Meet the Staff
SUMMER’S EDGE PROUDLY INTRODUCES
THE 2011 TEAM
Bringing You Years Filled of Summer’s Edge
Experiences and Memories
Owner:
Ann Marie Gallo, the founder and creator of Summer’s Edge Day Camp, is the heart, the brain, and the courage that makes Summer’s Edge like home for the summers. With her Doctoral Degree from the Fielding University, she teaches at Salem State University in the Sport & Movement Science Department, as an associate professor and the coordinator of the physical education teacher education program. She teaches a wide variety of courses in pedagogy and ‘camp administration.’ Prior to joining Salem State in 2004-05, she served as an assistant professor/student teacher aupervisor at UMass Boston for four years. Ann Marie holds a Master of Education from Cambridge College, a Massachusetts Teaching Certificate, and a B.S. in physical education from UMass Boston. In addition to these degrees, Ann Marie is a certified Emergency Medical Technician, Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard Training Instructor, and CPR/FPR Instructor. She has nine years of experience coaching varsity field hockey, basketball, and softball. In recognition of her many years working with students, Ann Marie was named Teacher of the Year at Minuteman High School for the 1998 school year. In 1991 and 1996, she was named Minuteman Tech’s Coach of the Year. She also received the Gatorade Coaches Care Award in 1991. Thus, with the move for Summer’s Edge to Minuteman’s campus, Ann Marie is experiencing old home days! Through her life’s main goal and venture that is Summer’s Edge, Ann Marie has relished the opportunity to see so many of her campers ‘grow up’ and become staff members. While maintaining the myriad of roles that come with her role as owner and camp director, she looks forward to the one day each week that she gets out to the archery range to instruct the campers on this difficult yet rewarding activity: “Archery is different from team sport; it is a sport of precision that takes practice and patience to master.” It is truly hard to imagine Ann Marie ever having time for baking cookies with her tireless work as a professor and camp director, but when those moments become available, you can find her in the kitchen, with wooden spoon and bowl in hand ready to bake up a storm!
General Managers:
During the school year, Jacqueline (Jackie) Supprise works as the Program Director of Health and Physical Education at Bedford Public Schools, yet when summer arrives she assumes her role as the central nervous system of Summer’s Edge, where she has been for 20 years. She implants her energy and expertise through the circuitry of the entire camp, directing all aspects of our programming. She earned her Masters Degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Technology from Lesley College. Jackie graduated from UMass Boston with a Massachusetts Teaching Certificate and a B.S. in physical education. She recently earned her CAGS from Plymouth State University in Educational Leadership with Concentration in Adventure Learning. Jackie is a certified Emergency Medical Technician, a Water Safety Instructor, a Lifeguard Instructor, and a C.P.R./F.P.R. Instructor. In August of 2003, she hiked the White Mountains to raise funds for “Joints in Motion” to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Jackie is also known at Summer’s Edge as the maven of computers; she essentially serves as Ann Marie’s own private “Geek Squad!” She does excellent work leading adventure and cooperative games at camp, including teaching and training the staff on the latest innovations in these fields: “I enjoy seeing a group coming together to solve a problem or complete an initiative without the concern of keeping score and finding enjoyment in being active.” She also likes relaxing over a hearty breakfast of eggs Benedict on grilled vegetables.
Elizabeth (Beth) Billouin is the Summer’s Edge Aquatics Director. Her technical title is Water Safety Instructor and Life Guard, but “Water Wizard” suffices as well! This will be Beth’s 19th year with us. She attained a B.S. in Health Education from UMass Lowell as well as a Massachusetts Teaching Certificate. While at UMass, she received the Dean’s Award for having the highest GPA in her major. Beth completed her Masters Degree at Cambridge College in August of 1999. She is a certified instructor of Water Safety, C.P.R., and First Aid. Currently, Beth teaches health education and marine biology at Bedford High School; she also serves as the coach of winter cheerleaders. She is most proud of being a mom, and Summer’s Edge is fortunate to have both of Beth’s sons, Tyler and Zack, as campers for the entire summer. At camp, Beth’s favorite moments are during the swim meets, as she loves “listening to the entire camp screaming for their friends as they dash down the lane.” Beth’s attachment to the water doesn’t end at camp, however, as she enjoys tending to her fish and two turtles, Mimi and Sport, at home (we hear that she has recently trained Mimi and Sport in masks, fins, and snorkels).
