Our People

Lane Neubauer

Leadership Theory

Lane has been attending ECRS since she was 11 (over 55 years!). She has been on staff many times teaching a variety of classes including Informal Dramatics, Games, Square Dancing, Group Dynamics and Leadership. She has been Staff Coordinator as well Evening Program Coordinator multiple times. Lane served on the ECRS Board and was Chair for two years of her three year term. Professionally, Lane was Associate Dean of Students for 17 years at La Salle University. She initiated and facilitated a Peer Education program and grew this to be over 60 students. Prior to La Salle, she was Director of 'Wellness Services' at Arcadia University for 10 years and was an Adjunct Faculty member teaching Group Dynamics to Masters level teachers; in this course, she incorporated ECRS philosophy in teaching teachers how to build a positive, inclusive climate with their students. Throughout her professional career as well as after she retired, Lane has been called upon by a variety of different populations to facilitate workshops focusing on team building, conflict resolution and leadership.

Beverly Pincus

Creative Writing

Dr. Beverly Pincus is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Psychologist with expertise in trauma treatment and Cross-Cultural Psychology, an award winning author of personal essay and poetry, and a teacher of Creative Writing. She has taught her playshop "The Write Stuff" at ECRS events over the last five years. This year, she is excited to be assisting in the Children's Program. Beverly's Bachelors degree is in Human Development and Family Studies and after completing her doctorate she worked for many years as a Child Psychologist, at NY Presbyterian Children's Hospital and later as Director of Psychology Training at NY Foundling. She is a former camp counselor who remembers all the silly songs more than forty years later!

A proud Colombian-American "Jewtina," Beverly loves to write, read, dance, travel, do yoga, go to live theater, take long walks in nature, enjoy good food (which she likes to cook) with good friends, and cuddle with her furry, funny cat Cole. She lives in New York City with her wonderfully wise elder sage of a mother, and the aforementioned cat.

Kim Neubauer

Leadership Theory

Kim is an award-winning Learning and Development Consultant with expertise in leadership development and career transition. She has supported US Department of State diplomats, USAID development professionals, graduate business students, and Fortune 500 company employees with coaching, workshop facilitation, resume writing and interview preparation.

Kim is a folk dancer, dance musician and a popular guest leader for two Israeli dancing groups.

As a child, Kim enjoyed collecting frogs/tadpoles while absorbing ECRS values, theory and practices well enough to be invited onto the staff by age 18. She has since served on the Board as well as designed and facilitated the first ECRS leadership retreat. She has coordinated Evening Sings, and led singing, games and international folk dances. She has mentored multiple ECRS leaders and has offered a variety of leadership classes.

Arnie Zacharias

Arnie Zacharias volunteered at Friends Hospital from 1970 to 1976, running a program that trained volunteers to lead leisure activities for patients. From 1976 to 1979, he was Assistant Coordinator to Nancy Schmale (an ECRS leader and the mother of leader Marko Schmale, later known as Nancy Penney), the volunteer coordinator at Friends Hospital. As Arnie's boss, Nancy brought a reluctant Arnie to his first ECRS event in 1979, at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC).

From 1980 to 1995, Arnie was a recreation therapist at Eugenia Hospital. He built his leadership style in ECRS theory classes and practice leading.

Arnie has been leading Folk and Line Dancing, Games, and Informal Dramatics at ECRS since 1985. He currently leads Line Dancing (soul, country, and oldies) at senior centers in Philadelphia.

Debbie Karl

Line Dancing

Debbie has been attending ECRS events her entire adult life, and her love of line dancing, folk dancing, crafts, and singalongs was satisfied and nurtured along the way. Debbie’s first foray into leadership at ECRS was in the mid-2000’s, when she was inspired to share some of the African drumming rhythms and skills she’d been learning. More recently, she found a local line dancing class which, for the first time, came close to replicating the magic she felt while dancing at ECRS. Once again inspired to share, Debbie has been teaching line dances from that class at our events, hoping to add some new favorites to the beloved and joyful ECRS dance repertoire. In addition, she can sometimes be found leading a song or playing/singing along with her trusty ukulele.

