Our Team.
Jamie
Gale
Founder/ Director
Besides being a co-founder and co-director of Creative Soul Camp and all of it's programming Jamie holds a BA in Spanish and is certified to teach yoga. Jamie is also the owner of little om BIG OM, a program that provides yoga for kids and families. She also has many other successful businesses including Boss Mama, Meet Me in Child's Pose, LitPath Studios (a Podcast Network), and The Star Counselor. Jamie can be found chasing around town with her three energetic kids.
Allyssa
Thao
Social Media Manager/ Senior Counselor
Allyssa is currently a student at UW-Madison majoring in Information Science while also pursuing a certificate in Digital Studies. Coming from a large family, she has grown up helping her mom and relatives cook. In her spare time, Allyssa enjoys listening to music, spending time with her friends and family, and playing video games. She is also an Instructor for Yummy Sprout so you will see her in the kitchen with our students as well!
Caitlyn
Pahmeier
Yoga Specialist
Caitlyn was born and raised in Madison and has always loved working with children. She is currently a student at UW-Madison and is studying Psychology. She is part of the little om BIG OM team, loves baking, and exploring Madison!
Hannah Kietzm
Culinary Specialist
Hannah is a current junior at St. Olaf College majoring Political Science and Environmental Studies. A Dane County native, Hannah has always loved baking and cooking for her family and friends. She was active in the Dane County 4H food project through middle and high school. During her spare time she loves reading and crocheting.
Margaret Mackinnon
Afterschool Club Leader/ Summer Camps
Counselor
Margaret is a rising senior studying Education Studies and Psychology at UW-Madison. When she’s not working with children, she enjoys baking new recipes, hiking, and exploring coffee shops in Madison!
Megan
Smith
Summer Camps
Counselor
Megan is currently a sophomore at Alverno College studying social work. She loves spending time with family, being outside in any capacity, and reading in her free time.
Bianca
Verma
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Bianca is a rising sophomore at Middleton High School and a member of the varsity Middleton Dance Team, MHS Theatre, and MHS Orchestra. Bianca is also a 2024 WACPC Scholar Athlete! When not dancing, acting, or playing music, Bianca enjoys seeing friends, studying languages, and making the funniest profile notes on Instagram!
Isa
Killian
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Isa is a junior at Middleton High School excited to be returning for her second summer to Creative Soul. Outside of camp, she is a singer, actress, and theatre director, as well as a member of the editorial board for her school newspaper. Isa loves drinking tea, watching sitcoms, and going on bike rides with friends.
Imogen Ryan-Kaiser
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Imogen is a rising Freshman at Middleton High School who loves to play Lacrosse and spend time with family! She is excited to be part of the Creative Soul Staff after having been a camper for years!
Finn Matthews
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Finn is going to be a sophomore at Waunakee High School in the fall. He likes being outside, mountain biking, hanging out with friends, and playing football.
Tara Charlotte
Founder/ Director
Tara has over 20 years experience working in education and a degree in Marketing. Besides being a co-founder and co-director for Creative Soul Camp and all of it's programming she is the owner and creator of Yummy Sprout, a program offering culinary classes for kids. Her favorite ways to spend time include cooking with her family, trivia, yoga, writing, painting, traveling, reading books and taking her dogs for walks.
Mara
Ritters
Assistant Director Afterschool Programs
Mara will be a third year education and Spanish student at UW-Madison this fall! She loves being a part of Creative Soul and helping to lead creative programming. She brings a calm and fun energy everyday and the students and staff adore her! Outside of school and work, she loves being outdoors, hiking, and biking!
Kristin Knope
Summer Camps
Art Instructor/ Afterschool Club Leader
Kristin is going to be a junior in the fall studying Human Development and Family Studies at UW-Madison. She has a passion for working with children, they teach her something new everyday and they know how to keep her smiling. Outside of work and school, you can find her listening to music, at a local coffee shop, and spending time with her loved ones. She loves being a part of Creative Soul and their focus on enriching children to explore and be creative!
Elise Warntjes
Summer Camps
Counselor
Elise is currently studying Psychology at UW-Madison and is a Badger fan through and through! Elise loves being able to encourage kids to find their creativity while having fun and enjoying themselves. In her free time, you’ll find her with her dog Bailey, spending time outdoors, running, drawing, reading, hanging out with friends and family, and cooking!
