Girls' Camp Staff

Nancy J. Kennedy, Ph.D. - Director, Wavus Camp for Girls
Nancy joined Kieve-Wavus Education Inc. early in 2010 as volunteer Chaplain for Kieve’s Veterans' Program. Quickly recognizing that she would make an excellent full time employee here, we hired Nancy as the program's co-director and as Assistant Director at Wavus. Nancy's love of children, the outdoors, learning, engaging personality and exceptional leadership skills combine to make her a natural fit here. Nancy, who grew up in the camping world in New Hampshire, holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from the University of New Hampshire, a Master of Divinity from Bangor Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies, graduating with honors from the University of Maine. Nancy taught Environmental Studies at Randolph Macon Women’s College and Lynchburg College before returning to Maine in 2007. She is a resident of Newcastle where she lives with her son, Nicholas, and several furry friends.

Sara Taylor - Assistant Director and Wilderness Tripping Director
Sara is from New Zealand and arrived at Wavus as a wilderness trips leader in 2007. She loves being outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, climbing, working with children of all ages, and being a positive role model for them. Sara is an active person with lots of energy and is extremely well organized – an imperative skill in dealing with all of the details of running a successful wilderness trip camp. She gives everything a go and enjoys a hands-on approach to learning and teaching new skills and ideas.
Sara graduated in from The University of Waikato in 2004 with a Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in Human Resource Management and Management Information Systems. Sara holds a Wilderness First Responder Certificate and divides her time between living in Maine and New Zealand. In New Zealand Sara works as a Caving (Spelunking) Guide at Waitomo Caves, a major tourist attraction on the West Coast of the North Island.

Henry R. Kennedy - Executive Director
Henry Kennedy has served as Kieve’s Executive Director since 1991 and is the third generation of his family at the helm. Henry graduated from Colby College in 1980 then worked as a Certified Public Accountant in California and Portland, Maine. His non-profit experience includes 2 terms elected to the Cumberland, Maine school board, member of the Colby College Board of Overseers, appointment to the Great Ponds Taskforce by Governor King, past president of the Maine Youth Camping Association, past member of Allagash Wilderness Waterway advisory committee, founding board member of the Family Ice Center in Falmouth, Maine, member of Governor Baldacci’s Equity in Education taskforce, and member of Maine Huts and Trails board. He was a Kieve camper from 1967 through 1972 and a counselor from 1973-1980. He lives in Cumberland and Nobleboro, Maine with his wife, B.J., and their 2 children, Sam and Blair.

Patty Fast - Assistant Director
Patty joins us as an Assistant Director this year at Wavus. She has been our Health Care Manager for the past two years. Patty is the mother of a Kieve camper and a Biology teacher at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT where she lives with her children Andrew, Lisa Marie and Brendan.

Julie Walters - Assistant Director- Junior Wavus
Hello!!!! I am from Wells, Maine and this will be my second summer here at Wavus! I’m a 2009 graduate from University of Maine at Farmington, with a degree in Early Childhood Education. While at UMF I played on the Women’s Soccer team and now I coach high school soccer in southern Maine, but I can’t wait to get back to Damariscotta Lake for another amazing summer at Wavus!! I love everything about this place and I look forward to seeing you all!!!

Leigh Williamson - Assistant Director Challenge Course
Leigh is a 2008 graduate from William Smith College with a B.A. in French and dual certification in Childhood Education and Special Education. She was a teacher at the Leadership School from Sept 2008 - June 2010 and is currently a Graduate Student at the Nazareth College in Rochester. Leigh has a very diverse background, having lived in four different states throughout her childhood. She grew up mainly in New York and so considers it her home state.

Liz Jones - Assistant Director Waterfront
Hi everyone! This will be my second summer at Wavus! I'm graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington this spring with a major in Elementary Education. I'm from right here in Jefferson, Maine and have grown up loving the outdoors around here! During the winters I spend my weekends teaching skiing and snowboarding to children. My favorite activities at Wavus would be swimming, canoeing, kayaking, going to the ocean, singing and waking up campers with my violin. I can't wait to see everyone and meet new people this summer!

