Camps staff

Sheila Rhodes

Hi campers and families.  I am an Associate Teaching Professor in the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University where I have taught a variety of courses including Science and Technology, Health and Physical Education and Environmental Education.  I am on the executive of the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario and I am actively involved in many environmental organizations.  I have been the Camp Director for camps based out of the Faculty of Education for fifteen (15 +) years (since camps started!). I look forward to meeting new families and renewing friendships with returning families.

Qusay H. Mahmoud 

Hi there! My name is Qusay H. Mahmoud. I am a Professor of Software Engineering in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering at Ontario Tech University. I am the Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Engineering Outreach in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, where several of our camp programs are developed. Our 2021 camp programs were my first year being involved with Ontario Tech's Child(ren) and Youth camps, and I am excited to hear even more great feedback from campers and their families as we engage the community in future camp programs!

Ellen (James) Istvan

Hello, my name is Ellen Istvan and I am the Women in Engineering and Engineering Outreach Program Supervisor in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. I graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Western University, where I was involved in the Women in Engineering program, volunteered for the Engineering Outreach program, and completed an internship at Union Gas. After graduation, I joined Ferrero, the leading global chocolate and confectionery manufacturer (Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder Chocolate) as a project supervisor, and moved to Alba, Italy. Now back in Canada, I am using my experiences to help inspire and lead the next generation of youth to understand the importance of STEM pathways. I hope through our work we are able to transform the way youth interact with STEM concepts by simplifying complex thoughts into actionable ideas that society can use. My door is always open!

2023 Summer Camp Counsellors

Hello everyone! My name is Alanna and I am a current Ontario Tech student studying Psychology and part of the concurrent education stream. I enjoy spending my free time outdoors, or on a court where I can play volleyball. This is my first year as a camp counsellor at Ontario Tech Summer Camp so I am looking forward to meeting everyone and taking part in all the fun activities!

Hello, campers! I am a graduate of Ontario Tech Faculty of Education (Primary/Junior) and of York University (BFA Honours in Visual Arts). I teach in the DDSB and come back each year, to be a part of our summer camp! I have been a counsellor since 2011, and have watched many of you returning campers grow in your knowledge and passion for science and nature!! Nature, science, STEAM, and art are my passions and I look forward to sharing camp this summer with you!

Hey everyone, my name is Alyssa. I’ve been a Counsellor in Training for the last 2 years at Ontario Tech, and will be returning this summer as a Junior Counsellor! I’ve been a participant in these camps since I was a kid, and I am so excited to be facilitating them. I like to draw and 3D model in my free time, and also love playing piano and listening to music. I’m looking forward to meeting you all, and working together in the summer!

Hello, campers and families! My name is Amanda. I am a teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University and am very excited to be joining as a camp counsellor this year. I am looking forward to meeting all of our new and returning campers. I love nature, science and art and I can’t wait to have a fun and exciting summer with everyone! 

Hi everyone! My name is Amanda, and I am a P/J teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University. I am excited to be a camp counsellor this year and bring my love for STEAM and background in industrial engineering to the camp activities. Outside of camp, I love to try new recipes, go on long walks, and spend time with family and friends. I’m looking forward to learning, exploring, and playing with you all this summer!

Hi, everybody, my name is Anenddesh. I am excited, as this is my first year working in the Ontario Tech Summer Camps as a Junior Counsellor. I have volunteered the year before but this is my first year working here. Also, I have been coming to these camps as a camper ever since I was 10 years old. My hobbies include: learning physics, playing sports and watching basketball. This summer, I am very excited to work with you all in a very creative and fun environment.

Hi all! My name is Ariadne and I’m a teacher candidate in the BEd program at Ontario Tech. Before I came to Ontario Tech, I studied marine biology at the University of Guelph. I love science, parrots, Minecraft, and singing. This is my first year as a camp counsellor and I am so excited to be part of camp this summer!

Hello, my name is Ashlee and I am a 2nd-year Mechanical Engineering student. My job will be preparing and delivering different STEM programming to campers. My hobbies include cooking, anime, and movies. I will have hour-long discussions about Marvel!