Josh Silverbauer and Rachael Silverbauer

Music and Games

By day, Rachael is a creative director and Josh is a director of analytics, but they've woven creativity into every corner of their lives. Josh has written two full-length rock operas, while Rachael is in the process of publishing her own children's books. Together, they've collaborated on numerous projects, including an annual musical retelling of the Purim story. Improvisation and creative play are their love language, and they've been playing the Hat Game through every chapter of their journey together. Now as parents, they're bringing that same spirit of music, play, and imagination to their kids. They're thrilled to lead classes at ECRS this year, and can't wait to stretch your creative limits right alongside them.

Heather Klemanski

Well-Being and Self-Compassion

Heather Klemanski is a well-being expert in stress management, mindfulness, and self-compassion. She empowers individuals and groups through transformations that build resilience, self-worth, and compassion. With qualifications in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Safe Space Facilitation, and Somatic Practices, Heather supports individuals navigating overwhelm, burnout, and emotional disconnection through a trauma-sensitive approach, gently guiding them back to balance and well-being.

With a love for creativity and play, whether it's making earrings, collaging, or weaving beauty into the everyday, Heather brings warmth, presence, and meaning into all she does. To learn more: heatherklemanski.com

Linda Paul

Children's Program

Linda holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Kansas and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College of Education. After teaching at the University of Alberta and on Long Island, NY, she found her true calling as a school administrator in special and early childhood education. During her 21 years at one school, she started classes that integrated children with and without special needs. Now retired in St. Petersburg, Florida, Linda volunteers in a kindergarten class, advocates for children in foster care, and is a museum docent. She loves walking in local parks, photographing flora and fauna, and traveling.

Reed Dewey

Transition Coaching

Reed Dewey is a transition coach with What's Next Coaching. He supports clients who want to explore and plan for the life they want, and dream of having, especially in later life. Reed holds numerous coaching certifications and received his coach training from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (accredited through the International Coach Federation). Prior to his encore career, Reed was a senior leader at numerous local and national nonprofits. He ran the Montgomery County Volunteer Center where he supported thousands of volunteers and hundreds of nonprofit agencies. Visit Reed Dewey's website at www.whats-next.org.

Allie Cliffe

Improv and Sketch Comedy

While Allie's education and work background is in astrophysics and biomedical science writing, her true passion lies in writing and performing outside her comfort zone - the comedic arts. A self-proclaimed creative trapped in a scientist's body, Allie is in a local sketch comedy group up in Portland, Maine and has graced the stages of the Portland Fringe Festival, the Portland Maine Comedy Festival, and recently tickled funny bones at a Halloween show at Three of Strong Distillery. Join her for "Sketch Comedy Bootcamp - From Saturday Night Live to YOUR Life" and discover how to unleash your inner comedian, no matter your background!

Stephen Kaye

Wood Carving and Crafting

Having learned Spoon Carving from Reinaldo Cruz at Camp Winni Steve returned to camp each summer to carve, whether there was a class or not. A neighbor, Vivekanand Pandey Vimal, had a tree fall and saved the wood, hoping someone would "honor" his magnificent fallen tree. So Steve began showing Vivek his wood carving. Their friendship grew, and the Sunday Wood Group was born. The group grows and changes, with new people joining alongside old friends. Just about every weekend, a group comes together to chat and carve. Steve continues to develop his teaching skills every weekend and hopes to bring that to ECRS Winter Adventure.

Camden Elliott-Williams

Camden is a machine learning scientist with deep-rooted appreciation for creativity, empathy, and intentionality. He has accumulated playful exploration techniques from decades of practice alongside a five-time International Jugglers Championships gold medalist, a three-time American Ninja Warrior contestant, a Hugo Award winner, and even venerated ECRS teachers from the Workshop era. Whether he's directing first-time actors, teaching strategic board games, or revitalizing his workplace's new-hire welcoming program, Camden's inclusive and encouraging leadership fosters connection, safety, and growth.

