Camp Director
Caitlin Zima
Cait is super excited to be taking on the role of Camp Director this summer to help guide and inspire campers and staff to have their best summer, a summer where they work towards becoming their best selves.
Cait was born and raised in Meriden, Connecticut (#MaloneySpartans) and has four older brothers, who are her best friends. During her free time, she is probably hanging out with or talking to one of them. She also currently has two nephews, Lex and Ryder, who mean the world to her. Growing up Cait was a competitive dancer at Lakeside Academy of Dance in Middletown and Jazz N Motion Studio of Dance (now Artistic Dance Company) in Meriden. Her passion for dance expands across everything she does.
At the age of 5 Cait began attending Camp Laurel, a Girl Scout camp, in Lebanon, Connecticut. When Cait was little, instead of playing doctor or house, she often played Camp Director. Cait believes that summer camp is the most important thing to give to a child, and now, more than ever, children need an environment where they feel safe and that they are a part of a community. Cait’s time at Camp Laurel continued until 2021 when they sadly announced they would soon be closing.
Cait has her B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Psychology from Elizabethtown College. She also has her M.Ed. in Education from The College of William and Mary and will be graduating with her EdS. in School Psychology in May 2023. She is currently exploring EdD programs to reach her goal of being a Superintendent and lifelong Camp Claire Director. Cait currently works as a dance instructor at Broadway Dance Arts, in Williamsburg, Virginia, and as a School Psychologist for the Williamsburg James City County schools.
Assistant Camp Director
Allyson Zadravec
Ally is really looking forward to stepping into the role of Assistant Camp Director this year and she is excited to continue to help Camp Claire, and the Camp Claire family, grow into the best it can be.
Ally was born in the Washington, DC area and currently lives in Silver Spring, MD. She found camp through her mother, who grew up in Deep River, CT and knew about Camp Claire as a kid. In her free time, you can probably find her crocheting, an activity she is so glad she could help bring to camp.
Ally started at Camp Claire as a camper when she was 11. From her first minute there, she instantly fell in love with everything camp. Every winter when registration came around, she would beg her mom for an extra week, and she would cry every pickup day when she had to leave her friends and her favorite place. She went on to complete our CIT program and worked as a Junior Counselor, Senior Counselor and in 2021 became Program Director.
Ally will receive her B.A. in English with a Minor in Education from UMass Amherst in May 2023. She is also expecting to earn a Masters in Education with a license in Elementary Education in 2024. She is currently working at Capacidad After School Program at Fort River Elementary School in Amherst, MA with students grades K-6. Previously, she spent two years working at Goldfish Swim School, with kids ages 3 months to 12 years old, as a swim instructor and supervisor teaching swim lessons, a skill first learned at camp.
Registrar
Lisa Gaskin
Lisa will be returning to us in 2023 for her 8th summer as Registrar. She previously served on Camp Claire’s Board of Directors from 2013 to 2019.
Lisa’s grandparents owned a summer cottage on Oakland Avenue and that is where, at the age of 7, her love of Camp Claire began. She transferred that love to her son by sending him off to our residential camp as soon as he was old enough and he is now a senior counselor and Waterfront Director with us!
Lisa holds a BS in Elementary Education from Pace University as well as an MSE in Elementary Education from Long Island University.
“I am so excited to be returning to Camp Claire for another wonderful summer! Camp Claire is my happy place, and I am always striving to share this hidden gem.” – Lisa