JACK SWAN - Owner and President: Pok-O-MacCready Camps, Inc.
First Year at Camp: 1932
University: Westminster College
Profession: Camp Administration

Jack’s energy and passion for camp is unrivaled.  Having spent his entire life at Pok-O, Jack has naturally worked in virtually every capacity.  In the past, he also served as a teacher, lecturer and college recruiter.  When not working at, or thinking about camp (which is rare), Jack, 46er #267, can be found buried in a history book.  He lives in Willsboro, just across from the 1812 Homestead, another of his major projects.

SHARP SWAN – Executive Director
First Year at Camp: 1955
University: Westminster College
Profession: Contractor

Sharp completed the 2008 season- his sixth year as Executive Director of Pok-O -MacCready- after having held almost every other position at our summer camp. Sharp is unrivaled in his knowledge of both the Adirondacks and Civil War battles and lends much of his time in constructing and renovating camp facilities with his other business, Cloudsplitter Carpentry. He lives in Essex, NY during the off-season, and the scenic Point House on Long Pond during the summer. He is 46er number 566W.

SARAH DISNEY – Director of Recruitment and Admissions
First Year at Camp: 1975
University: Skidmore College
Profession: Business Management

Sarah serves as manager of camp’s administrative offices, while heading up the recruiting and admission of campers. Sarah has filled a number of important roles at our summer camp over the years, including counselor, section head, Waterfront Director, and Assistant Director of MacCready. Sarah enjoys tennis and golf and someday will complete the remaining few mountains towards her 46ers. She lives in nearby Peru, NY with husband George.  All three of Sarah’s daughters have worked on staff.

SCOTT McINTYRE – Director of Finance and Marketing
First Year at Camp: 1983
University: SUNY Plattsburgh; Vermont
Profession: Education & Administration

In 2008, “Scotty Mac” celebrated 25 years associated with Pok-O-MacCready Camps. A veteran college recruiter and administrator, Scott returned to Pok-O as a counselor in 2004, and worked as Intermediate section head in 2008. He was instrumental in the creation of the Viewbook marketing materials, and his marketing savvy, combined with a love of camp, makes Scotty the perfect addition to the year-round staff.  He lives in Burlington, VT with his wife, Sheila.

JULIA BACKUS – Director of Marketing
First Year at Camp: 2006
University: SUNY Oneonta
Profession: Marketing and Graphic Design

After spending 4 summers as a  camp counselor and section head Julia has taken on the role of  Marketing Director for Pok-O-MacCready. She recently graduated with honors from SUNY Oneonta with the a dual major in Computer Art and Communication Studies and a minor in Advertising. In her free time Julia can be found rock climbing at The Crux, snow boarding,  taking photographs, and playing board games with fellow staff members.

TIM SINGER – Director for Alumni Affairs
First Year at Camp: 1967
University: SUNY Plattsburgh
Profession: Journalist

“Skip” first came to camp in 1967.  He has served camp in many different areas:  camper , counselor, section head, program director, and advisor.  In 2003, Tim was responsible for the creation of the Pok-O-MacCready web page.  He lives in Shelburne, Vermont with his wife Augusta. When not at camp, you can often see Skip on television reporting sporting events for ESPN, NBC and various other networks.  He is 46er # 1038.

DAVID SWAN – Partner and Consultant
First Year at Camp: 1960
University: Westminster College
Profession: Immigration

While not active in the year-round operations, David continues to advise and consult.  After spending his childhood as a camper, Dave served as a counselor, section head and helped to devise our three -week and day camper programs.  He lives with his wife Angela and their two children in Chazy, NY. where he operates a maple sugar business.  Dave is 46er #1959. .

MARGARET SWAN REINCKENS – Partner and Consultant
First Year at Camp: 1953
Profession: Camp Administration 

After spending her first 16 years growing up at a “boys only” camp, Margaret was delighted when Pok-O-MacCready became co-ed in 1967.  Thereafter, she worked as a summer camp staff member and later, at the 1812 Homestead.  From 1999 to 2004, Margaret headed up the finance and organization of camp.  Her three sons and one daughter have attended and worked for camp.

