Camp Northwoods staff
Peter Carner, Camp Director
Welcome to Camp Northwoods! I am excited to be returning as Camp Director again this year. Camp has always been a passion for me. From being a camper as a child, to directing a camp as an adult, I have worked in every role imaginable. I believe that a summer camp should enrich a child's life and allow them to learn while having fun in a challenging and rewarding environment. We are planning exciting field trips, swimming, and many other activities.
Outside of camp, I enjoy being on the water kayaking or boating with my son Madigan and a dog named River. I look forward to seeing you and your children and assuring their summer will be amazing!
Education: Education: B.S Medical Anthropology, SUNY Plattsburgh M.S. Ed Education, Russell Sage Graduate School.
Kylie Folts, Assistant Director
Education: I graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 2020. I began my undergraduate studies at Endicott College as a Biology major. I am now finishing my bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with a Life Science concentration at Russell Sage College and am working towards a teaching career.
Experience: I am so excited for my fifth summer at Camp Northwoods! My passion for working with children has come with many years of experience from babysitting, camp counseling, and coaching at youth field hockey camps/programs. Over the past two years, I’ve taken on the role of Assistant Teacher with Skidmore College’s Early Childhood Center. Lately, I have been aiding in various classrooms at Troy, Schenectady, and Schuylerville districts for my teaching hours.
Interests: Going on walks, playing sports, and doing arts and crafts are some of my favorite hobbies. I love puzzles and any other brain games. I grew up camping and spending lots of time in the woods and around nature. I also love field hockey and enjoy sharing my passion for it with others.
Madelyn Symons, Camp Health Director
Education: I graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2019 with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. I also received my Registered Nurse License in 2019. Currently, I am working as a Substitute School Nurse, Photographer, stay-at-home Mom and of course, the Camp Health Director! (If you were wondering— No, I don’t have much free time! Haha!)
Experience: This is my 6th year as the Health Director of Camp Northwoods. The campers’ and staffs’ health and wellness is my top priority. I’m so proud to be a part of such a special camp!
Interests: I cherish quality time spent with my husband and kids. I have a 3 year old son, Easton, 1 year old daughter, Lacey, and another baby on the way! When I’m not with my family, you can find me behind the camera photographing families, couples, seniors and anything lifestyle.
Molly Abate, Counselor
Education: I graduated from Greenwich high school in 2024, and I am a rising junior at SUNY Oneonta where I major in Early Childhood/ Childhood Education, with a minor in Educational Psychology.
Experience: This is my second year at Camp Northwoods, and I have lots of experience elsewhere working for the Greenwich Town Camp for two summers. I have done plenty of volunteering with youth sports teams, and afterschool programs. I am also a member of the Empire State Service Corp, where I work at an Early Intervention Headstart program.
Interests: I love to spend time outside and be very active! I like to run and play tennis, pickleball, and frisbee. At school I am on the club ultimate frisbee team! I love hanging out with my friends and family, and I’m super excited about the opportunity to return to camp!
Matthew Bink, Counselor
Education: I am a 2026 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences Education. Before college in Iowa, I graduated from Greenwich High School.
Experience: While this is my first summer at camp, I have spent the last half-year as a student teacher in a high school classroom. I have also taught agriculture lessons geared to a kindergarten audience.
Interests: I enjoy reading, spending time with my friends, cooking, and spending time with my family's dog, Scout. In my free time, I also enjoy time at the lake and being in the sun.
Laurie Fleming, Counselor
Education: While I hail from the far away land of New Jersey, I'm a rising junior at Skidmore College, where I double major in Environmental Science and English.
Experience: This is my first year at Camp Northwoods, although I have been working on and off for camps, since my sophomore year of high school. I have experience working in creative writing, nature, outdoors, and computer science summer camps, as well as being a Peer Leader in Skidmore's SCOOP program. I am also a proud alumnus of Camp Sacagawea and a Hamilton-themed camp in high school.
Interests: I absolutely love rock climbing, hiking, swimming, and exploring the wilderness. My indoor activities include writing, baking, and that vast category of messy creation we call arts and crafts.
Petra Gamage, Counselor
Education: I graduated from Schuylerville High school in 2025 and I'm a rising sophomore at St. Lawrence University where I double major in Biology and English as well as play college field hockey.
Experience: This is my second year at Camp Northwoods! I have lots of experience with children through my other job as a ski racing coach for the NYSEF program at Gore Mountain. I also have lots of experience with childcare.
Interests: I enjoy anything sports, especially field hockey and skiing. Outside of sports I enjoy hiking, biking and paddle boarding. At college I enjoy being a member of the schools EMS team and am working towards an EMT certification. I also love spending my free time with my animals and on the farm.
Molly Morse-Belcher, Counselor
Education: I graduated from Greenwich High School in 2022, and I continued my education at Smith College in Massachusetts, earning my Bachelor's degree in English Literature and Elementary Education in May 2026. I also received my teaching certification for grades 1-6. Next year, I hope to teach elementary in the Boston area.
Experience: This is my first year at Camp Northwoods, but I have worked at summer camps in Schuylerville's Hudson Crossing Park, Glens Falls, and Holyoke, MA, from high school onward. Additionally, I have numerous teaching and outdoor education experiences from my time at Smith. Most recently, I completed a year of student teaching in a first grade classroom in Northampton, MA.
Interests: I love spending time outside learning about the environment around me, swimming, and reading books of all genres. I also really enjoy going to concerts and spending time with my loved ones.
Will Murray, Counselor
Education: I am going into my junior year at Corinth High School where I work hard in all of my classes.
Experience: This is going to be my first year as a camp counselor, however, I have gone to this camp as a camper for numerous years. I am excited to make sure the campers have as much fun as when I came through Camp Northwoods. I love the outdoors and try to absorb every last detail, even the smallest ones.
Interests: Some of my favorite things to do are to hang out with my girlfriend, hang out with friends and play sports. I am my school's quarterback, I play basketball and I am a pentathlete for track & field. I also love to fly fish and hunt, as well as camp.
Emily Scieszka, Counselor
Education: I graduated from Greenwich High School in 2022, and I continued my education at Salve Regina University, earning my Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Special Education in 2026. Next year, I will be in Graduate School at Merrimack College to get a Master's degree in School Counseling.
Experience: This is my first year at Camp Northwoods, but I have gained experience working for other summer camps since my freshman year of high school. This past year, I have been working as a substitute teacher and as an aide for an after-school program.
Interests: I love going to the beach, spending time outdoors, practicing yoga, and finding ways to stay active. I also enjoy music, spending time with friends, and being around my dog. I am super excited about the opportunity to help campers build confidence, make new friends, and create meaningful summer memories!
Toni Woodcock, Counselor
Education: I am a rising junior at Schuylerville High School where I’m working hard to keep good grades in my advanced placement and honors classes.
Experience: This summer is going to be my first at Camp Northwoods. I have experience working with and coaching younger children in various sports programs, and I am looking forward to meeting all of our CNW campers!
Interests: I play field hockey and softball for my school’s varsity teams. I am very active and athletic, so I also participate in a winter league, other sports camps and travel teams.
More Smiling Faces for 2026 coming soon!