Our core leadership has decades of experience in camping and youth development.
Our mission is to create an environment where kids thrive.
Tony Oyenarte
Director
Tony has been an overnight Camp Director for over 26 years, spending time in Florida at his childhood camp and as a seasoned New England Director. Tony has been active in the American Camp Association, including as Vice Chair of the National Board. He’s a safety fanatic, and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and a Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor. At camp, you’ll find Tony fly fishing, paddle boarding with campers or sharing his passion for grilling while wearing his favorite Red Sox hat.
During the summers, Tony will be joined at camp by his wife Stacie, who has over 30 years of teaching experience in Middle School. She is currently an ESOL teacher and was named Teacher of the Year for her school. At camp, you’ll find Stacie walking their beloved golden retriever—Ranger. Tony and Stacie are the proud parents of Michael and Max. They are a true summer camp family, and love the water and enjoying Florida Gator sporting events.
Bryton Fissenden
Head of Programming
Bryton brings over a decade of experience in the camping industry to Camp Emerson. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management from Georgia Southern University and has dedicated his career to creating meaningful, fun, and safe experiences for campers of all ages.
Growing up in Scouting and achieving the rank of Eagle Scout instilled in Bryton a passion for leadership and the outdoors that continues to shape his work today. In addition to his extensive camp leadership background, he is a certified American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor, committed to fostering both safety and skill development in the camp community.
Outside of camp, Bryton enjoys hiking and backpacking, cooking, and spending time at the beach.
Our Staff
At Camp Emerson we pride ourselves on selecting the best of the best to teach and care for your children.
We hire a staff of talented instructors who embody our philosophy and who are there for the campers. These are individuals who are skilled teachers in their specialty areas and are caring people who listen to the children. Our experience in hiring, training and managing staff shows in our return rate and in the feedback from our campers.
- Ratio in the cabins: 1:5
- Return rate 50+%
- Extensive interview process
- Intensive training program prior to camper arrival
- Required lesson plans for all activities
- Ongoing observations, feedback and training during the summer
- Multiple reference and background checks for each staff member
Health Staff
We are grateful to have returning health center staff who love camp and are skilled medical professionals. Most of our staff have been with Emerson for multiple summers. Our Medical Director supervises a team of Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Registered Nurses to care for the health of our campers and staff.