Day Camp for Children ages 4 to 15

Challenge Camp STAFF PROFILES

CAROLE BERMAN

Director and Founder of the Gifted and Talented Development Center. Carole has been actively involved in Gifted Education for over 30 years, having served as a teacher of the gifted and talented students in the High and Wide and BOCES programs. She was a reading teacher in Yonkers for 23 years. She serves as President of the Gifted and Talented Foundation, Board member of New York State Camp Directors Association and member of the American Camping Association. In tribute to Carole and in recognition of thirty years of Challenge Camp she was the 2010 honoree at the annual dinner of NYSCDA. Each summer her grandson travels from London to attend camp!

IAN BIRD

Ian is a Molecular Biology student at Northeastern University and has been a part of challenge camp for 13 years as a student, counselor and teacher. Recently, he completed two 6-month contracts at EMD Serono, performing biopharmaceutical cancer drug research. Ian’s intellectual capabilities and friendly personality make him a terrific Challenge Camp instructor.

GEOFFREY BYRNE

Geoffrey is a connoisseur of technology. Being the last of his friends to to own a PC at age 16, his keen interest and natural leadership skills turned into a thriving business. Geoffrey has found that without proper communication. Technology can be scary for the non-techie. He feels that proper instruction is missing in today’s support sector. It is for this reason that teaching has become a way of life for him no matter what age or skills level, in or out of Challenge Camp.! Geoffrey is owner at technology consulting firm G&J Tech Solutions.

RACHEL COHEN

Rachel is very excited to teach at Challenge Camp this summer. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s program to become an elementary school teacher. She has taught aviation classes in Wyoming and as an AmeriCorps volunteer and at numerous places in Westchester County.

DEBRA DAVIS GALLIARD

Debra Davis Galliard teaches Science at Rye Middle School and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville College. Ms. Davis Galliard has previously taught students from elementary through high school. Prior to teaching, Debra spent over 30 years working at IBM and brings with her an expertise in technology.

NEENA DHURI

eena is a software professional with a fascination in digital storytelling and producing. She has vast experience in digital photography, animated arts and movie making. She believes strongly in providing a stimulating and creative learning environment for all our campers, including her two daughters.

JOSEPH FIELDS

Joseph is a full time professional magician performing over five hundred shows a year in the Tri-State area. He is an instructor in ten school districts in Westchester, teaching the art of magic.

JOHN FITZSIMMONS

John is a former police investigator with 20 years experience. He has been teaching elementary and middle school for ten years. He enjoys incorporating all aspects of education in his two LEGO workshops.

ED FORREST

Ed is founder and owner of Astronomy Delight! and Learning Delight! educational companies, which have franchise locations throughout the United States. Ed has inspired thousands of children to learn and experience the wonders of astronomy by providing unique astronomy programs. Ed has lectured at schools, planetariums, bookstores, and featured speaker at National Home School Conventions and Universities to discuss his innovative, creative, and inspiring teaching methods.

MARCY GEISSER-WOLF

Marcy has over twenty years of administrative experience in academic camps. She has great expertise in staff training and management and coordinates the Counselor in Training program.

LAURA GILLINGS

Laura, returning to the camp office this summer holds a BFA degree from the University of Mass as Amherst. She is currently a private school art specialist where she teaches pre-k through 5th grade. Laura also creates her own custom designed jewelry.

MAYURI GONZALEZ

Mayuri has been practicing Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation for the last 20 years. She specializes in bringing yoga, and meditation to children, teens and families and has offered classes in schools, centers, studios and for community organizations throughout New York, Westchester County, and Connecticut. She believes that yoga and the arts hold the key to developing healthy, happy youth who are able to make positive choices and live their lives in an awakened and empowered way. Mayuri has completed certifications with the Little Flower Yoga (children), Mindfulness in Schools (children), Vinyasa Yoga RYT-200 (adults), and the Lineage Project (at risk youth). In 1202, Mayuri opened Prasanthi Studio, a family yoga and wellness studio located in Pelham, NY.

BRENDA GUY

Brenda is a registered nurse employed with the New Rochelle School District. She has twenty years of nursing experience at the Sound Shore Medical Center.

DAVID LORDEN

David began his new career as a technology and computer science teacher at the The Ursuline School in 2011 after a very fulfilling 25 year career in the IT industry, with the last 20 years at IBM. His executive positions included head of Strategy for IBM’s Lotus Division. David was educated at Binghamton University’s School of Management and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

ROBERT LUCA

Robert has been building and flying all kinds of model aircraft for over 35 years. He is the flight instructor for the RCRCC in Rockland County and a member of the Hudson Valley Radio Control Club. He is eager to share his enthusiasm for flight with our campers.

JOY MALONE

Joy is currently a professor at St. John’s University and holds her MFA in Fine Art Photography. Her photography has been published in the New York Times and she has created curricula and taught for the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson.

BERENICE MILLER

Berenice is a registered nurse with over 10 years experience as a nurse with Challenge Camp. She is currently an Emergency Technician riding with the Scarsdale Ambulance Corps.

