EXPERIENCE SUMMER THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE
It’s going to be so fun. Your new friends are waiting for you. You are going to become a part of a band of brothers. You will have stories your family will listen to but not fully understand. You will find a new, better version of yourself on Cobbossee’s sports fields, in its forest, on its lake. Mostly, it’s going to be so fun!
Josh Holland
When I was fifteen years old, my parents grudgingly allowed me to go work at a boy scout camp in the mountains of Idaho. I was out there for 10 weeks of pure heaven. That was it. That was more than three decades ago. I’ve held pretty much every position you can at a summer camp, from archery instructor to waterfront director, from kitchen staff to director of the camp. In between I've been a collegiate athlete at Wabash and Willamette University, a high school and college teacher, and a high school swimming and soccer coach. I have a BA from Willamette University, an MA from Washington State, and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. But summer camp has always been the calling. The “why” part is not complicated for me, and it’s the most true at Cobbossee than at any camp where I’ve worked: you come to Cobbossee, you change for the better. Your son comes to Cobbossee, and he will change for the better. This Cobbossee family will really see him, help him, and understand him.
While in the Department of American Studies at the University of Texas, Josh became fascinated by alternative approaches to education (like camp!). He began systematically studying the institutions and culture of educational movements like the Waldorf system, Montessori, and finally Outward Bound. He discovered that the founder of Outward Bound, Kurt Hahn, also started a series of year-round schools in the 1960s as an answer to looming global violence in the form of a possible World War III.
In 2011, Josh moved to the only one of these schools in the United States, the United World College of the American West near Santa Fe, New Mexico, and spent 2.5 years executing an anthropological study of the international residential high school, the larger movement, and the effect that both had on the UWC-USA students.
In other words, through his academic studies, Josh discovered, recorded, and interpreted a phenomenon that he’d already seen at summer camp: that people can change dramatically when given the proper context and program.
Josh’s research was based on Outward Bound founder Kurt Hahn. You can read more about Hahn here:
Alyssa grew up in small town Illinois playing all kinds of sports and enjoying the outdoors with her three older brothers. She holds a BS in Accounting with a minor in Forensic Accounting from Indiana State University. Alyssa, or "Dags" discovered Cobbossee nearly a decade ago, and its sense of community and culture roped her in. Alyssa has held many positions at camp, including accountant, Group Leader, Waterfront Director, Program Director, and Operations Director. She is famous for her deep sense of caring for the boys and staff of Cobbossee and also her non-nonsense approach to making sure the 'trains run on time.' As the Assistant Director, Alyssa supervises Cobbossee's operations as well as many aspects of residence life.
Jamie Miller is entering his 11th year at Cobbossee. A seasoned coach and educator at many levels, Jamie holds a Provincial B License and currently coaches in the Calgary Rangers program in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Jamie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Biological Sciences, Master’s Degree in Sports Management and is an Principal during the school year. Jamie is extremely passionate about sports, stemming from his own experience as an elite player (a Provincial All-Star and a National Champion himself at 17) and also from the development he sees on Cobbossee's fields and courts. Joining Jamie at camp are his wife Anna, and daughters, Amelia and Molly.
Brian returns to Cobbossee year after year to continue contributing to a place where boys can genuinely express themselves. He hails from San Diego, California where he received his Bachelor's in Education and a K-8 Teaching Credential from San Diego State University. Brian has worked for after school programs that offered assistance to low income households and for Americorps, traveling the southern US working for various nonprofit companies confronting a variety of social and environmental issues. Brian works to foster the socio-emotional well-being and development of campers and is dedicated to creating genuine connection among the boys at Cobbossee. Brian played Ultimate Frisbee in college and enjoys getting out to the disc courses around Maine on days off whenever he can.
Many years ago, Raine fell in love with how community, play, and connection are woven into the camper experience at Cobbossee. She has cherished watching her first-year rovers (2nd-4th) and warriors (5th and 6th) grade campers return summer after summer. Originally from San Francisco, California, Raine moved to Maine full-time a year ago to work with Maine Summer Camps, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the value of summer camps of all types and supporting camp professionals. Raine runs a scholarship program that provides immigrant and refugee children in Maine with the same transformative camp experience that Cobbossee boys enjoy. Raine is pursuing a Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Southern Maine.