Charlie Richardson - Director of Education and Operations
Charlie has been an integral member of the Kieve-Wavus family since 1983, first as an intern in Kieve’s Leadership School program then as a counselor, and ultimately as C0-Director of the Boys’ Camp. He currently is involved in helping to provide the best educational experience for each and every person and group that comes to our incredible campuses. In the community Charlie has been a board member at the Central Lincoln County YMCA and board member and chairman of the Nobleboro, Maine School board. His teaching and administrative experience have taken place in the Hull Public School in Massachusetts, the Linsly School in Wheeling, WV, and McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD. He now resides year round at Kieve with his wife Annie and their two children Laurie Beth and C.J.

Callie Saulniers - Infirmary Director
Callie is a certified Maine State EMT and holds a degree in Fire Science Technology. She currently serves on the Whitefield Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments and works in the Child Care Center at the Central Lincoln County YMCA. Callie lives locally in Jefferson and enjoys swimming and kayaking in the summer.

Deb Suchar - Administrative Assistant
Deb joined us in December 2010 and brings tremendous administrative skills, an extensive background in customer service and a natural camp spirit. Deb is a 1997 graduate of the University of Maine - Orono with a BS in Human Nutrition and Foods. She lives in Damariscotta, Maine with Scott, and Rollo, Oddie and Bob the bird. She enjoys home renovations and traveling to warm summy places in her spare time.

Anna Lee - Camper Connection
Anna has been involved with Kieve-Wavus in one way or another since 2000. She was a camper for four years, has worked for the Kieve camper connection and has staffed the camp store. She is a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology majoring in American Sign Language Interpretation with a Math minor. Anna lives in Newcastle, ME and her hobbies include music, theater and dance.

Scott Henry - Wavus Facility Manager
Scott has been working for Kieve-Wavus since 1997. He graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in forestry. Scott's primary responsibility is to insure that the physical plant at Wavus is maintained and improved. In his limited off time Scott enjoys hunting and fishing, both locally and in Canada. He is married and has one son, John and a daughter, Josie.

Bill Chapman - Snowgoose Captain
Bill holds a Coast Guard boat license and has worked as a commercial fisherman for more than twenty years. He brings a wide range of experiences and talents to Kieve all year long. He has always had a mechanical bent, working as a maintenance mechanic in a local hospital while attending Northeastern University. He is a jack of all trades, able to handle a wide variety of projects on his own. In the past he has served as a law-enforcement officer in Washington, D.C., worked with Project Leap in Massachusetts , and overseen a number of properties in Coastal Maine. Bill is also a licensed Maine Guide, specializing in hunting expeditions both for upland birds and Sea Ducks.

Ryan Pelletier - Environmental Education Coordinator
A graduate of Williams College, Ryan joined The Leadership School staff in the spring of 2010 and is currently a teacher with the program. He will be spending his second summer as one of the Environmental Educators on Hog Island, a neaby Audubon Nature Reserve. A native of Maine, Ryan has a great love for the outdoors and for working with young people.

Carolyn Findeisen - Maine Audubon Educator
Carolyn is part of the education team at Maine Audubon. She will be working on Hog Island this summer. Carolyn grew up at Camp Wyonegonic nn Maine, where she has spent 16 summers. She has also spent several seasons as an outdoor education instructor at the Aloha foundation in Vermont and at the Appalachian Mountain Club. Carolyn has just completed a graduate degree in education from Prescott College. She currently lives in Portland."

Russ Williams - Development & Communications Director
In addition to being the Development Director, Russ coordinates all the the program brochures, newsletters and website updates. For Girls Camp specifically, he oversees the design and implementation of the "Camper Connection", a very popular website function, updated daily during camp and that allows parents to view thousands of camper pictures all year round. Russ is also the 9/11 Family Camp Director.