Our Staff
Madhurima Ganguly - Art Team
Hi, I am Madhurima, but people call me Madhu. I was born in Kolkata, India. Since my childhood I was actively involved in arts and nominated for 'Bal Shree' award (President's accolade) at a very young age. With a Bachelor and Master degree in Fine Art(specialization in Sculpture) from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India, I joined Birla Institute of Art as an art teacher and also took active participation in various art workshops around India as an artist and an art instructor. I believe art is all about life and that is why it is so exciting. In my 12 years of teaching experience I have taught toddlers to retired professionals. It has been the most fun and challenging experience of my life. I love to teach art and I am very happy to be a part of Hooked on Fun Camps. In 2011 I moved to La Jolla, San Diego, California and joined the La Jolla Art Association(LJAA) as a membership director. While at LJAA my work was exhibited in the LJAA art gallery and at the UCSD craft center. My experience as an International Art gallery manager and an art director of prestigious theater groups gave me more exposure as an artist. My paintings are in private collections in US, UK, and India. Recently I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am teaching and working in my private studio. I am looking forward to Hooked on Fun Camps. I am very excited to experience the real joy of doing art with kids in the beautiful summer of Ann Arbor. |
Tyler Ramsdell - Counselor
Hello, my name is Tyler Ramsdell and I have been with the camps for about 4 years now and I have completed around 400 hours of volunteer work with Rec & Ed. I have worked with Eileen for 2 previous summers. I am a graphic design major moving down to Ohio in the fall. I have always enjoyed the many forms of art and storytelling. I read a lot of comics and listen to a lot of music. This is going to be my first summer as a full counselor and I can't wait to see the fun we'll all have. |
Eleanor Olson - Art Team
Hello! My name is Eleanor Olson. I have attended Hooked on Fun camps since I was 5 years old and I have enjoyed every moment. This will be my first year as a counselor, however I have been a junior counselor since I was in 8th grade. I have lived in Ann Arbor my whole life, attending Northside Elementary School (now STEAM), Clague Middle School, and I am going into my senior year at Community High School. I live with my parents, my sister and my three adorable dogs, Sophie, Kakui, and Lili. I love writing, drawing, painting, poetry, and of course being around kids. My favorite color is purple, easily. My favorite kind of flower are dandelions and I have 3 and a 1/2 feet of hair (crazy!!!!). I'm looking forward to a great summer of laughter and art! |
Meara Pellar-Kosbar - Counselor
Hello friends, I’m Meara. I’ve been participating in Hooked On Fun Camps since second grade and loved them so much that I decided I want to come back as a counselor. I just finished high school and am about to go off to college, so I very excited to spend some of my last summer at home with the wonderful people who make the Hooked on Fun Camps possible, as well as everyone who participates in them. A little about myself is I have a collection of thirty-some hats, I’m a big fan of comics and cartoons, I really enjoy drawing (I’m trying to become an animator), and love seeing those around me smiling. No matter how one chooses to spend their summer, they should make the most of it, so I’m making it my goal to make this summer fun for as many people as I can. |
Dalton Tokarczyk - Media Specialist
Hi, I'm Dalton, the media specialist (a.k.a. tech guy) for Hooked on Fun Camps, so most of the time you'll see me behind a computer, but I will be involved in a few camps, such as Movie Theater Camp and Music Video Camp. I am a soon-to-be college freshman at Columbia College Chicago, where I will be studying filmmaking, with hopes of potentially becoming either a director of photography or a film editor. A few of my favorite films are Her, The Dark Knight, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. I have produced a number of short films, including a few commissions as well as some personal projects. I also love photography, music of all kinds, and coding. I'm looking forward to an awesome summer!! |
Nick Gonzalez - Music
Hi! I am Nick Gonzalez, a 5th year senior at Eastern Michigan University studying vocal music education. In my time at EMU, I have been the Vice President of our American Choral Director’s Association chapter, sang in a wide variety of opera and musical theatre scenes, and most recently I was the President of EMU’s Choirs. I have a passion for all kinds of music and although I am mainly a singer, I can also play piano and guitar. I have just finished an 8 week course as an assistant teacher working with the Community Music Academy through EMU, where I taught children from 8 months old to 5 years old. Every August I go up to Interlochen, MI with Ann Arbor Pioneer’s choirs for their Choir Camp where I am a counselor, teacher, and choral conductor. I aspire to get my master’s degree in choral conducting and teach music in a high school or college setting. When I am not working on my music endeavors, I can be found playing or watching soccer, my favorite sport! |
Jenna Spencer - Floor Manager
My name is Jenna Spencer and I am a Junior in the Nursing School at the University of Michigan. I love working with kids and haven't stopped since I began babysitting when I was 12 years old. Once I even lived in Madrid, Spain to be a nanny for a family with three boys. I also worked as an athletic summer camp counselor last year with Wolverine Summer Camps. These reflect two of my favorite things: traveling and sports. This year alone I visited 11 countries and played on 6 IM sports teams. When I'm not doing either of those things I love playing board games, running, trying new foods, learning new languages, and studying nursing as I hope to one day work as a Pediatrics Nurse Practitioner. I am looking forward to a great summer full of Fun! |
