Bob Eddings
Director of School Programs
Bob Eddings, a native Long Islander, is in his 17th year at Frost Valley YMCA. In that time he has served as Day Camp Director, Summer Camp Director and Director of School Programs. Bob brought previous YMCA experience to Frost Valley from Ulster County YMCA and YWCA of Dutchess County, he holds a BS in Elementary Education and a MPS in Humanistic Education from SUNY New Paltz in 2000.
Amy Courtney
Program Coordinator
Amy Courtney is Frost Valley’s Program Coordinator for the School Trips Program. A native of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, Amy came to us with an M.S. in Forestry from the University of Kentucky and prior camp experience at Girl Scouts Great Rivers Council and Camp Campbell Gard in Ohio.
Brett Tillman
Program Coordinator
Brett Tillman is a Program Coordinator for our School Trips Program. Brett studied biology and philosophy at University of Delaware, followed by stints as an environmental educator at Camp Highland Outdoor Science School in Cherry Valley, California and PEEC (Pocono Environmental Education Center) in Pennsylvania, his home state. Brett works together with teachers and parent volunteers from September through June as school children discover the science and fun of Frost Valley’s outdoor world.
Megan Vanderlaan
Program Instructor
Megan Vanderlaan, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is in her second season at Frost Valley as a Program Instructor. Megan has a Master’s of Education in Secondary Science Education from University of Missouri and brings her experience from the classroom in Missouri as a High School Biology/Chemistry teacher to the outdoors for the students here at Frost Valley.
Kate Barton
Program Instructor
Kate Barton is in her first season as a Program Instructor at Frost Valley YMCA. Kate was born in Skaneateles, NY and joins us from being a camp counselor in New York and California. She earned a Master’s of Science, Teaching and Childhood Education from SUNY Cortland in 2007. Kate has taught in Colorado and New York, as well as experience with AmeriCorps in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kenzie Coeyman
Program Instructor
Kenzie Coeyman joined Frost Valley in 2008 as a Program Instructor and served as the waterfront director for Summer Camp in 2009. Kenzie is a native of New Hope, Pennsylvania and has previous camp experience at Camp North Star in Maine. She obtained her BA in Spanish and BS in International Business from Salisbury University in Maryland.
Art DiMatteo
Program Instructor
Art DiMatteo is starting his third season at Frost Valley. Art grew up on the New Jersey shore in East Keansburg. Before he was a Program Instructor, he worked in the publishing business in Manhattan and was a Youth With A Mission volunteer in Kailua-Kona. An Eagle Scout, Art spends his summers serving on staff at several different scout camps throughout the Catskills and earned a degree in History at Rutgers College.
Brendan Heldenfels
Program Instructor
Brendan Heldenfels is in his third season as a Program Instructor at Frost Valley. A man of many talents, Brendan brings his knowledge of cinema studies to Frost Valley and teaches children to podcast and film throughout the summer. Brendan has a B.F.A in Cinema Studies from New York University and is an award-winning independent filmmaker.
Derick Hips
Program Instructor
Derick Hips, a native of Chepachet, RI, joined Frost Valley in 2007 as a Program Instructor. Derick has also leads Adventure Trips for Frost Valley, including Habitat New Orleans and Habitat Adirondacks. Derick brings prior camp experience from YMCA Camp Harrison, North Carolina.
Dave Hudnall
Program Instructor
Dave Hudnall, a native of Jesup, Georgia, is in his second season as a Program Instructor at Frost Valley. Dave brings many years of camp experience to Frost Valley, including teaching at the Outdoor School and Camp North Star in Maine. Dave has B.A. in Theater from Georgia Southwestern State.
Christine Goshert
Program Instructor
Christine Goshert is in her second season at Frost Valley YMCA as a Program Instructor. A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Christine bring previous teaching knowledge from Camp Lutherwald and the Racine Zoo. She has a BA in Environmental Science from Carthage College. Christine brings a special touch to castle tours by leading them as Mrs. Forstmann.
Amber Gray
Program Instructor
Amber Gray joined Frost Valley in 2007 as a Program Instructor. Amber received her BS in Zoology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2006 and worked in the Cardiovascular Physiology Research Lab. Amber worked at North Lakeland Discovery Center as a naturalist and published article in Oceanography.
Mike Obremski
Program Instructor
Mike Obremski joined Frost Valley in 2008 as a Summer Camp intern, and now serves as both Program Director for Summer Camp and a Program Instructor during the school year. Mike is originally from Paterson, NJ and worked at Northwest Regional Outdoor Science School in Portland, Oregon before coming to Frost Valley.
Kat Pheysey
Program Instructor
Kat Pheysey has been a summer camp counselor at Frost Valley for 3 years and joins us for her second season as a Program Instructor. A native of Cambridge, England, Kat has brought passion and experience to our Mainstreaming Summer Camp Program and the National Inclusion Project to our Day Camp Program. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Wales in Psychology.
Brandy Russell
Program Instructor
Brandy Russell is one of our many returning Program Instructors. Brandy, a native of Brookville, Indiana, lived in Benin, Africa for two years as a member of the Peace Corps. Brandy has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and adds a special flair to every Wildlife ecology class she teaches.
Nick Skrobak
Program Instructor
Nick Skrobak is in his second season as a Program Instructor for Frost Valley YMCA and served as a day camp counselor this past summer. Nick is from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and has an A.A. in Communication and Design from Northampton Community College. Nick previously worked at Dutch Springs Summer Day Camp as a teambuilding facilitator and high ropes and rock wall manager.
Terri DePrima
Program Instructor
Terri DePrima, a native of Dover, Delaware, is in her second season at Frost Valley YMCA as a Program Instructor. Terri has a BA in Anthropology from Washington College. She brings a wide range of outdoor experience to Frost Valley from work through the Student Conservation Association, AmeriCorps, and Delaware State Parks.
Doug Clayton
Program Instructor
Doug Clayton, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, is in his first season at Frost Valley. Doug has a B.S. in Horticulture from Clemson University. Doug has worked at Blue Ridge Outdoor Education Center and brings his knowledge and love of the outdoors to all of his classes.
Maggie Newcomb
Program Instructor
Maggie Newcomb grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and recently graduated from the University of North Carolina with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. She joins the Frost Valley staff this season as a Program Instructor.
Ann Shabshab
Program Instructor
Ann Shabshab joins Frost Valley this season as a Program Instructor, bringing knowledge of camp from YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch. Originally from El Dorado, Kansas, she received her B.S. in Ecology, Evolutionary Science and Biodiversity in 2007 from the University of Kansas.
Liz Spellman
Program Instructor
Liz Spellman joins Frost Valley in her first season as a Program Instructor. A native of Newport News, Virginia, Liz has a BA in both Environmental Thought and Practice and Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia and brings previous experience as an environmental advocate through her work at Piedmont Environmental Council.
