Hi, I am Becky Pasman aka Mamma P, the Executive Director. Western Michigan University is my alma mater. I have a BS in Elementary Education and an MA in Middle Level Curriculum and adolescent development. In June of 2007, I retired from teaching eighth grade at Paw Paw Public Schools.

I am now actively involved with the American Camp Association as a conference planner and facilitator, an associate standards visitor, and writer for the ACA Michigan Chapter newsletter, The Woodpile. I?m the mother of two brilliant and talented young adults, both former VBYC staff, and the wife of gifted musician, builder, and cook (staff opinion). My husband and I spend a great deal of time in the off-season traveling.

In my spare time, I also volunteer as a classroom helper for one of my former students, work in the library at a local parochial school, practice yoga, kayaking, or walk with my dog. This summer will be my sixth year at camp. I love watching a summer unfold, hearing campers call out to me on cabin row, seeing the year to year growth in our return campers, listening to the laughter and songs, and most of all just being Mamma P.

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Back by popular demand! Jason Groth, your Program Director! I'm currently finishing my degree in Recreation Management from Western Michigan University, planning on a future in youth camping. I love spending time outside running around, reading books, and coming up with new shenanigans to confound and bewilder my friends and strangers! Word on Cabin Row is 2010 is going to be the BEST SUMMER EVER, so if you like surprises make sure to join me this summer, because even I don't know what’s going to happen!

Salutations! I, Alexander Moyer, am reprising my role as the Waterfront Director VBYC for the 2010 season. I graduated from the education program at Central Michigan University. This year will be my third year at VBYC and second as the Waterfront Director. VBYC holds a special place in my heart being it is the first camp I have actually ever been to! I grew as a person, and I firmly believe I am a better individual for working at VBYC. Because of my personal experience at VBYC, I know I can make a positive impact on the lives of those who occupy VBYC during the summer (campers and staff included). I look forward to another great summer with a great group of individuals.

Hi! My name is Melissa Paloucek and I will be teaching Arts & Crafts this summer! This is my third year on staff and I'm very excited to be returning again. Last year I was the Arts & Crafts instructor and the year before that I worked in the kitchen. I have also counseled at VBYC for four years and had been a camper for so many years that I've lost count. I attend Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal. I'm majoring in Special Education and am specializing in Learning and Behavior Disorders.

I love working with kids and plan on helping them throughout my life. In the past I have been an assistant teacher for dance classes, coached an elementary cheerleading team, ran my own cheerleading camp, and was a junior aide for younger Girl Scout troops, just to name a few. I am currently a Biology and Geology tutor at Illinois State University. When I'm not working with kids I love to perform in musicals. I also enjoy reading, watching the food network, and hanging out with my friends. This will be my 13th year coming to VBYC and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. This camp has given me so much and I hope that every camper takes away something great from this camp that offers so much. I'm so excited for this summer to begin and I can't wait to see all the campers, both old and new.

Hey Y’all! It’s Erica Johnson here again and ready for another crazy cool summer! I will be teaching Canoeing again this year with my dear friend Cody. This is my third year on staff and my second year teaching Canoeing. This will be my sixth summer out here at camp altogether and I am as excited as ever! I am originally from Kalamazoo, MI but I have lived in Georgia for the past two years. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). I am studying math education and considering taking the requirements for med school to pursue Psychiatry. I am a lifeguard at UGA’s student recreation center and a member of the UGA swim club. I play on an intramural ultimate frisbee team and am also volunteering some of my time at the Athens/Clark County Boys and Girls Club. When I’m not lifeguarding or doing school work, I enjoy swimming, football, cooking, and singing in the shower.

Camp has taught me more and given me more than I could ever explain. Even a 14 hour car ride couldn’t keep me away. So, if you are ready for a high energy, CRAZY-FUN summer like I am, then I guess I’ll see you at camp!

Hey, my name is Nathan Knapp, and I will be working in the kitchen this summer. This will be eleventh year at camp, my first year as a staff member. For the past four years, I have been a counselor and for one week a SIT. I am excited beyond description to be at VBYC for a full summer, camp has been such an important part of my life, I cannot wait to give back to camp, and help the campers grow. Currently, I am a freshman at Hillsdale College. At Hillsdale, I am involved in the campus's annual relay for life and tutoring of local elementary students. I enjoying reading, learning random facts about anything and everything, and having discussions. I cannot wait for this summer, I know it is going to be an amazing time and I hope that everyone just has a blast!