Austin Proux - Art Team
Howdy!! I'm Austin Proux, and I've been doing art for the last couple of years. I have recently been accepted to Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. Specifically, I have a lot of experience and interest in illustration, painting, and occasional sculpting. I'm also an avid record collector, have been contacted about doing album cover art by a few small-time musicians, and I have a vested interest in all forms of music from classic jazz to modern indie rock. I also love movies, and am always trying to keep up with the latest and greatest films, no matter the genre. Among all this, I also love to read everything from Frank Herbert and George Orwell to all kinds of comics and manga. |
Carson Poplin - Office Manager
Hi, I'm Carson Poplin, and this is my first year with Hooked on Fun. I have a Bachelor's in art history from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. I have been bitten by the travel bug in a big way, which led me to teach abroad in China for a year and spend a while selling art on cruise ships. I was brought to Ann Arbor by my parents, who enlisted me to help them start a local news magazine called The Ann, which is their strange version of a mid-life crisis. In my free time, I am an avid chick lit reader, Pinterest crafter and museum-goer. I am looking forward to a great summer with Hooked on Fun! |
Erin Miller - Art Team
Hello! My name is Erin Miller and this is my first year at Hooked on Fun Camps. I received my BFA from Kent State University in Textiles, and I am currently an MFA candidate in Fibers at Eastern Michigan University. I love to weave and design fabrics that I can then sew into clothing. I also make wall hangings and lots of other things using fibers. My favorite thing to do when I am not weaving is spend time with my two cats and change the color of my hair. It will be bright pink at the start of camp, but probably won't stay that color all summer! |
Betina Le Colas - Counselor
My name is Betina Le Colas, I am a student of the College of Education at Wayne State University. My hope is to graduate with an Elementary Education degree with a certification in early childhood. My plan is to be able to teach Kindergarten. I have been a camp counselor for the past two summers with the City of Southfield camps. This camp is not only fun for the campers, but it also incorporates learning as a great part of the camp. As a camp counselor, I am able to teach the students and gain experience for my future career. Not only do I love children, but I love the idea that I can shape young minds to be successful in the future. As an educator I really hope to be able to show my Kindergarten students how much they can learn in school without making learning seem like a chore. Kindergarten is the first grade that students enter into when they begin school, it is an important level because it sets the tone for what the rest of the years at school will be like. By the end of the school year, I would feel like a successful teacher if all my students left my class disappointed that the school year was over but extremely excited to go back to school and start 1st grade and continue the learning process. After I graduate with my Bachelors, I would love to teach and go to graduate school to obtain my Masters. With my Masters degree I still want to teach Elementary School, but also teach education classes at a college, so that I can share my experiences with other future teachers. |
Brittnee Johnson - Counselor
I am a junior at Eastern Michigan University. I am majoring in Education and minoring in T.E.S.O.L (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). During the school year, I work for Ann Arbor Public Schools as an Academic Tutor where I offer classroom support for kids who need an extra little push. I also work as a Lunchtime Supervisor where I watch students at lunch and recess. I love to bake-- cakes, cookies, brownies; I love using crazy colors and different flavor combinations to create something delicious. I like to use that same creativity to imagine worlds and characters as I love to write poems and stories. I love to dance and use up all my energy! |
Layla Khorsheed - Art Team
My name is Layla Khorsheed and I have the honor of being a Hooked on Fun Camps' counselor this year for the very first time! I graduated from Huron High school in 2014 and have gone to AAPS since Kindergarten. I volunteered as an assistant art teacher at Thurston Elementary school for two years during high school and fell in love with teaching art to kids. I have just finished my first year in college at Wayne State University studying art and design and my goal is to become an elementary school art teacher. I love being hands on and there's nothing that compares to the satisfaction of starting with nothing and finishing with a whole new creation. My happy place is anywhere with sunshine and trees, and of course animals, I am definitely a dog person. I'm also very active and always on my feet, but my spirit is calm and steady like a turtle even though I'm always high energy. This is going to be a an exciting summer for us filled with lots of fun, imagination, laughter, and learning! |
Jamel Colvin - Counselor
Hi, my name is Jamel and in the fall I’ll be pursuing a Master’s degree in literature, and working as a writing tutor at EMU. This is my third year with the camp, and my favorite thing is seeing how readily the returning campers accept first timers. In my spare time I like to read, write, and listen to music. I’m excited for a new year!
