Kevin Gordon (Director)

A Harvard University graduate in psychology and the Canadian-born son of Jamaican immigrants, Kevin has worked with children for over twenty-five years. He has been in the camp business since 1990, when he first worked at a girls camp in Wisconsin. After college graduation, he continued working as an assistant camp director, traveled through Europe shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, traveled throughout Africa, and wrote a book chronicling his African adventures, titled Not Yet African . While gaining further valuable experience from camp programs from Pennsylvania to California, Kevin graduated from the University of California-Berkeley School of Law and worked for a top-100 law firm to further his organizational experience. Current and past memberships, seminars, and other camp-related experience include:

• Vice President of American Camp Association - Illinois Section
• Member of National Board Development Committee of American Camp Association
• Member of National Council of Leaders of American Camp Association
• Presenter for Expert Online Training
• Recipient of New Professional Award from American Camp Association - Illinois Section
• Multiple Year Presenter at American Camp Association National Conference
• Multiple Year Presenter at American Camp Association MidStates Conference
• Multiple Year Presenter at Northern Illinois Leadership Seminar
• Presenter at TriState Diversity Conference
• Member of International Camping Fellowship
• Member of American Association of Experiential Education
• Member of Midwest Association of Independent Camps
• Member of (National) Association of Independent Camps

Besides spending time with his wife Natasha and adventurous son Mico, Kevin enjoys playing goalie on his men's ice hockey team. Please feel free to e-mail Kevin with any questions at kupugani@gmail.com.

• Favorite Camp Activity: Ga-ga!
• Best Camp Memory: Every first day of camp!
• Favorite Camp Meal: Barbecue chicken
• Hobbies as a kid: Tennis, hockey, soccer
• Favorite Core Value: Community... it's what makes camp special!
• Goofiest thing I've done at Camp: Ate ten full plates of food at dinner.

Natasha Jackson (Director)

Miss Natasha is passionate about creating a world where we listen, love, and laugh together. Tash is a certified elementary school teacher and mother to two boys--son Mico, and husband Kevin. She grew up in Canada where she attended the University of Manitoba, graduating with a minor in psychology. In addition to years of teaching and summer camp counseling experience, Tash is a born performer, having spent many of her adult years as a singer, children's performer, dancer, and face painter. Among Tash's favorite childhood memories are the times she was able to spend as a camper; she gained independence and enjoyed learning new skills. That's why she is a big fan of camp. It allows your child to practice all the wonderful skills you've taught her, as well as learn new ones.

• Favorite Camp Activity: Snack time!
• Best Camp Memory: Polar bear dip in a frozen lake... in April... in Canada... brrr!
• Favorite Camp Meal: Dessert... any dessert... yum!
• Hobbies as a kid: Biking and dancing.
• Favorite Core Value: Community... I love seeing kindness and respect for others.
• Goofiest thing I've done at Camp: Acted as a bridge over a mud puddle for my cabin campers.

Mico (Director in Training)

Mico has spent most of his life in camp settings and loves it! Despite his youth, in addition to Camp Kupugani, Mico has had significant experiences at several strong programs emphasizing diversity, including the Mosaic Project, Camp Winnarainbow, and Camp Butterfly.

• Favorite Camp Activity: Hanging out with campers...and Ga-Ga!
• Best Camp Memory: Dam jumping when I was only three years old!
• Favorite Camp Meal: "Pasghetti!"
• Hobbies as a kid: Giving high-fives and fist bumps, singing, dancing, and laughing
• Favorite Core Value: Empowerment... I'm all about getting stronger as a person and learning new things!
• Goofiest thing I've done at Camp: Tried to climb... well... anything!

The Directors' Favorite Organizations

• Mosaic Project: an outdoor school bringing students from different backgrounds together. The Mosaic project addresses issues of difference and community, and works towards a peaceful future by reaching children in their formative years. It unites young children of diverse backgrounds, provides them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowers them to strive for peace.
• Across the Table: a non-profit which breaks down race and socioeconomic barriers by uniting Chicagoans to share meals and dynamic conversation to lead to an appreciation of participants' differences and commonalities.
• Girls on the Run® (Northwest Illinois): a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls in 3rd through 8th grade. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.
• Glitter and Razz: an Oakland, California based company that works with kids and the grown-ups who love them to create and perform their very own peaceful and powerful plays.  Their school-break camps, afterschool classes, birthday parties and special events for kids ages 4 and up are all based on their Make a Play, Change the World Methodology, teaching and reinforcing social/emotional skill development through performing and visual arts.