Judi Powers

Movement

Judi has been a member of the ECRS family for over 10 years. She has her blue belt in NIA and is a certified instructor for Moving to Heal. She loves teaching joy of movement, moving your body's way. Dancing is an experience that can be so uplifting and healing on many levels; in a group it's just infectious! She lives in the Adirondack Mountains where she enjoys her many outdoor passions from skiing to gardening. She is a licensed Adirondack guide in hiking, camping and whitewater. She is part of the local theater group of dancing witches. Hope you come join me and share some smiles!

Sharon Underberg

Folk Dancing

Sharon Underberg believes in the power of play and its importance for adults as well as children; her membership in ECRS since the age of 16 is a large foundation of this belief. As a pediatric radiologist, she combines state of the art high tech imaging with being able to sing all the verses of "The Wheels on the Bus," motions included. Her passions include live action role play, singing and acting. Sharon teaches folk dance workshops (ask her about teaching dance in Sweden and Finland) and works as a coordinator at ECRS events.

Susannah Duncan

Children's Program

Susannah is an after-school instructor at an elementary school, where she organizes themed program days for kids. She loves connecting with people of all ages through creativity and play, and has been a creative writing club leader, substitute teacher, and director of a theater workshop in which she worked with second- and third-graders to develop, write, and perform their very own plays. In her free time, she enjoys writing fantasy and sci-fi, exploring new artistic mediums, exclaiming over cool bugs in the woods, and traveling.

Mark Schwartz

Music and Games

Mark Schwartz has been an ECRS member and leader for over forty years. He started his professional career as a recreation therapist, often using ECRS activities in his day-to-day work. He later moved into healthcare administration and is currently the Executive Director of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Cardiac Center. Mark is also a professional musician playing piano, guitar, banjo, and other instruments. He has led classes at ECRS over the years including various singing courses, playing music for dancing, and games.

Patricia Williams

Folk Dance Instructor

Patricia has taught International Folk Dancing (IFD) at ECRS for many years, bringing dances from around the world to our community. Throughout the year she leads IFD and Scottish country dancing at community events, music and dance workshops, leadership development courses, fundraisers, and private celebrations. She is known for a warm and welcoming manner and a deep appreciation for the cultural nuances of dances. From novice to expert dancers, people find her instructions simple and clear, her enthusiasm infectious!

Rob Eames

Relationship Coach

Rob Eames, M.A., is a Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication and a Relationship Coach who specializes in helping people build relationships rooted in authenticity & compassion. As founder of Couples Focus and Relational Academy, Rob offers coaching and workshops that blend practical skillbuilding with experiential discovery. His approach centers on cultivating relational skills, both with ourselves and others, as the foundation for interdependence, resilience, and meaningful connection.

Crow Underberg-Davis

Crafts

Crow has been attending ECRS his entire life (32 years!), and will always be grateful for the hand this community has had in shaping who he has become. He has taught many games and songs, but this will be his first time officially teaching a class, and he's excited to be following in his grandparents' footsteps by leading crafts. He spends a significant amount of his free time crafting, and is always learning new mediums, and so is excited to get to share a few this year!

Lisa Natale

Children's Program

Lisa loves to grow, create, and play. She's been fortunate to pursue these passions under the tutelage of experts: children. A grateful mom and teacher, she has spent the last nine years crafting meaningful learning opportunities for people at various points in their educational journeys, from preschool to college. In every classroom and every community she has experienced, she strives to inspire openness, curiosity, and collaboration.

Kay Gering

Crafts

Kay first attended ECRS with her family when she was 16. In her 20s she was offered a position as Children's Program Leader where she loved trying to engage the kids with a wide variety of activities. But creating art has always been her passion. So it was inevitable that she find her way to leading Craft classes. Now she is ever on the hunt for new art and craft projects to bring to the welcoming and creative ECRS community.

Jacquie Adain

Games

Jacquie Adain, born in England but living in Canada most of her life has been playing games at ECRS for about 25 years and leading much of that time. She was a substitute teacher until she retired. Although she misses the kids she makes up for it with her 'kids' and 'family' at ECRS. Dancing, singing, playing the uke and word games are also on her agenda. At home she is involved with RWC, the Canadian 'cousin' of ECRS.

