Biographies

Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Umstead
(1928 – 2001)
Founder
Betsy founded Camp Riverlea in 1971. She directed the camp for 31 years and will continue to operate under her philosophy and methods.

Betsy was a graduate of UNC Women's College. She received a Master of Arts degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from UNC. She was on the faculty of Goucher College, Limestone College, Boston University-Sargent College, Randolph College, and finished her teaching career with 25 years of service at UNC-Greensboro. In 1957, Betsy received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach at Queens Aliyah College in Baghdad, Iraq. Betsy worked several years at summer camps in New England. After 11 years as Head Counselor at New York's, Camp Navarac, she founded Camp Riverlea in northern Durham County in 1971. Betsy directed Camp Riverlea for 31 years, and it will continue operating under her philosophy and methods. Betsy was well-respected, admired and loved by many college students throughout her teaching career and by the hundreds of children who attended Camp Riverlea.

Joe Harris Business Manager and Director BA, Emory University MAT, Emory University MPA, Georgia State University Joe was one of the first counselors at Riverlea in 1971 and has remained involved in the camp since then. His two daughters attended Riverlea as both campers and staff. After an early career in teaching, Joe is now an investment advisor in Atlanta, GA. He will spend summers at Riverlea.

Fran Harris Assistan Director/Business Manager Fran has 11 years experience at Camp Riverlea. Fran received her BA from Emory University. Her two daughters attended Riverlea as both campers and staff. After a long career as a certified public accountant she continues to prepare tax returns part time when she is not involved with work at Camp Riverlea.

Julia Fiore Program Director Julia was a camper at Riverlea every summer from age seven to twelve. She loved it so much that she returned as an Orc for two summers and later became a Nature Counselor and Head of the Nature Department in 2005 and 2006. Julia spent other summers as a middle school biology teacher with Breakthrough Collaborative of Philadelphia and as a camp educator at the Museum of Life and Science. While earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Studies from Vassar College, she interned at Poughkeepsie Middle School and completed a thesis project on environmental and outdoor education. After graduating in 2008, Julia spent two years at an educational farm and wilderness preserve in California called Hidden Villa, where she taught all ages of children and youth, improved her skills as a naturalist, and gained experience in sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry. During summers at Hidden Villa, Julia was a member of the camp leadership staff, trained and supervised counselors in farm activities, and led a service-learning program for high school students. Julia is thrilled to be back for an eleventh summer at Riverlea.

Staff
The Riverlea staff includes over 30 well-qualified men and women, many of whom were once Riverlea campers. Riverlea has one staff member for every four campers. Each counselor has been chosen for his or her special camping skills, teaching skills, and character.