About Us

Camp Starfish is a unique environment, and one of the only camps to offer a one-to-one camper-to-counselor ratio.
2 Smiling camper teens at Camp Starfish
Campers smiling at Camp Starfish

Our History

Founded in 1998 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, we are led by a fantastic and talented Board of Directors and Year-Round Staff team.

The organization was named after a widely-known adaptation of The Starfish Thrower, originally by Loren Eiseley, inspired by the vision that individualized attention can help children to begin to see themselves as valued and valuable members of the community.

At Camp Starfish, the tale reminds all of us, variously, that we:

  • Can make a difference in the lives of others
  • Can take on that which society tells us cannot be done and effect life-change
  • Will never be left alone to fend for ourselves
  • Can do one small thing that inspires others to act, creating a ripple effect
  • Are part of something bigger than any individual barriers we may face

Our Mission

Camp Starfish fosters the success and growth of children with emotional, behavioral and learning challenges by providing individualized attention as part of structured, nurturing and fun group programs.

Group of happy campers at Camp Starfish

Meet Our Year Round Team

We often get asked “what we do” all year-round.

It takes a team of dedicated and hard-working individuals to make Starfish run! During the “off-season,” the year-round staff spends time fundraising to ensure that each child in need can receive scholarship dollars, hiring our summer team of over 100 young adults, getting to know and enrolling campers for the upcoming summer and working with their families, service providers and schools to ensure a positive transition to camp; and developing new and improved summer and year-round programs. In addition, we run respite weekends and year-round activities.

You can reach us by email or by phone at 978-637-2617 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, all year long. We look forward to hearing from you.

Staff photo of Jamie

Jamie Mahnken

Executive Director
About Jamie >

Staff photo of Sarah

Sarah Scott-Sandagato

Director of Operations
About Sarah>

Staff photo of Kristie

Kristie Martin

Communications Director
About Kristie>

Staff photo of Rachel

Rachel Roberts

Director of Staff Experience
About Rachel >

Photo of Danielle Lubbers

Danielle Lubbers

Camp Director
About Danielle>

Lydia Beeler

Program Director
About Lydia>

Staff photo of David

David Mahnken, LICSW

Mental Health Consultant
About David>

Laura Petersen

Staff Experience Support

Emily Golinsky

Development & Special Projects

Board of Directors

Starfish is very lucky to have such an involved, active, hard-working Board of Directors. These dedicated individuals ensure that Starfish is a vibrant, forward-thinking organization and a positive place for children.

Janet Boswell

Co-President

Michael Ross

Co-President

Angel Santos Burres

Treasurer

Dr. Carrie Endries

Clerk

Melody Leferman

Courtney Apgar

Aimee Tang, MD

Marie Bober

Christoper Aguilar

If you are interested in serving the organization at the board level, please reach out to our Executive Director.

The Starfish Difference

“The skills and the confidence that camp has taught him in just two weeks every summer has been life changing. Camp is the ONE place he feels 100% safe. Not just physically safe, but safe with his emotions and thoughts. He KNOWS everything about him will not only be accepted, but appreciated. All of the tools you have given him have helped shape the incredible person he is now, and I can’t thank you enough, from the bottom of my heart.”
Camper Parent 2015-2022
“We were so impressed with everything Starfish had to offer, from the application process to picking up our child. Everything was smooth, seamless, and had the child’s best interest and growth in mind. I’m so grateful Starfish exists and that we were able to access it in order to give our child this experience.”
2022 Camper Guardian
"My Camper really enjoyed the tight-knit community of his bunk. He is very grateful for 'matching him with kids he likes and likes him.'"
2024 Camper Parent
"Working here has proven to myself and others that I can do it. I have left Starfish a completely different person from who I was when I arrived, and in the best way possible."
2024 Seasonal Staff Member
"My time at Starfish has made me mature in ways that I didn’t think possible. It has also made me think about completely different career paths in the future. It has made me so much more confident in my capabilities, and I’m excited to see what my skills, which I’ve learned from Starfish, can bring me in the future."
2024 Seasonal Staff Member
"Watching the slideshow, you would never know any child struggles with something day to day. You all make them feel so important and welcome. It’s heartwarming to see each child enjoying the same activities at this camp just like any child would and should. My son feels the success of being there and sees it through the many tasks he accomplished. He couldn’t have done it without you all!"
2024 Camper Parent
"Typically, summer camp or other extracurricular activities end with phone calls home asking to pick him up. But at Starfish, with the experience and expertise of staff and counselors, he is poised for success. We've never once received a call with concerns."
2024 Camper Parent
“He came home saying, ‘You know when something or someone is bothering me, I can just walk away and ignore it.’ That felt like an accomplishment.”
2022 Camper Guardian
“Starfish is so wonderful. Every child deserves to have an experience like this. And every parent deserves to have a resource they can entrust their special needs child to.”
2022 Camper Parent
“We are always 1000% happy with the care provided by Camp Starfish staff.”
2022 Camper Parent
See Our 200+ 5-Star Reviews

Your Support Makes This Possible

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Additional Links
Year-Round Office

873 Main St. Suite 1
Ashby, MA 01431

Phone: 978-637-2617
Fax: 978-849-5004
Email: [email protected]

Summer Office

12 Camp Monomonac Rd.,
Rindge, NH 03461

Phone: 603-899-9590
Fax: 978-849-5004
Email: [email protected]

© 2025 Camp Starfish. All rights reserved.
EIN: 04-3454511
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Lydia Beeler

Lydia Beeler is Camp Starfish’s Program Director, ensuring that all campers have a safe, supportive, and fun Starfish experience. Lydia joined Starfish in the summer of 2021 and has enjoyed multiple different roles on camp. With a degree in psychology from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and experience in healthcare and education, she brings both knowledge and enthusiasm to her role.

