Barbara Spevak, Assistant Director & Director of Middle Camp Boys
Aunt Barb has been a part of Tall Pines since its inception in 1996. Aunt Barb was originally hired as the Director of Middle Camp for both the boys and girls. After five years of only working at Tall Pines during the summer she joined us full-time. In her role as the full-time Assistant Director, Barb is in charge of hiring the staff and creating the eagerly anticipated, annual Yearbook. In the summer months she heads outside and supervises all of the campers and staff in Middle Camp Boys. She’s also in charge of working with over 100 clients for school and corporate picnics, family reunions, weddings and retreats.
Aunt Barb grew up in Broomall, PA and graduated from Rider University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After moving to Cherry Hill with her husband and two children, she began teaching preschool at M’kor Shalom Synagogue in Cherry Hill. She taught there for ten years before joining the Tall Pines staff full-time. Aunt Barb’s children were part of the first class of campers that attended Tall Pines.
Barbara “Buffy” Demain, Program Director
Barbara has been a part of Tall Pines since its inception in 1996. She was originally hired as part of the seasonal summer staff. After five years of only working during the summer she joined Tall Pines full-time. In her role as the Assistant Director, Barbara is in charge of hiring the staff and creating the eagerly anticipated, annual Yearbook. In the summer months she supervises all the campers and staff in Middle Camp Boys. She’s also in charge of working with over 100 clients for school and corporate picnics.
Barbara grew up in Broomall, PA and graduated from Rider University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After moving to Cherry Hill with her husband and two children, she began teaching preschool at M’kor Shalom Synagogue in Cherry Hill. She taught there for ten years before joining the Tall Pines staff full-time. Barbara’s children were part of the first class of campers that attended Tall Pines. Now that they are grown, she enjoys watching her grandchildren experience camp.
Sara Redfield, Assistant Program Director
Sara began working at Tall Pines Day Camp in the summer of 2003 as the Dance Specialist. That’s also when she began working the school and corporate picnics, family reunions and birthday parties. By the summer of 2009 she was promoted to the Picnic Director. On the weekends, Sara was busy running our events which included corporate picnics, family reunions, and birthday parties. When she started her family, she moved into the office as the Office Manager. In 2024, she joined the Program Staff.
Sara has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Stockton University. She also has her Teacher of Students with Disabilities Certificate from Rowan University. She currently teaches Special Education Mathematics at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, NJ. She resides in Mount Laurel with her husband and her three children.
Chris Bennett, Junior Camp Boys Director
“Bennett” as he is known at Tall Pines, began his tenure in 2000. He has worked in just about every division of the camp. He was a Senior Counselor in Junior, Middle and Senior Camp Boys, a co-Director of the Athletics Staff, Director of Senior Camp Boys and even worked on the Maintenance Staff. In 2024, Bennett returned to his roots in Junior Camp to become the Junior Camp Boys Director. He has been here so long that some of his campers are now Senior Counselors and have had his sons in their bunks.
Chris earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Rowan University in Mathematics and Secondary Education. He also has his Master’s Degree from Wilmington University in School Counseling which always comes in handy when working with all the campers. Bennett has also earned his Principals’ Certificate. He is currently a Math Teacher/School Counselor at the Center for Alternative and Restorative Education through the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. He resides in Montgomery County, PA with his wife and three children, who have all grown up at camp. In his free time, he dedicates a lot of time to the Upper Merion Baseball and Softball Association as a coach and loves his time on the golf course.
Jamie Secula, Camp Girls Director
Jamie began at Tall Pines as a camper in 2000 at the age of 10. In 2005, she began working as a Junior Counselor and eventually a Senior Counselor before accepting the Junior Camp Girls Director position in 2016. She is the first camper to have ever been promoted to a Director’s position. In 2018 she joined the full time, year-round staff. During the year Jamie assists with bunk and transportation planning and then heads outside in the summer months to supervise Junior Camp Girls and run picnics and events on the weekends.
Jamie graduated from the University of Maryland in 2012, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She taught elementary school music for six years before joining Tall Pines full time. She resides in Berlin with her husband and two daughters.
Rachel Belville, Middle Camp Girls Director
Rachel started working at Tall Pines Day Camp in the summer of 1996 as the Archery Assistant. The following summers she spent working as a Senior Counselor for both Junior Camp Girls and Boys before working as a Senior Counselor for Middle Camp Girls. In the summer of 2006, Rachel became the Assistant Program Director. Rachel finished out the summer of 2008 and then took some time off to raise her two daughters. While Rachel was home with the girls, her husband David continued to work at Tall Pines. Rachel and David met at camp and made history by becoming one of the first couples to get married after meeting at camp. Rachel returned to Tall Pines in the summer of 2015 as the Director of Middle Camp Girls.
Rachel has a Bachelor’s Degree from East Stroudsburg University in Rehabilitative Services. She also has her Teacher of the Handicapped Certificate from Rowan University. Additionally, Rachel has a Master’s in Reading from Rowan. Rachel currently teaches Special Education at Shawnee High School in Medford, NJ. She resides in Marlton with her husband and daughters.
Steve Wooster, Senior Camp Boys Director
Steve or “Wooster” as he is known throughout camp started at Tall Pines in 1999. He started as a Junior Counselor and then moved up to Senior Counselor in the summer of 2003 and continued through the summer of 2005. After a 15-year hiatus he returned to Tall Pines as the Senior Counselor for Varsity Club White before taking over as the Senior Camp Boys Director.