Originally hailing from Rutland, England, Matt "Jonesy" Jones spent his first two years at Cobbossee as a waterfront and adventure counselor then seven more leading (and transforming) Cobbossee's signature Adventure program. Jonesy is a cornerstone of the year-round staff, having led every staffing campaign from 2018 to the present. Entering his 11th summer at Cobbossee, Jonesy now serves as Cobbossee's Operations Director in the summer. Known for his strong moral compass, singing voice, and sense of fun and mischief, Jonesy has been a part of every boy's story at Cobbossee since he started 11 years ago.
Jandre “Jonny” Gous started at Cobbossee as an adventure staff member and counselor years ago, but has since served as the Assistant Adventure Director and then Adventure Director before taking over the legendary Cobbossee Waterfront. Safety is Jandre’s first priority as he leads Cobbossee’s amazing waterfront staff. An expert fisherman and surfer, Jandre loves that the Cobbossee campers get to encounter so much diversity in the Cobbossee waterfront program spheres: wake sports, boating, swimming, and fishing. Known for his campfire skits and unstoppable can-do attitude, Jandre knows that immense growth can happen at the waterfront. When he’s not at Cobbossee, Johnny works on masted ships on that big ocean between here and South Africa.
Gregory Ondo leads Cobbossee’s entire Creative sphere as Cobbossee Director of Arts and Artist-in-Residence. . . but everyone just calls him “Ondo.” As a Professor of Sculpture at the University of Maine, Ondo brings world-class skill and experience to the vibrant woodshop, arts studio, and outdoor creative spaces of Cobbossee. Ondo specializes in incorporating the natural world in his (and the campers’) art projects. He’s also just great with the little guys, respecting and celebrating each new artist as a creator in their own right.
Griff just retired as the head coach of Men’s Basketball at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was the winningest coach in program history. With over 30 years of coaching experience and over 50 years in camping, Griff is our steady hand at the tiller. He makes sure our sports are outstanding, well-organized, and played with passion and grace. Griff also oversees our legendary color war and camp traditions.
Lloyd has lived and breathed tennis and Cobbossee for over 30 years, informing Cobbossee's program with his experience with Tennis Jamaica as the national school's program coordinator and assistant to the Jamaican National coach Doug Burke. Lloyd also coached the Jamaican Junior National Squad and was a white-badged chair umpire. Lloyd is certified by many tennis entities including Tennis Jamaica, the International Tennis Federation, the Mexican Tennis Federation and the US Professional Tennis Registry.
Adam came to us years ago, his background bursting with accolades as a youth soccer coach. Adam coaches at a high club level in Boulder, Colorado while also working at a local public school. But that only begins to describe it. Adam has transformed Cobbossee’s soccer program in the last five years, focusing on the experience of veteran players and those who are new to the sport. Adam conveys pure joy on the pitch, celebrating the best aspects of the most elegant game. When he’s not on the soccer field, Adam is recruited into all corners of Cobbossee – he finds himself belly-crawling through the bushes in the Counselor Hunt, and then judging MTV night days later. Campers and staff are drawn to Adam’s calm, warm, and dryly hilarious way of going through the world. Also, the mustache.
Jerry Azzinaro – Following a storied career in professional and college football, Coach Jerry found a home at Cobbossee four years ago. He was looking for a values-based camp to pour his heart into, and he found it. Famous for his gruff-but-kind voice, Jerry is one of the moral compasses of Cobbossee. He insists that everyone: coaches, campers, staff, keep our values in mind as we joyfully engage in competition. In addition to supervising Cobbossee’s flag football program, Coach Jerry administers the iconic “Talks with Jerry,” covering topics like stress management, playing (and living!) free of self-judgment, and how to access one’s own inner warrior. Jerry lives with his wife Allison and their enormous great Dane in southern Maine.
