Who are we? The Board of the Massachusetts Camping Association is a collection of volunteer professionals from across the camping industry within Massachusetts. We seek to create a diverse board that is representative of the many different types of summer camp offerings across the state. The purpose of the board mirrors that of the organization: we are here to support all member camps in the state of Massachusetts from legislative advisement to policy implementation. If you want to reach out to an individual member or the group at large, please visit the Contact Us page or use the fillable contact form at the bottom of the page.
Donna Johns-Thomas (President) is the Director of Professional Development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, an organization encompassing 11 clubs, camps, and programs across the cities of Boston and Chelsea. Prior to joining the team at BGCB, she was Director of Education and Member Services for the American Camp Association for over 13 years. And before that she was Camping Services Director for Girl Scout Councils all over the northeast, mid-west, and south. Donna is a 30+ year member of ACA, a Standards Visitor, and is certified as both a First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor and an ALICE Active Intruder Safety Trainer. She also owns her own business as a consultant, trainer, and public speaker. Her areas of expertise include human resources, group dynamics, staff training, supervision, leadership, morale, and multi-generational workplace characteristics. Donna’s hobbies include playing the guitar, rooting for THE Ohio State University Buckeyes, spending time with friends and family, and filling her Amazon cart with things she will never buy.
Matthew Scholl (Past President) is the Executive Director of Operations at Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA in Becket, MA. Formerly the Director of Programs at Christodora & the Manice Education Center. Matt has over 21 years experience in school and outdoor programs serving urban youth from Boston, New York City, and Pittsburgh.
Bill Hoch (Vice President) is In-house Legal Counsel to CampGroup, LLC and the Director Emeritus of Camp Watitoh a coed overnight camp in the Berkshires. He has served the MCA Board since 1989 and been our Vice President since 1989. In addition Bill is the President of the Western Massachusetts Camp Director’s Association.
Mark Toporoff is a Co-Director of Camp Danbee a girl’s overnight camp in the Berkshires. Mark was a middle school teacher, soccer coach, and camp professional before joining Danbee full-time in 1999.
Joanna Lenahan (Secretary) is the Senior Director of Outdoor Program and Facilities at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. She is responsible for year-round programming, 3 resident camps and 4 day camps at 11 properties. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for ACA New England and is a member of Camp America’s Board of Advisors.
Cassandra Abodeely(Government Affairs Co-Chair) is the Summer and Auxiliary Program Director at the Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill, a small independent day school serving campers from 3 – 16 years old and students from Pre-K to 12th Grade. In addition to her role as Camp Director, she oversees all After School programming, including the Extended Day, After School Clubs and After School Music programs and teaches in the Upper School during the academic year. She spent several incredible summers at Camp Wingate*Kirkland on Cape Cod as a counselor, C.I.T. Director, and Program Director which piqued her interest and love of camping. Prior to Brimmer and May, Cassie spent ten years as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx, New York, specializing in anti-Human Trafficking prosecutions.
Scott Brody (Government Affairs Co-Chair) Scott Brody is an educator and thought leader in the areas of 21st Century Learning, Workforce Development and Child Development. He is the Founder of Everwood Day Camp in Sharon, MA and the Owner and Director of Camps Kenwood & Evergreen. Scott is also a strategic partner of IDEAS Education in Beijing, China. Scott is an Executive Board member of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning in Washington, DC and leads P21’s work in “Beyond School” education. Scott has led multiple briefings for the US Congress on the ways in which high quality camp experiences promote college and career readiness, and speaks globally on these issues on behalf of the camp profession. Scott is the Government Affairs Chair of both the American Camp Association and the Massachusetts Camp Association and is a member of ACA’s CARE Committee. Scott is a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Jewish Camp and is past Board President of American Camp Association. He is also the author of an award-winning article for Camping Magazine entitled “Teaching the Skills that Children Need to Succeed”. Scott is an honors graduate of UC Berkeley and received a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School in 1990.
Marcia Seward Marcantonio (Member at Large) has been involved in camping since 1957. Having grown up at her families day camp Marcia has worn many hats at camp from swim instructor, head of junior camp to co-director. She is a former educator, and marketing director for the American Management Association. She served as the Chairperson for the Reuben Hoar Library Trustees in Littleton for eight years. Marcia is a standards visitor for the American Camp Association and she is currently the President of the Rotary Club of Littleton. Marcia holds a BS in English from Plymouth College and a MS in Management from Lesley College. Previously she has served on the boards of the, Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce and the American Red Cross.
Zach d’Arbeloff (Member at Large, Communications Chair) has been working in camping since 2008. Zach is the Director of Summer Programs at Belmont Day School in Belmont, MA, with previous stops at Drumlin Farm and Blue Hills as a camp professional and environmental educator. Zach is an ACA lead standards visitor, on the ACA New England Conference planning committee. Hobbies include skiing, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, and basking in nature.
Tyler Simpson (Treasurer) has been involved in the non-profit camp world for 15 summers, starting with the YMCA of Greater Boston and currently as the Director of Operations at Hale for the past 8 summers. He has been a visitor with ACA during his time at Hale and is a graduate of UMass Amherst, where he also a member of the track team, competing in multiple events (including being talked into doing the decathlon). Tyler has also supplemented his time with side jobs including as a vendor hawking sports bahhs (bars for non New Englanders) and driving for Uber.
Debby Shriber has proudly been in camping for over 25 years. She directed the JCC Day Camp in Worcester Ma, spent 9 years as the Director of Camp Poyntelle, for the past 12 years served as the Director of Crane Lake Camp, and recently transitioned to be the Executive Director of Eisner and Crane Lake Camp. Debby is a proud Bay Stater! She was born and raised in Worcester, MA and is thrilled to now be in the Berkshires. A favorite camp day would find Debby at the waterfront or cheering on the campers in Color War!
Kate Tucci is the Statewide Director of Camps, Youth and Family Programs at Mass Audubon. She’s been active in the camp industry for 20 years and has been integral in the creation and implementation of a sleepaway camp, a day camp, and a pandemic-born remote learning childcare program. In her current role, Kate oversees the management of 17 accredited day camps as well as Mass Audubon’s portfolio of youth & family public programs. In her personal life, Kate lives in the Berkshires with her husband and teenager, is the world’s most okayest runner, and raises puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Nikki Turpin is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Chapel Hill- Chauncy Hall in Waltham MA. She is also President of The Robbins House, a Concord, MA museum that tells stories of the occupants of Robbins House and the generations of free Concord African Americans who pursued independence and contributed to the antislavery movement and abolitionist causes. Nikki sits on multiple Inclusivity and Diversity Boards including BeWell BeHere. She has long been passionate about African-American history and presented at the Association of African American Museums. Through her DEI work, she has run workshops and professional development training for the American Camping Association- New England, The National Humanities Conference, GLAD Legal Advocates and Defenders, Concord Recreation, Town of Acton, Concord Academy Summer Camp, National Partnership for Educational Access, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. Nikki has worked in public, private, and independent education for over 15 years.