1. 1 Thoreau Way, Thetford Center, VT 05075
info@campakeela.com * 866-680-4744 * www.campakeela.com
April 6, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
Damon Rolnick was employed as the Outdoor Adventure Director at Camp Akeela the summer of
2013, from June through August. His job in our residential children’s community entailed
supervising the outdoor adventure staff, which included the challenge course, hiking & camping,
and farming staff. He was responsible for the overall program of our outdoor adventure activities
for boys and girls who have Asperger’s Syndrome and Non Verbal Learning disabilities. Damon
was also a member of our senior staff, and attended weekly meetings to plan activities at camp
and discuss major camp issues.
Throughout his employment, Damon showed a strong desire and passion to be a positive role
model with the campers he interacted with. Camp life is above all a test of staff members’ abilities
to think on their feet, to be flexible and to work long hours under stressful conditions. At Akeela,
this is all magnified due to the type of children we serve. Damon consistently mastered these
challenging situations with authority and confidence – while maintaining an empathic stance.
Coming into a new camp environment requires a lot of learning at an accelerated pace. Damon
showed a commitment to mastering the philosophy of the community from the start. He was not
afraid to ask questions and ask for help when he needed it, which is an essential skill for a new
staff member, especially in a leadership role. Once comfortable in the community, Damon
showed great interest in getting involved with other aspects of camp than his role required. He
constantly volunteered to play important roles in special events at camp and with other aspects of
camp, which was an incredibly valuable asset to have in our community.
Please feel free to call (866) 680-4744 or email (Kevin@campakeela.com) me if you would like to
further discuss Damon’s work with us here at Camp Akeela.
Sincerely,
Kevin TrimbleKevin TrimbleKevin TrimbleKevin Trimble
Assistant Director, Camp Akeela