Monkey Business Camp

Staffing for all of our programs is an ongoing process, depending on enrollment needs. You can check back here often to see additions and updates to camp staff.

Devin Berry	Hey I’m Devin. I’ve been with Monkey Business since 2008 and excited to spend a few weeks having fun with the community again this summer! I have worked as a youth teacher, counselor and mentor for over 20 years, most recently as Youth Leadership Director for The Mosaic Project, as co-leader of a boy’s Rites of Passage group with The Stepping Stones Project and teaching mindfulness classes in the Oakland public schools. I’m currently facilitating a weekly teen group in the east bay and preparing to teach inter-cultural mindfulness classes at Mission and Downtown High Schools in San Francisco in the fall. I’m the father of two daughters, ages 9 and 17.
*Elizabeth Milne Kahn	Hello to the Monkey Business community! Formerly a Site Director at for Papayas and Coconuts as well as a school-year camp counselor, I’m excited to return to MBC this summer to be the Papaya site director for the second time. We're going to have a lot of fun playing in the sun, making new friends, and learning the ropes of being a happy Monkey Business camper. I am a graduate of Mills College, where I got a teaching credential and started my masters degree in teaching. I went on to teach 5th grade for two years at Making Waves Academy in Richmond. With Papaya-age children, I have also taught gymnastics classes for five years, and have worked as an assistant teacher in the Bridge Kindergarten class at Park Day School. In my free time, I am also a trapeze artist and aerial dancer.
Natalie Alfandary	Hello my name is Natalie and I’m excited for another camp at MBC. I graduated Berkeley High School and attend Humboldt State University. I love traveling, reading and being outdoors. I’m looking forward to playing sports, singing songs and going on adventures at camp!

Winter Camp

Allana Morrison	Hi! My Name is Allana Morrison. This will be my third year working as a counselor at Monkey Business. I had so much fun working here last year and I am excited to be able to do it again. I love being outside, working with kids and having fun! I am currently an Environmental Studies Major at the University of Oregon and like to spend as much of my spare time out side. I love to run, backpack, hike, bike, etc. I am so excited to be back this winter with this wonderful Monkey Business family!
Amber Potter	Hi Everybody! I am very excited to spend my winter break with Monkey Business Camp. I love the arts, soccer, nature, and of course… hanging out with the awesome Monkey Business Campers! I value learning through experience and have worked as a ropes course facilitator, rites of passage leader, and camp director. I have an M.A. counseling psychology with a specialization in expressive arts therapy. I am looking forward to a fabulous summer with our spectacular staff, wonderful youth leaders, and always-awesome campers!
Ben Toney	Hey Everybody! This will be my 4th year at MBC as a counselor. Apart from summer camp, I enjoy listening to most genres of music and films (especially underground/independent), playing the trumpet, and relaxing somewhere with a beautiful view. This past year, I participated in a Critical Media Production and Leadership Fellowship, and it will be interesting to see what I’ve learned collaborate with the MBC philosophy. I can’t wait to meet y’all!
Gabe Damast*	Hey Monkey Business! I'm completely pumped up to be returning to camp for my 5th year as a counselor. I just finished my 3rd year at The University of Southern California and I'm looking forward to spending a fun-filled summer in Tilden Park helping your kids have an exciting, safe and growth-filled time. I love music, sports, juggling, signing, games, storytelling and all kinds of goofing off...so don't be afraid to come up and say hello!
Hannah Brumbaum	Hi I'm Hannah. This is my first year as a counselor but I've been a camper, CIT, and JC at Monkey Business since I was 6 and have also gone to Girls on the Go! I'm so excited to be working here this summer and reliving my old camp memories!! Monkey Business was always the highlight of my summers and I'm so glad that I'm returning! I'm currently a freshman at Fordham University in New York. Some of my hobbies are arts and crafts, music, reading, sports, outdoors and animals.
Kathryn Gesner	Hi, my name is Kathryn (at camp I go by Kat), and I've known Monkey Business since I was ten and first attended camp. Since then, I’ve also gone to their Girls on the Go! camp, and then started working, first as a CIT, then a JC, and now a Counselor. I am currently attending Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA.
Lauren Potter	Hi Friends! I loved spending time with the Monkey Business Campers this summer. Their sweetness and playfulness really touched me and I am happy to be coming back for Winter Camp. I love acting and and cooking, but currently spend most of my time studying to be a Speech & Language Pathologist! I can't wait to play and have fun with all of you Monkeys out there!
Vivian Ponte-Fritz	Hi Monkey Business Camp!! I have been a camper since I got my preschool diploma and hopefully will continue to be part of the monkey business family until I get my high school diploma. Both are very important to me and I feel that we can learn from kids that are at ages everywhere in between those. I come to monkey business to help kids have the greatest possible time during their time at camp. I also work at Camp Winnarainbow and have a lot of experience with kids, I cannot wait to learn new things from them again this summer.
In addition to the staff above, we will have floating staff on occasional days: Laura Barry, Devin Berry, Natalie Alfandary and Ashkon Davaran (their bios & photos can be found below)

