Welcome Becky Gilles, Wildwood’s New Camp Director

We are thrilled to announce that Becky Gilles has been hired as the new Director of Wildwood! Some of you already know Becky from Drumlin Farm, where she has been Camp Director for twelve years. Becky will start at Wildwood on April 9.

Becky Gilles

Becky Gilles, Wildwood’s New Camp Director

While at Drumlin, Becky developed innovative programs that expanded opportunities for children and teens while staying true to the camp’s spirit and mission. When the camp program outgrew its on-site location, Becky built partnerships with local conservation organizations to design and operate two specialty summer camps – Assabet River and Wolbach Farm for children ages four to ten. Becky and her team also developed teen-focused initiatives including stewardship and leadership clubs, birdwatching and 4-H Clubs, and off-site, week-long hiking, backpacking, kayaking and canoeing adventures. To learn more about Becky’s work at Drumlin, see the current camp brochure.

Outside of Mass Audubon, Becky is a leader in the camping world. She has served on board committees at both the New England and National American Camping Associations, is a popular conference presenter, and has served as an ACA Accreditation Standards Visitor. In all this work, she has focused on the confluence of children, camp, and nature.

We received many enthusiastic recommendations for Becky, including an unsolicited one from a Drumlin Farm Camp staff member who said, “It wasn’t until I moved up into administration that I realized how brilliantly Becky works with her staff, adjusting her approach to each individual counselor in order to help them develop as best she can.” Staff members from throughout Mass Audubon spoke highly of Becky’s leadership, thoughtfulness, creativity, and dedication.

“I have never done anything else in the summer since I was 16 years old but work at camp! I can’t imagine doing anything else. This is my passion!”

When we interviewed Becky she told us, “It’s always been my goal to return to the overnight camp world, therefore this unexpected opportunity to apply to Wildwood Camp and potentially stay within the Mass Audubon family at an overnight camp is something I could not let pass by. Getting to know hundreds of families, and building relationships with parents, campers, and staff [at Drumlin] have been truly rewarding experiences.  Sharing the Mass Audubon mission and my love of nature and camp with everyone is honestly priceless. ”

From her initial cover letter to her final interview, Becky impressed the search committee, and we unanimously selected her as the best candidate to lead Wildwood into the future. Please join us in welcoming Becky to Wildwood!

This entry was posted in Summer Camp on by .

About Ryan D.

Where: Mass Audubon Headquarters, Lincoln | Who: A Vermont ex-pat, lifelong skier, musician, photographer, motorcycle enthusiast, budding native plant gardener, and pun master | Favorite part of the job: Working with wonderful colleagues to make nature accessible to everyone

4 thoughts on “Welcome Becky Gilles, Wildwood’s New Camp Director

  1. Megan Kotz

    You are so lucky to have Becky in your corner! Aa previous camper of hers, I am beyond happy to see so many others benefit from her knowledge and love!

  2. Catherine Loeb

    Becky has been our neighbor for the past number of years. She is an awesome person and our loss will certainly be your gain! We will miss her a lot.

  3. Harneen Chernow

    Welcome Becky! Wildwood has been a great camp for our daughter and we look forward to meeting you.

  4. Edie Shipley

    Welcome, Becky! We are very excited to meet you, for our son’s 2nd year at Wildwood. He is SO looking forward to it!

Comments are closed.