ConstructionKids

ConstructionKids Is the Brainchild of Deb Winsor

Deb began her construction career in 1985 as a carpentry apprentice on Nantucket Island. Her interest in woodwork and architecture led her to work for several years doing architectural restoration work, and then wooden boat restoration. She has a BFA from Syracuse University and a MS from Columbia University in Historic Preservation.

Deb has restored the 1903 townhouse in Brooklyn that she shares with her family, a dog, and three cats, as well as their 1720 post-and-beam farmhouse on eastern Long Island (complete with original corn cob and seaweed insulation). She loves hiking and backpacking, especially in the winter. She would like to add that, like Greg, she also recited the Gettysburg Address in fourth grade, just not on TV.

Staff Bios

Charles is an artist, a gymnast, and a graduate of Wheaton College, where he majored in Physics. When he isn’t building sculptures, hanging from trapezes, or solving science’s most challenging problems, he loves to cook for friends and family, and can often be found out sailing with a good book in tow (Game of Thrones or Calvin & Hobbes, depending on the day). He also speaks Italian.

Greg’s fifteen minutes of fame came in fourth grade, when he surprised the nation by reciting the entire Gettysburg Address on Bill Cosby’s “Kids Say the Darndest Things!”. Thirteen years and a Yale English degree later, he is still trying to figure out how to get famous again. He writes, acts, sings, cooks, bikes, DJs, plays and teaches the piano, loves kids, and can’t wait for summer to start.

Ingrid is an honors graduate of Wesleyan University, and is currently studying to become a nurse practitioner with a specialty in pediatrics. She is a film editor extraordinaire and a claymation specialist, an amateur cook with a famous pulled pork recipe, and a three time marathon runner. She rides a motorcycle and is learning to surf, and has dreams of traveling to all the great beaches in the world. Her favorite game is still freeze tag.

Daniel was born and raised in Brooklyn, and is a sophomore at Guilford College in North Carolina, where he is majoring in Business Management and Art. When he’s not making sculptures and exploring the woods, he enjoys riding his longboard, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and learning new skills. This is his fourth summer as a camp counselor, and his second summer with Construction Kids.

Glenn is a runner, world traveler, and historian with nine years of experience in education. He currently teaches at the Greene Hill School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and has worked with 18-month-olds, sixth graders, and everyone in between, at pre-schools, after-school programs, and various summer camps. Glenn studied Education and History at Hunter College, and later this year plans to run his first marathon where marathons began: in Greece. His personal hero is Theodore Roosevelt.

Jared has been working for the New York Restoration Project for the last five years, designing and building public parks and gardens. One of seven siblings from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he majored in History at Colorado College in Colorado and spent his free time backpacking and climbing in the Rocky Mountains. Jared loves gardening, furniture-making, canoe trips, and riding motorcycles.

Kristina is a recent graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is a guitarist, reader, creative writer, and an optimist, and loves being outdoors and having new adventures. In September, Kristina will be working as a substitute teacher in the New York City school system while pursuing a graduate degree in public administration. This is her second summer as a camp counselor.

Cody has had a passion for woodworking since making her first cigar box guitar at age six. She grew up in Florida, and left college in favor of becoming an apprentice to The North Family Joiners in Housatonic, Massachusetts. There she learned to make Shaker Furniture using traditional hand tools and classical joinery techniques. Since that time, she has trained scores of apprentices, including Deb (founder of Construction Kids). Cody’s love of teaching has led her back to school where she is currently majoring in elementary education at Smith College. She enjoys listening to jazz, blues, and classical music, tinkering, collecting life stories, kayaking, and taking apart small engines.

Kirsten takes care of everything. She lives with her husband and six-year-old in Brooklyn, and is always happy to talk to you.