W. Alton Jones Campus



Summer program staff members are hired for their experience working with children or teens, interest in teaching youth about the environment, positive attitude and willingness to take initiative. Typically, staff members are either college graduates or are working toward their degrees. Often several of the Earth Camp staff members are international, generally from Europe. All program staff members hold First Aid and CPR certifications.


Each Teen Expedition that involves boating or swimming has at least one Rhode Island State certified lifeguard and leaders carry Nextel radio/cell phones for emergency use. Criminal Background Checks are conducted on all camp staff in accordance with state law. A two-week training program for Earth Camp Counselors and Teen Expedition Leaders and a one-week training program for Day Camp Counselors includes safety training, policies, practical sessions and an exam.  Each camp is supervised by an on-site Coordinator who handles the minute to minute program operations.

 

Two to three Rhode Island State certified lifeguards supervise the Lake Eisenhower waterfront. An onsite nurses assistant assists the Registered Nurse who is on site part-time daily and on-call 24 hours per day while camps are in session. Junior Counselors, who work with the Day Camp and Earth Camp programs, are high school students, ages 15-17, chosen for their initiative and ability to work with children.  Most support staff—kitchen staff, custodians, maintenance, office staff and nurse—work year round to insure the quality of both school year and summer programs.



2012 Summer Leadership Team:

John Jacques, Manager
Cheryl Conti, Registrar
Kai Shippee, Summer Program Coordinator
Cora Chisholm, Earth Camp Coordinator
Marissa Block, Woodvale Farm Day Camp Coordinator
Kathryn March, Eco-Zone Day Camp Coordinator
Joshua Oakley, Teen Expeditions Coordinator
Diana DelSesto, Registered Nurse
Kaitlynn Rei, Nurses Assistant
Linda Fraunfelter, Supervisor Dining and Janitorial
Paul LaPlante, Senior Cook
Teri Nichols, Senior Cook

All staff can be reached through our main number 401-397-3304 ext. 6043 and email altonjones@uri.edu