Hello everyone! My name is Bazza and I am currently a teacher candidate in the Primary/Junior division of the Bachelor of Education program at Ontario Tech University. I enjoy nature - which leads to my love for science - and comedy. So, if you have a knock-knock joke to share, I am all two ears! I also have a Bachelor of Science degree, which means I am eagerly looking forward to fostering the spirit of ‘eureka!’ among all the budding scientists. With it being my first year as a camp counsellor at the Ontario Tech Summer Camps, I’m excited to turn this summer into an experience full of learning and fun with you all.

Hello everyone! My name is Caden, and I am looking forward to being part of Summer Camps again this summer. I am currently at University studying Computer Science. Some of my favourite subjects are math and the sciences. These camps always bring back fun memories from when I attended the robotics camp, and I hope that I can help create these same memories for you! I look forward to seeing you all this summer!

Hello, campers and families. My name is Caitlin. I am a current teacher candidate, studying at Ontario Tech University and completing my placements within the Durham District School Board, with a Primary/Junior focus. I am currently completing my Priority School certificate within the Faculty of Education. I am passionate about both learning and teaching. This is my first year working as a camp counsellor with Ontario Tech's Summer Camp. I cannot wait to get this camp started as we are going to have a fun-filled summer! 

Hello, campers! My name is Carissa. I am currently an occasional teacher with the DDSB. This is my second year as a summer camp counsellor, and I am excited to be back! I particularly enjoy Minecraft, Lego Robotics, STEAM and coding. I also enjoy singing and playing guitar, video games, hiking, and Jiu Jitsu in my free time. I'm looking forward to seeing both new and returning campers and to the wonderful activities we have planned for the campers this summer!

Hi, I am Chenhao! I am a high school student with a passion for STEM and helping others. Outside of that, I enjoy playing the piano, figure skating, and reading!

Hello, campers and families! My name is Chris, and I am a teacher candidate in the Bachelor of Education (BEd) program in the Primary/Junior (P/J) division at Ontario Tech University. I have graduated from the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Trent University. While I am a new camp counsellor, I have experience working with young students as a Big Brothers Big Sisters In-School Mentor. Some of my hobbies include collecting inspirational quotes, listening to music and singing, watching Disney movies, spending time with family and friends, and exercising. One of my favourite mottos is “Hakuna Matata!” I look forward to creating fun and exciting memories with everyone this summer! See you all soon!  

Hello everyone! My name is Claudia and I am currently a teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University in the P/J stream. It is my first year joining this camp and I am super excited to be a part of it! I love spending my free time going on walks and spending time outside. I’m excited to meet everyone and can’t wait for this summer! 

Hello Everyone! My name is Clerona and I am going to be a teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University this fall. I am extremely excited to be a part of the Ontario Tech Summer Camps. I love the outdoors, hiking, basketball and children. I can’t wait to create fun memories with everyone this summer! 

My name is Daimen and I am a Mechatronics Engineering Graduate working with the c_wonder Academy team this year. I love music, science, and plants. On my days off, I like to build small projects to further my understanding of coding, electrical concepts, and 3D printing.

Hi, I’m Daniel. I am a 2nd-year Mechatronics Engineering student and involved with the Motorsports team and Engineering Society at Ontario Tech University. My interests are in software development, electrical engineering, CAD and anything robotics. In my free time, I like to work on personal projects, watch YouTube and occasionally play video games.

Hey! My name is Devon. I am currently studying mathematical science and I just finished my first year of university. I enjoy going to the gym, playing sports, in warm weather, and spending time with family and friends. Also, I recently took up meditation.

Hello, campers! My name is Divjot and I am heading into my second year of university. I am very excited to be here as a camp counsellor this summer. I have been helping in Ontario Tech Summer Camps for a couple of years now. I love to play sports and I am excited to learn about your passions! I am interested in LEGO robotics and love video games. The subjects I am most interested in are Math and Science. I can't wait to learn more about you guys!

Hi all! My name is Emily and I am a P/J teacher candidate in the Bachelor of Education program here at Ontario Tech. I’m thrilled to be joining the camps and can’t wait to help bring out the excitement within our campers about STEM! Outside of camp, I love to read, garden, spend time with friends, and be outside. See you soon!

Hello everyone! My name is Emmitt and I am a former camper turned counsellor. I have been attending Ontario Tech camps each summer one way or another since I was six years old! I volunteered as a counsellor here for two years and I am now a junior counsellor for my third. Some of my hobbies include playing video games, coding, listening to music, spending time with my family and making virtual 3D models in Blender. My goal is to help all the campers I work with overcome their challenges and learn new skills that will benefit them in the future in the same way that the counsellors previously taught me! I am very excited to meet you all!! 