Allana Morrison	Hi! My Name is Allana Morrison. This will be my second year working as a counselor at Monkey Business. I had so much fun working here last year and I am excited to be able to do it again. I love being outside, working with kids and having fun! I am currently an Environmental Studies Major at the University of Oregon and like to spend as much of my spare time out side. I love to run, backpack, hike, bike, etc. I am so excited to be back in Tilden Park this summer with this wonderful Monkey Business family!	Counselor June 13-July 1 August 8-26
Amber Potter	Hi Everybody! I am very excited to spend my third summer with Monkey Business Camp. I love the arts, soccer, nature, and of course… hanging out with the awesome Monkey Business Campers! I value learning through experience and have worked as a ropes course facilitator, rites of passage leader, and camp director. I have an M.A. counseling psychology with a specialization in expressive arts therapy. I am looking forward to a fabulous summer with our spectacular staff, wonderful youth leaders, and always-awesome campers!	Summer Staff & Program Director June 13-Aug 30 Site Director June 13-17
Amy Helmstetter ~	Hello, Amy here. I’m thrilled to join the Monkey Business community again this summer. I adore children and can’t wait to spend time with them at camp. During the school year, I am a dance teacher and teachers’ aide in Berkeley and Oakland public schools. I bring to Monkey Business my compassion and intuition for supporting and encouraging children as they discover themselves and the world around them through games, crafts, performing arts and play. No matter what activity we’re doing, I love creating safe and supportive spaces for children to explore and grow in. I hold a BFA and an MA in dance with a special interest in dance education for children. Also, I just finished getting my California Teaching Credential at CSU East Bay. In addition to dancing and teaching, I enjoy reading, swimming, hiking, doing crafts, singing, acting and cooking among other things.	Staff Trainer
Ari Stachel	Hey Guys! I’m Ari, and I’m very excited to be joining the Monkey Business community this summer! This is my first summer as a counselor here, and I can’t wait! I grew up in Berkeley, and I recently finished up my second year at NYU Tisch School for the Arts as a Drama major/Sociology minor. I love theatre, music, dance, basketball, debating, exercise, travel, and spending quality time with people. Most of all, I love hanging out with kids and being a positive role-model. I am eager to have blast at MBC this summer!	Counselor
Ashkon Davaran	Hi, I'm Ashkon. I have been working with Monkey Business for the last five years. I love working with kids. During the school year I work at Howard Elementary school in Oakland as part of their intervention program. Basically I tutor, and work with kids who are having trouble in class or do better working in small groups. I also substitute teach at other schools in the Oakland area. I graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a Theater Arts major and a Politics minor. Outside of my teacher/camp counselor life I do theater and play music. I love hanging out with kids, especially when I don't have to teach them math. I am a very high energy guy, and I always do my best to match or top the energy of the kids. Monkey Business is a great place to work, full of positive energy and good people. GO MONKEY BUSINESS!!!	Site Director Staff & Youth Leader Trainger August 8-19 Ashkon will be assisted by Co-Writer, Samra Girma, in production of their original play - "The First Day of Camp: A Musical"
Devin Berry	Hey I’m Devin. I’ve been with Monkey Business since 2008 and excited to spend a few weeks having fun with the community again this summer! I have worked as a youth teacher, counselor and mentor for over 20 years, most recently as Youth Leadership Director for The Mosaic Project, as co-leader of a boy’s Rites of Passage group with The Stepping Stones Project and teaching mindfulness classes in the Oakland public schools. I’m currently facilitating a weekly teen group in the east bay and preparing to teach inter-cultural mindfulness classes at Mission and Downtown High Schools in San Francisco in the fall. I’m the father of two daughters, ages 9 and 17.	Site Director June 13-July 1, Aug 22-26
