Meet The Directors
Behind every great summer is a team that knows kids, knows camp, and knows how to bring out the best in both.
Kenwood & Evergreen lives and breathes that mission with a team of some of the top camping industry professionals.
Jack Schott - OWNER & DIRECTOR
Jack leads Kenwood & Evergreen with energy, warmth, vision, and a belief that summer at camp is one of the most important experiences in a kid’s life.
His approach is simple: healthy competition, real choice, steady growth and fun, always fun. If kids are trying hard, playing fair, and a laughing a bunch, then it’s mission accomplished. Jack wants kids to feel surrounded by people who know them, believe in them, and cheer for them.
Jack has spent his career living and breathing camp. Starting as a counselor and director at Stella Maris, he went on to co-found and bootstrap Camp Stomping Ground, a nonprofit summer camp giving thousands of children the chance to experience summer away from home.
He has visited and worked with more than 200 summer camps, studying what makes them tick and thrive. Using this experience, Jack has trained thousands of camp staff on leading with care, setting high expectations, and creating communities where kids can grow.
Jack and the camp pro other camp pros turn to, writing a weekly newsletter read by more than 6,000 industry pros.
What matters most to him, though, is not the big picture of the camping world. It is the daily experience of every child at K&E.
Every camper should feel challenged, supported, and inspired. Under his leadership, K&E is a place where kids return home more confident, more resilient, and more connected to who they are becoming.
SYLVIA VAN MEERTEN - EVERGREEN DIRECTOR
Sylvia believes camp should be a place where girls grow into their strongest, most confident selves while being surrounded by kindness and care.
She knows Evergreen as more than just a few weeks of summer. It is a space where girls can try new things, take healthy risks, and learn how to support one another in ways that carry far beyond camp.
Throughout her career, campers have known her as a steady mentor, parents trust her thoughtful guidance, and her philosophy shapes Evergreen into a community where every girl feels seen and valued.
Her approach comes from decades of experience. After earning degrees in psychology, Sylvia built her early career in youth programs, autism, and family counseling.
At 25, she launched her own psychology practice, which has since evolved into ForumWithin, a leadership coaching company.
When summer ends, she helps families, executives, and YPO forums practice emotional intelligence, deep listening, and authentic trust-building.
Her camp roots run equally deep. Sylvia directed Dragonfly Forest, where she not only led the program but also trained counselors and staff to create supportive, inclusive environments.
At Evergreen, Sylvia combines her background in psychology and leadership with her love for camp to create a program where girls are challenged to grow, supported when they stumble, and celebrated for who they become.
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Scott Brody - OWNER & DIRECTOR
Scott has been the Owner and Director of Camps Kenwood & Evergreen since 1996.
His journey started as a camper, where he discovered his strengths, built lasting friendships, and learned how to be a teammate, friend, and leader.
He returned to K&E as a Bunk Counselor and in the years that followed served as a Unit Leader, Head Counselor, and Assistant Director.
At 21, Scott told his mentors, Arthur and Judy Sharenow, that one day he hoped to direct Kenwood & Evergreen. Together, they helped make that dream a reality.
Beyond K&E, Scott is also the Founder of Everwood Day Camp and the operator of Camp Sewataro in Massachusetts. His impact on camping extends far beyond his own programs.
He recently completed a three-year term as the National Board Chair of the American Camp Association and continues to be a national and global advocate for youth development.
He has represented the camp profession in Congress and the White House, served as an Executive Board member of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning, and is a current Executive Board Member of the Foundation for Jewish Camp.
Scott is also an educator and thought leader, authoring the award-winning Camping Magazine article “Teaching the Skills that Children Need to Succeed.” He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and earned his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School in 1990.
ALI BROCKMAN - EVERGREEN FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Ali serves as Evergreen’s Family Engagement Coordinator, working closely with new families to ensure every child feels supported and connected from the very start.
Growing up at Camp Evergreen, Ali started as an 8-year-old camper in 1988. She spent eight summers as a camper and six on staff, eventually leading the Freshman Unit before returning years later as part of the leadership team.
Her professional background includes roles as Assistant Director of the Brimmer and May Summer Camp and years of experience teaching and working with children of all ages.
Ali’s deep knowledge of Evergreen’s history and traditions makes her a natural alumni liaison as well, keeping generations of families connected to camp.
A lifelong believer in the power of camp, Ali brings warmth, compassion, and a passion for relationships to everything she does.