Lydia is from Worcester, Massachusetts, and takes great pride in being able to pronounce her hometown. Her favorite camp activity is the closing campfire, where campers are able to reflect on and celebrate their achievements made during their time at Starfish. Her favorite Camp Starfish Tool is, “We make camp a safe place.”

Photo of Danielle Lubbers

Danielle Lubbers

Danielle joined Camp Starfish in the spring of 2023 as Camp Director. Originally working with the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, Danielle has ten years of experience providing programming to children, outdoor skills training for adults, and directing overnight summer camp experiences.

In her spare time, Danielle enjoys spending time with her two-year old Dalmatian, Mia. Danielle’s favorite activity at camp is raft building, as she enjoys seeing campers and staff work together to complete a team goal. Her favorite Camp Starfish Tool is “We are here to learn, grow, and have fun!”

Staff photo of David

David Mahnken

David Mahnken is Camp Starfish’s Mental Health Consultant. He provides staff training each summer on topics such as self-care, trauma-informed care practices, and health & wellness. David also provides support and consultation to the organization throughout the year. David holds a BA from St. Olaf College and an MSW from Simmons University. David is a LICSW who works in emergency services in addition to his own private practice in Massachusetts.

Prior to becoming a social worker, David’s first experience at camp was as a counselor in the early 2000s before becoming an administrator and member of the year-round team. His favorite camp activity is swim-I (swim instruction), and his favorite Camp Starfish Tool is: “We make camp a safe place.”

Staff photo of Joe

Joe Clark

As the Assistant Director at Camp Starfish, Joe is a seasoned professional who is well-versed in all aspects of camp life. With five years of summer work at Starfish, he brings extensive experience and expertise to the camp year-round. Joe is from the UK, and holds a degree from Keele University. Joe works as a support worker in the UK, providing care to individuals with disabilities, since 2019. Joe also engages in volunteer work, including spending three months in Abrobiano, Ghana.

Joe is known at camp for his charming English accent, which campers often try to replicate! His favorite camp activity is playing soccer (football) on the field, and his favorite Camp Starfish Tool is: “I take responsibility for my actions.”

Staff photo of Rachel

Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts is the Director of Staff Experience at Camp Starfish, responsible for all things staffing and groups. With a degree in Anthropology, and a Certificate in Global Citizenship from Franklin Pierce University, Rachel brings a unique perspective to her role. She oversees hiring, onboarding, retention, and staff appreciation for the 100+ seasonal staff at Camp Starfish each summer. Rachel has been a part of the Starfish team since 2016, working in various seasonal roles. She joined the Year-Round Team full-time in 2022.

As a lifelong New Hampshire resident, Rachel enjoys hiking in the woods with her dog, Clover. Her favorite camp activity is Free Play, and her favorite Camp Starfish Tool is: “We respect each other’s differences.”

Staff photo of Kristie

Kristie Martin

Kristie Martin is Camp Starfish’s Communications Director, ensuring that Starfish is able to reach a wide audience of potential campers and staff each year to further the Starfish mission. With her degree in Applied Psychology & Human Development from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, Kristie has a deep understanding of child development and uses this knowledge to create a nurturing environment for all campers during the summer.

Kristie grew up in the Monadnock region and takes pride in being a local. Kristie’s favorite camp activity is the Camper Talent Show, which she believes is the perfect opportunity for campers to showcase their skills and feel comfortable sharing with the community. Her favorite Camp Starfish Tool is, “I try my best, I do not have to be the best.”

Staff photo of Sarah

Sarah Scott-Sandagato

Sarah Scott-Sandagato is the Director of Operations at Camp Starfish, joining the team in the Spring of 2022. She brings with her a wealth of professional experience working in both mental health and human resources. Sarah’s role at Camp Starfish is crucial in ensuring that camp runs smoothly, and she is available to assist families every step of the way through the registration process. If you call the Starfish office, Sarah will likely be who you speak with first!

With her dedication to helping others and her commitment to creating a positive camp experience for every child, it’s no wonder that her favorite Camp Starfish Tool is: “We are members of a team.”

Staff photo of Jamie

Jamie Mahnken

Jamie Mahnken is Camp Starfish’s Executive Director, and has been an integral part of the Camp Starfish community since 2010, serving in a variety of roles. With a degree in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University, Jamie is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for every camper, staff member, and volunteer.

As a North Carolina native, Jamie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Her favorite camp activity is kayaking to Blueberry Island, which is a meaningful and memorable experience for many campers, as well. Jamie’s favorite Camp Starfish Tool is: “I am flexible and open to change.”

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