

Our Staff
Pathfinder boasts a large staff of young men, homegrown from camper age, with canoe country expertise and a dedication to individual attention. A specialized complement of expert young women join in, creating a 1:2 staff to camper ratio unique in camping.
The position of Pathfinder counselor is one of caretaker, role-model and instructor focused on the campers. Pathfinder staff provide guidance and continuity of tradition. They share core Pathfinder values -- fraternity, service, teamwork, heritage, respect for the natural world, and personal goal-setting, achievement, and reflection.
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Our counselors give their guys Pathfinder’s magic mix of challenges and encouragement. They reward each genuine camper effort and milestone. They possess that rarest ingredient - empathy – to blend with the excitement, skills and maturity carried forward from their own camper years.


Staff & the Pathfinder Summer 2023
All Hail Our Amazing Pathfinder Staff!
The successful 2021 season, our 108th Pathfinder year, followed the only closed season in the camp’s history, a terribly sad necessity for our Staff as well as for so many of our camper families and alumni. For Pathfinder to have made a Covid-free comeback in 2021 and then again in 2022 says so much about that staff, who returned to Source Lake this past June from difficult and discouraging Covid isolations at home, but hit a collective home run for their kids.
Camp's return to action in 2021-2022 highlighted the staff qualities that make Pathfinder so special. Expertise, focus, hard work, dedication, empathy, patience, mutual good will, and a LOVE of FUN. All age groups of staff acted in the finest traditions of Pathfinder to make sure we had a healthy setting, a vibrant program, and the warmest sense of 'welcome home' for the campers. The Staff simply worked their tails off and gave everything with their whole hearts. The result was a camper experience including great trips, esprit de corps, healing routines and beloved traditions.
Looking to our upcoming 110th season, the Staff remain key to the Pathfinder experience. Already on the roster are the following staffers -- Glenn and Sladds return for their 22nd year of ownership, with Mary Chestnut in the front office, Paige Clark on program, Jack Sladden as assistant director, Andrew Beecher taking over the DOT role, Virginia Boyer running the waterfront, Chefs Gonzalo and Omar, camp medical directors Dr's Julia and Aaron Orkin, Indigenous educator Christine McRae, canoe maker Dave Statten, and CIT / LIT mentors Christian Kolaga, Nell Bruckner, Simon McNamee and Simon Jeens. The veteran Headman ranks already include all stars from last summer. Ella Born and Erin Iserhoff return to the waterfront as veterans, along with Leigh Moeser! And, we can't wait to see Tiger Lion, Pete Johnson, Corot Reason, Gyro Coakley, Josh Anderson, Zach and Stephanie Arem, Aubrey Spring and more in their Alumni in Residence roles.
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The target numbers for our summer community are 100-110 campers, with 75 staff members including up to 12 CITs. Camp this year will again be using a range of measures to safeguard the community and prevent the arrival or spread of Covid-19. See these measures summarized in the Pathfinder Covid Plan.
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Once again, the Staff will lead the use of vaccination, pre-screening, testing and limited cohorting. If needed, cohorts can live, dine, bathe, trip and in-camp-play together in what public health defines as a household unit, without masking and distancing.
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Our senior staff includes the directors, area supervisors and activity directors as usual. This management team will be its own cohort all summer, and will mask and distance as recommended so that their leadership between teams can’t accidentally allow any viral transmission.
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The Pathfinder Staff will see the return of a successful new LIT program. The counselor in training (CIT) summer has become an age-17 year. CITs will graduate into Second Man privileges later in summer, after their training and certification, while age-16 boys will become LITs, tripping all the time and enjoying tandem paddling life together with their directors, focused on guide skills in preparations for a Staff career.
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Our age-18 crew are the veteran Second Men group, while eligible age-19+ trip staff are the Pathfinder Headmen. This includes the 2021 rookie Headman class, and a stellar slate of veteran Headmen A full schedule of training, certification this June includes the fourth biennial Pathfinder Spruce Root, a unique wilderness leadership conference bringing renowned experts in a constellation of fields right to our Staff at the Island.
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We’re all excited to be reuniting as the 110th Pathfinder Staff season kicks off in June. We can’t wait!
Owners & Directors