Kaylynn Schenz
Afterschool Club Leader/ Summer Camps
Counselor
Kaylynn is an artist studying at UW-Madison! She mostly creates drawings, paintings, and digital art, and she loves it very much. She has a cat named Miss Kitty, she enjoys crocheting and hanging out with friends in her free time, and she loves working with kids!
Francesca Ipsaro
Summer Camps
Counselor
Francesca is a recent graduate from UW-Madison with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work,
that focused on policy and administration. This fall she will be starting her Master's degree in Social Work at UW-Madison and is excited to continue her studies specializing in child and family welfare. During her free time Francesca enjoys crafting, baking, and going to the park or hiking with her dog! She also enjoys playing piano or spending time with her family.
Mara
Dawson
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Mara is a dedicated high school student at Madison West and currently a Junior Counselor at Creative Soul Camp. Mara loves spending her summers helping out at camp, making sure everyone has a great time. When she is not at camp, you can find her playing with her dog or volunteering in the community.
Addison Chase
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Addison is going into her sophomore year at West high school. She has a passion to teach kids, and hopes to create a positive impact in their lives. Addison loves photography, crocheting, drawing, and hanging out with friends around the city!
Lauren
Reis
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Lauren just returned to Wisconsin after living in Europe for the past two years. She’s a rising freshman at Middleton High School and is excited to get back to playing games with the kids in her neighborhood. Lauren is always up for an adventure and loves baking, reading, and animals.
Shalon Atwood
Administrative Manager
A trained postpartum doula and self-described craft nerd, Shalon has spent most of her career in the non-profit sector, managing volunteer programs for basic needs organizations. When not in the kitchen making desserts with her two kids, she can be found tackling her extensive backlog of fiber arts projects, pondering existential questions like, "how much yarn is too much yarn?", and writing queer love stories.
Corissa
Elder
Drama
Specialist
Corissa is a talented business owner (All About the Drama) and Para-educator! She loves being a part of Creative Soul and has been with it since the beginning bringing dramatic adventures and performances customized but the campers! She loves hiking in nature, coffee and spending time with her family.
Kaycia Zimmerman
Culinary Specialist
Food. Kitchen. Cook. Bake. Eat. These are the words that get Kaycia excited the most! Since a very young age, she has loved being in the kitchen. Her favorite form of gift giving is sharing culinary delights with those she loves. She is stoked to be joining Yummy Sprout this spring! When not at camps, you can find her at farmer’s markets, coaching basketball, tending to her garden, or helping out on her family’s farm!
Ellie
Jaeckle
Afterschool Club Leader/ Summer Camps
Counselor
Ellie has been with Creative Soul since 2022 working at both camp and afterschool club! She is a fun and creative person who loves photography and travel.
Elinor
Kosek
Summer Camps
Counselor
Ellie just finished her third year at St. Olaf College, where she is majoring in psychology and Spanish. Outside of class, she plays French horn in the St. Olaf Band and enjoys reading, photography, and writing letters to her pen pals.
Alex
Quinn
Summer Camps
Counselor
Alex is a rising junior at UW-Madison studying Nutritional Sciences/Dietetics as well as a certificate in Athletic Healthcare. He is also a coxswain on the Rowing team at UW-Madison, so when he's not at Creative Soul Camp, he will be at rowing practice, or studying for his summer class. He enjoys running, cycling, lifting, hiking, downhill skiing, climbing, and anything in or on the water. However, his new fixation is pickleball. He loves exploring new healthy recipes, and watermelon is my favorite food right now!
Liam
Smith-Grosse
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Liam is going to be a sophomore at Waunakee High School! Outside of school he enjoys playing video games with his friends, making video edits, and playing football.
Lilah Summerbell
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Lilah is a rising junior at Madison West High School. One of her favorite things is spending time outside with her friends and family, as well as her dog, Ziggy. She enjoys writing, practicing clarinet, and playing ultimate frisbee in her free time.
Anders Smith-Grosse
Summer Camps
Junior Counselor
Anders is a rising Freshman in high school. He enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing sports such as football and basketball.