MICHAEL OSHINS

Michael holds a degree in film and graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Purchase. He is continuing his visual arts education at Manhattanville College. He currently works with students in the Byram Hills school district on “Bobcat TV” as an Editor for their TV station. Michael has been a professional editor, cinematographer and director for many successful film projects.

FRANK PANDOLFO

Frank is a science teacher and Clinical Field Supervisor overseeing student teachers at Manhattanville College. With over thirty years of classroom experience, his expertise includes biology, genetics, psychology, microbiology and physical science. He is a member of the National Science Teachers Association and will be celebrating his fourteenth year at Challenge.

ANNE PASQUALE

Anne, an actress and playwright, is presently a member of The Actors Studio. She trained at L.A.M.D.A. and the New York School for the Arts. She has appeared on TV and performed on stage in New York and Great Britain. In addition, Anne creates and tours her repertoire of Living History Programs for audiences of all ages.

ALLAN PEARLMAN

Allan has been teaching science for more than 40 years and still enjoys the challenge of imparting knowledge into inquisitive minds. His real joy is teaching all types of science to young students at Challenge Camp.

WENDY POPP

Wendy is a professional artist who teaches visual/sequential storytelling and communication at the college level. She has taught for over 21 years from pre-school to Master classes. Wendy is an awarded illustrator and professor of many published titles. She is eager to teach young artists who are inspired by literacy, drawing, non-conventional thinking and joy in the process of creating.

MIRIAM REBACK

Miriam is a former practicing attorney and Administrative Law Judge but teaching is her passion. She currently teaches social studies in the Edgemont schools

JENNA SAIDEL LEBOWICH

Jenna is the owner of Cook, Learn, Live (www.cooklearnlive.com) and teaches creative cooking to children and adults of all abilities. A culinary nutritionist and dietician, she believes that when people know how to cook they will make better food choices and live healthier lives. Jenna is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School, holds an M.S. in Human Resources Development.

LAURA PAUL

Laura, a teacher and social worker is a long time crafter and has worked with a wide variety of mediums from pipe cleaners to photoshop. She has been teaching knitting and crocheting for years and designs her own patterns. She believes that you don’t need to be artistic to craft, you just need to have a desire to be creative and beautiful things will happen.

ANA SAURA

Anna has a BFA degree in advertising and Commercial art from Pels School of Art/Cooper Union, as well as a teaching degree from Liceo Moderno San Carlos University, Guatemala. After a successful career in advertising/graphic design, Anna founded Children’s Creative Corner in Larchmont. She has developed and taught art programs for children at her art center and various elementary schools throughout Westchester.

LIZ STEGER-HARTZMAN

Based in New York, Liz has been shooting professionally for over 20 years. She built her career on food photography and still life by photographing many of New York’s finest eating establishments and chefs, including JeanGeorge, The Brasserie and the restaurants at the Waldorf-Astoria. Larry King, Marc Anthony and the Duke of Edinburgh have also posed for Liz’s lens. Liz’s mouth watering books, Serendipity Parties, Serendipity Sundaes and Sweet serendipity: Delicious Desserts and Devish Dish (Rizzoli) have been featured on Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The New York Daily News, The Today Show and Fox & Friends. Her other published books are American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History’s Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers and Found on eBay: 101 Genuinely Bizarre Items From the World’s Online Yard Sale (Universe,) both written by her husband, Marc. Liz also served as the photo editor and photographer for the popular guide book, Avante Guide New York (Empire Press.)

REGINA TALBOT

Regina holds a Master Degree in Music Education and has taught music for many years in public and international schools. She currently teaches vocal music in the New Rochelle School District and is a recent Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award recipient.

ANATOLY TONKONOGY

Born and raised in Kiev, Anatoly has been living in the US for nearly 20 years and is a Senior Master in Chess. He has taught chess to children and young adults for over 20 years and currently coaches the 16 year old US girls champion.

KATHERINE VOLKMER KAHN

Katherine is Founder and Director of Piccini, Piccini: L’italiano per Bambini, LLC, an innovative language enrichment program for children ages 1-6. Katherine lived in Italy for four years and has a passion for foreign language and culture, ranging from classical music to fine and culinary arts. She has a great love for children and interest in inspiring the gifted and talented population.

JIM WEINGAST

A Graduate of George Washington University, Jim has over 30 years of study and performance on guitar, bass, percussion and drums. He has recorded, performed and toured with various inie and major label acts including Dude of Life (lyricist for Phish) and The Great Red Shark. He owns and operates a professional recording studio where he has acted as ehgineer and producer on numerous CD projects. Jim is a successful music instructor, Director of a rock and roll camp and founding member of www.rockmitzvah.com.

LIDA Y. ZIMMERMAN

Lida was born in Shanghai and has lived in America for many years. She is a graduate of the University of China where she studied painting. She has been a student of the most famous artists in China. As an art teacher in Shanghai, she taught watercolor, pencil drawing, as well as the ancient art of “paper cutting”. She has written books on “How to Paint” and contributed to art textbooks for the elementary and middle school in Shanghai. Lida teaches art in New York. She has exhibited her artwork in Westchester.