GLENN ARTHURS
Owner
Youngstown, NY
St. Lawrence University
Glenn started as a camper at Pathfinder in 1960, serving as a staff member and headman in the 1970's,
a parent through the '90s and 2000s, and a perennial volunteer supporter before joining with Sladds in ownership in 1999.
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Glenn is a Managing Director with the Arthurs Malof group at UBS Financial Services in Buffalo, NY. Glenn's sons Wyatt and Ryan were longtime Pathfinder campers and staff men, and his daughter Lindsay, a lifelong Northway camper / counselor also spent time on the Pathfinder staff.
Owner/Director

MIKE SLADDEN
Rochester, NY
Connecticut College
'Sladds' started as a Pathfinder 'Cree', a
third generation camper and staff man in the 1970s and '80s.
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His college studies led him to photographic history and graduate work at SUNY’s Visual Studies Workshop, and he joined the education staff of George Eastman Museum in 1986, becoming Curator of Education in 1989. Over the next decade he directed museum education programs, working as both a team member and manager on numerous exhibitions and public programs interpreting the history, art and technology of photography.
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Sons Jack and Quin are longtime campers and staff men. Sladds spends six months in residence at Pathfinder and the winter months working from Rochester. He is Camp's full-time Director. He maintains a ropes course certification and WFR status, and is a Director of the Ontario Camps Association, and a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Camp Directors.
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Assistant Director, Operations
MARY CHESTNUT

Williamsville, NY
College of Wooster
Teacher, Wellsville Schools (ret)
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Mary has been an invaluable part of the Pathfinder experience for four decades. Her dad Al was a staff man at Pathfinder where he met her mother Helen, the camp nurse, just after WWII. While Mary attended Oconto, her brothers also made their own mark on Camp over the years.
Mary came into the Pathfinder front office from a career as waterfront director and was the first female to hold a senior title. At camp today, she manages operations and finance.
Mary recently retired from a career in middle school math instruction in Wellsville, New York. Likely Mary's will be the cheerful voice on the phone during summers.
Ask her what any camper or staff is doing at Camp that day, and she'll know!
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AARON ORKIN, MD
Pathfinder Medical Director
Toronto, ON
McMaster University School of Medicine
Specialized in family medicine, emergency medicine and public health
Began at CPI: 2013
Years Working: 11
Director of Population Health for Inner City Health Associates Toronto, and practices emergency medicine at St. Joseph's Health Centre.

JULIA ORKIN, MD
Pathfinder Medical Director
Toronto, ON
McMaster University School of Medicine
Began at CPI: 2013
Years Working: 11
Staff paediatrician at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Division of Paediatric Medicine and Associate Chief Medical Officer and staff paediatrician at Sickkids Hospital.

DAVE STATTEN
Canoe Builder
Bancroft, ON​
Dave grew up at Taylor Statten Camps on Canoe Lake and learned his craft from his dad Bill, and Dave Stanfield.
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Began at CPI: 2018
Years Working: 6
Creator of Brass Tacks Canoe Works

JACK SLADDEN
Assistant Director, Camp Life
Brooklyn, NY​
Champlain College
B.A in Film specializing in Sonic Art
Rookie Season: 2002
Years Attending: 23
7th Year Senior Headman, 2nd year as Assistant Director

PAIGE CLARK
Program Director
Rochester, NY
Skidmore College
B.A in Health and Exercise Science, Minor in Fine Arts
Began at CPI: 2018
Years Attending: 6
Former Camp Northway camper and staff (11 years), 6th year as Pathfinder Program Director

SIMON MCNAMEE
Director of Facilities
Director of LITs
Ottawa, ON
University of Toronto
B.A in Music Performance, Minor in Russian Literature in Translation
Rookie Season: 2009
Years Attending: 12
7th Year Senior Headman, 2nd year as Spring/Fall Dir. of Facilities, 2nd year as Dir. of LIT Program

ANDREW BEECHER
Director of Canoe Tripping (DOT)
Buffalo, NY
Fordham University
B.S in Marketing, Minor in Anthropology
Rookie Season: 2007
Years Attending: 15
5th Year Senior Headman, 1st year as Dir. of Canoe Tripping

NELL BRUCKNER
Director of CITs
Cleveland, OH
Bates College
B.A in American Studies, Minor in German Language
Began at CPI: 2018
Years Working: 5
Former Keewaydin Camp camper and staff (7 years), 2 years as Pathfinder Dir. of Waterfront, 1st year as Dir. of CITs

VIRGINIA BOYER
Director of Waterfront
Louisville, KY
Colgate University
Studying Art History & Economics, 4th year
Began at CPI: 2021
Years Working: 3
2 years as Pathfinder swim staff, 1st year as Dir. of Waterfront