Hi! I am Erin, I am a 2nd-year Electrical Engineering student working as a Program Instructor this summer. I enjoy learning anything math or calculus related. In my spare time, I love playing Pokémon!

Hi! My name is Fareeha and I am a 3rd year Computer Science student. I am going to be working with Engineering Outreach as a Program Instructor. In my free time, I like to meet new people! One thing you should know about me is that I love to go for long walks in the summer.

Hello! I’m Fayez, and I’m a 3rd-year Mechatronics Engineering student. I am also a member of the Ontario Tech Racing team, working with the electric drivetrain. I have a passion for tinkering with things such as cars and technology, and making people laugh. A fun fact about me is 7/10 times you see me, I am probably snacking on something because I love food!

Hi, campers and families! My name is Georgia and I am an Occasional Teacher at Durham District School Board. This is my second year as a camp counsellor and I am very excited to be a part of Ontario Tech Summer Camps again this year! I have previous experience working as a camp counsellor at summer camps, and I have a great passion for teaching and working with youth. I am very interested in STEAM and I look forward to inspiring students in learning, creating, and exploring STEAM activities! 

Hi, Campers, my name is Hiba and this will be my first summer being a camp counsellor. Previously I was a Counsellor in Training and before that, I was a camper here. I am heading into my first year of university this fall for Life Science at Ontario Tech. I love to read, listen to music and love all things science. I look forward to seeing you all!

Hi everyone, my name is Holly and I am looking forward to returning to camp this summer. I am currently a Grade 8 teacher in Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. My favourite subjects are Science and Math. I also really love coding and robotics! This will be my fourth year at Ontario Tech Summer Camp. I’m excited to do lots of hands-on STEAM activities. This summer I am most looking forward to meeting some new campers and seeing some returning faces, but most of all, I can’t wait to get building, creating and exploring! 

Hi everyone! My name is Isabelle, I'm a teacher candidate at Ontario Tech, and I'm looking forward to spending a great summer together! I am new to Ontario Tech Summer Camps; however, I have years of camp counselling experience under my belt. My passions include mathematics, cats, and getting outdoors. This summer, I am most looking forward to meeting new people, learning new things, and being creative. See you soon!

My name is Jacob and I am a Grade 10 student. In my free time, I like to code and 3D model. Also, I play many instruments such as the guitar, the piano and the alto saxophone. One thing that you should know about me is that my favourite subject is math and I have gotten some awards from math competitions!

Hello everyone! My name is Jason and I am a grade 7/8 teacher for Durham District School Board. This will be my eighth year as a camp counsellor at the Ontario Tech Summer Camps and I look forward to meeting some new campers as well as welcoming some returning campers. I am extremely excited to be back at camp this summer and I just know we are going to have TONS of fun! I love anything related to Minecraft, coding and LEGO robotics so don’t hesitate to come talk to me about anything! I can’t wait to meet every single one of you!

Hi, Campers! My name is Jason and I am going into the trades program at Durham College this fall. This is my third year as a counsellor and before that, I was a camper here for seven years. I have been to all the camps at least once, so I know just how awesome they are! I love STEAM, nature, and science and I can’t wait to do lots of STEAM activities with you all this summer! I am looking forward to meeting our new campers and welcoming back returning campers and having a fun and amazing summer with you all!

Hi everyone! My name is Jenna and I am a P/J teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University. I am very excited to join you all this summer for an amazing camp experience! I am passionate about being creative in STEAM and I can’t wait to learn and have fun this summer with all the campers! 

Hi, I’m Jessica and I am a grade 11 student going into grade 12 this upcoming school year. In my free time, I spend a lot of time listening to music and going on walks, I love to explore!

Hi! I am Jonas. I just finished my second year of Software Engineering. I will be joining the team as a Program Instructor. I love movies and enjoy talking about them. I also like hanging out with friends.

Hello everyone, it is my pleasure to meet you. I am currently a new teacher who just completed their BE degree at Ontario Tech. This shall be my second summer working as a camp counsellor. Last summer, I had lots of fun working with campers in the coding and Lego camps! I look forward to meeting and working alongside everyone in these upcoming months! 

