Camp Staff
CAMP COUNSELORS
Counselors are 18 years or older and will have completed at least one year of college or something equivalent. Junior Counselors, under the age of 18, are accepted on a case-by-case basis, often having been long-term campers and Helpers, and/or with the recommendation of someone close to Woodbrooke. Each year several counselors return from the previous summer and often there are one or two international counselors. There is a camper to staff ratio of 3 to 1.
The counselors are chosen for their maturity, desire to work with children in a close-knit community, and the skills that contribute to the needs of a summer camp.
SUMMER DIRECTOR
Jill Tikkun is our camp director.
She loves the outdoors and living in a way that respects others and our environment. Jill spends significant effort in building community with the counselors and campers. She encourages everyone to listen to each other, to play games with enthusiasm without being overly competitive, and to learn about the beautiful property. Jill resides at Woodbrooke. At times her family joins her and participates in the community.
Originally from Indiana, Jill graduated from Olney Friends School (Quaker boarding school in Ohio) and Earlham College. She also has a Masters of Education degree from Northern Illinois University. She and her partner, Sean, have led wilderness outings for Rite of Passages Journeys, an organization based near Seattle, Washington and other wilderness outings in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Sean is a graduate of Westtown School (a Quaker school in PA) and Lake Forest College, with a PhD in Education Psychology at Northern Illinois.
When not at Camp, the Tikkuns live in Durham. NC. Jill homeschools their children, Zoë and George, and teaches classes at North Carolina Central University (a Historically Black University). Sean trains teachers to work with the blind and visually impaired at the same school. The Tikkuns will usually have a few pets in residence at Woodbrooke for all campers to appreciate!
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Grace Coleman is our Administrative Director
Grace was hired in 2024 as the Administrative Director of Camp Woodbrooke. Grace Coleman grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, finding her grounding in nature and her inspiration in the diverse community around her. As a multiracial woman who faced challenges like homelessness, navigating identity, and confronting systemic barriers, Grace brings a deep personal commitment to creating inclusive, supportive spaces for everyone to thrive—especially outdoors, where she believes everyone should feel welcome.
With a B.A. in Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently working on her Master’s in Resilient and Sustainable Communities at Prescott College, Grace blends her love for the natural world with her drive for social equity.
Grace believes in the power of nature to heal, connect, and inspire, and she’s dedicated to making outdoor spaces more accessible and welcoming for everyone. Her approach is shaped by honesty about her journey, recognizing both the challenges and privileges that have shaped her. Through her work at Camp Woodbrooke, Grace is excited to keep learning and working alongside others to break down barriers, celebrate diversity, and bring people together in the beauty of the outdoors.
