Camp Director – Tiffany Suppes
Tiffany Suppes earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Education from The College at Brockport. She completed her second Master’s Degree as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired through the University of Northern Colorado in 2014, and has been working as Teacher of the Visually Impaired since! Tiffany has been the Director of Camp Abilities Saratoga since its inception in 2014 and has spent time in the past working with Camp Abilities Brockport and Camp Abilities CABVI. She has presented at state and national conferences in the field of physical education and visual impairments, helped with the development of two videos that teach educators how to work with children with visual impairments, as well as helped with different research projects over the years. She won the undergraduate NASPE Adapted Physical Education Major of the Year in 2011, the APAC National Master’s Student of the Year for Adapted Physical Education in 2013, and The College at Brockport Outstanding Master’s Student of the Year for the School of Health and Human Performance in 2013.
Assistant Camp Director – Elizabeth Weaver
Lizzie Weaver, RN, earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in Early Childhood & Deaf Education. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she taught preschool and kindergarten in a Montessori setting before taking a break to complete her Associates Degree in Nursing to obtain her Registered Nurse licensure. She currently works as a Labor, Delivery & Postpartum nurse, taking care of new babies and families. Lizzie has been a part of the Camp Abilities family since 2009, where she started as a coach at Camp Abilities Brockport. Since then, Lizzie has acted as a coach, group leader, specialist, assistant director, and co-director at various Camp Abilities across the east coast. When not in the hospital or at camp, Lizzie enjoys spending time outside, baking, reading, finding local coffee, gardening, and hiking.
Medical Director – Marjorie Tierney
New to our program this year, Marjorie (Maggi, as she prefers) Tierney has forty years of experience in the nursing profession. She began her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse, then became a Registered Nurse, and later obtained a Baccalaureate in Nursing degree. Maggi has been a nurse in a variety of care settings and positions. These include Intensive Care, Post Anesthesia Care Unit (where she achieved top recognition as a certified PACU nurse caring for patients of all ages), Outreach Coordinator for Cancer Prevention, and as a School Nurse. Maggi has taught Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Advanced Cardio Life Support. She developed and presented cancer prevention programs to a wide audience, including school aged children.
Maggi and her husband, Tom, have two sons and three grandchildren. Her favorite way to spend her time is with her grandchildren and her dog, Jase, a Bearded Collie. She looks forward to meeting andcaring for all the campers and staff this summer.
Sports Specialist – Emily Gilbert
Emily Gilbert, Ph.D., is currently an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York Cortland in the Physical Education Department. As a professor she teaches future physical educators methods courses including adapted and elementary physical education. Emily is from Dundee, New York where she had the experience of teaching elementary physical education, adapted physical education, and coaching. Previously she attended The University of South Carolina, to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Motor Behavior and cognate of Pedagogy; and The College at Brockport State University of New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Science in Education for Adapted Physical Education. Emily has worked at Camp Abilities Brockport since 2011, Camp Abilities Saratoga since its beginning in 2014, and spent 5 years as a specialist at Camp Abilities Delaware.
Sports Specialist – Alex Stribing
Alex Stribing, Ph.D., earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the College at Brockport in Physical Education and Adapted Physical Education. Alex was the Camp Abilities Brockport graduate assistant during her master’s program from 2015 to 2017 and is now the Assistant Director for Camp Abilities Brockport. She received her Ph.D. in Motor Behavior and Special Education at The University of South Carolina in 2020. Alex is now an Assistant Professor at Kean University in Health and Physical Education. Her research interests focus on assessing and evaluating factors that facilitate or hinder actual motor competence, physical activity, and/or sedentary behaviors of children with and without disabilities including visual impairments in the context of obesity prevention.
Sports Specialist – Dorothy Niemira
Dorothy “Dar” Niemira, MS Ed., received her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Adapted Physical Education from SUNY Brockport and her Master’s Degree in Health Education from Adelphi University. She currently works as an Adapted Physical Education teacher at P255 in Queens. Dorothy was a 2020 NYCDOE Big Apple Awards finalist, the Nassau Zone’s 2022 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year and serves as their Adapted Physical Education and Sport Section representative. Additionally, Dorothy won the NYS AHPERD 2023 Adapted Physical Education and Sport Section award. She is the Camp Abilities Representative for the NYC Braille Challenge spreading the word about Camp and running various blind and typical sport clinics. Dorothy has been a part of Camp Abilities Saratoga for 9 years, starting off as a coach and now as a Sport Specialist.