Carmen Siftar

Carmen has been raised in ECRS, attending with her family her entire life! She has previously taken on ECRS leadership roles collaborating with her cousins in the realms of dancing, crafting, and snacking. At ECRS she loves to make art, folk dance, sing, play, learn, and connect with community. Outside of ECRS, Carmen lives in Philadelphia and has been a toddler teacher, a farmer, a camp counselor, and a student.

Betsy Reinstein Dewey

Betsy Reinstein Dewey has been playing games, singing, dancing and acting with ECRS for over 30 years! She is a certified Newfield Network coach with a Masters in Social Work, and is passionate about helping to facilitate positive change in people's lives. Through her coaching and leading of workshops she has had the honor of witnessing inspiring personal transformation for those she has helped.

Celia Nicholson

Celia is from Stow, MA, and studied at Haverford College. Things Celia loves include spending time with friends and family, making art of all kinds, farming, learning, dancing, singing, swimming, and laughing. ECRS has been part of Celia's life since before she was even born, and it's really shaped who she is today. Celia has enjoyed co-teaching a class to the people who taught her!

Isaac Lebwohl-Steiner

Improv and Drama

Isaac has been coming to ECRS his entire life and currently serves as Board Chair. He leads improv, cooperative and theater games, Small Scenes, and other ways to play at ECRS events. He has served on various committees over the years. He invites you to join him at ECRS for the same reason he leads here: to connect with a caring community and play, just because we can.

Julie Lipson and Miles Crabtree

Music and Improv

Julie and Miles are music therapists and musicians with more than 3 decades of experience facilitating musical community adventures. The two perform with Ants on a Log, a nationally acclaimed social-justice family music band. As facilitators, Miles and Julie create inclusive spaces for people to express themselves, make genuine connections, and have lots of fun!

Rain Woods

Late Night Dances

Rain Woods is the child of long-time ECRS love-birds Steve & Martha Woods, and a member from childhood. As an adult, they have regularly led crafts and dance classes and are always looking for an opportunity to goof around. Outside of camp, they spend their time working as an urban farmer in Chicago, IL, where they live with their partner Alice.

Za McDonnell

Personal Growth

Za McDonnell has over 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist working with individuals, couples and groups. She is trained in Jungian depth psychology, humanistic and relational psychology, cognitive behavioral techniques, and Eastern mindfulness psychology. When not working she loves spending time hiking, dancing and cross country skiing.

Dan Nicholson

Dan has been an ECRS member for nearly 20 years with his spouse Julie Siftar and their two daughters, Celia and Sonia. At his home in Stow, MA, Dan enjoys making Raku pottery, sailing, and making videos for his local TV station. A retired high school art teacher, Dan has taught Percussion as well as Crafts classes at ECRS Winter Adventure.

Sonia Nicholson

Sonia attended Haverford College (Class of 2026) and has been going to ECRS her whole life. At Haverford, she captained the Sneetch ultimate frisbee team and ran the folk dance club. Sonia loves working with kids and has served as a Children's Program coordinator at Winter Adventure.

Toby Woods

Games

Hi! My name is Toby Woods, I am 30 years old and I work at a reuse hardware store in Maryland. I love to knit and play Ukulele. I've been attending ECRS since I was very little. My parents happily met at an event 34+ years ago. I am happy to join the ECRS staff this year.

Roxanne Siftar

Roxanne has been coming to ECRS all her life. Currently she goes to high school in Philadelphia, PA. Roxanne has been a snack coordinator before and a part of children’s program. She enjoys playing the fiddle, dancing, singing, gaming, and spending time with loved ones.

Bonnie Ostrofsky

Music and Ukulele

ECRS history: member for 30 years, past Board member, and current chairperson of the Programming and Staffing committee. Enjoys the opportunity to play games, dance, sing, and play music together. Leads a monthly ukulele "jam" (play and singalong) in eastern PA.

Frank Baskin

At ECRS Frank hopes that people will see how having fun requires leaders with the appropriate skills to lead. Outside of ECRS Frank has been a social worker who works on behalf of both individuals and all older adults. He also teaches several college courses.

