David "doodles" Hughes, M. Ed. | Co-Founder | CFO (CHIEF FUN OFFICER) (email me)

David spent nearly every summer at camp when he was a child. He is approaching his 17th consecutive summer of working with children, with the last 10 years having been with Camp Doodles.  David grew up in Mill Valley where he attended Park School and MV Middle before hopping over to the East Coast to attend a private college prep school. Since then, he earned a Masters in Education at Dominican University and was previously trained as an E.M.T. (Emergency Medical Technician). David was certified as a Red Cross Certified First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor as well as a "Babysitter Trainer".

In 2002, David was invited to teach at the highly prestigious Lycee Michel Montaigne in Bordeaux, France. After this experience, David received his teaching credential and M.Ed, taught 3rd grade in Larkspur and worked as an elementary school principal in El Cerrito.  As a child, David was an avid indoor and outdoor soccer player and loved taking apart and trying to put electronics back together.

David absolutely loves playing with the Kindergarteners (they are sooo cute)...almost as much as he loves playing air hockey in the Senior Room (5th & 6th Graders)...but mostly he just loves going to camp each day to see the children, counselors and parents alike - camp is a second family for many.  David's favorite day is Ice Cream Day where he always saves the gum from his Bubble Gum ice cream cone!

Jeremy "Blinky" Hughes, B.A. | Co-FoundeR

Jeremy spent nearly all of his summers as a child going to camp with David, his 'little' brother. Since they were very young, they have been close friends and confidants.  Their friendship is so strong that they both live in the same building in San Francisco and often spend time together making delicious dinners and walking their dogs, Dogo & Benji.

Jeremy received a Bachelors Degree with honors from UC San Diego and then set off to pursue his MBA at UC Berkeley after working in Senegal, West Africa for the Peace Corps. Without a doubt, Dress Up Days and Crazy Hair Days are Jeremy's favorite!  As a child, Jeremy played basketball, soccer, football and just about every other sport available!

Chips' passion for working with children started when she worked as a mother’s helper for two kids in the 4^thgrade (one of which is a new counselor this summer!).She isa Marin native and grew up in a neighborhood with almost 100 children younger than she. This will be Chips' third summer “doodling” and she has been working at summer camps for the past 8 years. She attended Neil Cummins Elementary School, Hall Middle School, Redwood High School and recently earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Applied Communications from Gonzaga University. Go Zags!

At Gonzaga Chips worked with a mentoring program for at risk youth and in Zambezi, Zambia she taught English to children and coordinated a camp.During her time in Florence, Italy she visited a local elementary school once a week and taught them doodles games in Italian...she even volunteered in a preschool in El Salvador. Chips recently told us;"there is no place I love calling home more though, than camp doodles."

Everywhere Chips travels and lives she always finds a way to help, work, mentor or teach children.She isan outgoing, creative, organized and fun leader and thinks that working with (your) children is a dream job!

Veronica Cowen, B.A.

Day after day Veronica pumps the campers up with her large array of different songs and skits.  One can easily tell that Veronica loves what she does and, as your children return home singing camp songs, you will understand that they appreciate her hard work. 

Veronica, also a Mill Valley native, graduated from UC Davis in 2004 and often spends part of the Fall traveling somewhere incredible. A few years ago, Veronica taught 3rd grade at an International Elementary school in Thailand, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Veronica and David have been working together since 1996. Veronica's role this summer is TBA.

Troy "Tiny" Cowen | "Chief of Operations" (email me)

Tiny has been a part of the Doodles family since our start, first as a camper, then a Counselor in Training and now as our Office Man! In the morning Tiny will help you with all your "official" needs, and the former basketball player is always leading sports activities in Choice Time. You can be sure to see his "Tiny" smile in the afternoons as he is in charge of PM extended Care.

Tiny grew up in Mill Valley and currently attends college in Chico. You can count on him to eat any remaining California Rolls AND Chicken Taco Salad Wraps!!! (He's gotta beef up that Tiny Figure!)

Tiny and David have been working together since approximately 2001.

Sarah "Sprite" Brayton (email me)

Sprite is our in house cooking specialist. (She is preparing for Iron Chef!) Not only can she cook cupcakes with aluminum foil and a cardboard box, she can make Ice Cream in a Ziplock bag!!!! Yes it's true Ladies and Gentlemen, she has also been known to make edible dirt!!! Sprite was a Girl Scout for many years and was a C.I.T. before becoming a Doodles Counselor. Sprite attends USC but will be venturing all the way up Highway 5 for her 5th summer with Camp Doodles!

In 2008 Sprite pumped up our C.I.T. and Jr. Counselor Leadership Program for entering 7th through 10th graders, and she is looking forward to leading the program once again, making it even more valuable (when she's not licking the ice cream out of the bag)!

"Skittles" (email me)

Skittles has made a positive impact on Camp Doodles. With many years as a camper, CIT, Junior Counselor and Camp-Counselor, Skittles really knows what Camp Doodles is all about. Her positive attitude and warm affect help to make all campers and staff feel right at home, and she is always making an extra effort to help everyone have the most positive experience possible.

The following list includes a combination of current camp-counselors as well as some employees who are still a big part of Camp Doodles and sometimes make a come-back, or just visit, throughout the summer.

Jim "Jimbo" Oller
Jim has been dedicated to the camp staff since 1995. Check-in and Check-out have always run very smoothly thanks to Jim. This allows for you and your child to start the day off on a happy note.  Having spent his younger days at Edna Maguire and at College of Marin, Jim finds himself right at home in good 'ol Mill Valley.  Jim loves to dress up, throw on a funny wig (usually the blue sparkly one) and (try to) sing Karaoke to us all.

 As each summer our staff fluctuates, including rotating between our camp locations, some or many of the above listed staff members may or may not be working when your child attends.