Meet Our staff
Camp Varsity Staff is made up of year-round and seasonal staff: Directors, Senior Counselors, Junior Counselors, First Year counselors, Kitchen Staff, and Office/Admin Support Staff.
Staff are supported and encouraged to help facilitate an experience that is positive and fun, while sharpening their skills as a youth mentor and learning new skills. Our Staff are youth-focused, fun, hands on, attentive, dedicated, and creative. Camp Staff wear many hats to make all the magic happen on the mountain.
each year, ALL of our staff have passed background checks. Our background checks include sex offender status check.
all of of our camp counselors, program and leadership staff and camp directors hold a current cpr/first aid certification.
many of our Staff are certified lifeguards
YEAR ROUND STAFF
Jason and Tricia Brennan, Operations and Program Director Team
Hey ya’ll! We are Jason + Tricia. Together with our two kids, we work year-round caring for all aspects of Camp business operations: managing Camp registration and admin tasks, projects, staff management, facilities and maintenance, land management, and website and social media management. Lucky for us, we met at Camp, became best friends and started our new journey together as Camp owners just four years ago!
A few things about Jason: I started coming to Camp when I was 8 years old as a first time camper and have been coming back ever since. After graduating with a masters in Education from Virginia Tech, I taught Earth Science in Annapolis, Maryland for 8 years. In addition to year round Camp work, I have a contracting business designing solar electric systems. When I’m not at Camp you can find me fishing, woodworking and cooking.
A few things about Tricia: I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from Christopher Newport University in 2011. I came to Camp as a camper in1998, began working as a counselor for 5 summers and returned years later. A few facts about me: I am a full time Mama to two awesome kids and manage and care for the Camp Garden. We have 7 chickens, 2 cats and 9 horses. My work outside of Camp has included environmental consulting work, various biology and wildlife projects, and floral design. Things I enjoy most: working with kids, camping, being outdoors, traveling, photography and music, studying and practicing permaculture and natural gardening.
Kevin Heron, Staff and Leadership Director
I started attending Camp Varsity in 1995 and returned every summer since! I joined the staff the 2000 Summer. I began serving as the Staff Director in 2007 and became the Camp Director in 2016. I am grateful for the opportunity to support our amazing staff as they build relationships with our campers and ensure that each kid has an experience as incredible as mine was back many years ago. In the offseason, I am a teacher and focus on Elementary Mathematics. My wife and I were married in October 2016 where my former bunk mate served as the officiant. We welcomed our daughter, Aylor, into the family in March 2020.
Caroline Urlwin, Camp Director
Hi everyone! My name is Caroline (probably known to your camper as Curlwin). I started going to Camp in 2012 and am incredibly grateful to still be spending summers on Gaar Mountain in 2023! Outside of Camp, I am an Elementary school teacher. I have the privilege of working specifically with students on the Autism Spectrum. I come back to Camp each summer to try and give back to a place that has given so much to me. CV has played a huge role in helping me become the person I am today. All of the friends and memories I’ve made here are irreplaceable. It’s a gift to see the ways campers continue to enjoy the simplicity of these mountains in the same way I did! When I’m not at Camp or teaching, I love to read, hike, bike, spend time in coffee shops, and learn as much as I possibly can.
Kerry Hill, Assistant Director
Hello everyone, my name is Kerry! I’m a recent graduate from the University of Mary Washington where I studied Elementary Education. After graduation, I returned to Fairfax County and am currently finishing up my first year teaching fourth grade. In my free time I love cooking, juggling too many DIY projects, giving back to my community through volunteering, and spending time outside.
Camp Varsity has been a part of my life since 2010, and I’m beyond excited to be returning this summer as Assistant Director! It is an incredible opportunity to be able to give back to a place that has contributed so much to who I am and how I view the world. It has truly taught me to find joy in every moment. I am counting down the days until I can get back on Gaar and have another magical and memorable summer!
Anna Downey, Health Director, Camp R.N.
Hey everyone! Anna Downey here. Camp Nurse, Registered Nurse, human on planet Earth. Raised in NOVA, grew my lil family in San Diego for 20 years, and moved back to the east coast in the summer of 2018 to be close to family and be a Summer Camp nurse!
I went to Lake Braddock Secondary School and graduated from George Mason University's nursing program with a BS in Nursing. I am a mama to an amazing daughter and woman, Bella, who Camp Varsity helped grow.
My background includes working in mental health/substance abuse, infectious disease, oncology at UCSD, and hospice- where I am currently serving our community. I love love love the hot heat, the beach, and am truly in search of the endless summer.
2024 SUMMER LEADERSHIP TEAM AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
Laura Kirk, Lead Program and Staff Coordinator
Hello! My name is Laura. I was 7 years old for my first year at camp, making 2024 my 17th year here! Camp changed my life, shaping me into the confident, loving, accepting, and supportive person I consider myself today. It is a great honor to return the favor. I love contributing to the safe, welcoming, unconditionally loving, and fun environment that camp is. It’s a place where kids discover their inner light, uniqueness, joy, and friendship.
I am a recent graduate from William & Mary, where I studied International Relations, Arabic, and Religious Studies. I work as a substitute teacher in Fairfax County, where I share my own love for learning with the kids of all ages I meet daily. In my free time, you can find me hiking, biking, skiing, and practicing mindfulness meditation and yoga.
At camp, I love to lead nature and gardening activities that cultivate children's wonder, curiosity, and appreciation for the natural world. I also enjoy leading campers in mindfulness activities designed to nurture presence, connection, gratitude, stress-reduction, and happiness. I can’t wait for this summer!
Reese Anderson, Med Team
Hi everybody, my name is Reese! Currently, I am an undergraduate student at Penn State studying animal sciences. I have been going to camp since 2014 and I am so excited to return again this summer! Being a camper and a counselor has taught me so many things over the years about kindness, friendship, and especially coming out of my shell. Being able to witness the happiness and laughter experienced by everyone on the mountain is truly a gift. When I’m not at camp, I usually spend my time hanging out with friends, going on hikes with my dog, Ollie, or simply spending time outside. I can’t wait for another unforgettable summer at Camp!
Our Camp Counselors
Camp counselors live in the cabins with campers; some counselors stay for just a few weeks and many stay for the entire summer. There are approximately 4-6 staff members per cabin, depending on the number of campers in the cabin.
All counselors must, at a minimum, hold current CPR and First Aid certifications.
Almost all of our Staff were Camp Varsity Campers once upon a time...
Staff that have been campers themselves have a deep understanding of what being a camper is like and all the feelings that go along with it! This is particularly helpful especially with our new campers who may be experiencing summer camp for the very first time: our counselors know first hand all the excitement, questions, and even maybe some anxious feelings that may arise!
Counselors are selected by our Staffing Director along with the Director Team. Our selection process is unique in that it allows us to build a most supportive Staff that helps create an incredibly positive summer camp culture centered around authenticity, freedom for creativity and exploration, kindness, safety, and inclusion.
Our counselors are a wonderfully diverse group who aside from being counselors also are: students, coaches, community volunteers, gardeners, lifeguards, and food service and hospitality workers.
First Year Staff members at Camp are 16 year old volunteers in training who work for a duration of 3 weeks.
First Year Staff get exposure to many areas of Camp: from working in the kitchen, farm maintenance and gardens to animal care, to working with Junior and Senior level Staff to help lead and facilitate groups and activities.
Each summer, two Senior Level Staff members serve as New Staff Coordinators who regularly meet with First Year Staff, provide feedback and support in their transition from camper to Staff member.