Hello, campers and families! My name is Kate and I am a P/J teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University. This will be my second year as a summer camp counsellor at the Ontario Tech camps. I love nature, staying active and STEAM. I can't wait to meet you all and have a fun-filled summer!

Hello, Campers and Families! Welcome to all of you! My name is Kaliyah, and this is my second year as a camp counsellor with Ontario Tech Summer Camps. I am currently an Occasional Teacher with Durham District School Board. I have had the pleasure of working with students and children for over seven years as an Early Childhood Educator. I have worked as a camp counsellor and a camp coordinator at a camp called Footsteps to Success with the Toronto Catholic District School Board for four years. I have a passion for learning and teaching! In my working career, I have taught Lego robotics to children 4-6 years of age and science at an afterschool program called Sprouts. (These two subjects are of interest to me!) I enjoy playing video games, building with Legos, and working with my hands! If I can say anything about this summer, I can say it will be FUN! I look forward to learning more with, about, and alongside you! 

Hello Everyone! I am Kohilavani, a Primary/Junior teacher candidate from Ontario Tech. I love spending time outdoors and am interested in doing STEAM projects. This is my first year as a summer camp counsellor. I am looking forward to seeing all your smiles this summer and am thrilled to work with new faces!

Hi, campers and parents. My name is Lade. I am a junior camp counsellor. I am in grade 12 and aiming to become a doctor. I have a great interest in coding and science. I love STEM and performing science experiments, I also like playing video games like Minecraft and Valorant. I used to be a camper myself for 7 years before I started working here. When I was younger I loved attending camp and now I hope to better the experiences of the campers. I am looking forward to meeting all of you soon. For the campers, have a fun and adventurous summer!

Hi, everyone! My name is Logan and I am a P/J teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University. I am thrilled about joining the camp community at Ontario Tech! I love to spend time outdoors, preferably by a lake, and engage in fun STEAM activities. I can’t wait to make memories with you all this summer! 

Hi, everyone! My name is Maria and I am a teacher candidate in the Bachelor of Education program at Ontario Tech! I love Math, Science, and spending time outdoors in nature! This will be my first summer at the camp and I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn together, and make some amazing memories! 

Hey, I am Marianna. I am a 3rd-year Mechatronics Engineering student. I've worked with Engineering Outreach primarily with teachers and I am the vice-chair of the Ambassador Committee for the non-profit hEr VOLUTION. I play guitar, draw, colour, and LOVE anime. I enjoy learning about things that are cool and technology.

Hello, campers and families! My name is Marielle and I will be one of your camp counsellors this summer. I am currently an Ontario Tech student in the Bachelor of Education program. This is my first year with Ontario Tech Summer Camps, however, I have worked previously in different camps. In addition, as a part of my area of study, I have had the opportunity to work with students from a variety of grade levels already. I am enthusiastic about Camps since it is structured around STEM education. With that being said, my interests include mathematics, travelling, languages, and food! I am looking forward to meeting and spending this summer with you all!

Hello, campers! My name is Max and this will be my first year as a camp counsellor. I am currently a student at Ontario Tech in Commerce as well as a Bachelor of Education Candidate. I attended these camps when I was younger, and I enjoyed going every single day - now it’s amazing that I have the opportunity to be a counsellor at the same camp. I love basketball, Lego, math and enjoy having fun. I can’t wait to get started and I look forward to having fun this summer!

Hi, campers! My name is Melita and I am so excited to be returning this summer! I currently teach Junior and Intermediate Science and Math. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning and experiencing all aspects of summer camp, especially coding, building and playing with robots and watching campers show off their skills on Minecraft! I am excited to meet and get to know you and can’t wait to see what we can create and learn together!

Hello! I am Michael, and I am a 2nd-year Mechanical Engineering student. I like to come to school often to play as much basketball as I can between classes and studying in my free time. I was also on the Intramural All-Star team this semester! I love listening to music. I also like playing video games with my friends!

Hello everyone! My name is Natalie and I am a student in the Biological Sciences at Ontario Tech as well as a candidate for the Bachelor of Education program. I am looking forward to my first summer joining this camp! Some of my interests are science, hiking, and playing with my dog. I am excited to meet you all this summer, be creative, and have lots of fun!  