Coaches:
Group 1
2010 will mark Barbara Schiavone’s sixth year as counselor. Barb earned an associates degree at Endicott College and has experience as a coach of soccer, field hockey, and basketball at Minuteman High School, where she attended high school, so she is excited to spend her days back at her roots on campus for Summer’s Edge. Barb continues to hone her culinary skills as a part-time cake decorator for Delicious Desserts. She especially relishes working with the Group 1 campers whose chatter and curiosity always delight her. Barb particularly enjoys “caring” as ‘Word of the Week,’ because, “I wish more people put more effort into caring for each other and taking time for each other.”
Jason Halsted returns to work with Group 1. At Lincoln Sudbury High School, Jason was bestowed with the “Wellness Award” for 2009. He plays soccer and basketball and participates in track and field, throwing the javelin. In the latter activity, he won the Dual County League championship! He enjoys playing soccer with his energetic and friendly dog, Nala. Jason strives to teach the value of responsibility to the campers: “It’s important to teach responsibility to young kids because it helps kids to start becoming a contributing member of one’s family and society.”
Group 2
We thank long time camper and counselor (Group 6) Justin for introducing us to a new awesome member of our team: his older sister Lauren Capraro-Gentuso! Lauren completed her undergraduate work at Tufts University with her B.A. in child development, and she recently earned her M.Ed in early childhood education from Salem State University. Additionally, Lauren has worked with families within the MAPS adoption program. In her spare time, she enjoys kickboxing and fine tuning her powerful right hook! About respect, she believes that “it encompasses everything about how you should treat others and how you should treat yourself.”
Ross Cusack, a long-time Summer’s Edge camper-denizen for eight years, progressed through our junior counselor program to counselor status. Ross graduated from Lexington High School, and he is studying at Lesley University. In addition to all of the Bristol trips being favorite camp memories for Ross, he also remembers eagerly getting back to camp after missing a day with a fever and winning the thrilling game of krack-a-bout survivor! He misses the discontinued Rice Crispy Treats cereal. How did that ever get discontinued?
Long-time Summer’s Edge camper James Cullen joins Group 2 as a junior counselor. At Lexington High School, James is involved in manifold activities, including Best Buddies, Peer Mentors, SADD, and the golf and volleyball teams. On the cutting edge of social issues, James made a public service commercial about texting and driving that is a finalist in a nation-wide high school competition! At camp, James loves to lead the camp classic krack-a-bout, as “it is always a joy to see how excited kids get when the time comes to play the most awesome game at camp!”
Group 3
Ben Silberman leads Group 3 this summer. For his counselor duties, Ben will draw on his two years of experience as a Summer’s Edge camper, including the memorable moment when he and his older brother Andrew were both bestowed with the Warm Fuzzie Award! At home, Ben loves the company of his chocolate lab named Lexi, who is both energetic yet also enjoys relaxing with Ben on the couch. Ben particularly enjoys going for walks so he can immerse into the outdoors and be surrounded by nature. He will be entering Union College in September.
Ben is assisted by nine-year camper in the Summer’s Edge community, Ryan Brugger, who has risen to junior counselor. Ryan plays soccer and lacrosse at Lexington Christian Academy, and he is also a member of the football club. In the winter, Ryan loves to snowboard, and he has impressively completed the Sprint Lake 5-Mile Run in New Jersey. Ryan believes that fairness is essential within a camp group, because “once fairness comes into play, everyone is happy.”
Group 4
Erin Brugger has been part of the Summer’s Edge community for ten years, and this season she will be running with Group 4. Erin, also known as “the Bruggeroni,” is a student at Endicott College, where she is studying hospitality management. Erin is awesome at leading arts and crafts activities, because she likes hands on activities and seeing the campers’ use their creative instincts. She teaches the campers the essence of sportspersonship, as she has stated, “This is important to me because I believe it is needed at camp since we play so many games. It is very important to play nice and fair.”
