Board Members

Jen’s commitment to the field is evident through her long-standing involvement with the Ontario Camps Association (OCA). She has served on the Standards Accreditation Committee for decades and contributed to numerous other committees and conferences. Did you know she did 12 accreditation visits one summer!

Outside of her professional endeavours, Jen finds fulfillment in community service and enjoying nature, reflecting her passion for the outdoors.

She is enthusiastic about collaborating with OCA employees and volunteers to implement the organization’s new Strategic Plan, building upon the excellent foundation established by previous leaders in the camping industry. She hopes to meet even more of our membership at professional development opportunities that the OCA hosts.

Julie has been an avid supporter of the OCA since 2010, starting with joining the Special Needs Resource Committee (now CARS), acting as a Director on the board for 2 terms, as a Standards Visitor, involved in the Conference Committee, and member of the Standards Accreditation Committee. The OCA has always been a place where Julie has found support, camaraderie, opportunities to learn and network which have been invaluable. These are aspects of the OCA that Julie hopes to have a hand in continuing to foster.

Being given the opportunity to work in an outdoor day camp 16 years ago is how Julie fell in love with the camp world and the sense of community, caring, collaboration and adventure that comes with being at camp. Working with the City of Toronto Julie operates an outdoor day in camp within a park in Etobicoke through the summer and is a part of the Skate Unit operation through the winter months. When not working Julie enjoys being with her family, spending time outdoors and walking with their white shepherd/husky.

Julie is excited to be back on the board and ready to engage with everyone at the OCA on all we have ahead of us!

Since attending camp as an 8-year-old at Camp Ponacka, Gord has been fortunate to spend every summer at camp, first working in seasonal roles, as a volunteer at Campfire Circle, and progressing through different positions with the YMCA of Greater Toronto. He currently works with the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka as General Manager of Camping & Outdoor Education and is responsible for Camp Kitchikewana as well as YMCA day camps and outdoor education programs throughout the Simcoe, Muskoka and Parry Sound regions. Gord lives in Orillia on Lake Simcoe with his wife and young son. He spends his time hiking, canoeing, boating, sailing, golfing, making maple syrup, and on various woodworking projects. Gord is honoured to serve on the OCA Board and looks forward to the work ahead.

Sarah (affectionately known in her Camp circles as “Sojo”) started her camping journey at YMCA Camp Pine Crest as a bright-eyed 13 year old, blindly following her best friends into a month-long Summer Camp program. She was instantly hooked on the sense of community, opportunities to challenge herself, and of course the chance to impact the lives of youth as staff member. She worked at Camp Pine Crest for just shy of ten years, and held every job from prep cook in the kitchen, to counsellor, section director, leadership trainer, and finally as their full-time administrator for 5 years.

Sarah graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Kinetics, and knew quickly that she would dedicate her life’s work to being a professional in the Camping industry. She excitedly joined the team at Camp Wenonah in 2022 as their Director of Administration and is now entering her second year of her first term on the OCA Board of Directors as the Secretary. Sarah loves gathering with other Camp professionals and sharing ideas, stories, and coming together to solve collective challenges.

In their spare time, Sarah and her husband Devon enjoy spending time with their young son and their team of sled dogs! When they’re not busy at Camp in the Summer (Devon works for a cherished and camp-adjacent OCA Preferred Vendor – Challenges Unlimited Inc.!), you can find them deep in the snow, on a trail somewhere in Algonquin Park.

After years as a camper, Davin began his camp career in 2010 working seasonally at RKY Camp. He began full-time work as the Assistant Director, followed by Camp Director at Camp Huronda with Diabetes Canada in 2015. In 2018, he moved out to British Columbia to be the Outdoor Centre Director and then Camp Manager at YMCA Camp Elphinstone. In 2023, he returned to his home at RKY Camp as the Camp Director.

Davin graduated from the University of Toronto with an HBA in Sociology. In addition to his work in service delivery, Davin co-founded the Pride Camping Association in 2019, a non-profit organization that provides resources and training to help camps better support 2SLGBTQ+ campers and staff. Through the Pride Camping Association, Davin has consulted and presented across North America. In 2022, Davin secured funding through YMCA Canada to create the YMCA Camp Equitable Employment Fund, a grant that provides financial assistance to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Canadians to cover the expenses of entering the YMCA camping industry, which he manages today. He is currently the chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee within the YMCA Overnight Camping work group, where he has established best practices for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at YMCA camps across Canada.

Davin is excited to serve the community on the board of directors and for the work ahead.

Rob Crew recently retired from his role as Projects Specialist at OCA! Some of his biggest contributions as an OCA staff member included the creation of Director’s Resource E-Book, the creation of the Camp Safety Plan Template and Resource Document, his work on OCA Standards, and his success in building relationships with external partners. Rob played a large role in our Annual Conference and education events, and always brings his wealth of expertise to support staff and volunteers alike!

