Dream Big With Us!

For more than three decades, our family has been dedicated to enriching children’s lives through the camp experience. Each family member is a camp expert in his or her own right. Together, we have complementary skill sets that are unmatched in the field of camp.

At Coleman Country Day Camp, we create a real family feeling for all of our campers and staff. Our special brand of fun, warmth, encouragement, and learning—that’s The Coleman Way.

Ross Coleman

Ross, a former fifth grade teacher, is the Director of Coleman Country. Having grown up through the ranks at Coleman Country—from camper to counselor-in-training to assistant counselor to counselor to supervisor to Director—his experience and know-how are unparalleled. He understands the operation of camp from every vantage point: friend to campers, mentor to staff, partner to parents. As an advocate for the camp experience, Ross has also chaired the annual Summer Camp Opportunities Provide an Edge (SCOPE) dinner, a fundraising event that annually sends more than 1,600 underserved children to camp. He is a Standards Visitor of the American Camp Association, part of the peer accreditation program; and he is also on the New York State Camp Directors’ Association Board of Directors. In addition, Ross is a frequent speaker at educational events sponsored by the ACA.

George Coleman

George is a founding Director of Coleman Country. Formerly an educator and administrator, he served on the national board of the American Camp Association and is a gubernatorial appointee to the New York State Department of Health Camp Safety Advisory Committee. He is also a board member of the New York State Camp Directors Association, the Association of Independent Camps, and founding chairman of NYCAMP, New York Children’s Advocates Making Progress.  

Marla Coleman

Marla, also a founding Director and a former teacher, is past President of the American Camp Association, where she was elected by her peers to lead the 7,000+ member world-class organization. She is a national spokesperson for the camp experience, helping to spread the word that “camp gives kids a world of good.” Marla is co-author of a book for camp directors (with her daughter-in-law Jessica). She also writes a parenting blog, “Campfire Stories for Parents,” in addition to the Coleman Country blog, “Happy Trails.”

Jordan Coleman

Jordan, who also is a Standards Visitor (that’s how he met his wife, Jessica!), is a consultant to the family. He is an industry expert on site, facilities, organization, and technology as they relate to camp. Coleman Country consistently reaps the benefit of his vast knowledge, which he applies to our state-of-the art systems and amenities. Jessica also is very involved with the American Camp Association, chairing the funds development team nationally, which raises money to support the advancement of the field of camp.

Our Leadership

We Admit It–We Can't Do It Alone...
We are assisted in everything we do by a core of dedicated, passionate camp professionals—our Leadership Team. Handpicked for their caring, creativity, and ability to work with youth, these parents, educators, and coaches collectively and individually set the bar for the staff they supervise. We work together year-round to create the best possible summer experience.

Our counselors also are carefully selected men and women—college students, teachers, and professionals with education and camp experience. We are highly selective, identifying people who will be positive role models and who love working with children. Then, we employ multi-layered methods of checking their credentials, including background checks, and personal references.

Once hired, our staff members go through intensive training workshops led by our supervisory team as well as some of the country’s leading child development experts. Our goal in staff development is to empower our counselors with the tools and techniques to become not only “big friends” to our campers, but also to be their nurturing coaches in truly life-defining emotional situations.

Our staffers are special people who get right in there and join the fun as active participants and supporters. Cheering loudly, singing energetically, coaching third, returning a serve, lending a hand–Coleman Country staff members are there for our campers every step of the way to ensure an amazing summer experience for each child.

Together, we create a community rooted in heart. Our guiding principles emphasizing respect, responsibility, safety, and fun, create a set of shared values that help children not only feel good about themselves, but become good people. We like to think of Coleman Country as a place where we coach the 4th “R” after Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmatic—Relationships.