Walden is fortunate to have a senior staff that comes back year after year. They are professionals who have dedicated themselves to working with children as teachers, coaches, parents and grandparents. Their commitment to providing the positive camper experience is perhaps the most vital aspect of Walden’s success. You can find out more about them below.
 Harvey Rubenstein, Assistant Director
Harvey has been in the camping business for half a century, and, along with wife Sharon, has been at Walden since 1973. A retired school teacher, former marathoner and now a sculling instructor in Florida, Harvey runs the camp office and leads the trips to Mackinac Island. He is also the founder and CEO of Birthday Bingo, host of Harvey's Fun Night, overseer of Harvey's Relay-O-Rama and the best square-dance caller north of Gaylord and south of Mackinaw City. Harvey's grandson is a Walden camper.
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 Robyn Berlin, Program Director
Robyn, who, as legend has it, learned to crawl while a visitor at Walden, cried her entire first summer as a camper. Twenty-three years later, she practically runs the joint! Robyn makes sure that the days function smoothly, working closely with the unit programmers to develop Special Day and evening activities. In the “off” season, Robyn teaches students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Walled Lake, MI, school district.
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 Ann Bosenbark, Waterfront Director, i.e. “Aquatic Empress”
Boz (rhymes with nose) started at Walden in 1981 as a tripper before assuming the reins of the waterfront. She oversees everything from kayaking to swim instruction and, not surprisingly, has the best tan on camp. Boz’s two dogs, Sparky and Cooper, often sport matching life jackets while relaxing on the Mastercraft. Boz teaches high school physical education, including aquatics/water safety, in Napoleon, OH.
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 Mark Goodine, Photographer
Mark began his Walden career as a counselor in 1989. Now, he spends his days capturing the activities, antics and smiles of Walden’s campers and staff. You can find his beautiful pictures in our online photo gallery, DVD yearbook and hardback yearbook (and right here on this Web site!). In his “spare time,” Mark leads our rocketry program, drives camp buses and can turn a dollar bill into an elephant in just a few folds. He is a 5th grade teacher in the Kenston School District near Cleveland.
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 Neal Levin, Walden Pond Editor
Neal, a professional children’s writer and cartoonist, creates the daily Walden Pond newspaper, filling its columns with his inimitable characters, quirky camper news, the day’s menu and lots more. He’s been a Walden icon since the 1980s. No one can figure out why Neal wears only yellow t-shirts during the summer. Don’t ever ask him where the Pictured Rock is hidden--EVER!
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 Jean Rakey, Outdoor Life Director.
Jean, an entrepreneur who recently switched careers back to teaching, left the Walden fold in 1983, after six years as a trip leader. She returned in 2010 as the head of Walden’s tripping and outdoor life areas. Once known as “Mean Jean the Campcraft Queen,” she now counts herself among the members of Walden’s “Ancient Badgers” club. The only mean thing about her is her raspberry cobbler. Jean is a Reading Intervention Specialist in the Parkway School District in suburban St. Louis.
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 Peggy Rose, Athletics Director
Peggy, who was once Liz’s counselor, also took time off between her stints at Walden, arriving first between 1978-1983 and returning in 1995. A singer and guitarist, she hosts the ever-popular evening program “Night with Peggy” and resides in camp’s Flamingo Park with her bobbed-tail cat Buster. Peggy lives and works in Kansas City where she is a high-school PE and health teacher, who also coaches volleyball and track.
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 Karen Spreen, Horseback Riding Director
Karen started at Walden in the 30-some years ago, around the same time as Spoddy, Nasa and Big Man. She has cared for generations of Walden horses—even the real stinkers—as if they were her own (Dinky is currently her favorite pony). Karen continues the hallowed tradition of English-saddle riding at Walden, while adding new twists like the Pasture Party and Adopt-a-Horse beauty contests. She lives in Cincinnati with her dog Riley and teaches 1st grade.
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 Charlee Wagner, Arts & Crafts Director
The newest addition to Walden’s administrative staff (’09), Charlee graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in arts education. Now living in the San Francisco Bay area, she is an accomplished ceramicist, photographer and coffee drinker. In 2010, Charlee revived Walden’s raku pottery and screen-printing programs. Her twice-a-summer A&C Art Shows are the hottest ticket in Cheboygan County.
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