Our Staff

Camp Odyssey takes great pride in our tradition of hiring the most talented, creative, and caring group of counselors ever assembled. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our exceptional team! See below to learn more and find out how you can join the team!

Meet the Camp Odyssey Executive Director, Dr. Harlan Eagle

In 1990, Harlan Eagle brought a lifelong love of camp to The Salisbury School and helped transform a half-day, four week enrichment program into the first private, full-day camp on the Lower Shore. Under his leadership the camp has achieved ACA (American Camping Association) Accreditation, expanded it offerings, created The Odyssey Academy for middle and high school students and helped bring the Horizons National Program (for children from economically disadvantaged families) to Salisbury. During the school year he works with the experiential education program Beyond the Limits and Salisbury University's Outdoor Education program.

Harlan, also known as "Dr. Z" (for "zany") to the kids, holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Maryland and has worked in the field of education for more than two decades. In 2005 he received the Association for Experiential Education's "Outstanding Educator of the Year" award. He lives in Salisbury with his wife of 20 years and their three school-age daughters.

Meet the Camp Odyssey @ The Jefferson School Program Directors

Karen Letonoff holds a bachelor’s in fine arts from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. After completing a postgraduate year of study in sculpture she joined the staff of the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture where she taught in the metal chasing and patina departments. When Karen relocated to the Rehoboth Beach area in 1995, she became co-owner of an art gallery in which she designed and created custom forged steel furniture and cast bronze home accessories. She has taught art classes, participated in the creation of community murals and painted in homes throughout the area. Karen returned to teaching as an early childhood educator in 2003 before joining the staff at TJS.

Nancy Berg graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in biology. She worked for several years as a research assistant at the Mayo Clinic, leaving to raise her family. Nancy began coaching soccer while in high school and continued to coach over the years. Eight years ago she became involved in Special Olympics as a volunteer and now serves as the Program Director for the junior program for the Sussex De-Terminators as well as coaching the cycling and basketball teams and assisting with aquatics. She enjoys running, swimming, and baking during her spare time.

Camp Odyssey, located on the beautiful campus of The Jefferson School in Georgetown, DE, is seeking talented and creative counselors for 2009! We take the care and safety of our campers seriously and seek responsible, motivated, and creative individuals to join our team. We work hard to maintain a 1:5 counselor to camper ratio that ensures individual attention and interaction for each and every child. We pride ourselves on providing a positive, respectful, and zany environment where our staff and campers can excel and feel comfortable with being themselves. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Camp Odyssey family, please see below for application information.

Counselor Job Descriptions

Group Leaders: Group Leaders are a dedicated group of individuals that serve as counselors and mentors for their assigned age groups. Group Leaders stay with their assigned day camp group throughout the course of the camp day and participate with their campers in studio and camp-wide activities (grades Pre-K-8).

Specialists: Specialists are the staff members that plan, prepare, and implement the zany, creative, and fun activities that fill the magical camp days all summer. We aim to place specialists in studio environments which match their personal and creative interests. Specialist positions may include, but are certainly not limited to, art, challenge ropes course facilitation, dance, sports, and technology.

The Camp Odyssey Staff Culture and Responsibilities

At Camp Odyssey, we pride ourselves in offering an environment where campers and staff are valued as individuals who have something great to contribute. Each summer provides the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing, talented, and caring people you will ever meet. While the counselor job is one of the most fun and exciting you will ever experience, it is also one of the most demanding. Counselors are hired to be at camp for the benefit of the campers and many times, last minute changes or adjustments are necessary. Flexibility and patience are key virtues to possess! As a counselor, you become not just a role-model for children - you become a "super hero" in their eyes. Successful applicants have enthusiasm(!), excellent supervisory skills, and the ability to be "child-like without being childish".

Applying to Become a Camp Odyssey Staff Member

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Camp Odyssey counselor for the summer of 2009! If you are entering 9th or 10th grade in the Fall of 2009, please see information on Counselors-in-Training below for more information on our CIT program. Applicants for paid staff positions must completely fill out our STAFF APPLICATION (PDF), submit a formal cover letter and/or resume that explains why you would make a fantastic counselor, and three letters of recommendation. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis - remember, the earlier you apply, the more potential positions that remain!

So What Do I Need to Send In Again?

-Completed Staff Application - Click here for the PDF
-A cover letter and/or resume
-Three letters of recommendation

How to Contact Us / Where to Send Your Application Materials

Dr. Harlan Eagle, Executive Director
harlan@campodyssey.org

Mail prospective staff application materials to:
Dr. Harlan Eagle, Executive Director
Camp Odyssey @ The Jefferson School
22051 Wilson Road
Georgetown, DE 19947

The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is designed for 14 and 15-year-olds (entering Grade 9/10 in Fall 2009) who wish to learn about and practice the responsibilities of serving as a counselor. In turn, they receive community service hours and many staff benefits. CIT responsibilities include assisting counselors in the implementation of activities, helping to lead age groups, and learning and practicing counselor skills and abilities.

Who are we looking for?

-People who are genuinely interested in learning about working with young people as a camp counselor!
-People who are motivated, dedicated, hard-working, outgoing, and eager to learn!
-People who have a positive attitude!
-People who want to grow as a person and as a professional!

What do CITs get out of the experience?

-Experience working with some of the best educators, counselors, and role models for young people in the world!

-A head start towards "maybe" becoming a camp counselor at Camp Odyssey! Just being a CIT is not a guarantee to become a paid staff member at Camp, but is an excellent way to prove your abilities!

-Community service hours to apply towards high school graduation requirements! Approximately 35 hours per week!

-Letters of reccomendation for a job well done and work experience towards future employment opportunities.

-A summer of memories that will last a lifetime.

Please Understand!

Many of you will want to be a CIT, thinking about all the fun you have had as a camper. Please realize that although this would be one of the most fun jobs you will ever have, the focus of the fun shifts from you to them. Translation... the campers' fun comes first! Camp is no longer all about you! It is about the campers you will be working with day in and day out. If accepted you will have fun on the job but you will be there to provide great experiences for our campers, first and foremost!

How to Contact Us

Dr. Harlan Eagle, Executive Director
harlan@campodyssey.org

Mail prospective CIT letters to:
Dr. Harlan Eagle, Executive Director
Camp Odyssey @ The Jefferson School
22051 Wilson Road
Georgetown, DE 1994