SIMON JEENS
Director of LITS
Etobicoke, ON
University of Guelph
B.S in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Rookie Season: 2012
Years Attending: 11
4th Year Senior Headman, 1st year as Dir. of LITs

CHRISTIAN KOLAGA
Director of CITs
Buffalo, NY
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Studying English, 3rd year
Rookie Season: 2011
Years Attending: 12
3rd Year Veteran Headman,
1st year as Dir. of CITs
In-Camp
Waterfront, Program, Arts & Crafts

ELLA BORN
Swim Staff
Boulder, CO
Colgate University
Studying Psychological Sciences, 2nd year
Began at CPI: 2022
Years Working: 2

ERIN ISERHOFF
Swim Staff & Full Season Assisting Nurse
Mississauga, ON
University of New Brunswick
Studying Nursing, 4th year
Began at CPI: 2022
Years Working: 2

ANNA LENTZ
Program Assistant
Atlanta, GA
Georgia State University
Studying International Economics and Modern Language, 2nd year
Began at CPI: 2023
Years Working: 1

LEIGH MOESER
Swim Staff
Buffalo, NY
SUNY Geneseo
Studying Business Administration and Mathematics, 3rd year
Began at CPI: 2023
Years Working: 1

SUNRYA PEACE-FRIEDMAN
Arts & Crafts
Maui, HI
Florida State University
Studying English, 1st year
Began at CPI: 2022
Years Working: 2
Kitchen Staff

Began at CPI: 2016
Years Working: 8
GONZALO PANTOJA PARADA
Head Chef
Queretaro, MX
Universidad Contemporánea
Culinary Arts

Began at CPI: 2016
Years Working: 8
OMAR TERRAZAS
Sous Chef / Baker
Queretaro, MX
Culinary Institute of Higher Education
Culinary Arts

Began at CPI: 2015
Years Working: 4
THANIA FLORES
Camp Cook
Queretaro, MX
Instituto Gastronomico de Estudios
Culinary Arts

Began at CPI: 2023
Years Working: 1
JAY NOBLE
Assistant Cook
Amherstburg, ON
St. Clair College, Windsor ON
Alumni in Residence Program

GYRO COAKLEY
CPI Since 1961
Grantham, NH
Dartmouth College

TIGER LION
CPI Since 1968
Buffalo, NY
Syracuse University
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ZACH AREM
CPI Since 1990's
Charlotte, NC, Phys. Ed.
University of FL

STEPHANIE AREM
CPI Since 2017
Charlotte, NC, Art
University of FL

AUBREY SPRING
CPI Since 2015
Toronto, ON, TDSB
University of Toronto

BRENT HURLEY
CPI Since 1990's
Port Hope, ON, Trinity College
Queen's University

BILL DWYER
CPI Since 1960's
Rockford, MI

PETE JOHNSON
CPI Since 1990's
Buffalo, NY, Elmwood Franklin
Cortland State

COROT REASON
CPI Since 1960's
Toronto, ON

JOSH ANDERSON
CPI Since 1970's
Manchester, MA
MIT

CAM SILLS
CPI Since 2010's
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Nursing Staff

HEATHER COLEMAN
A / D Sessions Nurse

AUTUMN ELZINGA
A Session Nurse

ERIN CANNELL
B Session Nurse

ROSEMARY SZPONARSKI
B/C Sessions Nurse

JENNY WOODS
D Session Nurse

LISA ANTONISZYN
C Session Nurse
Secondmen
The summer following CIT year our staff become Secondmen, when they take on duties such as finding and chopping wood on trip, assisting their Headmen, and taking care of campers.
Secondman year gives staff time to learn and develop the skills necessary to becoming a Headman.

OLIVER ALSHIRE

ALEX BEECHER

IAN BROWN

WILL DAHMEN

BEN KELLY

SAM MCKENNEY

ASHER MILBERG

WES PRICE

JACK ROMANOWSKI

HENRY ZIEF
CITs
Our Counselor in Training group are made up of our 17 year old staff. At this point they have completed their AA camper year at age 15, which including a challenging 30-40 day whitewater AA canoe trip.
Following this, they completed their Leaders in Training LIT year at age 16, where they trip together with their LIT Directors on 7-12 day trips to improve their skill and prepare for the next years as staff.
This program includes staff training and certification courses, as well as hands on learning in camp and on trip throughout the summer.

