Born in New York to parent’s of Haitian descent, It’s hard to imagine what life was like at camp before Ricardo showed up at IHC. Even though he’s only been here for a short time, it feels like he’s been here forever. IHC has been his summer home since 2021. Currently, he acts as the Director of Creative and Performing Arts. Believe it or not, he started out at camp as a flag football specialist. 

 

We can thank Nikko, one of our Athletic Directors, for Ricardo’s presence at camp. The two of them have known each other since they were twelve years old and graduated from the same high school. Nikko knew that Ricardo’s love for football and his knowledge of the game would be just what the kids at camp needed. From there, Ricardo spent his second summer as one of our Athletic Directors.  Before the year was up Ricardo had made the jump to a full time member of the team and to being the Director of Creative and Performing Arts. How?

 

Unbeknownst to the full time team, Ricardo spent his time in the off season acting and writing. Sports might have been his first love but the arts always had his heart. He attended Gettysburg College, where not only did he play football, but he majored in Theater, with a concentration in playwriting. After graduating, it was straight home to New York where he found himself in acting classes and auditioning for TV, films, and theater. 

 

His favorite thing about being a part of the IHC team is that he gets to be all of himself everyday. He gets to be an athlete and an artist. He enjoys working with the staff he hires in the off season and helping them grow throughout the summer. More than anything, he enjoys seeing the kids at camp come to the Gallery, Dance Studio, and Music Studio, where they get to express themselves, each and every day, without judgment. For him, camp will always be a safe place where kids can take the time to find out who they are and what they love. What’s better than that?