A leader is a person with a magnet in his heart
and a compass in his head.
Choosing a Camp
If (for some strange reason) you could only consider one factor in your choice of camps, you should look at the camp’s staff. Their qualifications and experience will dictate the quality of care and instruction a camper will get, as well as the level of safety which can be maintained.
We are fortunate to have a highly experienced group of counselors, many of whom return year after year (the average counselor has been here four to five years). The average age is about 25. The youngest is 18, and through a year of college. Most young counselors will have been campers with us in previous years. The overall camper-to-counselor ratio (not including maintenance, kitchen, administrative, etc.) is about four to one, which gives us a superb opportunity for individual attention.
Camp is a community of people who live, work and play together, and this is one of its greatest assets. Most counselors live in a cabin with four to six campers and teach an activity during activity periods. (Some counselors who are out of camp on trips a great deal do not have cabins.) The camp experience is one wherein adults have ample time to spend with youngsters, time to develop meaningful relationships, to talk, to listen, and to teach.
Directors
Mondamin was founded by Frank Bell, Sr., known as Chief, in 1922. He directed it for 51 years. It is still owned by the Bell family. Frank Bell, Jr. directed Mondamin for 41 years before retiring in 2013. Andrew Bell, Chief’s grandson, directed Mondamin for 10 years before retiring in 2023. David Bell, Andrew’s brother, is now the director while Calla Bell Williamson, Chief’s granddaughter, runs our sister camp, Green Cove for Girls.
David Bell
Camp Director
I grew up at Camp Mondamin paddling the rivers, hiking and riding the trails, and climbing the peaks of Western North Carolina. In the wilderness and on Lake Summit, my counselors encouraged me to explore the world, but more importantly, myself. As I later pursued graduate school in history and a career in teaching, camp continued to be my homebase. I have spent many summers on the paddling staffs of both Mondamin and Green Cove, headed paddling, and served as a line head and assistant director at Mondamin. Adventures took me around the world; for 25 years, I have taught youth and adults at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NC), Friends Seminary (NYC), National Taiwan University, and Kang Chiao International School (Taiwan).
My wonderful wife Yijun, a Waldorf-trained teacher and counselor herself at Green Cove for several years, has inspired and encouraged me to continue to grow as an educator. Our daughter Emery will be at Green Cove this summer for her second year, and our son Benjamin plans to be back at Mondamin in 2024. Gordon Grant, one of my mentors in education, and I are working together this year to lead Mondamin into its next, great chapter. We sincerely hope you will join us on the journey!
Gordon Grant
Interim Assistant Director
I came to Mondamin as a 14 year old camper in 1969, and have followed what I learned here in adventure and academic education for 54 years: at Mondamin and Green Cove, Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC Outward Bound, Asheville City Public Schools, and UNC Chapel Hill. I still practice deep play in whitewater, rock climbing, and hiking, and am still working on my kayak roll…
I have worked closely with the Bell family in these years, from the founders of the camps, Chief and Calla Bell, through their son and daughter Frank, Jr. and Nancy Bell, and their grandchildren Andrew, Calla, and David. Each generation has taught me something.
My wife, Susan, is my partner of 40+ years; we have shared outdoor adventures around the world. Susan has headed canoeing at Green Cove. Our daughters, Rachel and Glenna, were Green Cove campers, and our granddaughter, Virginia Rugh, will be at August camp this summer. We intend that our grandson Grant will be at Mondamin in 2028. I am working with David Bell and the Mondamin staff to assure that he, and many other boys, will be having adventures on their personal frontiers at camp for years to come.
Teddy Corwin
Assistant Director
I spent my first summer at Mondamin as a counselor on mountaineering staff. I’d just finished my freshman year at Colorado College and was not yet old enough to go instruct for Outward Bound, so camp seemed like the perfect place to hone my outdoor skills. I had no idea that I would be walking into a community the likes of which I’d never seen. I instantly fell in love with Mondamin, and even after instructing for Voyageur Outward Bound School the next year, felt called back to camp to serve as head of mountaineering for two more years. In my most recent summer there, my wife Isabelle joined the camp community, working at the barn at Mondamin and leading bike trips. Since those early camp years (and thanks to a connection I formed while leading a Mondo father-son trip) I have spent six years in corporate strategic finance, first in healthcare and then in the ski industry. I’m thrilled to be teaming up with David, Gordon, and Aiden to lead Mondamin into its next hundred years, and to ensure that the next generation of boys and young men get to experience the same incredible community that I was so lucky to find here.
Aiden Shaw
Program Director
I was raised in Northern Utah, and was a Boy Scout for the majority of my childhood. Growing up, I spent a lot of time backpacking in the Wasatch mountains and whitewater rafting on the Colorado river. Being a part of Boy Scouts helped me foster a love for the outdoors and taught me meaningful leadership skills. I was able to apply and hone these leadership skills through many years of playing and coaching youth and high school lacrosse. My passion for lacrosse is what brought me to the Southeast where I am currently a senior attending Belmont Abbey College. I played collegiate lacrosse for three years and am completing a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. I have had the opportunity to spend my past two summers working at Camps Mondamin and Green Cove in various positions including Nature, ACA, Tennis head, and Swim staff. I couldn’t be more excited about becoming a part of something that holds so much meaning to our youth and alumni. I look forward to working alongside all of you to help Mondamin build and progress for years to come!
Kim Jordan
Office Manager
In 1973 my parents made the bold choice to move the family from Orlando to Tuxedo, North Carolina and, as it turns out, that was an excellent decision! I worked in the Mondamin dining room, kitchen, trip room and at Taj for eight summers before returning in 1996 to work year-round in the Mondamin office. My entire family (Mom, Dad, and four brothers) have all been part of camp in one role or another.
My work as office manager and registrar allows me to get to know and work with our great camp families and our awesome staff.
Pat Justice
Bookkeeper
I grew up in beautiful Brevard, North Carolina. After I met my husband, Mike, we moved to Hendersonville, just a few miles from camp, where we still live today. I enjoy the outdoors and traveling.
I started working for Mondamin in the year 2000. During my time here I have met many wonderful families and our wonderful summer and year-round staff.
Our daughter, Hannah, spent many wonderful summers as a camper at Green Cove where she enjoyed making friends and building skills in many activites, especially canoeing and kayaking.
mondamin.com
2024 Staff Bios
See who's going to be on staff at Mondamin this summer! We're adding great counselors to this list weekly.
