East Campus Staff
Those that can...teach.The East Campus program staff is educated and experienced not only in the skills of the program they are offering, but also in group dynamics and activity instruction.
Our facilitators participate in hands-on training for up to four months, as well as a subsequent apprenticeship. They include seasoned professionals as well as both graduate and undergraduate students honing their skills as developing professionals.
Our Director of East Campus & Outdoor Programs
Ben Taylor assumed the role of Director in June of 2007, prior to that he served as the Assistant Director of East Campus & Outdoor Programs since September of 2005. He began his East Campus career on the maintenance crew during his sophomore year at Springfield College. He completed the training to become a challenge course facilitator in the spring of 1996 and began working as a facilitator his junior year. Ben has worked on the challenge course with groups ranging from elementary schools up to corporate groups. During the summers of 1997 and 1998 he worked at Camp Massasoit as a counselor his first year and as the challenge course director his second year. In the spring semester of 1998 he attended a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester-long course. After graduation Ben moved out west and worked as a back-country guide for six years leading groups in the remote mountains of Montana and Wyoming for 2 to 3 week durations. He has served as the Assistant Camp Director of Camp Massasoit for one year and as the Outing Club advisor for three years. Ben enjoys the interaction with college students facilitating the development of their skills in preparation to enter the professional world.Our Assistant Director of East Campus & Outdoor Programs
Angela Veatch started her professional career at East Campus Outdoor Learning Center as the Assistant Director in June 2007. She has been part of the East Campus staff since August of 2004 when she moved from Indiana to begin graduate school at Springfield College. Her passion for facilitation began while working for Indiana University’s Outdoor Center, Bradford Woods. While working at the Woods she became trained as a challenge course facilitator and trainer. To continue to grow as a professional in the field she began working as a challenge course facilitator and trainer for East Campus. Prior to becoming the Assistant Director Angela had been part of the Camp Massasoit summer staff serving as the office supervisor and during the school year acting as an East Campus graduate fellow and AmeriCorps member. Angela's passion for educating the college population and love for the outdoors has led her to now call East Campus and Massachusetts her new home!Our Graduate Teaching Fellow
Dana Horner is orginially from Medford Lakes, New Jersey. She initially came to Springfield College in 2003 as an undergraduate student. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation Management she become trained as a challenge course facilitator at East Campus. During her undergraduate career Dana worked at East Campus as a facilitator, in addition to being part of the Camp Massasoit and Outdoor Pursuits staff. Dana graduated in 2007 and moved to Washington, DC where she worked for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. After working a year in DC, she decided to come back to Springfield College to work towards her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is currently working at East Campus as a Graduate Fellow, assisting with daily operations and future planning. Dana knows her past, present, and future experiences at East Campus will be a wonderful contribution to her future endeavors. Our AmeriCorps Member
Sarah Rioux grew up in Turner, Maine and came to Springfield College in 2004. She graduated in the Spring of 2008 with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Biology and a minor in Rehabilation. Sarah is currently attending graduate school at Springfield College with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation and Child Life. This is Sarah's first year as an AmeriCorps member and she is very excited to be providing services on behalf of East Campus to the Springfield community. She feels that the skills and knowledge that she obtains during her service term at East Campus will be valuable to her future career.
East Campus Resources
What We Have:
- 57 acres of forest ecosystem
- A mile of lake shoreline
- Outdoor firepit, with seating for 200
- Picnic grove
- Camping facilities
- Waterfront with boathouse, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats
- Authentic southwestern Pueblo