Month: March 2026

We are excited to announce Angel Colon and Jess Marback as our new Co-Directors of Transportation at Shibley Day Camp. They will be supported by Jackie Steinberger, our Transportation Coordinator, who has been a vital part of our transportation team for the past several summers.

Here is a note from each of them:

Angel Colon, Co-Director of Transportation

This is my third summer at Shibley Day Camp. Having previously served as a bus driver and manager of the go-kart area, I have a strong foundation in camper safety and daily operations. As Co-Director, I am committed to ensuring all routes are efficient, organized, and—most importantly—safe. My goal is to take Shibley’s transportation program to the next level of reliability.

Outside of camp, I am a married father of five and a proud grandfather of six. As a competitive sports fan, I love teaching and mentoring; I truly believe sports provide a blueprint for valuable life lessons. I look forward to another amazing summer of ensuring every camper arrives with a smile!

Jess Marback, Co-Director of Transportation

I am ecstatic about my new role as Co-Director of Transportation, having been part of the Shibley family for 13 years. Last summer I was the Athletic Director of Junior Camp, and before that, I spent eight summers as a group leader. This summer, I am focused on precision: making sure buses are on time, routes are optimized, and every camper’s journey is safe.

During the school year, I am an educator at Weber Middle School. I’m a die-hard Yankees, Rangers, and Jets fan, but my greatest joy is my three children—Lola, Georgia, and Briar—who have practically grown up at Shibley. Seeing the growth and happiness of my children and all our campers is truly incredible. I can’t wait for Summer 2026!

Jackie Steinberger, Transportation Coordinator

As an educator and a passionate fan of the arts and sports, I bring a unique set of skills and a collaborative spirit to the Shibley community. I am a dedicated teacher co-director of the school show. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, and following soccer and tennis. 

My Shibley journey began as a camper and evolved through roles as a counselor, group leader, and specialist, giving me a 360-degree view of the camp experience. My deep commitment to Shibley’s core values—especially building lifelong friendships and fostering a family atmosphere—is what drew me back to this leadership role. I am dedicated to providing safe, seamless transportation for our campers and staff, and I look forward to addressing parent inquiries with the promptness and care they deserve. It’s going to be a wonderful summer!

All three have been out on the road scouting areas, meeting with families and learning about the neighborhoods our families live in. Stay tuned for a follow up ShiBlog about their experiences….

One of the most important questions parents ask when touring a camp is,

“What is your camper-to-counselor ratio?”

Your child’s safety is our top priority. We go beyond standard ratios with a layered supervision system, ensuring constant, high-quality care in every area of camp.

Here is a breakdown of the dedicated staff members who create our strong foundation of supervision:

Group Leadership: The Home Base

At the helm of each group is the Group Leader, the adult in charge. They are the eyes and ears of the group and will be your primary contact throughout the summer. Our Group Leaders work with children during the year—they are truly the parent of the group.

In recent summers, we have also added the extra layer of an Assistant Group Leader to many of our groups, providing even more support and leadership.

Counselors: Big Sisters and Big Brothers

Every group is supported by a dedicated team of Counselors who travel from activity to activity with their specific group. These staff members act as the big sisters and big brothers to our campers.

To ensure no child is ever overlooked, each counselor is assigned a smaller Squad of children within their group. This counselor is responsible for making sure their Squad is:

• Safely getting from one activity to the next.
• Properly applied with sunscreen.
• Drinking enough water.
• Packing up at the end of day.
• Cubby maintenance.
• Supported and encouraged throughout the day.

Specialists: Experts in Every Area

When a group arrives at an activity area, they are greeted by the Head Specialist and their team who run that area. Specialists are experts in their field, leading the instruction and organization of each individual activity. Our Group Counselors then give critical support, maintaining the group’s safety and engagement while the Specialist focuses on the activity itself.

Pool Coverage: Safety in Numbers

Supervision is most critical at the pool, and our procedures reflect that. When a group enters the pool area, the coverage is layered for maximum safety:

• Lifeguards: Two lifeguards are always positioned in the chairs (one at the deep end and one at the shallow end) before any campers enter the water.
• In-Water Staff: Before instructional swim begins, an additional 4–6 lifeguards will enter the pool to create a grid of in-water supervision.
• Group Staff Support: Once the lifeguards are positioned, the Group Counselors enter the water with the campers, and the Group Leader and Assistant Group Leader circle the pool deck, overseeing all activity.

Our Group Ratios (Camper to Counselor)

Our dedication to safety is clearly reflected in our low camper-to-counselor ratios:

• Nursery: 4:1
• Kindergarten: 5:1
• First Grade: 6:1
• Second Grade: 7:1
• Third Grade through Eighth Grade: 8:1

By maintaining these ratios and implementing our system of layered supervision, we ensure that every camper has a safe, positive, and well-supervised experience at camp!