Nature Summer Camp Staff

Camp Co-Directors

Dan Butterworth, (he/him) Education Program Manager

Dan joined the Hitchcock Center during the fall of 2021. He has a degree in Science Education from Penn State University with a focus on Science, Technology, and Society. He started his environmental education career working with the Massachusetts Audubon at Drumlin Farm, then spent some time teaching science at Dover-Sherborn Middle School, before returning to his passion for informal environmental education when he became the animal caretaker/educator at the wildlife sanctuary at West Hartford’s Children’s Museum. After 17 years of sharing STEM education and animal ambassadors from the sanctuary all over the region he was eventually serving the museum as the education program manager. He is happy to join the Hitchcock education team to spend more time serving the communities more local to his home in South Hadley. In his free time he enjoys finding time to get his camera out into nature and spending time with his family and many pets.

Jeff Mazur, (he/him) Environmental Educator

Jeff is answering the call of the wild – to inspire others to be better stewards of our planet through helping children and adults connect more deeply to the natural world. This is Jeff’s seventh year at the Hitchcock Center and as camp director. During the school year, Jeff teaches our Homeschool II Program and Nature Play Afterschool Program.

Prior to joining the Hitchcock Center, Jeff worked for Mass Audubon as a teacher/naturalist and created his own afterschool program called “Into the Woods” for the Lexington Montessori School. When not at the Hitchcock Center, Jeff can be found spending time with his wife and children, in the woods keeping a keen lookout for mushrooms, swimming at Puffer’s Pond, biking or tending his garden.

Monya Relles (they/them) Environmental Educator

Monya loves backpacking, farming, and writing poetry in trees, and they have been getting their clothes muddy for as long as they can remember. Monya has ten years of summer camp counselor experience but their favorite summer camp by far has been the Hitchcock Center where they started working in 2019. This summer Monya is spending a third of their time co-directing, a third working at teen camp, and a third hiking a third of the Appalachian trail. This summer is sure to be jam-packed with fun and wonder at the natural world.

Camp Counselors

CHICKADEE CAMP

Lauren Dausch (she/her) Environmental Educator

Lauren started at the Hitchcock Center as a Chickadee Camp counselor in the summer of ‘22, and loved it so much that she wanted to stay year round! She graduated with her Master’s of Science in Environmental Education from Antioch University NE in spring 2023, and has previously worked in the mental health field with kids and adults of all ages. She is passionate about the magic of early childhood, the wonder of the natural world, and creating a loving safe space where all children can thrive. Inclusion and accessibility are incredibly important to her, and she hopes to make the world more accepting of all types of disabilities and differences, whether that’s through her writing, fundraising projects, or presentations. In her free time, Lauren can be found philosophizing with her partner, taking care of her many plants and animals, crafting, playing music, or writing poetry and children’s stories.

Chrissy Larson, (she/her) Environmental Educator

Chrissy loves to play in nature and is constantly excited to learn something new! In college she studied biology and chemistry, then pursued a Master’s degree in Environmental Education and Early Childhood. For the last 25 years, she has worked as an educator, a preschool teacher, a youth director, a program coordinator and a camp supervisor. Chrissy has experience working with people of all ages and backgrounds, but her real passions are teaching young children and families and training new staff. She especially loved combining these roles when she directed nature preschool programs in Oregon and mentored older teens and young adults as the educators. She’s excited to add her experience and enthusiasm to the team at Hitchcock Center, leading children’s programming, doing community outreach, and whatever else comes along. In her free time Chrissy likes to explore nature with her family, lead silly songs on her guitar, and build Lego creations with her 5 year-old.

GREY SQUIRRELS

Fiona Jarvis (they/she)

Fiona is thrilled to be joining the Hitchcock Center for their first year this summer. In past years, Fiona has worked as a counselor at an urban farming camp in their home neighborhood in NYC, and as a child caretaker striving towards empathetic trauma informed care hinging on natural/artistic themes. She has been described as an enthusiastic communicator for plants and animals, and loves approaching the outside world with curiosity and a willingness to notice the small details. Fiona is a visual arts student at Hampshire College, and they love drawing and making up silly songs and stories!