Gabe Dewey

Gabe has been attending ECRS for fifteen years. He currently works as a nonprofit consultant in New York City and loves spending time outdoors playing basketball and going for bike rides. He served on the ECRS board starting in January 2021.

Joseph Feigin

Joseph was only recently brought into the organization, but he quickly fell in love with the community. He hopes to support ECRS with his passion and optimistic attitude. In his free time, Joseph enjoys doing anything outdoors.

Julie Siftar

Crafts

Julie Siftar grew up attending ECRS programs. She has a degree in Art Education from Temple University and has been teaching Art in Massachusetts for 20+ years. "ECRS has been an essential influence in my teaching success."

Max Kaye

Max is a long-time Winter Adventure participant who loves music, games, and the ECRS family! He is originally from Massachusetts and currently lives in Montreal, Canada. He has co-led Winter Adventure's children's program.

Deb Dunn

Games and Songs

Deb Dunn has been involved with ECRS for 47 years. She has been an educator for 32 years and incorporates Cooperative Games and songs into her teaching to bring joy and coalescence to groups of teachers and students.

Myriam Siftar

Assistant Business Manager

Myriam married into the ECRS community (via her in-laws) 3 decades ago. She and her husband Tim raised their daughters within the intergenerational community that ECRS is. Myriam is a business professional who loves dancing to world music, singing, playing games, and making connections across artistic talents, generations and backgrounds. In her time with ECRS, Myriam served as chair of the Marketing & Outreach Committee and as board member in the 2010s. She values the leadership development "origin story" of ECRS as well as its cooperative nature. Growing with ECRS as an adult and a parent has given her a greater appreciation for "process over product" and for play as a legit personal growth activity. Myriam will serve as Assistant Business Manager during the upcoming 2026 WA.

Karen Wisnia

Staff Coordinator

Karen has been attending ECRS events since she first came as a sophomore in college (Spring 1979). She loved it so much she's hardly missed an event since. Karen was Treasurer on the ECRS Board of Directors in the 1980s and Board Co-Chair in the 1990s. She was Chair of the Weekend Planning Committee starting in 1986 until it morphed into the Programming and Staffing Committee in 2020, and continued to Co-Chair until 2022. Karen's staff roles at Winter Adventure include Staff Coordinator, Assistant Business Manager, and Class Co-Leader. At weekend events, Karen has held roles such as Co-Coordinator, Class Leader, Registrar, Assistant Registrar, and various scholarship positions. Karen has most recently been Co-Coordinator at several one-day ECRS events in Philadelphia.

Zsuzsi Nagy

Assistant Business Manager

Zsuzsi has been coming to ECRS since childhood with her family. Following a hiatus during college in Hungary, she returned to ECRS now with her son Daniel, wanting him to also experience the shared joy, freedom, love and community. She has served on the Board and has filled various staff roles at ECRS events. Zsuzsi works as a mental health clinician at a university, in an emergency room and teaches at a Hungarian Saturday school. Biking, hiking, and discovering new things are her joys.

Tom Helde

Tech/AV Support

Tom provides sound and other A/V support at Winter Adventure. Outside ECRS, Tom volunteers for his church as a video producer on live-streamed services and is their lighting designer/operator for special events. Before raising his kids, Tom volunteered as a sound operator for dances, concerts, and festivals in the DC area folk music community, and worked on lighting in college and community theater.

Hugh Abrams-Helde

Programs for All Co-Coordinator

Hugh has been attending ECRS since attending a weekend in 1994 at the tender age of 15 months. He has served in several supporting roles since 2014 (Assistant Registrar, IT support, and most recently on the Programming and Staffing committee) and is excited to be taking on a program leadership role for the first time as Evening Program Co-coordinator.

Gabriella Frisone

Business Manager

Gabby has been involved with ECRS since she started coming with her family as a teenager, and she's been hooked ever since. In the past, she has served on the Board and served as Board Chair. She is currently involved in the Programming and Staffing Committee and the One Day Committee.