Erin will be assisted by junior counselor Sophie Meyers. Sophie has 13 (yep 13!) years of Summer’s Edge camper experience in her repertoire. At Lexington High School, Sophie is a junior captain of the girls’ varsity tennis squad, and she earned Middlesex League all-star recognition in 2010 for her play. Her best memories of Summer’s Edge have occurred during Adventure Week, especially while playing campfire games! Already an accomplished acoustic and electric guitar musician, Sophie is also learning to play both the bass and the ukulele. She models the concept of sportspersonship, because “it is important to emphasize the way campers should treat each other during all the games and activities.”
Group 6
Long-time Summer’s Edge camper Justin Capraro-Gentuso leads Group 6. During his Winchester High School career, Justin earned a scholarship in economics, a service award in English, the David Miller woodworking achievement, the Dr. Clare M. Corcoran scholarship, and the ‘Connect and Commit’ award for excellence in service. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and Italian Club. Justin attends George Washington University, with a double major in political science and economics, and he earned a 4.0 in his first college semester! One of Justin’s favorite memories was his first week as a junior counselor, when he realized the excitement of helping to make all the campers comfortable and directing their summer fun.
Group 7
Monique Goguen is excited to be working with Group 7 this summer. At Waltham High School, Monique was involved in a plethora of activities, including volleyball, dance theater, freshman mentor program, and Best Buddies. As a yoga enthusiast, Monique utilized her experience in this physical and mental discipline to aid her during her impressive journey to reach the zenith of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. She is enrolled at Fairfield University during the school year. She enjoys swim lessons at camp, stating, “I love to swim and to teach others so they will love it, too!” It makes perfect sense, then, that if she could, Monique would become a tropical fish so she would never have to leave the warm weather and the water.
Having successfully impressed us all as a junior counselor last summer, Mackenzie Cyr will be working with Monique and the Group 7 girls. At Lexington High School, she swam as well as played basketball and lacrosse. She also participated in Euporia, an a capella group). Mackenzie will be studying media, culture, and communications at NYU in the fall. The Summer’s Edge Olympics are among her favorite memories, especially since “it’s the whole camp (all ages), and the costumes and games are always awesome.” Mackenize relies on fairness in her approach with campers: “Being fair allows the activity to flow. Also, at camp, it is important for the kids to be fair and have fun without being too competitive.”
Group 89 (Senior Campers and L.I.T.s)
Seasoned veteran Kara Hahn brings her vivacity to the Group 89 campers. Kara, a 5th grade teacher in Chelmsford, has deep roots in the Summer’s Edge community, with nine years as a camper and now eight years as a counselor. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island, with a major in elementary education and history, and she has earned on her M.Ed at Cambridge College. Kara teems with positive energy, which is apparent with her empahtic cheering, celebratory clapping, and earnest praising all throughout a camp day. When at camp, teddy ball is the game that she loves to lead, which isn’t surprising because, as a camper, she routinely launched big booms with the racket. Kara is enjoying marital bliss after celebrating her nuptials last summer.
Michael Carr holds a B.S. from Salem State with a major in sport, fitness, and leisure studies. During the school year, he is a physical education instructor at Angier Elementary School in Newton, and he has coaching experience at Salem High School in wrestling and softball. His favorite memory as a Summer’s Edge counselor was his very first game of krack-a-bout, which he calls, “a life changing experience!” He especially enjoys introducing new games and seeing the campers’ excitement at learning and tackling a new adventure.
S.E.T.S. Summer’s Edge Tennis School~
Joe Gallo is the founder of Summer’s Edge Tennis School. Joe is a U.S.P.T.A. certified Tennis-Teaching professional and the Salem State College Tennis Men’s Tennis Coach. As the director of tennis operations, he has 25 years of teaching experience working with children and adults at various tennis clubs and camps because, as he says, “Tennis is the sport of a lifetime.” If you are looking for either of the Dr. Gallo’s during the academic year, check Salem State University! Joe is the Director of the Athletic Training Program at the Salem State. As a member of the Sport & Movement Science Department, he teaches courses in athletic injury, examination, and rehabilitation. Joe coaches tennis during the academic year as the Men’s Tennis Coach at Salem State University. He completed his doctorate in Sport Physical Therapy at Rocky Mountain University. He received his B.S. in Physical Education and Athletic training from West Virginia University and possesses a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from Delaware University. During the academic year, Joe is sought after all over the country as a presenter of the latest research findings in ultra sound and laser therapy.