Adam Mazur (he/him)

Adam can often be found prancing through the fields outside of his house in Amherst and swimming in local ponds and rivers. He has been going to the Hitchcock Center since he was a Red Fox, and has since been a CIT and JC for the Grey Squirrels. Adam has also volunteered teaching kids in preschool through third grade (including in Guatemala). When not having fun with the Grey Squirrels, Adam can be found hiking, biking, cooking, and doing ceramics. He is looking forward to spending another summer with the Hitchcock community.

Virginia Wardlaw (they/them)

Virginia is very excited to embark upon their second summer working at the Hitchcock Center. Virginia was a camper at the Hitchcock Center, as well as a Junior Counselor. They have many fond memories of fairy house building, story walks, and getting to learn from the wonderful Hitchcock Center Educators. Virginia is entering into their Junior Year at Hampshire College focusing on Environmental Education. When they are not in class, Virginia works as a teacher at the Amherst Montessori School in the toddler classroom. On their free time Virginia enjoys hiking, biking, and participating in community theatre. They look forward to another summer of cultivating a learning environment that thrives off of the local ecosystem.

RED FOXES

Sylvia Goldman (she/her)

Sylvia can’t wait to return to the Hitchcock Center for a second summer as a Counselor. She grew up at Hitchcock, as a camper, CIT, and then Junior Counselor. Her best memories include building sturdy forts and elaborate fairy houses in the woods. Sylvia has also had lots of backcountry adventures as a camp counselor, CIT, and camper in the Colorado Rockies. Sylvia is a rising sophomore at Skidmore College, an ultimate frisbee enthusiast, doodling fanatic, women’s soccer follower, and avid picnicker.

Devin Thomas (he/him)

Devin is groovin into his first Summer at the Hitchcock Center. He grew up exploring Mt. Tom, and occasionally disassembling family appliances. A newly Inducted member of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Devin pursues a myriad of artistic endeavors such as film and photography just to name a few. In the outdoors realm, he is a seasoned camp counselor with a reverence for fostering a love of nature in the next generations.

Meena Relyea-Strawn (she/they)

Meena is an outdoor explorer who loves to hike, bike, canoe, and garden. Her passion for sustainable living and environmental justice is what draws her to the Hitchcock Center for the first time this summer! Meena is a creative spirit who believes caring for the earth can teach us much about respect, curiosity, and love. This has drawn her to take on sustainable initiatives in her community and schools and integrate these values into previous camp counseling experiences. Meena is a rising sophomore at Mount Holyoke College, exploring sustainability across disciplines, playing card games in her free time, and dancing through life.

BLACK BEARS

Isaiah T. Brown (he/him) Sessions 1-5

As far back as he can recall, Isaiah has been immersed in the wonders of nature. Growing up in the biomes of New England, learning and immersing in nature through Mass Audubon and Scouts BSA, he has developed an appreciation for the beauty and creativity of the natural world. A recent graduate of Hampshire College focusing on environmental science/studies, and with experience as a Scouts BSA Nature Counselor, Isaiah is eager to re-explore the world of environmental education. If he’s not spotting birds of prey in the sky or buried in the woods identifying animals, Isaiah is always active! He understands the importance of movement, always finding ways to nurture his physical well-being. When it comes time to relax, meditating, eating food, listening to music, and spending time with his friends and family are grounding and help to recharge his center. In his first year at The Hitchcock Center, Isaiah’s hope for this Summer is to foster the same wonder and excitement he has found in nature in the minds of this year’s youth.

