Cybercamps Academy teaching staff are parents, educators, technology professionals and experts – adults who provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps your child have a great summer. They are cool people that youth feel comfortable around, and they are passionate about helping kids experience technology in a safe and productive way. No other computer camp can match the level of expertise and dedication you’ll find at Cybercamps Academy.

On average, more than 80 percent of our Academy Directors return each year to lead our Cybercamps Academy program. We achieve this by offering a program that these adults – parents and educators just like you – really believe in.

Who Teaches Your Kids?
How We Screen and Hire Staff
Meet Some of Our Staff

Who Teaches Your Kids?

It’s important to first clarify that Cybercamps Academy is not summer school. Summer is a time for kids to have fun, play games, make friends, and laugh so hard that milk comes out their noses. That said, our staff is dedicated to ensuring each participant has an incredible summer of fun – and that they happen to learn really cool technology skills at the same time. Directors receive more than 10 full days of hands-on training and staff receive more than seven days.

Academy Directors – These key staff members are the ones in charge of each location site. We have one academy director per location and this senior person is in the classroom every day. They are teachers, mentors, supervisors, and a parent connection to what happens at camp. They are adults – parents, teachers, professionals just like you – who care deeply about kids and enjoy being around them. In addition to hiring only directors who have experience working with children in similar settings, each academy director is extensively trained in supervision, program facilitation, healthcare, and camp safety.

Regional Academic Advisor - At Cybercamps Academy, we have an additional layer of program quality assurance. The Academic Advisor is responsible to monitor the instructional methods of our staff and the participants’ interaction with our material. We know you want your child to get the most out of each week, so we have this singular-focused role ensuring the staff at each of our locations is providing the best learning experiences possible. The Academic Advisor is always ready to talk with parents about the education goals of the summer and to work with each staff mentor to keep the selection of projects for each participants suitably challenging and on track for completion by week's end.

Night Facilitators – At our residential locations, our night facilitator focuses solely on making our evening program a success. This person fulfills the same basic requirements as an academy director and they receive extra training in safety procedures and healthcare. In fact, in many of our locations this person holds an EMT certification. The night facilitator is there to make sure each evening is awesome! Some of the safe activities include having a LAN Party, competing in a Dance Dance Revolution® contest, going to the lounge for pool and card games, or running around campus playing night laser tag. After the fun and games are over, it's lights out! The night supervisor stays in the dorm facilities for added security and supervision.

Counselors – A key element to any summer program is the counselor. These adults are chosen by expert recruiters for their ability to teach technology, relate to kids of all ages, and be a good role model for your child. Cybercamps Academy has the lowest student to staff ratio of any national summer computer camp. We have one paid, adult staff member for every five youth.

Academy Counselors are always college students or graduates who value and promote higher education and life-long learning. Each of them is a talented technologist who not only has the skills to bring our curriculum to life, but also the passion to add something unique and special to each participant’s experience. This enthusiasm is what sets Cybercamps Academy apart from your average computer camp.

Junior Counselors – These are 17-year-old graduates of our Teen Leadership Program. They have participated in our Cybercamps Academy programs for at least three years. They are the youth that have excelled as both participants and personal leaders. They have been identified as helpful mentors by their peers, former staff and directors, and our national Counselor-in-Training Program. Junior counselors work with the staff in a team environment. However, junior counselors are not on the overnight staff team, do not have medical responsibilities (e.g., administering medications), and are never left alone to supervise participants.

Counselor Interns – They are graduates from the Teen Leadership Program, not yet staff. They must first prove themselves to be ready and able to direct their own activities during Cybercamps Academy while remaining focused on kid’s needs. Counselor interns get to test their leadership through giving directions, leading a game, or answering questions when someone needs some help. Counselor interns do not teach our courses.

Counselors-in-Training (camp participants in our Teen Leadership Program) do not teach our courses. They can't - they're too busy working in their own programs. For more information on the role of these program participants, please see our TLP program page.

 

How We Screen and Hire Staff

We go beyond other computer camps to ensure that our staff is the best in the business! In addition to going through our strict screening and interviewing process, each staff member is required to pass a detailed background and reference check.

