict resolution; leadership development and team building; behavior management; emergency procedures as well as program and character development.

Gretta Parker

Camp Nokomis

Director: Gretchen Seifert

Contact: gseifert@mvymca.org or 203-912-0574 (cell) 603-279-4918, (camp office, summer only)

Gretchen Seifert first came to Nokomis as a junior camper.  Now celebrating her 36th season at Nokomis, Gretta likes to joke that she performed nearly every job at camp.  Prior to being named Camp Director in 2017, she held the position of staff development director.  In the past she has been a cabin counselor, unit leader, bookkeeper, and program director.  Gretta is trained in early childhood education and was a teacher in Stamford, Connecticut for 18 years.  Although she lives in Connecticut during the winter, for Gretta, camp has always been home. Camp helped her develop confidence and leadership skills.  It is the place where she made her dearest friends and her fondest memories.   As Director, she is excited to help campers cultivate their own confidence, friendships, and memories.

Camp Lawrence

Director:  Charlie Seifert

Contact: cseifert@mvymca.org or 978-975-1330

If you are looking for a true believer in the positive influence that camp has on a child’s life, Charlie is your guy. As director of Camp Lawrence, he believes every child deserves to have a camp experience.  Charlie grew up at Camp Lawrence and many of his first memories are at camp. He volunteered at our camps as a young child during work weekends with his family, anxious to be old enough to be a Camp Lawrence camper.  At age 8, his dream came true and he became a camper. He continued to attend Camp Lawrence through the 80s and 90s and went on to be a CIT and Cabin Counselor, teaching a wide variety of activities. Eventually he became the director of transportation for Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis. In 2010, Charlie left camp but continued to serve the organization as an alumnus and as the Manager at the Y Landing Marina. He returned to Camp Lawrence as director and he is happy to be back and excited for the summer!

Camp Otter

Director: Cody Ross

Contact: cross@mvymca.org or 978-686-6190, 603-893-4911 (camp office, summer only)

With a love of being outdoors and a solid foundation in health and physical education, Cody brings enthusiasm and a sense of adventure to his role as Director of Camp Otter. Cody grew up in a small town in Western MA called Warwick and earned his undergrad degree in Physical Education and Health Education and his Masters in Athletic Administration from Springfield College. He has worked for Camp Lawrence and at the Frost Valley YMCA. During his time at Springfield College, he traveled all over the country to conferences and events. Through a partnership that he helped form, he had the opportunity to work with the Peru YMCA, working to help a group of women with their small business. In his spare time, Cody can be found enjoying the outdoors, playing ultimate Frisbee and spending time with family and friends.

Want to spend your summer working with us?

Visit our Employment Page for a list of job openings at our camps.