Our Directors

Tommy Feldman, Founder & Director

Tommy grew up at camp. After many summers at day camp in Cleveland, Ohio, he started as one of the youngest campers and finished as Associate Director at North Star Camp in Wisconsin. After 5 years working at Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park, Tommy is taking his 25 years of camp experience and making his dream come true.

Tommy is very involved in the American Camp Association as Communications Chair for the American Camp Association Rocky Mountain Section. Tommy graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Natural Resource Management.

“The growth I experienced at camp influences everything I do in work and play. I wouldn’t be who I am, and I wouldn’t have my energetic and independent approach to life without it. Little did I know the influence camp was having on my life – I was just having fun!”

Betsy Strohmaier, Director

Betsy brings 12 years of experience in camping to Mountain Day Camp. She started as a residential camp counselor and coordinator at YMCA Camp Surf in San Diego, California. It was at Camp Surf that Betsy first experienced the unlimited possibilities and excitement that camps create. She was drawn to the development that occurs with youth both individually and as part of a community in the camp setting.

As an undergraduate at San Diego State University, Betsy managed the ARC Team Challenge, facilitating student and community groups through teambuilding, retreat, and high ropes course programs. After receiving a BS in Recreation Administration with an Outdoor Emphasis, she took a full time position as the Team Training and Climbing Manager at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in San Diego. Shortly, she also became director the Center’s year round Day Camp. The program served over 2000 campers per summer and offered year round day camp and after school programs for families in the San Diego area.

She began working with Mountain Day Camp in Summer 2006. She has enjoyed working with the camp year-round since then. During the year, she manages office operations and leads School Days Off.

Betsy has always loved working with camps, families and campers. She enjoys sharing the magic of camp with campers and staff in an environment where the impossible can be achieved. She enjoys biking, making jewelry, and walking her dog Booda.

Our Summer Directors

Jen Kling

In the winters, Jen Kling is a doctoral student in Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During the summers, however, she likes to put on her amazing neon-yellow hoodie and work as a Program Director for MDC! Jen started as a counselor in the summer of 2008 before transitioning into her current role in the summer of 2009. Before working at MDC, Jen spent several summers working at a sailing camp in her hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. When not leading camp songs, playing all-camp games, or listening to the fabulous things that her campers say while hiking, Jen enjoys fencing and hanging out with her dog, Cambridge. She also enjoys philosophy and hopes to be a professor someday, but don't let that fool you--she can mix GORP and create animal masks with the best of them!

Tim Main

As a Boulder native, Tim grew up exploring Boulder County. He brings a rich knowledge of local ecology and nature oriented activities to camp. He brings experiences from similar camps he in both Portland and New Jersey. Tim has been with Mountain Day Camp for three summers, as a Counselor in 2006, and as an Inclusion Director in 2008 and 2009. During the year,Tim is completing his masters in public health at CU Denver. He enjoys talking with small groups of campers about their interests in science and nature. In his spare time, Tim is an avid climber and biker. He enjoys walking his dog Tillie.

Kaela Owen

Kaela is a Colorado native and grew up in the Denver area. She is graduated with her teaching license from CU Boulder in 2009. She loves working with children and especially those with special needs. As a Camp Counselor in 2008 at Mountain Day Camp, she had a special opportunity to work with a group of campers with sensory integration deficits. She also enjoyed working with both Eldorado Canyon and Junior campers. She returned in 2009 as a program director. She looks forward to getting her own classroom after the summer and using her camp skills with her students.

Leah Goodrich

Leah is a Colorado native with a love for everything Colorado has to offer, especially the outdoors! She has experienced many memorable summers as either a camper or a counselor. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a BS in Applied Health in 2007 and is currently working on her masters in Occupational Therapy at CSU. As an occupational therapist, she hopes to work with adults with traumatic brain injury and children with special needs. She is excited to be a part of creating fun opportunities for camper's self-discovery and success at Mountain Day Camp and looks forward to building relationships with the campers, their families, and the staff! When not studying, Leah enjoys running with her tree-climbing dog, playing volleyball with her friends, camping, hiking, and cooking.

Our Consulting Staff

Dr. Daniel Ratner, Consulting Psychologist

Dr. Ratner graduated with a BA from Brown University and holds an MA and PsyD from Widener University. He taught elementary school in Los Angeles from 1997-1999. During his years of clinical experience, he has worked with families, couples, adults, and children. He currently works in private practice in New York City.

Steve Silbermann, Facilitator & Emergency Dispatcher

Steve's camp career has included Cabin Counselor, Rock Climbing/Adventure Program Director and Trip Guide. He more recently created and coordinated after school intervention programs for youth of all ages in Longmont.

In addition to working as a 911 dispatcher for Boulder County, he is a ropes course facilitator and builder and he volunteers with Boulder Emergency Squad, providing technical rescue to the Boulder community.  He serves as a Swift Water Rescue Instructor for Boulder Emergency Squad. He enjoys bringing BES's vehicles to groups of campers at Mountain Day Camp and educating them about safety. Steve holds a BA from Minnesota State University in Social Studies with an emphasis in Field Geography.