*Elizabeth Milne Kahn	Hello to the Monkey Business community! Formerly a Site Director at for Papayas and Coconuts as well as a school-year camp counselor, I’m excited to return to MBC this summer to be the Papaya site director for the second time. We're going to have a lot of fun playing in the sun, making new friends, and learning the ropes of being a happy Monkey Business camper. I am a graduate of Mills College, where I got a teaching credential and started my masters degree in teaching. I went on to teach 5th grade for two years at Making Waves Academy in Richmond. With Papaya-age children, I have also taught gymnastics classes for five years, and have worked as an assistant teacher in the Bridge Kindergarten class at Park Day School. In my free time, I am also a trapeze artist and aerial dancer.	Site Director August 8-26 Afternoon Director June 13-23
Gabe Damast*	Hey Monkey Business! I'm completely pumped up to be returning to camp for my 5th year as a counselor. I just finished my 3rd year at The University of Southern California and I'm looking forward to spending a fun-filled summer in Tilden Park helping your kids have an exciting, safe and growth-filled time. I love music, sports, juggling, signing, games, storytelling and all kinds of goofing off...so don't be afraid to come up and say hello!	Group Leader June 13-June 24, July 5-29
Gabriel Vergez	Hey Everybody! I’m Gabe, and I’m very much excited to be a full-fledged counselor for the first time, after being a JC and CIT in the past. This will be my 3rd (4th if you count when I helped my mom at MBC one summer) year with all you Monkeys! During the regular year, I go to Maybeck High School, and also do a lot of theater, basketball, volleyball, dance, and capoeira. I love working with kids, singing, and seeing their special spirits soar at Monkey Business!	Counselor June 20-24, July 5-15, Aug 29-30 August 15-26 August 29-30
Hannah Brumbaum	Hi I'm Hannah. This is my first year as a counselor but I've been a camper, CIT, and JC at Monkey Business since I was 6 and have also gone to Girls on the Go! I'm so excited to be working here this summer and reliving my old camp memories!! Monkey Business was always the highlight of my summers and I'm so glad that I'm returning! I'm currently a freshman at Fordham University in New York. Some of my hobbies are arts and crafts, music, reading, sports, outdoors and animals.	Counselor June 13-July 1, Aug 22-26 additional dates TBA
Kathryn Gesner	Hi, my name is Kathryn (at camp I go by Kat), and I've known Stacy and Heather since I was ten and first attending Monkey Business. Since then, I’ve also gone to their Girls on the Go! camp, and then started working for them, first as a CIT, then a JC, and now a Counselor. I am currently attending Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA.	Operations, Office, Staffing Assistant All Summer
Laura Barry*^	Hi, I'm Laura, and I'm so excited to return to Monkey Business for my 6th year (3rd year as a staff member)! Monkey Business has been a great part of my life since I first started as a youth leader. I love seeing the new and returning kids every year, and I hope I can add to their already exciting vacation. In my free time, I play tennis, study sign language, play piano and sing, and paint.	Counselor July 5-Aug 19th
Lena Greenspan	Hello everyone! This will be my first year working for Monkey Business. I love working with kids and I’m very excited to be a part of this community. One of my main passions in life is dance. I’ll be attending Temple University in the fall as a student in the Boyer College Music and Dance. I strongly believe in exposing youth to creative self-expression and I’m looking forward to bringing my love for visual art and dance to this program. I cannot wait to be a part of all the exciting activities Girls on the Go has planned for this summer!	Counselor June 13-August 19
Michelle Ortiz	Hello! My name is Michelle and I am excited to return to Girls on the Go this summer! I love working with children and helping them gain self-esteem through accomplishments. During the school year I work at a Private Catholic School as an Extended Care Director, where I am able to provide appropriate activities in a wholesome social, intellectual, emotional and physical environment. I am a Liberal Studies major with an option in Early Childhood Development at CSUEB and in the fall I will be starting a second major in Kinesiology with an option in Exercise Nutrition and Wellness. I’m easygoing, energetic, and enjoy putting smiles on children’s faces. In my spare time I love to workout, run, read, go to sporting events, and train in Krav Maga. (An Israeli form of self-defense.) I am really excited and looking forward to meeting everyone!	Afternoon Site Director June 13-August 19