Hi, Campers! My name is Nicole, and this summer will be my first time being a junior camp counsellor. Previously, I was a Counsellor in Training and I attended these camps as a camper for many years. I will be going into my first year of University this fall for Educational Studies here at Ontario Tech. Outside of school and camp, I play the piano and compete in track and field, specializing in javelin throwing. Last year I came 2nd at provincials and 4th at nationals. I am looking forward to seeing you all this summer!

Hey, I am Raessa, and I am a high school student! I like to spend my time learning something new, coding, reading, or solving brain teasers and riddles (or pretending to solve them only to look at the answers). As a STEM enthusiast, I hope to become a leader that inspires others while doing something I enjoy!

Hello! My name is Roya and I’m a primary/junior teacher candidate in the BEd program at Ontario Tech. Before the BEd program, I studied Health Sciences. I’m passionate about science, mathematics, and the arts. I have experience working at summer camps, daycares, and schools. I look forward to meeting you all, learning new things, and having lots of fun! 

Hey all :) I am Rushda and I've just completed my first year of Software Engineering here at Ontario Tech. This year, I am working with the For-Girls programs and STEM clubs for youth. I love reading fantasy novels and webcomics, writing poetry and solving mysteries. A fun fact about me is that I love baking even though I am not very good at it -- but that doesn't stop my sweet tooth!

Hi! I am Sandra, and I am a 4th year Human Health Science student. I am working with all students to deliver both virtual and in-person programs! I love reading, sewing, and baking in my free time, as well as hanging out with my friends! I am super friendly, so come up and say hello to me anytime!

Hi, campers and families! My name is Sarah and this will be my fifth year as a camp counsellor; I enjoy every second of it and I cannot wait for this summer to come around and have fun! I have been teaching high school math since I graduated from Ontario Tech but I am excited to get back to camp and have lots of FUN! I LOVE science (especially fun science experiments), math, robots, you name it; any STEAM-related activities!

Hello, campers and families! My name is Sarah and this is my 4th year working at a summer camp. For the last 3 years, I have worked for the YMCA. This is my first year working at Ontario Tech’s summer camp, I couldn’t be more excited to have such great summer exploring with your campers. I have the biggest passion for working with children and at summer camps, specifically, I have a passion for Minecraft, coding, and science. I am currently a 2nd-year Teacher Candidate at Ontario Tech University. Summer Camp is a place for students to explore, and be free and creative. 

Hello Everyone! My name is Sevrina. I have been in the field of education for over 20 years as an Early Childhood Educator and completed my Bachelor of Education in 2022. I am currently a teacher with DCDSB. I have run several summer camp programs and love to see the smiling faces of children as they explore their interests. I’m excited to meet all of you and have some fun in the wonderful world of STEAM! 

Hello, I am Steven and I am currently a 3rd-year Software Engineering student. As a student, I have some experience with camps and working with kids. I am also currently an executive for the anime club and a helper for the K-pop club. In my free time, I love gaming and listening to music. When it comes to music, I enjoy sad music even when I am in a good mood.

Hey! I’m Taz, and I’m a Software Engineering student. I love playing video games and painting. I am working with the c_wonder Community team this year.

Hello! My name is Veronica and this year I have been a grade 5 teacher with the DDSB! I am so excited to be back for another year of camp. I love STEAM activities! Last summer I thoroughly enjoyed every camp, including Lego Robotics, Coding, STEAM, and Girls Science. My free time is spent with my pets, hiking, reading, and playing video games. I am so excited to meet everyone and do so many fun activities :)

Hey everyone! My name is Veronica and I’m a Primary/Junior teacher candidate at Ontario Tech. Before coming here, I studied Psychology at York U. I am excited to be at camp with you this summer! I love exploring outside, experiencing and creating art and music, and learning about new things!

Hey there, campers!!! I am currently a teacher candidate at Ontario Tech University for the Bachelor of Education program in Primary/Junior. I am extremely excited to let out my crazy and passionate side toward STEM with this incredible camp and all the amazing campers! Science, arts, coding, designing and creating, and spending time in nature fuels me and I hope I can make you experience it, too! I have prior experience working as a camp counsellor with young children at a summer camp, and I can’t wait to enjoy the company of my curious and creative group!

Hey! I am Yousef, and I am currently studying computer science with a data science specialization. In my free time, I love listening to music, reading non-fiction books, and going to the gym. I also love building connections, so if you got a hold of my contact information, make sure you reach out to me!