We conduct a full background check using a professional firm that checks every state of previous residence or employment. In response to the increase in identity theft, we require multiple forms of ID and verification of our employee data. We also obtain a complete adult record of each applicant during the screening process. This record highlights any arrests, convictions, or criminal actions such as felonies, misdemeanors, charges of sexual impropriety, violence, driving violations (including DUI or drug-related vehicular violations), or domestic disputes.

In addition to the background checks, we collect three references for each staff member – even if they were staff the prior year. We keep up-to-date on all our staff to ensure that Cybercamps Academy is the safest place for youth to be during the summertime.

Since our start in 1997, there have been no instances or allegations of improper behavior by any member of our staff.

 

Meet Some of Our Staff

Cybercamps Academy hires hundreds of staff members each summer to mentor and teach in our national computer and technology program. We are experts at finding, screening, and selecting the brightest and most passionate academy directors and counselors. We take this job seriously because we know you want the best for your kids. Take a moment to meet some of the people that make our program better than any computer camp out there:

Bob Bagley – Academy Director, Amherst College

Bob's been around Amherst longer than Cybercamps Academy has! An adopted ACE Camp Director, Bob really knows his stuff. He’s experienced in the complex administration of Massachusetts camps and has crossed every “t” and dotted every “i” to make sure we run a great program that meets state guidelines. Originally from England, Bob's humorous storytelling is second only to his wit and insight about American culture. Bob is a math and science teacher during the non-camp season. There’s no doubt he expects a great deal from his staff - and he gets it!

Casey Crane – Cybercamps Academy Field Program Specialist

Casey has worked for Cybercamps Academy over the past eight summers. She was a rock star academy director at Bellevue Community College in Washington state and has worked for headquarters for the past five years. Casey taught elementary school for seven years and has her master’s degree in education. There is nothing that Casey likes more than singing camp songs at the top of her lungs and being around children of all ages. When Casey isn’t involved with camp, she is spending time with her family, traveling and enjoying the great outdoors of Washington state.

Jim Dzwonchyk – Academy Director, Saint Joseph's College

Big Jim is a fourth grade teacher from Colchester, Conn. He has been teaching for five years and loves every minute of it. He has been a Cybercamps Academy Director for five years and enjoys that as well. He is married to Courtney and has a "quirky" 2-year-old son, Sam. Jim enjoys working in the yard and striving to become a "Grillmaster" on his BBQ. Jim has an obsession with all music, but his favorite music comes from Dave Matthews Band. In whatever spare time is left, you can find Jim passed out on the couch due to exhaustion.

Kim Goldberg – Academy Director, College of St. Elizabeth

Kim’s been a computer teacher since 1997 at a private school and was the head of the technology department. Before Cybercamps Academy came along, she spent her summers teaching summer school or working for YMCA day camps. Kim is currently back in school full-time pursuing a degree in social work. She is an organized perfectionist who knows how to get the most from her counselors. Kim was elected VP of Communication of Phi Theta Kappa Chapter (Honor Society) and volunteers at a local hospital. Kim has been with Cybercamps Academy since 2002.

Jim Kendall - Academy Director, UW Bothell

This is Jim’s seventh year with Cybercamps Academy! Jim’s quick-thinking has inspired participants and staff alike. Jim has taught elementary school for the past 11 years, he sings with the Seattle Men’s Chorus and he loves spending time with his “gi-normous” German shepherd, Logan. When Jim’s around, everyone better get ready to let loose! Jim has experience in all types of summer programs. He was originally a rustic-camping and sports-coach type of guy, and he also served as a lifeguard. Jim is modest about his tech skills – but don't let that fool you! He is an expert in helping participants discover and appreciate their own talents.

Danielle Rupinski – Academy Director, University of Washington

Danielle is originally from Key Largo, Fla. She worked in Boston as manager of Math, Science and Technology programs for the Boston Girl Scouts before moving out to Seattle with her husband. She is currently back in school studying Technical Communication. This will be her third year as camp director at the University of Washington. She loves Cybercamps Academy and she's looking forward to getting super-soaked every Wednesday this summer.