Leadership

The North Country Camps - Camp Lincoln was established in 1920, and Camp Whippoorwill in 1931, by Colba F. "Chief" Gucker.  Four generations of the Gucker family and many dedicated and long-time staff members ran camp for almost 100 years, creating a place of community, adventure and skill building.  Generations of campers have developed confidence, independence, a love of living and playing simply, and a sense of stewardship for nature and the Adirondacks.  

The North Country Camps Foundation began overseeing and leading North Country Camps in 2018.  The North Country Camps Foundation Board of Directors is made up of camper, staff, and parent alumni who are committed to the future of Lincoln and Whippoorwill, and to continuing the legacy of the Gucker family.

Jen Livingston and Neil Coplan co-direct the summer camps.  Jen was raised at camp, spending her earliest summers at Lincoln where her parents were fixtures for several generations.  She was a camper for many years and is now the parent of a camper.  She worked at Whippoorwill as a cabin counselor, Section Head, Program Director, and Associate Director until 2003 before pursuing a career in education administration.  Jen possesses two decades of experience in leading, designing and implementing residential and student affairs programming in secondary and post-secondary education.  Neil has also been a long-time camp presence. He was a camper for five summers and worked for thirteen years on staff in a range of roles including cabin counselor, trip leader, and Waterfront Director with a special interest in swim instruction, sailing, and canoeing.  Neil also served as a visiting staff member for many years, and is a parent of two former campers.  Neil returns to NCC with leadership experience in the healthcare field as an Occupational Therapist and Director of Rehabilitation, caring for patients and families, mentoring a staff of healthcare professionals, and managing department operations.

Jen and Neil are joined by Associate Directors Amy Carlstrom, Ruth Needleman, Nicole Navarro, and Matt Hickey as well as other talented, long-time staff members.  Corey Birdsall manages the business office.  Our counseling staff of almost sixty young men and women is comprised of a number of experienced head counselors and activity leaders, together with several recent college graduates and current college students- many of them former campers. A majority return to the staff from one summer to the next. Each camp has a Registered Nurse or Health Care Professional in residence. Physicians are on call, and the city of Plattsburgh provides a modern, well-staffed hospital.