2008 Guest Leaders

Alumni Camp Leader
Melinda Andrews
Melinda is a lifelong member of CPC, and is married with four children. This June marks 18 years of teaching in the Canton City School District, the last 17 years in Kindergarten, and the last 16 years at Mason Elementary. She came to Wakonda first with her family during Memorial Day Camp-ins and then as a camper when she was of ‘legal camp age’!  Melinda worked as a lifeguard during the summer of 1984, was the Waterfront Director in 1987, a Counselor in 1988, 1991, and 1992 - participated in Staff Training for four years, and filled in as ‘Director for a Day’ when the need arose. Now her two oldest children are becoming seasoned Wakonda campers and the two younger ones just need to age a bit before they can join the fine Wakonda tradition.

Grandparents’ Camp Leader
Alice Bailey
Alice is a grandparent whose children and grandchildren were/are “Wakonda kids”.  She believes in the ministry of Jesus Christ at Camp Wakonda and Christ Presbyterian Church.   Alice has served as a volunteer at Wakonda, both as a counselor and a co-director.

Spy Kids Leader

Jennie George

Jennie is the Christian Education Director for Christ Presbyterian Church and proud mother of two.  She pioneered the Kids’ Church program at CPC and through her efforts, the children’s ministry continues to grow.

Science in the Woods Leader

Anne (Minter) Weikert

Anne is a professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Miami University in Ohio and a former Wakonda staff member.

Run with the Wind Leader
Kevin Walsh
Kevin is the head cross country coach at Jackson High School and has been for the past eleven years, after serving two years as the assistant coach.  In addition he has served as an assistant coach in charge of the distance runners for the past thirteen years for the Jackson track high team.   Previously, he spent time coaching at both Dover High School and at Akron Hoban.   Kevin has been blessed with a supportive family that shares his enthusiasm for running.  His wife Angie is an active runner and the greatest supporter of the entire Jackson program.  The youngest members of the program are his three young runners -Wesley, Karli and Addison.

Created 2 Create Leaders:
Brennis Booth
Brennis is the co-owner of Second April Galerie in downtown Canton, Ohio, which is involved with the Special Improvement District through their First Friday events.

Nicole Garlando Berens
Nicole volunteers as Executive Director for the Ananda Center in Massillon. She holds a BFA in Dance and is also a licensed massage therapist. She is a dancer, choreographer, student and teacher of many forms of movement including modern dance, Middle Eastern, African, improvisation, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and yoga.  Her work has been showcased across Ohio, in Atlanta Georgia, and Europe. She has been teaching the moving arts for 15 years to people of all ages and skill levels and is currently instructing at Washington High School, Oak Park Preschool, local studio Chris T’s Dance Emporium, Canton Calvary Mission, Mercy Medical Center and the Ananda Center. Nicole is very involved in the Massillon community and its’ artistic growth.

Pamela Smith
Pamela has worked in the horse industry for over 35 years and has taught life skills to countless youth and adults throughout her career.  She is the Co-founder, Equine Specialist and co-facilitator at Reinbows At Serenity Springs and owner of Serenity Springs Equine Center.  She has received Advanced Certification with EAGALA; The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, registered instructor’s certification with NARHA; North America Riding for the Handicapped and certified instructor with CHA; Certified Horsemanship Association.  In 2006 she was inducted into the YWCA Women’s Hall of Fame for her work with at-risk youth and their families through the use of equine partners.

Caroline Kappel, PhD
Caroline is a dancer, choreographer, collaborator, and certified Pilates Instructor.  She holds a BA degree in Sociology from Saint Mary’s College, Indiana, an MFA degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from Mills College, California, and a doctorate degree in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University.  Caroline has taught ballet, jazz, tap, creative, and modern dance for various age groups, as well as university level lecture courses in the fine arts, dance history and theory, and dance technique.  Caroline has performed nationally and internationally with various dance companies.  In 2005 she performed in Israel as part of Project Yitzhak, an international arts festival.  She is involved with MegLouise Dance, Cleveland, Ohio, and The Ananda Center, Massillon, Ohio, where she choreographs, performs, and is the President of the Board of Directors.  She also owns and operates a Pilates studio, while teaching dance history at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio.

Kathy Jevec
Education Director of the Massillon Museum for twelve years, Program Manager for the Humanities Initiatives for the Stark Education Partnership for nine years, and a professional calligrapher for thirty years, Kathy Jevec has been an artist, teacher, and an administrator in the arts.
She is dedicated to promoting the arts as a means to develop individual human potential, improve learning as a partner in school, teach the skills needed for a good employee in any field, and to communicate the ideas of an individual and the dreams of a generation.
Kathy is an artist whose current main medium is paper. She makes interesting, conceptual art to make you laugh and give you a place to play with words and images as well as to enhance your everyday environment.
Currently, she operates a studio called Rabbit On The Moon. She offers classes, outreach programs, helps with KidScene at the Lion’s Lincoln Theater, is on the arts committee for Stark County Schools and makes object ‘d art.

Shelly Chatterelli RYT, CYKF, YET, RYCP
Shelly is an award winning writer and registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has been practicing and teaching yoga to both children and adults over the past ten years. Shelly holds certifications through many nationally recognized yoga programs including YogaKids, Yoga Ed and the Radiant Child Yoga Program. In addition, she holds a special certification in using yoga with at-risk youth. She is also the co-founder of Yoga 1-2-3 Ready providing simple, exciting, one- of-a kind workshops and consultation services to early learning programs throughout Ohio and is currently co-authoring an early childhood resource guide based on this successful program. Shelly is committed to providing ways to promote healthy self-esteem, peace, happiness and new adventures in learning.

Angelina Oberlin

Angelina, a current Board Member of the Ananda Center, has worked with the Ananda Center coordinating the children’s portion of the 2007 Art Syrcus event and acting as the liasion between the Massillon Museum and the Center to showcase museum reproductions at Art Syrcus.  She is also actively involved with the dance classes and performances the Center presents.  Angelina has been an arts educator for twelve years, the last ten at Southeast Local Schools where she currently teaches Visual Art k-8 to over 500 students each week.  She has also taught classes at Wooster’s Wayne Center for the Arts and the Massillon Museum where she is also on the Education Committee.  Angelina is also a practicing artist, and exhibits her photography locally, including a current show at 2nd April Gallery in Canton.

Matt Berens
Matt is a member of the Ananda world drumming group and the facilitator of the Ananda drum circles. He has had an integral part of every major Ananda Center performance,running sound and lights for ArtSyrcus and Lincoln Theatre showcases and live shows.  He is currently enrolled at Stark State College pursuing a degree in multimedia with digital audio production and commercial music. He has been producing original music for 10 years.

 Lynda Tuttle
Lynda is the Arts Director for Second April Galerie in downtown Canton, Ohio.