Hello! My name is Cathy Rector and this summer I will be returning to Van Buren Youth Camp as the Nature Instructor!! This will be my second summer as a staff member but my sixth summer overall. Previously I have been a camper, counselor, staff in training, and last summer worked in the kitchen as a kitchen girl. I am currently attending Illinois State University and studying Special Education, specializing in Learning and Behavior Disorders. I have always loved working with kids and I can’t imagine anywhere else that I would want to spend my time.

In previous years I have helped teach religious education at my church, and currently I am participating in the Partners in Reading program at the public library on campus. I also enjoy reading, cooking, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time outdoors. My favorite part of V.B.Y.C. would definitely be hearing the campers’ laughter all over camp. No matter where I am, I can always hear children laughing without fail. Their smiles and excitement are what make camp what it is. This summer will be another unforgettable summer. I can’t wait!!!

Hello my name is Dillon Preston. I have been attending VBYC for 7 years. This will be my first year as a VBYC staff member. I will be working in the kitchen washing dishes. I love to play soccer, swim and fish. This fall I will be attending Western Michigan University. I can’t wait for this summer to gain the experiences of being on staff and see all the new campers.

Hi everybody my name is Brian Groth. I’m excited to say that I’m going to be a staff member this summer, I believe this will the best summer ever! I will be in the kitchen as a kitchen boy making sure all of your children will have squeaky-clean dishes to eat and drink off of. Outside my love for clean dishes, I enjoy dancing to music, singing to music, playing sports, and just love being silly. I am currently a student at Southwestern Michigan College; at the moment I do not know what I want to major in. I was a camper at VBYC in 2006 where I learned to make friends. Last year I came to VBYC where I volunteered as a counselor twice and as a Staff -in-Training (SIT). I enjoyed being a SIT so much that I hoped to come back, and to my surprise I will. I’m hoping as a staff member to make a lot of new friends and see ones from past years, as well as make new experiences with every camper. I have two brothers and one sister and all of them have volunteered at least once at VBYC, one of my brothers Jason Groth currently is also currently a staff member.

"Heyo! I'm Kyle McKelvey, and I will be working as a Kitchen Girl this summer at VBYC. This is my second year in the Kitchen and second year on Staff altogether. I look forward to making more awesome meals for the campers and making great memories with them. I currently am working as an Impact Team Member in a Hollister store in Chicago, and plan on returning to Illinois State University in the fall to pursue a degree. This summer will be my 12th summer overall at VBYC. I was a camper for seven years before becoming a counselor for three years and then spending two on staff. I look forward to another great summer at VBYC!"

Hello! My name is Frannie Lorenzi and I am a returning Lifeguard and the Store Manager this year at camp! I have been attending camp (in just about every capacity possible) for too many years to count and am really excited to be returning this summer! I am currently a sophomore at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin majoring in Bio-Medical and Political Science. I have hopes of going to Physicians Assistant School after my undergraduate program and pursue my dream of working in pediatrics!

I am incredibly excited for camp this summer because I feel that camp is a life changing place! It made me into the person that I am today, and if I could help just one kid grow more into themselves them I would be so happy. Camp is also a place to have fun, be silly, and make new friends, which is exactly what I plan on doing this summer! See you in June!!

Why, hello everyone! I'm Tim Pituch. This is going to be my second summer as a full-time staff member at VBYC and as such, I feel like this summer is going to be even better! Once again I am working on the waterfront, guarding lives and providing children with the skills necessary to become world-champion swimmers. Besides my love of the water, I also enjoy playing guitar, making funny faces, dressing up in costumes, and laughing. I am currently studying Biophysics as a sophomore at the University of Michigan, and plan to go into a health-related field. I have been coming to VBYC since I was a wee one, and have enjoyed every minute of it. This summer will be my 11th year out at camp, and I cannot wait! I had such a fantastic time as a first-time staff member last year and I learned and grew immensely from the experience. I look forward to spreading a love of camp (and life) with every new batch of campers, new and returning alike.

Hello everybody. I’m Cody Preston and I will be your 2010 lifeguard/canoeing instructor with Erica at camp this year. This is my second summer on the VBYC staff; I was a camper for eight years and a counselor for two years before becoming staff. I’m really excited for this summer. This fall I will be attending Western Michigan and studying medicine. I love sports and the great outdoors. I enjoy playing soccer, swimming, hiking, and camping. I come from a big family with lots of kids including my twin brother Dillon who is also on staff this summer, so I’m well prepared for all the campers this summer.

p>Salutations! My name is Marian Pintar and I will be teaching Low Ropes this summer! This is my tenth summer at camp, but my first year as a staff member. I spent my sophomore year of high school in New Zealand and was lucky enough to spend two weeks of my stay hiking, biking, sea kayaking, rock climbing and tenting through an Outdoor Education program. I might have even bungee jumped :o) When I’m not off gallivanting through the great outdoors, you can usually find me dancing, playing a game or laughing loudly at something everyone else stopped laughing about several minutes ago. I am so looking forward to a stupendous summer with a wonderful group of coworkers and campers, and to all the delightful things that I will learn from all of you. See you there!

