By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

After six-plus years as Clarkston SCAMP’s executive director, Aimee Baker says it’s time for a change at the top.
The organization will seek Baker’s replacement after announcing her departure earlier this month.
Clarkston SCAMP is a five-week summer day program developed and designed for children and young adults with special needs covering a wide variety of both emotional and physical diagnoses.
“Although I am proud of what we have accomplished at SCAMP in the past several years, it is time again for a new perspective,” Baker said. “I started seeing patients (as a physical therapist) during the lull in fundraising during COVID and what started as a just a few has blossomed into a waiting list. I’m going to focus on my practice for the next chapter of my life but will always have a soft spot for SCAMP. I am staying on for two months to help the board find a new executive director and to transition this position seamlessly for them. I can’t imagine ever not helping this great organization and intend to do that in any way that I can.”
North Oakland SCAMP Funding Corporation (NOSFC) board member Jennifer Krausman said Baker will be missed. The NOSFC is the organization that helps fund SCAMP.
“Aimee has done an incredible job as the executive director of the NOSFC for the past six years,” said Krausman. “Her efforts have made a direct impact today and leaves a legacy for the future. Aimee’s excellent organizational skills have allowed the board to stay connected with its donors, sponsors, and other contributors who have a direct impact on the SCAMPers’ experience. She has created a tool box of resources, processes and procedures that will ensure a smooth transition to the next executive director.”
Krausman added that “while deepening existing relationships, Aimee has also developed new ones.”
“She continually networked and engaged groups and organizations to enhance the programming and opportunities to serve the SCAMP participants,” Krausman said. “Aimee partnered with the camp director to understand the needs of the camp and worked to find resources to meet those needs. This resulted in new equipment, grants, and programming. Aimee’s passion and commitment shined its brightest during the challenges of COVID. Her creativity allowed the boardto keep focused on the SCAMPers by hosting a drive through experience that brought the teachers, community and SCAMPers together in a demonstration of support during a very difficult time.
“We wish Aimee continued success. She will be missed by the board, SCAMPers and community.”
For Baker, who said she took the job on the recommendation of then-outgoing executive director Wendy Clufetos in April 2017, even laughing when asked if she was interested in the job.
“I was very familiar with the organization and knew the large scope of the job,” Baker said. “Somehow, Wendy convinced me to ‘just come by for a chat,’ and the following week I was sitting for interviews with the board of directors.
“The rest is history.”
Baker explained how the job evolved during her tenure.
“I guess my rationale for considering the job was that I could still somehow help those with disabilities, just in a different way,” said Baker. “Each executive director takes a bit of a different course as we all have our own connections and loves. For instance, I am a member of the Clarkston Arts Council, so music and art therapy were very important to me. We wrote grants for those programs and have been able to expand and improve what was already in place at SCAMP. The program director, Hank Passmore, loves biking and outdoor activities, so we wrote grants that allowed us to have adaptive bikes built for our SCAMPers, many of whom had never been able to ride a bike before. We have made many friends along the way with one favorite being America’s Corvette Club through Bowman Chevrolet. They have ‘adopted’ us and fundraise for us every year. I came in with a fresh set of eyes and looked at numbers and profits from past events. As a result, the Home Tour was discontinued and the Walk and Roll was
redesigned. Clarkston families have turned over in recent years and many of them do not know what SCAMP is. That in conjunction with the repercussions from COVID have made us realize that we need to change our course for fundraising. More than half of our campers require scholarships to attend and the other half get deep savings, as our predecessors intended from the start. A fresh perspective and new eyes will help this effort. We are so incredibly fortunate to have a local community that supports SCAMP but we serve all of Oakland County. This has forced us to look outside of our city for a diversity of opportunities. We have expanded our reach significantly in the past few years.”
And while a new executive director will soon be in place, Krausman said nothing else will change with SCAMP.
“The mission of the North Oakland SCAMP Funding Corporation remains the same: to provide funding for Clarkston SCAMP, a unique summer program offering fun social and recreational opportunities for children and young adults with disabilities,” noted Krausman. “The fundraising efforts of NOSFC offset the overall cost of the camp as well as provide scholarship and financial assistance to those who need it. Our goal is to continue to provide SCAMP with the funding necessary to ensure the children and adults with disabilities can participate in activities and experiences that they are often precluded from participating in. We are incredibly grateful to the generosity of our community and their commitment to SCAMP over the last 47 years.”
For more information or to apply for the job, email nosfc@clarkston.k12.mi.us or call 248-623-8089.

PHOTO: Aimee Baker