Camp Manitou takes great pride in its eight member Camp Director team. Yes we actually have eight camp directors! When Jeff and Mark started camp Manitou they felt it was critical to the success of any camp to have a large number of mature, experienced staff, many of whom are parents themselves who can work directly with the unit heads and counselors on a moment's notice. Our theory is that older and experienced staff, many of whom are teachers and educators themselves can give far better advice based on actual life experience. After all counselors and unitheads range in age from 25 down to age 17.

The wisdom and street smarts of experienced educators and parents allows us to be more proactive with camp issues. We are able to assign a camp director specifically to a homesick camper, to a camper cabin in need of team building, to a child who is being left out or picked on immediately and with an ability to support and follow up with the counselors and unit heads. We all know the first few days of camp can make or break a camper's experience and being able to support our staff with mature director staff, to supply direct one on one advice to numerous campers in a day truly sets us apart.

Take a look at our Camp Director Team and remember that even though they have specific responsibilities each and every director spend half of their time supporting what matters most- our campers and our staff.

	Mark Diamond Director	From Toronto, Ontario, Mark works full-time as Owner and Director in Manitou’s winter office. Mark is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London with a degree in Law. Mark worked professionally as a Lawyer, Real Estate Developer and Internet Service Provider before realizing his lifelong dream of owning a camp and purchasing Camp Manitou in 1999 with his partner Jeff Wilson. He grew up at Camp White Pine near Haliburton and is now a Fellow in the Society of Camp Directors and an active volunteer with the Ontario Camps Association. In addition to sitting on their board of directors, Mark has chaired the OCA’s Water Standards Task Force and more recently their Standards review Task Force. Mark also sits on the board of Ve’ahavta and has been heavily involved in various other community organizations. This will be his 13th summer at Manitou.
	Jeff Wilson Director	From Toronto, Ontario, Jeff works full-time as Owner and Director in Manitou’s winter office. Jeff studied Photography at Sheridan College and worked briefly as a Travel Agent, but truly has devoted his life to camping. After growing up at Camp White Pine near Haliburton and spending almost 10 years as their full-time Program Director, Jeff went on to join the Ownership/Director team at Camp Tamakwa in Algonquin Park before joining with his partner Mark Diamond to purchase Camp Manitou in 1999. A Fellow in the Society of Camp Directors, Jeff also has many years experience working with the Ontario Camps Association and has been invited to speak at their annual conference on many occasions. This will be his 13th summer at Manitou.
	Leigh Bryant Director	Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Leigh grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she has spent the past year working. She is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec with a degree in International Development and Religious Studies. After graduation, Leigh spent a year travelling and working in Japan, then moved to Toronto, Ontario where she was involved with youth Drama programs and community events. She has past experience as a ‘Floor Fellow’ supervisor in the McGill residence system and was involved in theatre programs for over 12 years, writing, acting and directing. She was a national level Synchronized Swimmer and holds her NCCP level one coaching certification. In 2008, Leigh was named World Games Captain. She returns for her fifth summer at Manitou and second as Program Coordinator.
	Markus Fehr Director	From Toronto, Ontario, Markus works full-time in Manitou’s winter office. A graduate of McMaster University with a degree in History, Markus has since been invited to speak on Camp Leadership at camping conferences throughout Ontario and also taught a semester at Centennial College in Toronto. During the year, Markus is a Fellow in the Society of Camp Directors and is an active volunteer with the Ontario Camps Association having received the OCA’s Ron Johnstone Youth Leadership Award in 2000. Also a political activist, Markus has successfully managed local federal and municipal campaigns and is currently the President of the Federal Liberal EDA in Willowdale. After 10 seasons at Onondaga Camp, Markus has worked at Manitou as Unit Head, CIT Coordinator, Program Director and is currently the Assistant Director focussing on staffing and leadership development. This will be his 15th summer at Manitou.
	Denise George Director	Originally from Midland, Ontario, Denise recently went back to school to complete her degree in Education at Nipissing University. She is previously a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a degree in Social Development Studies and from Centennial College in Toronto with a diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services. Denise has past experience teaching outdoor education at Mentor College and coordinating groups through the offseason at Camp George. She has also coached varsity Girls Basketball teams at high schools in Toronto and Parry Sound. Denise has worked at Manitou as a counsellor, Activity Head, Unit Head, Administrative Director, Head Counsellor and will work her first season as Activity Director supervising daytime programming. In 1998, she was named World Games captain. This will be her 14th summer at Manitou.
	Chris McKibbin Director	From Toronto, Ontario, Chris spent much of this past year organizing a FIFA tournament in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He previously worked as a Special Education teacher at Highland Heights Public School. Chris holds a degree in Education from OISE in Toronto and a degree in Sociology from the University of Guelph. He also spent several months in an immersion program in Trios Pistoles, Quebec. He has experience counselling at a North York day camp as well as coaching house league hockey and little league softball. Chris was named World Games captain in 2001 and has worked at Manitou as a counsellor, Unit Head, Activity Coordinator and Activity Director. He returns for his 11th season on staff and first as Associate Director focusing on residential life and camper issues.
	Jen Murdock Director	Originally from St. Albert, Alberta, Jen now lives in Toronto where she works full-time in Manitou’s winter office. She is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a degree in Economics and Mathematics and is also a certified Fitness Instructor. During the year Jen trains as a marathon runner, has worked as a Math Tutor, volunteers with the Ontario Camps Association and was presented with the OCA’s Ron & Mickey Johnstone Youth Leadership Award in 2011. She also spent a year working as a Residence Advisor while at school. Jen has worked at Manitou as an Activity Head and Unit Head and is currently the Administrative Director focusing on office and business administration. In 2001, Jen was named World Games Captain. This will be her 11th summer at Manitou.
	David Sheffe Director	From Toronto, Ontario, David works full-time between Manitou’s winter office and managing Spring and Fall groups in addition to the general facility on site from April to October. David is a graduate of York University and the Recreation and Leisure Services Program at Centennial College where he now teaches as a part-time instructor during the year. David taught for one year at Bond College and has volunteered with the Ontario Camps Association. In camping throughout his life, David grew up at Camp Northland near Haliburton, then worked in Youth Outreach for the Town of Markham and Directed Vaughn Summer Day Camps. He holds his NLS and is a certified water systems technician. David has worked at Manitou as Unit Head, CIT Coordinator, Program Director and is currently the Associate Director focusing on facility development and waterfront safety. This will be his 13th summer at Manitou.
	Jay Wengle Director	From Thornhill, Ontario, Jay works full time as a teacher at the York Centre. He holds a degree in Education from OISE, specializing in Health and Physical Education, a Masters degree in science from the University of Guelph and also spent two years studying Medicine in Australia. His past experience includes teaching at Richmond Hill High School and a teaching a Health course at York University. He has also developed Health curriculum with Right to Play, with the royal family of Dubai and managed a research study for overweight teens at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. From this study, Jay co-authored the book Getting a Healthy Weight for your Child. Jay has worked at Manitou for eleven seasons, as a counsellor, Unit Head and founder of our Greenhouse program in 2009. He returns for his 14th season at camp and second as Program Director.