The YMCA of Greater Toronto

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About Our Staff

At YMCA Camp Pine Crest, we believe that the most important part of camping is the campers. That’s why we make sure to provide all our campers with the support, attention, and care they need throughout their stay with us. To ensure our campers stay safe and have fun, we hire experienced and caring counsellors who possess:

CPR and Standard First Aid qualifications
National Lifesaving Society qualifications
A minimum of one week of dedicated training plus ongoing training and coaching throughout the summer. Training sessions include bullying, diversity, policies and procedures, ages and stages, program instruction and out-trip leadership
Experience working with children

With one of the best counsellor to camper ratios in Ontario, YMCA Camp Pine Crest has a solid staff team made up of:

9 full time staff
Approximately 115 summer camp staff, including YMCA staff and other professionals, recent graduates and trained university, college, and high school students
Over 50 volunteers each summer for our camp operation and an active group of over 100 volunteers that help us open and close the site each year
50 staff members for our outdoor education centre

Together, we work to make sure every camper enjoys a fun and rewarding camp experience they will cherish forever. For information about the hiring process for our upcoming season, please download our 2012 Employment Package.

Senior Leadership Team

	Andrea Balmer has returned as YMCA Camp Pine Crest General Manager and summer Camp Director for her seventh summer. Andrea has worked at various camps across Ontario in roles from camp counsellor, canoe tripper to program staff and senior staff. She holds a degree in recreation and leisure studies and has been a senior camp manager in the areas of residential, day camp, and outdoor education for the last thirteen years. Andrea is an active member of the Ontario Camping Association and YMCA Ontario groups and enjoys paddling, running and hanging out with her children Sloane, Luka, and the Balmer zoo (Beren, Norman and Ari).
	Coel Balmer is our full time Site Facility Manager. Coel will ensure that Pine Crest is taken care of for years to come! Much like Andrea, Coel has held almost every camp position and brings with him experience from many different camps including a background in camping and Outdoor Education. Coel will often be found popping up all over site, responding to the calls of the Bala firefighting team and making sure our water plant behaves!
	Anne Coleman returns to Pine Crest as our Customer Service and Alumni Director. Anne will be the voice on the end of the phone when you call Pine Crest to answer all your questions about camp programs and registration. Anne has enjoyed many summers at YMCA Kitchikewana and Pine Crest and we are very happy to have her back on the team!
	D’Arcy Munn is the Director of Programs for summer camp and outdoor centre. D’Arcy is a long time Pine Crester and was a Voyageur Games leader as well! After spending almost his entire childhood and early staff days at Pine Crest, D’Arcy went on to work at Camp Onondaga and was Manager at Brock Youth University. D’Arcy can often be found on site hiking the trails and hanging out on our new ropes course!
	Andy Seto - Teen and Youth Programs Andy comes to us with a background as an Ontario highschool teacher, experience in the day camp, outdoor centre and overnight camp industry and has a love of lawn games and Settlers of Catan! Andy has worked hard with the staff at the YMCA Academy to ensure the Pine Crest high school credit program is the best it can be. You will often see Andy playing Ultimate Frisbee with the leadership participants during the summer!
	Brian Dittmer - School Age Programs Brian is a ball full of energy which is great as a Director of One-Week programs! He is an elementary school teacher and is working hard to make sure the first time Pine Cresters have the best time they can each summer! Brian will get your dancing and playing games until you drop!
	Erika Blackie - Wilderness Expeditions Erika has years of experience leading extended canoe trips for both YMCA Camp Stephens and Camp Pine Crest and has been a key resource to our staff team for developing risk management plans, researching and leading amazing trips and teaching the back country skills that she does best. When not on trip- you will see Erika gardening, making fantastic baked goods and running to get her “camp legs” ready for the Pine Crest rocks!
	Laura Cottes - Family and Adult Programs Laura has a long history at Pine Crest as a camper, seasonal staff during the summer and outdoor centre and now joins our team full time to ensure that year round family and adult programs are the best they can be. Laura enjoys yoga, the Beatles, travelling and not going on high ropes… yet…
	Ian Waters - Facility Supervisor We are so lucky to have Ian on our team! He brings a wealth of knowledge to camp as a trained high school teacher, facility background, extended tripper and avid biker. When not fixing things on camp Ian can be found training for adventure races, refurbishing old bikes and sharing random facts about Winnipeg. Ian will always brighten your day and may surprise you with a Haiku along the way.