Natalie Alfandary	Hello my name is Natalie and I’m excited for another summer at MBC. I just graduated Berkeley High School and will be attending Humboldt State University. I love traveling, reading and being outdoors. I’m looking forward to playing sports, singing songs and going on adventures this summer at camp!	Afternoon Counselor June 20-July 1, additional dates TBA
Samra Girma*	Hello Monkey Business community! I am excited to join you all in one of my favorite places in the world -- the beautiful hills of Tilden Park! This will be, more or less, my 4th summer with MBC, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to return and play around for a little bit. Born and raised in Oakland, I am finishing up my 3rd year of undergraduate studies on the East Coast. I like to read and dance and practice yoga, and am looking forward to growing my first vegetable garden this summer! I can't wait to connect with all of the monkey biz campers, old and new!	Counselor August 8-19
Sasha Hood	I am so thrilled to be spending this summer playing, adventuring, exploring, and empowering with Girls on the Go! I can't think of a better way to enjoy the sun and all there is to explore in the bay area. While it is my first summer at Girls on the Go, I am no stranger to summer camp. When I was 11 years old I started a camp in my own backyard! I did this for five summers! I have since been a camp counselor at sleep away camp, and various day camps in California and Oregon. I love working with young people and have taught swimming, gymnastics, dance, theater and leadership to kids and teens. I love working with girls and young women especially, to help them feel empowered to make choices that have them feel strong, independent, and fully able to express themselves. My resume also includes teaching preschool, nannying, teaching sex and health education, and leading red tent ceremonies for teen girls. I love science, art, photography, and dance. I have a BS in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon and am currently studying to become a Licensed Midwife. I have traveled to 4 continents, including an internship with midwives in Durban, South Africa through Child Family Health International. In my free time I like to swim with dolphins, go to the beach, go hiking and backpacking, snowboarding, surfing and hula hooping.	Site Director June 13-August 19
Simon Hurd	Hi Everyone! My name is Simon Hurd, and I am very excited about my first year as site director for the Coconuts at Tilden Park. For the last five years, I have taught at The Berkeley School (formerly Berkeley Montessori). I love spending time in the outdoors and helping children to see, think, and wonder about the world around them. I have a BS in environmental science, and MA’s in geography and education. I love spending time playing with my own kids, and when not doing that, I may - or may not - be found hiking or biking. I strongly believe that camp should be safe, active, and fun for all campers and staff. I am looking forward to a great summer!	Site Director July 5-August 5
Sonya Harway	Hi there! My name is Sonya and I'm excited for my first summer at Monkey Business Camp as Site Director for Bananas and Mangoes. I just moved to Oakland from Washington DC, where I had been teaching preschool and elementary and directing/managing academic centers. I have a BA in Music from George Washington University and will be starting a Masters in Education at Mills College next year. I enjoy gardening, hiking, animals, and sports like biking and running. I'm really looking forward to a beautiful California summer in Tilden Park with a great group of kids!	Site Director July 5-August 30
Teresa Reyes*	I am excited and happy to be returning to Monkey Business Camp this summer! This will be my 8th year with the MBC family! In 2008 I received my teaching credential from SFSU and am pursuing my passion for social justice through education. I have spent the last three years teaching 3rd and 4th grades with the WCCUSD. I also worked for three years at Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito as a third grade associate teacher and afterschool assistant. In 2004 I graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in sociology and minor in women's studies. Prior to teaching, my experience with children includes college volunteer work with campus organizations doing educational outreach, four years experience as a summer camp counselor, and classroom experience as a teachers' aide. Some of my hobbies and pastimes include dancing, writing, exercising, cooking, camping, arts and crafts, scrapbooking, and digital film/ photography/ music media. I am a Bay Area native and love to immerse myself in the culturally diverse community we have here that is unique and holds a very special place in my heart!	Site Director June 20-July 1