Moo Butler (they/them) Sessions 1-2

Moo is a 26 year old interdisciplinary artist, poet and performer who loves all things relating to circus and nature. They like to live within the whimsical and wild! In May Moo became a certified Wilderness First Responder and completed their training at SOLO wilderness medicine school in New Hampshire. This past winter Moo spent 27 days hiking 100 miles in New Zealand with NOLS, National Outdoor Leadership School and looks forward to more backcountry adventures in the future. Moo took an unconventional educational path which included: two years at the New England Center of Circus Arts, two years at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, one year farming, a performance intensive at Double Edge Theatre, and two years at Hampshire College. Last spring Moo graduated from Hampshire College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, which combined a concentration of performance, art, creative writing, queer/gender studies, Indigenous studies and social justice. Moo has worked at Berkcirque, a circus camp in the Berkshires for 9 years and is going on their 3rd year coaching circus for the Campus School’s June program in Northampton. Moo worked at Hitchcock for the first time this April and is excited to be a part of their summer camp!

Sal Cincotta (they/them) Sessions 3-5

Sal is a proud Connecticut River Valley townie, farmer, and educator. A current UMass student and alum, they studied Sustainable Food and Farming for their undergraduate degree and are currently pursuing a Masters in Education. This will be Sal’s second summer with the Hitchcock Center’s camp program! Their outdoor education skills were first cultivated while teaching food, gardening, and science lessons in Springfield Public Schools. This past year, they’ve continued working with the Hitchcock Center, engaging in the homeschool program, vacation camps, the after school program, and in-school programming in Northampton Public Schools. Outside of camp, you might find Sal biking, rollerblading, walking on the rail trail with their dog, Avery, or weeding their garden. They are thrilled to spend another summer with the Hitchcock Center community!

Serafina Wang (she/her) Sessions 3-4

Serafina is greatly looking forward to her first summer as a volunteer counselor for several sessions at the Hitchcock Center. Growing up in Chengdu, China, Serafina attended two years of a nature-based kindergarten program and fell in love with the wonder of the natural world. She is a rising junior at Mount Holyoke College studying Environmental Studies and Computer Science. Serafina enjoys playing and learning from the kids, and she is passionate about exploring curriculum and activities that foster environmental education. In her spare time, Serafina loves hiking, exploring nature, traveling, singing, and writing Chinese calligraphy.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAMP

Monya Relles (they/them) Environmental Educator

Monya loves backpacking, farming, and writing poetry in trees, and they have been getting their clothes muddy for as long as they can remember. Monya has ten years of summer camp counselor experience but their favorite summer camp by far has been the Hitchcock Center where they started working in 2019. This is Monya’s first year as Co-Camp Director, in addition to being a counselor for Leadership Training Camp and our first year of Climate Collaborative Camp. Monya is especially interested in integrating environmental justice and climate change education into their lessons. You can almost always find them dancing or in the woods.

Sal Cincotta (they/them) Environmental Educator

CLIMATE COLLABORATIVE CAMP

Monya Relles (they/them) Environmental Educator

Monya loves backpacking, farming, and writing poetry in trees, and they have been getting their clothes muddy for as long as they can remember. Monya has nine years of summer camp counselor experience but their favorite summer camp by far has been the Hitchcock Center where they started working in 2019. Monya is especially interested in integrating environmental justice and climate change education into their lessons. You can almost always find them dancing or in the woods.

Sal Cincotta (they/them) Environmental Educator

The Climate Collaborative Camp program is supported in part by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Camp Support

Katie Koerten (she/her) Education Director

Since first becoming a summer camp counselor at Hitchcock in 2007, Katie has instructed just about all the educational programs Hitchcock has to offer, from elementary school field trips to college orientations, summer camp to teacher professional development. Katie is especially proud of founding and instructing a nature play afterschool program called Girls into the Wild, serving as a space for 4th – 6th grade girls and other children of marginalized genders to play, be wild, and explore nature. As someone who is in daily awe of nature, Katie strives to infuse curiosity and amazement in all her programs, no matter the audience.

One of Katie’s core beliefs that she leads with in all projects is the understanding that all people deserve to feel a sense of belonging in the outdoors, and at Hitchcock. Whether it’s in local classrooms, at community events, on Hitchcock’s grounds or in our offices, Katie champions work and ideas that unpack and dismantle barriers of access.