Rob has been involved in camp and outdoor education his whole life, starting his first camp job at Sparrow Lake in 1974 and his 33-year education career as an Outdoor Education Specialist with the TDSB in 1981, returning to camp each summer. Rob worked in both Private and Agency camps and in both Day and Overnight camp settings, and has been actively involved in all aspects of camp leadership including property and kitchen management, and his role of Camp Director at 4 different camps. Rob returned to Sparrow Lake Camp as the Executive Director in 2004, a position he held until he joined the OCA staff team in 2016.

Rob was a dedicated OCA Volunteer for more than 30 years. He was a member of the Standards Accreditation (formally Standards) Committee since the mid 80’s and was the chair of the Standards Review committee until 2016. Rob was been a key player in the creation of the current standards format and the development of the Outdoor Education Standards.

Outside of his camp life, you can find Rob fishing on the French River, spending time with his wonderful family, or creating a masterpiece meal with his smoker.

Scotia Hutton is a lifelong camper whose camping journey began at Camp Kawabi in 1996. She began her time as a staff in 2006 working at Camp Otterdale. She spent 11 summers working there and held several positions including Counsellor, Waterfront Director, Program Director and finally Assistant Summer Camp Director. When she wasn’t working at Otterdale she was either attending George Brown College in the Child and Youth Worker Program or working in the outdoor season at Camp Kandalore.

Scotia’s first full time role in camping was at YMCA Camp Pine Crest in 2016 where she started as the Assistant Director and eventually became the Summer Camp Director. From there she moved to Rotary YMCA Camp Presqu’ile where she has been the director since 2022. Scotia has re-opened Camp Presqu’ile after two years of closures due to COVID-19 and has worked hard to breath life back into a small but robust camp on Georgian Bay.

During her time working within YMCA camping Scotia has been the co-chair for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusions committee as well as the chair for the Training and Development committee within the YMCA Camping work group.

Scotia has a focus on community building and creating welcoming and inviting spaces for all. She hopes she can help to invite others to join the OCA community to get the most out of all they have to offer to camping professionals.

Rankin Middlebrook brings experience and enthusiasm to the world of camping and outdoor education. With a wide ranging career rooted in creating camp experiences, and building communities Rankin has led programs that foster growth, connection, and fun for campers and staff alike. His journey began with the YMCA as camper and seasonal staff with YMCA Camp Kitchikewana, then YMCA Wanaktia where he served as Director of Summer Camps. He later expanded his impact as Senior Manager of Recreational Learning at Harbourfront Centre, managing diverse programs and building strong community partnerships. Rankin is currently the Manager of Staffing for Appleby College and Camp Kandalore, helping to ensure these organizations are able to find and support the best talent possible.

Rankin values the community and resources of the OCA camping movement where he serves as a Director on the Board and Chair of the Standards Review Committee. In these roles, he has worked to uphold and advance the quality of camp programs across Ontario. Rankin values collaboration, transparency, creativity, and inclusion, and his door is always open.

Evan has been affiliated with camp for 30+ years as a Camper, Counsellor, Activity Specialist, Unit Head, Program Director, Assistant Director, and Camp Director. Evan brings a contagious positive attitude and a wealth of knowledge and experience to the summer camp industry. Evan is the Associate Camp Director at Crestwood Valley Day Camp. Prior to joining the Crestwood team in 2023, he was the multi-campus Camp Director at The Jack and Pat Kay Centre Camp (Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC). Evan was also the Assistant Director of Operations at Camp Northland-B’nai Brith – his proud camp home of 20 years. Throughout his 10+ years in full-time camping he has demonstrated his achievements in operations, programming, camper care, budget and finance, and customer service. His enthusiasm for camp, and its power to shape and transform lives is infectious to all those around him. Evan has served in several volunteer roles at the OCA. He was elected to the OCA Board of Directors in 2021, including serving in the role of Secretary. Evan continues to sit on the Standards Accreditation Committee, and enjoys his role as a Senior Standards Visitor every summer since 2015. Over the years, Evan has also sat on the Educational Programs – Annual Conference Committee in several roles. Outside of camping, Evan is a volunteer Chapter Advisor with BBYO, where he mentors teens to help them reach their full potential and grow into dynamic community leaders. Evan loves camp, and the learning opportunities and everlasting memories that makes camp so special.

Wax first attended Camp Walden in the summer of 1993 and fell in love with the magic of camp during the singsong on that very first night. He grew up at Camp Walden as a camper, staff member, unit head, leadership team member, and off-season office staff until 2015, when he left to further his career as a social worker. During the off-seasons, Wax worked at Jewish Family and Child in Toronto as a School Social Worker and then Manager of the Child, Adolescent and Family Counselling Team before leaving in March 2022 to focus on his private practice.

This is Wax’s second term as a Director on the OCA Board and has been involved with the OCA and its camps for a number of years as a trainer, speaker and consultant. Wax feels that he’s able to bring a unique viewpoint to camps with an understanding of child and adolescent mental health and also the inner workings of camp.

Outside of camp, mental health and 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy, Wax also loves binge-watching TV, going to the movies, discussing pop culture and raising his son Kai.