Coach Levar brings decades of experience coaching basketball at the collegiate level to Cobbossee’s Cobbodome gym and outdoor courts. His reps extend to both Division II women’s and men’s ball, as well as experience in professional women’s basketball. In addition to this, Levar is known for his intense, funny, and memorable basketball sessions, as well as the kindness and respect he bestows on campers and counselors alike. 55 mins on Coach Levar’s court will make you sweat, but it will also make you think. And it will also make you love basketball. When he's not in Maine, Coach Levar is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Harris Stowe State University. He loves good food, and spirited discussions about 80s and 90s movies.
long ago, Jake Cleary began his Cobbossee career in Adventure, and now he runs the place! Jake trains and leads our wide-ranging trips and adventure program. His deep experience in climbing, archery, trips administration and mountain biking in his many years at Cobbossee, as well as his fierce dedication to safety put our campers in good stead as they experience the “Challenge by Choice” philosophy. Jake loves the transformation that he sees daily on the wall, on the bikes, and on the trips. He and his staff find joy in each of those small triumphs, knowing that they mean huge changes for the boys. Jake lives and works in his native UK when he's not at camp . . .but each summer after Cobbossee he takes an epic tour of a new part of the U.S.
Matthew “Skip” Morrison brings decades of baseball excellence to both Bluey and Joey Fields at Camp Cobbossee. As the owner, Head Coach, and administrator of one of the largest baseball clubs in Tennessee for years, Skip knows that sports is a powerful access point to the inner life of a young athlete. He loves baseball as a skill-based game that still welcomes all comers. He has made name for himself at Cobbossee for igniting a love for baseball in those who are trying it for the first time. When he’s not coaching on Bluey, Skip looks after his family and runs a business back in Tennessee.
THE BEST KIND OF COMPETITION
At Cobbossee, we compete, learning to handle wins and losses with grace. Our boys receive top flight instruction from superior coaches of deep experience. In four weeks our boys improve as athletes, but also as people. Because our sessions are such a blast, our boys hardly notice they are learning!
IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE
Offering great sports is hardly the end of our program. We send our young men out into Maine’s woods and onto its waters in search of adventure. They learn to camp, make fires, sail, mountain-bike, throw tomahawks, canoe, climb, shoot bows, and fish. And, just as they do while playing sports, our boys grow closer to each other in the process.
We sometimes find it hard to put the beauty and magnificence of our camp's grounds and facilities into words. We also find it hard to put it in a regular ol' map, so we built a 360 experience that we feel does a much better job of bringing our grounds to life.
THE BEST FOOD IN CAMP ANYWHERE
Cobbossee has nothing less than the best food in camping. Chef Louis is the reason. In his 31st year at Cobbossee, Louis brings love and immense skill to each meal, making almost everything from scratch. The food is so good, one of the few things Cobbossee boys argue about is what meal is the best. Louis comes from Gainesville, Florida (Go Gators!) so his southern food is even more legendary than the rest. His fried chicken is a secret family recipe. Our boys eat with their counselors at lovely wooden great tables that are bunk-sized.
MAINE FRESH
When you have the chef that we do, you need to give him great ingredients. That’s why we built a massive organic garden! Louis and his staff take the produce right off the vine and present it on our salad bars and in his recipes and our boys help! The end-result is a camp full of super active boys being fed food made with love and with ingredients grown a few feet from our gorgeous dining hall.
OUR STAFFING PHILOSOPHY
You, the counselor, are going to be the most important person in a camper’s life for four weeks. You must have great judgment, a high skill level in one of our activity areas, and a deeply-felt compassion for and interest in young people. Most of all, you must be ready to be selfless. Do that, and the most transformative summer in your life awaits you.
THE BEST JOB IN THE BEST PLACE
Over and over, we hear it: “This was the best job I have ever had. This is the hardest job that I have ever had.” We aren’t going to pull any punches: being a Cobbossee counselor or staff member is no joke. We have high standards and higher expectations of your abilities, effort, integrity, and patience. We have these standards because parents have placed their sacred trust in us and we, all of us, will deliver. And for you? Well Cobbossee will change your life. From your first interview to the last day of Cobbossee our system will help you become your best self. That is not something one forgets. And our campers will never forget you, either.
Our leadership staff helps you get ready for the campers in an intense staff orientation that will develop and increase the skills you already have. You are educators and leaders – just like the coaches and teachers that changed your own life when you were younger. You will learn our safety protocols, best practices, and get tools and techniques from the best of the best.
