Leadership

From L to R: Dave Mason, Erik Calhoun, and Garth Nelson.

Camp Agawam is under the leadership of the Agawam Council Board of Directors. Formed in 1985 to ensure that Agawam would continue to thrive as a summer camp after the retirement of former Directors and Owners, Dave and Peg Mason, our Board helps oversee the camping programs we provide. They work with our Camp Director to ensure an outstanding camp experience for our campers.

Among the first directives of the Agawam Council in 1985 was to hire a director to replace Dave Mason.  They chose wisely and hired “Chief” Garth Nelson who Directed Camp Agawam from the summer of 1986 until the summer of 2008.  Under “Chief’s” capable leadership Agawam has thrived.  He managed to keep camp contemporary and fresh, but he also acted as a steward for the traditions of camp.  Consistent feedback from visiting alumni is that Agawam looks great and “feels” the same as it always has.  We are thrilled to report that while “Chief” retired from the directorship, he will remain an integral past of Camp Agawam.  His new role is as Director of Development and as Consulting Director.

In August of 2008 "Yeoman" Erik Calhoun became Camp Agawam’s 5th Director and with that took on the Director's title of "Chief". Before assuming the Directorship of Camp Agawam, "Chief" Calhoun enjoyed a total of 15 summers at Camp, as both a camper and staff member. Over that time he has been an Associate Director, a Lower Unit Head, a Middle Unit Head, Trip Director, and Ranger Trail Head. Since graduating from college, "Chief" Calhoun has been involved with children and education; working as a teacher, running an admissions department, and earning his Masters of Arts and Teaching from Boston College. "Chief" Calhoun comes from a family that has long been involved with Agawam, and all together six Calhoun’s have gone to or worked at Camp Agawam. 

"Chief" Calhoun has two Assistant Camp Director's who also work throughout the year to prepare for successful summers on Crescent Lake. "Capt" Diehl Estes began his camp career as a Main Idea camper in 1973. He served for many years as a Main Idea staff member and joined the summer staff in 1985. Since 1988 he has served as one of Camp’s Assistant Director's and is the Director of Operations. There is almost nothing he cannot fix. "Mander" Karen Malm became a full time staff member in December 2008 and is Camp's other Assistant Director and the Director of Alumni Relations.

"Chief" Calhoun, "Capt" and "Mander" are joined by 62 seasonal staff members — mostly college-aged young men and women who serve as our cabin and activity counselors. Well over half are either alumni or have been with Agawam before. About 10% join us from foreign countries, traveling from places like Australia, England, The Netherlands, Russia, Columbia and even Tanzania! Several teachers complete our supervisory and administrative staff and we are all well taken care of by our Camp Nurse. There is a "counselor–in–training" program available for young men who are 16 and 17 years old.