Sports Specialist – Erin Scheno
Originally from Jackson NJ, Erin earned her Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education, with a concentration in Adapted Physical Education, from West Chester University in Pennsylvania, which is where she first started attending Camp Abilities back in 2013. She was a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team where she served as captain her senior season. She was also the recipient of the West Chester University Education Major of the Year Award as well as the Harrocks Leadership Award, given by WCUPA Athletics Department. After volunteering at Camp Abilities PA, Erin continued to expand her camp experience traveling to many camps across North American including, Camp Abilities Brockport, Texas, Delaware, Canada, Arizona, and of course Saratoga! Her roles have included one-on-one coach, group leader, administrative staff and specialist. She first came to CAS in 2017 and has been back ever since. Erin is currently a High School Health and Physical Education Teacher in New Jersey at Hightstown High School. Outside of teaching, Erin is the Varsity Girls Lacrosse Head Coach, Winter Sports Assistant Athletic Director, Gender and Sexuality Alliance Advisor and Red Cross Club Advisor. Erin also started her own part time photography business last year!
Group Leader – Sara Koppenhaver
Sara Koppenhaver earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland and a Master’s degree in Adapted Physical Education from the University of Virginia. During the school year she works as a physical education teacher in Albion, NY and coaches Varsity Softball. Sara has been involved with Camp Abilities Saratoga since 2016, as well as attending various Camp Abilities across the country since 2014. In her free time, Sara enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and cheering on her favorite sports teams.
Group Leader – Allison Weaver
Ali Weaver is originally from Le Roy, NY and is currently living in Richmond, VA. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education (PreK – 4) and Teacher of the Visually Impaired from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in December of 2017. She is now working near Richmond, VA as a teacher of the visually impaired. Ali has been a part of Camp Abilities for the past 14 years. She was first introduced to camp through her mom, Erin Weaver, at a young age, and has loved it ever since! She has worked at Camp Abilities all around the country including Brockport, Texas, Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, and Saratoga in various staff positions. Outside of teaching, Ali opened her own home bakery called Arlene’s Table in March of 2023. She loves reading, baking, cooking, traveling, spending time with friends, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, hiking, and spending time outdoors.
Braille Specialist – Erin Weaver
Based in the Western New York area, Erin serves as the Northeast Outreach Specialist for the American Printing House for the Blind. For more than 25 years, she has worked as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, an Orientation & Mobility Specialist, and Delaware’s Statewide Coordinator of Education for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Erin earned her Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education at Villa Maria College of Buffalo, her Bachelor of Science at Michigan State University in the areas of Elementary Education, Special Education, and Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, and Master of Science in Education at St. Bonaventure University in Childhood Literacy.
A few highlights of Erin’s career include being a board member of the Pennsylvania-Delaware Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) Chapter, participating in the development and implementation of Delaware’s Transition to Unified English Braille (UEB) Plan, and the opportunity to work on many publications including, ‘Visual impairment and physical education: Steps to success’, ‘Gross Motor development for Children With Visual Impairments’, ‘Teaching Gross Motor Development to Children With Visual Impairments’, and ‘Staff Training for Physical Education for Children With Visual Impairments’. Additionally, Erin has been involved with Camp Abilities for the last 15 years, fulfilling a variety of roles, and where she is proudly known as “Mama Weaver”.
Sport Specialist – Peter Rifenburg
Peter Rifenburg, is currently a Graduate Student in Adapted Physical Education at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He became interested in the Adapted Physical Education program at SUNY Brockport after having participated in Camp Abilities Brockport as an athlete for many, and graduated from SUNY Brockport with honors in 2022. This will be Peter’s 7th year at Camp Abilities, and his favorite activities are Goalball and Tandem Biking. Peter moved from athlete, to coach, to group leader and now to specialist! Outside of Camp Abilities, Peter became interested in triathlons during high school, began training, and not long after signed up for the Ironman in Lake Placid, New York. Since then, he has completed numerous triathlons and is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to Camp Abilities Saratoga!