Yo baby Yo! (Translates to Howdy Ya’ll in “kitchen sign” language). Emily Pasman here, gosh it’s been 5 years since I last lived the magnificent summer life of a college student and staff member at VBYC. I chose to do so because I love being a kid, and that hasn’t changed to this day. Currently, I’m living in Quito, Ecuador working in a newly established coffee shop within a school (lucky kids). I love working with youth, always have and always will, it’s too much fun! Beauty of working within a school system is the summers are free! So alas, I return to VBYC and am extremely excited to say I get the privilege of working alongside Marian in the Low Ropes department. I was recently trained on a high ropes course in Ecuador learning how to save lives while hanging out on wired ropes above cannons. Our course at VBYC is a bit different setting but exciting none-the-less. Can’t wait to be back for the summer!

Hey, my name is Nick Beam and I will be the Riflery Instructor this summer at VBYC. This will be the first year for me as a staff member. I have been involved with camp since I was a six year old kid who came with my mom when she served as camp nurse. Since then, I have been a camper in many capacities as well as a counselor and SIT. Camp and the Staff have had a major impact on my life as a camper, and now that I am part of that staff, I hope that I will be able to impact the lives of the campers that come.

I am finishing up my Senior Year at Lawrence High School and plan on enrolling in college this fall to pursue a degree in medicine. I occupy my time with many activities, a few of which are baseball, running, reading, and music. I have always enjoyed working with children, and I’m hope that we will see many of them at camp this summer. I am extremely excited and can't wait for the summer to begin.

"Hello! My name is Brooke Wade-Murphy and I am very excited to be joining staff for the first time this summer as the Song, Dance, and Drama instructor! Since my original experience as camper at age 9, VBYC has occupied a place in my heart, a place which has only expanded exponentially since then! Native to Cincinnati, Ohio, I always loved my summer returns to southwestern Michigan, and expect great experiences and adventures from this one too. After graduation from Walnut Hills High School, I took a gap year which was spent pursuing my life-long goal of becoming a professional ballet dancer. I worked full time for a year as a company member in Cincinnati Ballet, performing in many shows and living the life of a starving artist; a life experience that has deeply shaped me into the person I am today. Currently, I am a student at New York University, studying Creative Writing and French. I work for America Reads as a tutor for a 3rd grade class at NYC P.S. 126 in Chinatown. I also run an after school dance program for seventh and eighth grade girls at the school. I am eagerly looking forward to sharing my joy of dance and performance this summer at VBYC! Start practicing your King Tut... See you soon!"

Hi everyone! I'm Kate McKelvey and this will be my third summer on staff at VBYC! This year I will be returning for my second year as the Sports Instructor/Lifeguard. Working with kids has always been a passion of mine. I used to coach youth volleyball and softball, and I also used to work at an orphanage. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. At U of I, I am a part of International Impact, Irish Illini, Recreational Volleyball, Sunday Afternoon Football Potluck, Illini Pride, and I also serve as a Resident Advisor. I love to travel, work with kids and be at camp. I've been coming to camp since I was eight years old, so camp is a very special place to me! I'm really looking forward to another summer out at camp and I hope all of you are excited too!

Hey VBYC Campers! My name is Neil Curiel and I am the Volunteer Coordinator at camp this year! I hail from the far, far away land of Florida. This is my 6th summer on staff. As the Volunteer Coordinator, I will be in charge of all the wonderful counselors, volunteer staff, and SIT's whom make the camp work. The job of a counselor and SIT will be rewarding and great learning experience. I will be challenging each volunteer to be the best they can be, and to make sure that everyone at camp leaves with a smile on their face. When I'm not at camp, I work in the Guest Services field at a local historical museum. I am graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, with a BS in Professional Studies of Resort and Hospitality Management. In my spare time, you can usually find me at an amusement park somewhere throughout the world riding roller coasters. I enjoy warm weather, traveling, music, and a big ol' tub of cookie dough! Can't wait to see all you returning campers, and meeting new friends! Get ready for the summer everyone. We're gonna have a blast!