I grew up in Metro Atlanta and moved to Savannah after graduating summa cum laude from Georgia State University with my history degree.
I worked for the GA DNR as a park ranger at Wormsloe Historic Site for several years before moving to Winder in 2009.
My timing wasn’t great due to the state’s fiscal crisis and hiring freeze in the park system.
That’s when I found Camp Twin Lakes! The only job available the summer of 2009 was housekeeper at the camp, and I took it!
It was the hardest job I’ve ever done, but the absolute most rewarding!
Eventually I began to grow in my role and now I get to work alongside our thousands of volunteers that make camp possible!
I love talking about camp and giving tours to anyone in the community who will listen!
About Camp Twin Lakes Camp
Twin Lakes opened its flagship campus in Rutledge, GA in 1993.
For almost 30 years, Camp Twin Lakes has delivered fully adaptive, medically supportive, and deeply impactful camp experiences to more than 10,000 of Georgia’s children and young adults each year, helping each camper grow in their confidence and experience the joys of childhood.
Camp Twin Lakes opened its second fully accessible campus at Will-A-Way in Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, GA in 2009, allowing us to serve 4,000 more campers each year through summer and weekend programs.
In partnership with Fort Yargo State Park, Camp Twin Lakes is managing this campsite inside the state park.
Camp Twin Lakes partners with over 60 nonprofit organizations serving a diverse range of diagnoses and life challenges.
We bring our proven expertise in therapeutic programming, state-of-the-art camp sites, healthy and kid-friendly food services customized to each camper’s dietary needs, highly trained staff, and devoted volunteers.
Our Camp Partners bring their expertise in each diagnosis and recruit campers, cabin counselors, and medical support staff.
This collaboration allows us and our partners to share resources, maximize impact, and best meet the needs of each camper.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
What I love most about what I do is seeing how our community has come together to help build, maintain, and support our campsites and programs for our campers
.
It’s because of our thousands of volunteers and incredible staff that parents can trust Camp Twin Lakes to care for their medically fragile child for a week.
We literally can’t do what we do without volunteers. It’s also one of our limiting factors.
Our capacity is capped by the number of volunteer counselors that can give a week of their time.
We are ALWAYS in very high need of adult male volunteer counselors.
It’s tough to have to turn campers away when we can’t find enough males to serve as cabin counselors.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Never take a normal day for granted.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I hope that I am still in my role at Camp doing everything I can to create safe, supported, and transformative camp experiences to kids and families that need it.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
When I retire, my goal is to live full time in my camper, volunteer as a campground host AND be a Google Earth driver!
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
One of the things on my bucket list is to attend a live taping of Saturday Night Live. I haven’t had any luck with applying for tickets, so my next move will be to fly up and camp out in front of 30 Rock!
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
I would rate the Piedmont Regional Library System as a 10 out of 10.
There are so many incredible things going on at our local libraries!
Some of my favorite things are passes to museums, crafting classes, audiobooks from Libby, free access to Ancestry.com, mobile hotspots, interlibrary loans, and the summer reading program for kids.
Not to mention that I no longer have to do the walk of shame with my overdue library book since they are now fines free!
I mean, COME ON—you just can’t beat the FREE services our libraries offer!
Did I mention they have a cake pan library?!?
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My daughter.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I LOVE to laugh, so you’ll find me sitting at a table with Dave Chappelle, David Sedaris, Trevor Noah, Jim Gaffigan, & Ricky Gervais at Smokin’ Poboys.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
My favorite restaurant is Simsations at Sims Academy. It’s a student run restaurant that is only open on Thursdays. I am blown away by the culinary talent these students have and how professionally the entire dining experience is executed.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve been blessed to be a part of this community for 13 years!
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Every time I go into Hill’s Ace Hardware, I am reminded of going to the Ace hardware with my Daddy on his Saturday morning errands. He’d always let me get candy at the hardware store!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
We are so lucky to have Fort Yargo State Park in our community.
Most folks don’t know that Fort Yargo State Park’s Will-A-Way recreation area was built in 1971 specifically for people with disabilities.
It was the first of its kind in the nation. I can’t believe that I get to be a steward of such a special and historic place.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Quiet, comfy, and love.
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