Hi, my name is Jamel and in the fall I’ll be pursuing a Master’s degree in literature, and working as a writing tutor at EMU. This is my third year with the camp, and my favorite thing is seeing how readily the returning campers accept first timers. In my spare time I like to read, write, and listen to music. I’m excited for a new year!
Megan McDevitt - Office and Music
Hello! My name is Megan McDevitt and I will be working in both the office and in the musicals at Hooked on Fun. I’m from San Francisco, and moved to Ann Arbor last year to start a doctorate from the University of Michigan in double bass performance. I have played in many orchestras, a Balkan band and a bluegrass band. My music career has allowed me to go on lots of traveling adventures, including to southern Africa, China, Italy, Croatia, Germany, France, and Slovenia - to name a few! I also love playing soccer and practicing yoga. I can’t wait to have some fun with the campers this summer! |
Carlina Duan - Counselor
Hello! I'm Carlina Duan, a poet, journalist, and educator from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2015 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, and will move to Malaysia in 2016 as a U.S. Fulbright scholar. I love nectarines, sprinting, and sloppy joe sandwiches. I love public libraries; I love the way my hands look underwater; I love books. Among my many loves includes teaching (and learning!) writing. I believe deeply in the power of storytelling, and I can't wait to work and learn from all our campers this summer, as they create lush, inspiring stories! |
Dr. Carol Johnson
Dr. Carol D. Johnson is excited to join the Hooked on Fun Camp Counselors for another action-packed summer. She is a retired educator who devoted a total of 34 years to pre-kindergarten through college students.
While working in the Highland Park School District, Dr. Johnson spent 11 years teaching pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students in the contained classroom. Then she decided to utilize her skills in another educational venue. She accepted administrative assignments in the Saginaw, Ann Arbor, Wayne-Westland and Oak Park Scoot Districts for a total of 23 years.
Additionally, Dr. Johnson was selected to provide research based practices and professional experiences at Wayne State University as well as Marygrove College.
Dr. Johnson's passion has always been to assist young people in evolving into the most successful individuals that they can be. With the talented camp staff working together, all participants will have the opportunity to meet this goal!
Dr. Carol D. Johnson is excited to join the Hooked on Fun Camp Counselors for another action-packed summer. She is a retired educator who devoted a total of 34 years to pre-kindergarten through college students.
While working in the Highland Park School District, Dr. Johnson spent 11 years teaching pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students in the contained classroom. Then she decided to utilize her skills in another educational venue. She accepted administrative assignments in the Saginaw, Ann Arbor, Wayne-Westland and Oak Park Scoot Districts for a total of 23 years.
Additionally, Dr. Johnson was selected to provide research based practices and professional experiences at Wayne State University as well as Marygrove College.
Dr. Johnson's passion has always been to assist young people in evolving into the most successful individuals that they can be. With the talented camp staff working together, all participants will have the opportunity to meet this goal!
Hallie Levine - Art Team
Hi, I'm Hallie Levine, and during the school year, I am an art teacher in public schools. I went to school in South Illinois, and I've lived in Oklahoma and Jersey City. I have two Chinese daughters and an old dog named Roo. I love art, animals, gardening, swimming, and summer. I can't wait for a great summer!
Hi, I'm Hallie Levine, and during the school year, I am an art teacher in public schools. I went to school in South Illinois, and I've lived in Oklahoma and Jersey City. I have two Chinese daughters and an old dog named Roo. I love art, animals, gardening, swimming, and summer. I can't wait for a great summer!
Junior Counselors
At Hooked on Fun Camps, we are glad to have a number of Junior Counselors helping out around our various camps. These counselors are teenagers that have a deep connection with the camp, and have an interest in creating an awesome environment for children. They are all looking forward to an awesome summer!
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