SPARC National Conference 2024

Nat Saltonstall is recognized as a leading expert in the field of independent school summer and auxiliary programming. Over the past 25+ years, Nat has developed and directed multiple high performing summer programs at several independent schools while also providing targeted guidance to others through his consulting services. Currently Nat serves as the Executive Director of SPARC, the Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative. SPARC is the premier national organization serving independent school auxiliary program leaders. Offering professional development experiences throughout the year, current benchmarking data and best practices, and a community of supportive peers, SPARC supports schools in maximizing their auxiliary program potential. Nat founded the organization in 2016 as a national conference, and has since grown SPARC to be a year-round membership collaborative. From 1999 to 2019, Nat served as Director of Summer Programs at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA. Over 20 summers, Nat grew Beaver’s programs to annually enroll over 1400 campers and employ more than 250 seasonal staff. Generating over $4 million in gross revenue each year, Beaver offers high quality programs in athletics, the arts, travel, and traditional camps. Nat’s professional background includes 25 years of work administrating and teaching in both boarding and day schools as well as 20 years leading both day and residential summer programs.As a consultant, Nat has worked closely with numerous independent schools to design high impact, revenue-generating auxiliary programs that achieve each school’s specific goals. Nat is a frequent presenter at conferences across the country, including recent workshops and presentations for the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Business Officers Association, and the Association of Independent Schools of New England. Nat is a graduate of Middlebury College and received his Master’s in Education from Harvard University. He has served as Board member and President of the American Camp Association, New England, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Wildflower Camp Foundation. Nat has also served on the Boards of the Massachusetts Camp Association, Youk’s Kids, and Sibling Connections, MA. Together with his wife, Gina, and their three children, Nat lives in Scottsdale, AZ.