Meet the Dream Team
Liz Pruzinsky (Director)
Liz Pruzinsky is thrilled to be the Director of Camp Watitoh, living out a lifelong dream that began when she was an eight-year-old camper in Maine. After spending eight summers as a camper at Camp Vega, she later returned as a counselor and group leader, cementing camp as a permanent part of her story. She officially transitioned into full-time camping in 2017 and served as Staffing Coordinator at Camp Wicosuta in 2021 before finding her home at Watitoh.
Liz is driven by a profound dedication to youth development. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from The George Washington University and her Master’s in Elementary and Special Education through the NYC Teaching Fellows program. Before dedicating herself full-time to the camp industry, she worked as a teacher in NYC schools and ran a private practice supporting children with autism as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). For Liz, this extensive background in education and behavior analysis serves as the foundation for what she loves doing most: creating a warm, supportive environment where campers can thrive and experience an unforgettable summer.
Deeply and enthusiastically committed to upholding the positive values of the Watitoh community, Liz feels incredibly lucky to foster an environment where friends truly become family. As Director, she especially loves connecting with prospective campers and families to help them discover what makes Watitoh so special and guiding them as they find their place in the community.
During the off-season, Liz lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband, CJ, and their two daughters, Mia and Penelope.
Callan O’Hearn (Boys Head Counselor/Staffing Director)
Callan O’Hearn’s camp journey began in 2018, spending two incredible summers as a general counselor at Watitoh. He returned in 2023, after 3 summers away, as The Boys Head Counselor and joined the team full-time in 2024 as Staffing Coordinator, helping to recruit and support the passionate staff team that makes Watitoh feel like home.
With 11 years of experience in education, Callan brings a wealth of expertise in youth development, behavior, and mentorship to the camp community. Before transitioning into full-time camping, Callan worked as a Senior Leader in education, overseeing a specialized team focused on behavior support and inclusion at a school for children with social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. This background in special education fuels his dedication to creating an inclusive, empowering environment where every camper feels understood, valued, and ready to thrive.
Callan feels privileged to be part of a community with such rich, deeply embedded traditions. Driven by his love for Watitoh’s unbeatable spirit and close-knit culture, Callan is committed to continuing the good times and ensuring that every summer builds lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories for both campers and staff.
Originally raised on the Isle of Wight in England, Callan moved to Bournemouth to begin his professional career and now lives in Sweden during the off-season with his partner, Alva.
Chelsee Spencer (Girls Head Counselor)
Chelsee Spencer first joined the Watitoh family in 2012, beginning her journey as the Archery Specialist before moving to the waterfront, where she spent six summers as Waterfront Director. She now leads Girls’ Camp as the Girls Head Counselor, bringing her years of experience, love for camp, and passion for creating an amazing summer for every camper.
One of Chelsee’s favorite things about camp is seeing campers discover something new and watching the whole community come together. One of her favorite memories was the first Girls’ Camp Pickleball Tournament, she loves seeing campers and counselors embrace new activities and traditions. She looks forward to continuing the traditions that make Watitoh so special while creating new memories along the way.
During the school year, Chelsee lives in Staffordshire, England, where she works with SEND students. She loves to travel and explore new places, and one of her favorite adventures was spending two months in Sri Lanka, where she volunteered at a sea turtle sanctuary. Outside of work and camp, Chelsee has a huge love for dogs and is kept busy by her two Labradors, Geoff and Bruce. She is excited to continue being part of the Watitoh community and can’t wait for another summer of friendship, fun, and unforgettable memories!
Kalib LaChapelle (Program Director)
Kalib LaChapelle joined the Watitoh family in 2019 and loves spending the summer on Center Lake. During his time at camp, he has been a baseball specialist, athletic director, and Program Director. His favorite thing about camp is designing events and activities for campers to enjoy.
Originally from Eastern Oregon, Kalib now lives outside of Seattle, Washington. He earned an undergraduate degree from Oregon State University before receiving an MFA from the University of Memphis.
For Kalib, Watitoh is special because of the close-knit community built year after year. He loves nothing more than meeting new faces, reconnecting with returning staff, and helping create an environment where campers can truly “Live the Dream.” When he’s not planning something around camp, you can usually find him playing pickleball, hitting the baseball diamond, or finding a peaceful spot to hang up his hammock.
Billy Hoch (Director Emeritus)
Billy Hoch has lived the Watitoh dream his entire life. Born on Visiting Day and raised in camp, Billy has been the year-round director of Watitoh since 1989. Billy has spent nearly every summer of his life at camp – first as a camper, and then as a counselor, Boys Head Counselor, and Program Director.
A graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Billy served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx, NY before returning to camp as a full-time career.
Billy is President of the Western Massachusetts Camp Directors Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey. His wife, Debbie, and son, Joshua, visit camp during many of our rich traditions like Birthday Banquet, Sing, Olympiad, and Memory Lane.
Dream Team Staff
We have separate campus areas for boys and girls, each guided and supervised by dedicated professionals. Head counselors and leadership staff are full-time teachers and coaches who bring to camp a wealth of child-related experience and whose job it is to provide the best possible camp experience for each individual camper.
Our dedicated, enthusiastic counselors are selected because they love kids, they love camp, and they embody the Watitoh spirit. College-aged and graduate students come from all over the country and all over the world to share their experiences and dedicate themselves as role models for their campers. They are trained to provide a safe, fun-filled summer where each camper feels confident, included, and inspired to “Live the Watitoh dream.”
Each cabin has two or three counselors, at least one of whom travels with the bunk to daily activities. Each program area has skilled specialists who are able to offer our campers quality instruction, encouragement , and lots of fun. It is no surprise that our Watitoh staff return year after year and many have been campers themselves.