Alicia Poore attends Salem State University, where she studies history and education and is an Honors Program member. Alicia not only plays on the Salem State women’s tennis team, but she also serves as the captain. In addition to her academic and athletic successes, Alicia is also musically talented, with six years of flute playing as part of her personal portfolio! At home, she spends time with her gorgeous black lab, Gabby, and her cats Spooky and Patches. Alicia instills caring in the campers, believing that “you have to invest your heart in everything you do to make it amazing.”
Andrew Silberman returns to the Summer’s Edge community, where he was a camper for two years, to help lead S.E.T.S. for this summer. At Syracuse University, Andrew is striving for a B.A. in sports management and economics. He is involved in a plethora of activities in college, such as intramural basketball, managing the women’s basketball team, and working as an intern with the Syracuse Chiefs (an AAA baseball team). In his spare time, Andrew loves to golf, an activity that he will also help with in the afternoons at Summer’s Edge. He is looking forward to S.E.T.S. so that he can inspire the campers to “love the game like I do.”
Anthony M. Gallo (aka “Big Tony” and aka the dad of Ann Marie and Joe) is a common visitor to camp and to S.E.T.S. Big Tony teaches tennis and is an expert at safe watermelon carving! He attended Wentworth Institute and is currently enjoying the fruits of retirement from his career at Hewlett Packard. Big Tony enjoys all sports, especially baseball, jogging, and tennis. In October of 1997, he ran and finished the Cape Cod Marathon at the age of 60 years young. Big Tony has a particular niche as a gardener and landscaper.
Special Teamers:
Arts and Crafts Program~
Amy Greenberg has been heading to Summer’s Edge for 18 years. After 11 years as a camper, Amy has worked her way through all of our programs, including two-years as a C.I.T. and one summer as a Junior Counselor. Amy is our director of arts and crafts. She earned a degree in communication design and architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, and she recently achieved an M.A. in art education from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Amy is an outstanding swimmer, most likely due to the training she received in her first swim class at Summer’s Edge with Johnny Boy. In her spare time, one might find Amy kicking back with knitting needles as she knits and purls a winter hat.
Newsletter Writer and Editor~
John Campanale has been with Summer’s Edge for 14 years. During the school year, Johnny Boy (as he is known in the Summer’s Edge community) teaches English and is the head football coach at St. Mark’s School. He earned his M.A.L.S. from Dartmouth College, with a focus in creative writing; he graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in English as an undergrad and was a Charles A. Dana Scholar. He loves to interior design, and one of his favorite pastimes is watching and imagining himself on HGTV’s “Design Star.” Johnny is the writer of all of the Summer’s Edge newsletters. Blame him (me) for all the bad puns!
Clerical Maven~
Phyllis Gallo, the mother of Ann Marie and Joe, retired after working 54 years for the same company…and she wishes she was still working! The firm moved to Norwell, which would make for a very long commute using public transportation since she does not drive. We have put her years of clerical skills to perfect use in the camp office. Phyllis has been filing, collating, shredding at record speeds, and answering the camp phone in the summer, which she enjoys the most.
Extended Day Specialist~
Samantha Lesperance returns to Summer’s Edge as our Extended Day Specialist. She is a earned a B.A. from Syracuse University, majoring in English and secondary education. At Woburn High School, Samantha earned an academic award for school and society, and she graduated magna cum laude. Samantha enjoys spending time with her dog, Bailey, who is very playful. She takes singing lessons whenever she has the opportunity. Samantha injects extended day with energy, especially as she engages the campers in learning the new activities that she offers.
General Specialists~
Faithful friend Jonathan Corey is an all-around specialist for us, from leading trips to lifeguarding to basically anything that we need done! Jon followed his three summers with us as a camper by being a C.I.T. and a two-year Junior Counselor before joining the official counselor ranks. He is trained in lifeguarding, CPR, and AED. He attended St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury where he played varsity football and was a member of the National Honor Society. Jon recently graduated from Roger Williams College with a B.S. in criminal justice. His favorite memory as a counselor takes place at the overnight trip to Bristol, NH when he created a slip-and-slide in the rain!