She lives in Natick, Massachusetts, with her husband Scott and their daughters, Emme and Bess, both proud Evergreen campers.
JOSH WILLIAMS - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Josh came to K&E the old-fashioned way: he lined up at a hiring fair in Manchester, UK, saw a crowd, and got hired on the spot. Thirteen summers later, he’s worked his way through nearly every role at camp and now serves as Assistant Director.
Originally from Dewsbury, near Leeds in Yorkshire, Josh brings a love for people and an instinct for making everyone feel like they belong.
He’s represented his state in three different sports (rugby, cricket, and lawn bowls), co-founded OSO to help American students find summer camp jobs, and once U-Hauled 100 arcade games to camp.
What Josh loves most is how much we impact each other without realizing it. Think: the random campfire friendship, the laugh in the bunk, the small moments that create the bigger culture.
His favorite tradition is Color War song and cheer.
Josh thinks of his role as being the surrogate parent for the summer. He hopes campers leave as better people, the ones who speak up when something isn’t right and step up to lead.
SUE WHALEN - DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES OPERATIONS
Sue started at K&E as a seasonal bus driver and has worked her way up over 15 summers to Director of Facilities Operations. She brings 22 years of experience across camps and beyond.
A Northern New Hampshire native living just five miles from camp in Woodsville, Sue holds a Bachelor’s in Education plus associates degrees in psychology and safety studies.
What she loves most about camp is how everyone works as a team to help each other and campers year-round. Her favorite camp moment? Opening day smiles when campers step off the bus.
Sue is married to her wife Sue (yes, Sue squared). Together they enjoy a little art, hanging with their animals, and checking in on friends.
Kind, compassionate, fun, and delightfully silly, Sue once bought 700,000 sports cards and lives by one principle: bring your best self wherever you go.
VIOLET PIPER - PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Violet joined K&E as a CCA Fellow and quickly became an essential part of the leadership team, now serving as Program Director.
With a background in astrophysics (BA) and creative publishing and critical journalism (MA), she brings a rare blend of creative problem-solving, empathy, and a deep love for art, science, and learning.
Violet grew up at a YMCA sleepaway camp in Connecticut and attended performing arts high school. She once flew a Cessna 172 at aerospace camp in Daytona Beach and still loves high ropes and jumping off things.
What Violet loves most about camp is watching kids develop social-emotional skills. Her favorite moments include Lip Sync Night, after-dinner free play in the Hollow, milk and cookies, and the trip to Belle Island.
Pragmatic, visionary, and passionate, Violet lives by one belief: the real world doesn’t ask children what they think often enough. She wants campers to leave with lifelong friendships, inspired to try new things, and in a fulfilled flow state.
JACKI & BOB MITCHELL - DIRECTORS EMERITUS
Jacki and Bob Mitchell have dedicated over 70 combined summers to Kenwood & Evergreen, building a legacy of athletic excellence and genuine care for campers.
Jacki joined the camp family at age 5 and spent 40+ years as a camper, counselor, unit leader, Athletic Director, and Associate Director of Evergreen. A Division 1 lacrosse player at Loyola, Maryland (#3 nationally), she earned her B.A. from Loyola and J.D. from Hofstra Law School. Her greatest strength has always been motivating girls to believe in themselves and try their hardest, both on and off the field.
Bob arrived in 1990 when Jacki introduced him to camp, and he immediately fell in love. Over nearly 30 summers, he served 19 years as Kenwood’s Athletic Director and eventually oversaw athletics for both camps. A men’s national championship softball player himself, Bob brought competitive spirit and deep sports knowledge to every program.
Together, the Mitchells shaped generations of campers, building confidence through athletics and creating a culture of effort, belief, and joy.
SOPHIE LALLY - BUSINESS & FINANCE INTERN
Sophie came to K&E three summers ago when a friend convinced her a summer in New Hampshire would be amazing. In the end, she was the only one who went. Oh, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made.
Originally from Claypole, England, and now living in Sharon, Massachusetts, Sophie holds a Business Management with Law degree and a Finance diploma. She spent six years working in hospitality and administration for the NHS and a dance school before bringing her organizational skills and clear communication to camp.
What Sophie loves most is reconnecting with friends, watching campers grow, and enjoying the variety of each day.
Her favorite tradition? Opening Day. Watching the girls cheer as they step off the bus while Kenwood staff form their human welcome tunnel.
Loyal, supportive, and honest with a good sense of humor, Sophie lives by one belief: every day is an opportunity to explore, learn, and make memories.