Camp Tonkawa's Instructors
Our staff is professionally trained in Leadership, Youth Development & Play, and Mental Health & Behavior. Training is through ExpertOnlineTraining.com.
April Holtzman is Camp Tonkawa's Camp Director and Co-Founder. April grew up in Chicago, Illinois. With a father who was the Director of the Neighborhood Boys Club and a mother who cared for foster children and was a childcare provider, she learned from them the love for children. Vacations were family camping trips plus Girl Scouts and Explorers (now called Adventure Scouts - part of the Boy Scouts) all made up her love for the out of doors / camping, hiking, canoeing, etc.
Elliot is an Eagle Scout and has been learning wilderness skills for several years. His interest in nature began when he was young and grew through the Trackers program. The Trackers was a group for home schoolers started by his mother, April. Elliot later joined the Boy Scouts at age 13 and eventually got his Eagle when he was 18.
Austin, well he is always doing somthing crazy. Currently he is going to school to be a commercial helicopter pilot. He is a graduate of University of North Texas with a bachelors in Kinesology. He relates well with kids having a young heart. Austin is very musical, and in town he teaches violin, fiddle, guitar and mandolin. At the camp you'll see him making music around the camp fire. Austin loves leading songs, playing games and keeping the energy going, and everyone stays entertained. One of his dutys at the camp is teaching and administering first aid. He has gone through many CPR classes and emergency training courses. He is very competitive and will challenge you to a fire starting contest if you dare.
Madisun is a fun guy to be around, reminding us to have our PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) as he named it, with us at all times. With his amusing jokes and his unique angle of looking at life, you are almost guaranteed to have a wonderful time when he’s around. He has always been home schooled and is currently at high school level classes. Madisun has attended and learned so much at the many “Wilderness Skills Gatherings” across the country, to name a few: Moccasin Meet, Winter Count, Rivercane Rendezvous, Falling Leaves Rendezvous and the Earth Knack's Gathering. He is only a young adult but has the knowledge to start a fire with the bow drill, make and throw an atlatl, create flutes, blowguns, didjurydoos, and eating utensils out of bamboo, along with being a great storyteller.
