Kevin Gordon (Director)
A Harvard University graduate in psychology and the Canadian-born son of Jamaican immigrants, Kevin
has worked with children for over twenty years. He has been in the camp business since 1990,
when he first worked at a girls’ camp in Wisconsin. That’s when he discovered that
camp was his passion and resolved to make it his life’s work. Before getting into camping,
Kevin worked as a bartender, a furniture mover, a bus driver, a blackjack dealer, a garbage man,
and a tennis pro. After college graduation, he continued working as an assistant camp director,
traveled through Europe shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, traveled throughout Africa, and
wrote a book chronicling his African adventures, titled Not Yet African . While gaining
further valuable experience from camp programs from Pennsylvania to California,
Kevin graduated from the University of California-Berkeley School of Law and
worked for a top-100 law firm to further his organizational experience. In
addition to serving on the national board development committee of the American Camp
Association, Kevin serves on the board of the ACA's Illinois section. Additionally, Kevin
is a member of the Association of Experiential Education and the camp is part of the Midwest Association
of Independent Camps. Besides spending time with his wife Natasha and adventurous baby
boy Mico, Kevin enjoys playing goalie on his men’s ice hockey team.
- Favorite Camp Activity: Crate stacking
- Best Camp Memory: Every first day of camp!
- Favorite Camp Meal: Barbecue chicken
- Hobbies as a kid: Tennis, hockey, soccer
- Favorite Core Value: Community … it’s what makes camp special!
- Goofiest thing I’ve done at Camp: Ate ten full plates of food at dinner.
Natasha Jackson (Director)
Natasha is passionate about creating a world where we listen, love, and laugh together. Tash is
a certified elementary school teacher and mother to two boys—son Mico, and husband Kevin. She
grew up in Canada where she attended the University of Manitoba, graduating with a minor in psychology. In
addition to years of teaching and summer camp counseling experience, Tash is a born performer, having
spent many of her adult years as a singer, children’s performer, dancer, and face painter. Among
Tash’s favorite childhood memories are the times she was able to spend as a camper; she gained
independence and enjoyed learning new skills. That’s why she is a big fan of camp. It
allows your child to practice all the wonderful skills you’ve taught her, as well as learn new
ones.
- Favorite Camp Activity: Snack time!
- Best Camp Memory: Polar bear dip in a frozen lake … in April … in Canada … brrr!
- Favorite Camp Meal: Dessert … any dessert … yum!
- Hobbies as a kid: Biking and dancing.
- Favorite Core Value: Community … I love seeing kindness and respect for others.
- Goofiest thing I’ve done at Camp: Acted as a bridge over a mud puddle for my cabin campers.
Mico (Director in Training)
Mico has spent most of his life in camp settings and loves
it! Despite his youth, in addition to Camp Kupugani, Mico
has had significant experiences at several strong programs emphasizing diversity, including the
Mosaic Project, Camp Winnarainbow, and Camp Butterfly.
- Favorite Camp Activity: Hanging out with campers
- Best Camp Memory: Leading a Working-Out-With-Mico activity when I was only four months old!
- Favorite Camp Meal: "Pasghetti!"
- Hobbies as a kid: Giving high-fives and fist bumps, singing, dancing, and laughing
- Favorite Core Value: Personal development / empowerment … I’m all about getting stronger as a person and learning new things!
- Goofiest thing I’ve done at Camp: Tried to climb …well … anything!
The Directors' Favorite Organizations
- Girls in Action™ (click on "featured projects"): was designed to increase academic engagement while decreasing violent and disruptive behavior in female students. The program's curriculum comprises personal empowerment, leadership development, service-learning, and career building.
- Mosaic Project: an outdoor school bringing students from different backgrounds together. The Mosaic project addresses issues of difference and community, and works towards a peaceful future by reaching children in their formative years. It unites young children of diverse backgrounds, provides them with essential skills to thrive in an increasingly diverse society, and empowers them to strive for peace.
- Multiethnic Education Program: provides educators, caretakers, youth serving professionals, and young people culturally competent resources and strategies (publications, trainings and films) to include, support and explore mixed heritage experience in learning environments.