Spring Camp

Amber Potter Co-Site Director Week 1: April 4-8	Hi Everybody! I am very excited to spend spring break with Monkey Business Camp. I love the arts, soccer, nature, and of course… hanging out with kids! I truly value learning through experience and have worked as a ropes course facilitator, pre-school teacher, and camp director. I am finishing up a masters program in counseling psychology with a specialization in expressive arts therapy. I currently work as a rite of passage leader for adolescent girls with the Stepping Stones Project. I also recently tried my hand at stand-up comedy and loved it! I am looking forward to our fabulous and adventure-packed time!
Devin Berry Site Director Both Weeks	Devin Berry is happy and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Monkey Business again this February! He has been attending or working at summer camps of all kinds for 20 years. He wears many hats and currently works as a consultant in the Oakland public schools, teaching mindfulness classes and creating positive culture & climate programs. He teaches MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) as well. Devin enjoys his role as a youth rites of passage group leader for The Stepping Stones Project. He is comfortable (most of the time) 40 feet off the ground as a ropes course facilitator with Challenge Learning Center. He is the father of two very sweet and very silly girls, Karina 14 and Elyza 6. He enjoys hiking and backpacking, sports, reading and meditation. He truly enjoys working with kids and is looking forward to having fun with the kids and staff of Monkey Business!
Laura Barry*^ Afternoon Extended Care Counselor Both Weeks	Hi, I'm Laura, and I'm so excited to return to Monkey Business for my 6th year (3rd year as a staff member)! Monkey Business has been a great part of my life since I first started as a youth leader. I love seeing the new and returning kids every year, and I hope I can add to their already exciting vacation. In my free time, I play tennis, study sign language, play piano and sing, and paint.
Vivian Ponte-Fritz Counselor Week 1: April 4-8	Hi Monkey Business Camp!! I am so excited to take part in my 12th summer at monkey business camp. I have been a camper since I got my preschool diploma and hopefully will continue to be part of the monkey business family until I get my high school diploma. Both are very important to me and I feel that we can learn from kids that are at ages everywhere in between those. I come to monkey business to help kids have the greatest possible time during their time at camp. I also work at Camp Winnarainbow and have a lot of experience with kids, I cannot wait to learn new things from them again this summer.

Devin Berry

Site Director

Devin Berry is happy and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Monkey Business again this February! He has been attending or working at summer camps of all kinds for 20 years. He wears many hats and currently works as a consultant in the Oakland public schools, teaching mindfulness classes and creating positive culture & climate programs. He teaches MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) as well. Devin enjoys his role as a youth rites of passage group leader for The Stepping Stones Project. He is comfortable (most of the time) 40 feet off the ground as a ropes course facilitator with Challenge Learning Center. He is the father of two very sweet and very silly girls, Karina 14 and Elyza 6. He enjoys hiking and backpacking, sports, reading and meditation. He truly enjoys working with kids and is looking forward to having fun with the kids and staff of Monkey Business!

Laura Barry*^

Afternoon Extended Care Counselor

Hi, I'm Laura, and I'm so excited to return to Monkey Business for my 6th year (3rd year as a staff member)! Monkey Business has been a great part of my life since I first started as a youth leader. I love seeing the new and returning kids every year, and I hope I can add to their already exciting vacation. In my free time, I play tennis, study sign language, play piano and sing, and paint.

Click here to see staff prior to 2011

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