LAUREN SWAN – Accreditation and Certification
First Year at Camp: 1987
University: SUNY Binghamton, New England School of Law
Profession: Attorney

Another “behind the scenes” staff member, Lauren works with the American Camping Association and the New York State Department of Health to see that we meet all of the necessary standards of health and safety for our campers, staff and facilities.  Lauren is a former camper, counselor and section head.  Lauren currently serves as the Assistant District Attorney for Ulster County, NY.

STITES MCDANIEL – Outdoor Education Director
First Year at Camp: 2009
University: The University of Delaware
Profession: Outdoor Educator

Stites grew up in Delaware where he was a long time attendee and employee of Camp Arrowhead, before graduating from The University of Delaware with a B.A. in Psychology. He has lived, worked and played all over the country- at the foot of the Appalachians in Virginia where he discovered his love of mountains, in the Ozarks of Arkansas where he explored the rivers and forests, and in the Rockies of Wyoming and Colorado where he was a rafting guide and tenacious telemark skier - preceding his return to the Northeast. Stites spent years teaching high school Special Education in South Burlington, Vermont and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before coming to Poko.
 

Summer Camp Administration

JOSH BORNT - Headmaster of Pok-O-Moonshine
First Year at Camp: 2000
University: Siena College
Profession: Special Education Teacher

Following seven years at camp as Senior Boys’ Section Head, Josh returned in 2008 to head up the boys’ camp, which he will do again this summer. During the year, Josh teaches in Middleburgh, NY and coaches volleyball. He runs the popular “Pok-O Closed” volleyball tournament each summer and is 46er #5852.

MELISSA LIVSEY - Director of Camp MacCready
First Year at Camp: 1982
University: Maine
Profession: Teacher and Coach

“Missy” returns to head up the girl’s summer camp for the first four weeks, a role she has held for over 10 years.  Missy, 46er #4494, will be joined on staff by her two daughters. She enjoys running, teaching sailing, and chemistry jokes. Missy lives in Austin, TX which explains her inability to cope with “cold” Adirondack nights.

ERIN CANNING – Assistant Director of Camp MacCready
First Year at Camp: 1990
Profession: Teacher

Erin returned to camp in 2008 after an eight year hiatus. She has held the position of counselor, section head, camp tutor, assistant director and director at camp. Erin graduated from Plattsburgh State University with an Elementary Education degree and now teaches locally at Peru Intermediate School. A woman of varied talents, Erin also works in a Mental Health Technician Child & Adolescent Mental Health Unit and a deli. Erin says her favorite part of camp is “Watching the campers do the same activities I loved doing as a kid.  I love watching their friendships grow over the summer and know what a special bond they have formed with each other, because I formed the same strong bonds with my best friends at camp.” Outside of camp erin also enjoys reading, gardening, and watching the Giants play.
 

BRIAN DEGROAT – Assistant Headmaster of Camp Pok-O-Moonshine
First Year at Camp: 2009
Profession: Outdoor Educator

Brian returns to camp this summer after spending the winter working as the Assistant Director of the Pok-O-MacCready Outdoor Education Center. Brian first discovered
Pok-O by typing "cool outdoor jobs" into Google. He initially arrived on a 3-month instructor contract with the Outdoor Education Center in the Fall of 2008 and has stayed ever since. Brian  graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2005 with a BA in History and Education. In the past 5 years Brian has traveled around Europe, won Ultimate Frisbee championships, and appeared in one musical.

KEN (Squeaky) HERZ – Camp Advisor
First Year at Camp: 1969
Profession: Teacher

Ken first arrived at camp as a wild and energetic nine year-old in 1969.  He was promptly given the nickname “Squeaky” and neither the name nor the description has changed in the thirty-nine years he has been affiliated with camp. Squeak was the Section Head of Pioneer and Intermediate from 1981-2001.  In 2009 he will be at camp doing what he does best: focusing on the details of everything from lost and found to table assignments.  He and wife Marianne live in Chazy, NY along with their two daughters, Willow and Melanie.  Squeaky is 46er #1334.

JEAN SIDARAS – MacCready Advisor
First Year at Camp: 1973
Profession : Retired College Instructor

Jean continues to advise and assist in the direction of Camp MacCready.  She served as director from 1973-1995, and then had the “best job in camp” distributing Candy Store through 2005.  Camp MacCready is the strong program it is today thanks to her dedication and leadership throughout the years, and the camp store and its online counterpart have been affectionately named “JeanMart” in her honor. She spends the winter in Cazenovia, NY.