Monday, May 2, 2022

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Melissa Caffrey, and I have had the honor of working with Collin Whitehead as one of our
Camp Sequoyah Counselors and Lead Instructors at Mount Sequoyah over the past year, during which
I’ve observed his strong worth ethic, curious mind, and care for his community. Collin is a thoughtful
young man who strives to make an impact and serve others whenever possible. He seeks to be a positive
mentor to all of our campers (as well as younger staff), creating a safe, fun camp environment while also
attending to subtle educational input and social-emotional development, particularly throughout the
pandemic.

Collin has a demonstrated desire to learn and push himself in all professional desires. In addition to
serving as a full-time Camp Counselor for our oldest group of campers (ages 9-12), Collin took on the
additional challenge of serving as one of our Lead Instructors for all our campers (ages 5-12)—planning,
developing, and executing daily camp activities that matched the theme of each week of the summer
(Outdoor, Sports, Create, etc.).

This is particularly challenging as, unlike a classroom setting where a teacher works with only one grade
or age for an entire year, our camp instructors must adapt hour-by-hour to create and implement these
activities for 5-years-olds one hour and 12-year-olds the next. Collin added excitement and nuance to
age-old summer sports activities as well as devising original games, like “live action Among Us”, that
related and connected to current trends and made our campers feel particularly seen and heard.

As one of the counselors who worked most with our oldest group, Collin also displayed a particular
understanding of the intricacies of discipline for preteens/middle schoolers. He exemplified our values of
respect and kindness, led by example, and also knew when to set boundaries and come to me for
additional support or intervention. This self-confidence paired with a willingness to work collaboratively is
unparalleled. He is not afraid to ask for assistance or direction, which only makes him stronger.

As a dependable employee and an obvious, excitable learner and leader, Collin will be a true asset to
your organization. I highly recommend him. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Melissa A. Caffrey
Director of Camp & Programs
Mount Sequoyah Center, Inc.
melissa@mountsequoyah.org
479-443-4531