Steve has his degree in Mathematics from Rowan University and has been an Algebra teacher at Saint Augustine Prep for the last 5 years. He lives in Washington Township with his wife Trinna, stepson Jordan, and sons Chase and Tyler.
Deanna Wooster, Senior Camp Girls Director
Deanna started at camp in 2003 as a Junior Counselor in Senior Camp Girls as well as frequently working on our picnic staff. She worked at Tall Pines every summer while in high school. Deanna won Junior Counselor of the Year in 2005 and moved off to college after the summer of 2006. She returned to Tall Pines in 2021 as part of our Athletics and Floaters staff and continued to work on the picnic staff. In 2022, she became a Senior Counselor in Senior Camp Girls and received the Senior Counselor of the Year award. She was promoted to Director of Senior Camp Girls in 2023.
During the school year, Deanna works in early education in Berlin, sits on the PTO board of her local elementary school, and coaches her son’s soccer team. She resides in Pine Hill with Milo and their pets, where they impatiently wait for summer to return!
John Deitelbaum, CIT & LIT Director
John has been the CIT & LIT Director since the camp’s opening in 1996. Each year John and his staff continue to lead and train future Tall Pines staff members via the Counselor-In-Training and Leader-In-Training Program. Fifty percent of the staff that work with our bunks have been trained in our CIT & LIT program.
John grew up in Cherry Hill and has been a soccer coach for almost all his life. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology & Education from Rowan University. He is certified to teach grades K to 8. John worked in the Cherry Hill Public Schools from 1980 to 2021. He served as the Coordinator of the Environmental Education Program at Mt. Misery. The Mt. Misery program was a highly popular, week-long overnight program offered to all 6th graders in the Cherry Hill School District. John resides in Voorhees, NJ with his wife and son.
Kristen DiCastelnuovo, Office Manager
Kristen DiCastelnuovo started as a Junior Counselor at Tall Pines Day Camp in 1999 after her freshman year of high school. During her time at Tall Pines, she has been a Counselor, the Junior Camp Boys Director, and a member of the Office Staff. In 2024, she took over as the Office Manager and also celebrated her 25thAnniversary at camp.
Kristen graduated from West Chester University in 2006, with a degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. She is currently a Special Education teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Washington Township. She lives in Washington Township with her husband and two children.
Paula Cattell, Food Service Director
Paula joined Tall Pines in 2003 to run our Food Service program. Before coming to Tall Pines she worked at another camp for thirteen years. Paula is ServSafe Certified and has taken numerous state and local courses on food safety, sanitation, allergies and Celiac disease. During the school year she is employed as a nursery school teacher in a private school. Each year Paula looks forward to adding a few more healthy food choices. Paula resides right here in Williamstown and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Ed Douglas, Athletic Director
Ed began working at Tall Pines in the summer of 1998, as a Middle Camp Senior Counselor. After six years, he became the Soccer Specialist before eventually taking over as Athletic Director. Ed met his wife Karrie, our former Lacrosse Specialist, at Tall Pines.
After growing up in Williamstown, Ed earned his degree in Health and Physical Education from the University of Delaware. He is currently a Physical Education teacher at Beck Middle School in Cherry Hill. He continues to coach as well. He resides in Marlton, NJ. His family has had many connections with Tall Pines over the years. He met his wife here, his brother worked here, and his two children have grown up at camp and loved every minute of it!
TJ Rich, Director of Facilities
Prior to TJ’s commitment as the Facilities Director at Tall Pines, he was an entrepreneur to say the least. TJ graduated high school from Clearview in 2006 and shortly thereafter he graduated from Pennco Technical School as a mechanic. He also thrived as an EMT in the ER at Cooper Hospital and enjoyed his summers working as a lead bartender at The Borgata. When TJ isn’t busy with making repairs at camp, he enjoys building motorcycles, ATVs, and old-fashioned trucks.
TJ is happily married to long time Tall Pines staff member, Amanda, and they have three children. He enjoys working year-round at Tall Pines to help improve our facility.
Karen Jacobs – Director of Horseback Riding
Karen’s commitment to Tall Pines began in 1996, the first year, when she was part of the Horseback Riding staff. The following year she became the Horseback Riding Director. She attended SUNY Morrisville and dual-majored in Equine Studies and Agricultural Business. Later, she attended Rowan University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and eventually her Master’s Degree in Student Personnel Services (Guidance).
Karen has taught special education at Voorhees Middle School for 21 years. She enjoys seeing many Voorhees Middle School students attend camp and mature into counselors. Karen continues to pursue her own riding goals outside of camp. She lives in Clayton with husband and daughter, Holly, who grew up at Tall Pines.
Kyndel Camilari, Pool Director
Kyndel began at Tall Pines as the Junior Dance Specialist in 2011 at the age of 18. In 2013, she began working as a Lifeguard and eventually Head Lifeguard before accepting the Pool Director position in 2024. Kyndel has assisted in camp picnics, completing office tasks during the off season, and giving tours to new campers and their families.
Kyndel graduated from Stockton University in 2016, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She teaches at a special education school full time. She resides in Deptford with her husband, dog, and child.