COOPER BOULAY

EMMETT BOULAY

FERNANDO BUSTAMANTE

ANDREW CLEMENTS

JACK CUTLER

PEYTON DAHMEN

WILL HARRIMAN

JAKE MCKENNEY

LLEYTON ROSSI

PAIMAN SADAT

SHANE WHITESIDE
Headmen
The title of Pathfinder Headman is hard-earned.
A Headman has apprenticed for 3-years after his camper career and is fully qualified for the responsibility of leading canoe trips.
Headmen guide trips ranging from 1-40 days. Navigation, strategy, food planning, medical care, camper-care, and morale are just some of the roles taken on by a Headman.

Rookie Season: 2009
Years Attending: 14
SAM HAMLETT
5th Year Senior Headman
Buffalo, NY
Binghamton University
Studying Environmental Sciences

Rookie Season: 2015
Years Attending: 8
BEN ZIEF
4th Year Senior Headman
Princeton, NJ
Franklin & Marshall College
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Rookie Season: 2014
Years Attending: 9
SIMON COUSINEAU
3rd Year Veteran Headman
Burlingame, CA
McGill University
Studying Political Science
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Rookie Season: 2011
Years Attending: 11
CJ LENAHAN
3rd Year Veteran Headman
Buffalo, NY
Northeastern University
Studying Chemical Engineering and Mathematics

Rookie Season: 2009
Years Attending: 14
GABE MYRICK
3rd Year Veteran Headman
Berkeley, CA
University of California, Irvine
Studying Psychology
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Rookie Season: 2010
Years Attending: 13
TATE PIERSON
3rd Year Veteran Headman
Rochester, NY
Hamilton College
Studying Literature, Government and Philosophy

Rookie Season: 2011
Years Attending: 11
EVAN POPAT
3rd Year Veteran Headman
Buffalo, NY
Northwestern University
Studying Civil & Environmental Engineering

Rookie Season: 2010
Years Attending: 13
AIDAN WALTERS
3rd Year Veteran Headman
Creemore, ON
Quest University
Studying Liberal Arts
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Rookie Season: 2012
Years Attending: 11
DAN BUNDGARD
2nd Year Rising Headman
London, ON
Univ. Western Ontario
Studying English and History
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Rookie Season: 2010
Years Attending: 12
DECLAN EADY
2nd Year Rising Headman
Toronto, ON
Queen's University
Studying Sociology and History
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Rookie Season: 2013
Years Attending: 10
JAMES FAIR
2nd Year Rising Headman
Toronto, ON
University of Toronto
Studying Engineering and Physics

Rookie Season: 2013
Years Attending: 9
GRAHAM HALL
2nd Year Rising Headman
Brooklyn, NY
Bard College
Studying Film & Electronic Media and Spanish Studies

Rookie Season: 2010
Years Attending: 13
JAMES HERRON
2nd Year Rising Headman
Etobicoke, ON
University of King's College
Studying English and Creative Writing

Rookie Season: 2013
Years Attending: 9
JAMIE SILLS
2nd Year Rising Headman
Mississauga, ON
Western University
Studying Economics
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Rookie Season: 2013
Years Attending: 10
JACOB SEIFRED
2nd Year Rising Headman
Toronto, ON
Dalhousie University
Studying Sustainability and Anthropology, 2nd year

Rookie Season: 2019
Years Attending: 4
PETER BROWNRIGG
1st Year Rookie Headman
Burlingame, CA
Gap, Study & Service Abroad
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Rookie Season: 2011
Years Attending: 11
MAX CROCKER
1st Year Rookie Headman
Lowell, MA
Currently Employed in Electrical Work​
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Rookie Season: 2011
Years Attending: 12
GIDEON DENT
1st Year Rookie Headman
Santa Fe, NM
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Studying Mechanical Engineering & Bio-engineering

Rookie Season: 2010
Years Attending: 13
MAC FABENS
1st Year Rookie Headman
Brooklyn, NY
Emory University
Studying International Studies and Economics

Rookie Season: 2014
Years Attending: 9
SILAS WITMORE
1st Year Rookie Headman
Washington, DC
Univ. Wisconsin - Madison
Studying Geography

Rookie Season: 2013
Years Attending: 10
SAM ZIONTS
1st Year Rookie Headman
Buffalo, NY
North Country College
Studying Wilderness Recreation Leadership