Introducing: Our Faculty!

If you read about the past 12 months, you know we’re leveling up The Summer Camp Society. We’ve really thought about who we are and what we do. We’ve brought on Paige and Allison. And now, we’re bringing on three faculty members!

The first value of The Summer Camp Society is Innovation. We’re here to figure out ways to get more kids to even better camps, because camp is our lever to change the world. Changing the world takes ideas, content, and working together, and that’s why we are investing in three of the best thinkers and innovators we know in our industry: Nelson Strickland, Simone Gamble, and Chris Rehs-Dupin. We’re honored that they have all agreed to join the TSCS team as faculty members.

With Nelson, Simone, and Chris officially on board, we will get more great content from them each month. We will have even more opportunities to brainstorm with them, learn from them, and help them get their ideas and knowledge to even more camp leaders. They’ll write blogs, hold Q&As, create content, and more, bringing YOU (and the rest of the camp community) the things you need to inspire positive change. We are thrilled to have this group join our team and we can’t wait to see what we can all do together!

NELSON STRICKLAND

Nelson Strickland is a multi-talented youth development professional from New Jersey who began attending summer camps at the age of 11. He fell in love with the community and empowering environment summer camp creates and hasn’t spent a summer without it since.

Nelson loves music, dancing, art, and all things creative. He enjoys seeing people smile and believes in the power of moments. He’ll tell you that you should question everything — even if you know you'll never find the answers. He likes to dip his french fries in whatever sauce that he got for his nuggets (preferably ranch). He believes the quesarito is one of man's greatest inventions. He truly believes that any human is capable of greatness and that greatness can only be defined by you. His greatness is working with an organization that is fueled by the power of relationships more so than the power of economy.

Nelson has been involved in summer camp and youth development for over 15 years as a camper, counselor, unit leader, and camp director. Nelson has been a camp director at Camp Stomping Ground, YMCA Camp Birkett, Camp Tall Tree, Camp Dragonfly Forest, Camp Kesem at Rowan University, and L.G. Cook 4H Camp. He is currently the interim director of operations at TIC Summer Camp.

SIMONE GAMBLE

Simone Gamble is a community organizer from South Bronx. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Hunter College with a focus on Secondary Education and History and later Social Work and Community Organizing. She has worked at youth organizations focusing on various social justice issues. Simone is also an independent consultant who has led workshops around the issues of safer spaces for people of color. Since 2017, She is the founder of OAAARS that connects talented consultants of color to provide radical professional development training in the fields of social justice, equity, arts, wellness, and education.

CHRIS T. REHS-DUPIN

Chris Rehs-Dupin spent the majority of his professional career (17 years) in youth development in the outdoors- including 8 years in overnight programming, and 9 years in day programming. Chris is a passionate speaker, trainer, and educator who has spoken at numerous conferences, camps, and larger organizations. Participants agree that Chris works to meet them where they are and educates them in the absence of shame.

Chris loves to support camps as they foster gender-inclusive practices. He is available for consulting services, which will directly support a camp’s goals within the context of their community.

Chris is an active member in his church community as part of the social justice ministry- especially in the area of LGTBQ+ advocacy. Chris is a father of two children who are the center of his universe and his consistent reason for trying to make the world a better place.. When he is not working he enjoys running, maple syrup production, gardening, and winemaking.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR OUR FACULTY

They’ll start producing content soon! If you have an issue or question you’d like our amazing faculty to tackle, email our executive director Allison so we can pass it on!