Meet the Team

Growing up on Long Island, Chris credits his many frequent trips to the Bronx Zoo as a child as the catalyst for his interest in wildlife and conservation! Chris has been involved in Bronx Zoo camp programs since 2002 and worked as both a Conservation Camp Counselor and a Conservation Educator before stepping into the role of Camp Director. His mission as camp director is to provide summer camp programming that is not only fun but also teaches campers about wildlife while also inspiring them to get involved with wildlife conservation!

Chris’ zoo experience goes beyond just the Bronx, as he has worked with other zoo education departments at Zoo Atlanta, Dallas Zoo, San Diego Zoo and more! A graduate from Penn State with a degree in Animal Bioscience, Chris’ favorite parts of camp are giving campers the opportunities to think and act like WCS scientists, including using some of the technology that our scientists use with the campers! Another favorite part of Chris’ work at the Bronx Zoo is being able to work with our animal ambassadors and to introduce them to our camp participants during our camp animal demonstrations!

Max grew up near the Bronx and would come to the Bronx Zoo every single week with his parents, so he’s thrilled to have become an educator here! Max’s passion for animals (especially birds), nature, and the outdoors fueled his interest in completing his undergrad degree in Environmental Science at North Eastern University. Beyond his interests in science and animals, Max also has had amazing experiences working in Japan teaching English there within the public school system. He is very excited about camp this summer and he can’t wait to share his love for wildlife with the campers!

Melissa is a former Bronx Zoo camp participant and Conservation Camp Counselor who has now come full circle and is leading camp herself! Melissa obtained her Masters of Arts from Wesleyan University in Earth & Environmental Science and also has experience conducting environmental science field research and is the author of scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. When not leading camp during the summer, Melissa loves teaching our onsite school programs as well as running weekend family programs here at the Bronx Zoo. Melissa is excited to meet and share her knowledge with all our campers this summer, including participants in our 6th-12th grade camp programs!

D’Angela’s love of animals first started when she was young and saw the cartoon film, The Lion King. Her family would surprise her with trips to the Bronx Zoo where she experienced memorable moments visiting her favorite animals. Following that passion, she continued to expand her animal knowledge in high-school and then college by achieving a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology and Education. D’Angela first got her start at WCS through volunteering at the Bronx Zoo in 2016, and since then has held various positions within the Education departments at both the Bronx Zoo and the Central Park Zoo. D’Angela is thrilled to share her passion for wildlife and help create long-lasting memories for our campers this summer!