Staff

Jane LaMonica - General Manager

Jane has helped create magic for guest at Genesee Valley for over 30 years. She started as a counselor and has worked in many positions leading her to her current role as General Manager. Even though she has taken on a more behind the scenes role, she enjoys helping participants work through challenges and watching them grow from the time they arrive on camp to the time to say goodbye.

Scott Gray - Director of Development

Scott Gray has served as Challenge Course Manager of Genesee Valley for almost 10 years. During that time he has trained dozens of staff members in challenge course facilitation and program transference. He also builds and maintains the challenge course and writes the local operational procedures for GVOLC. Scott is a firm believer in the power of experiential education to change lives and promote empathy. While he maintains the course here at the Valley, Scott prefers to think of himself as an educator rather than a tree climber or cable rigger. He has also presented on a number of topics at regional and international conferences primarily focusing on good faith communication. He has also authored a number of papers on topics including "Challenge by Choice," and the rise of the Adventure Park industry.

“The pragmatic survive, and the determined thrive, but Faith Manages.”

Jackie LaMonica - Programs Director

Jackie grew up through Genesee Valley as a camper into a counselor and now Program Director. Jackie grew up playing lacrosse locally and eventually went to Towson University to play a lacrosse and study Environmental Education. While at Towson Jackie also received her Masters in Education. Once graduated, she moved to Jackson Hole, WY to work for Teton Science School, then to Los Angeles as a program director for Harlem Lacrosse in Compton, CA. Jackie moved back to MD in 2020 and found herself back at Genesee Valley where it all started. Jackie enjoys rock climbing, learning to take care of bees and coaching lacrosse in her free time.

Pete Schmaus - Challenge Course Manager

Pete grew up in scouting and worked for several years at a summer camp. He enjoys rock climbing, sailing, canoeing, hiking and backpacking with his family and dogs. After several seasons at Genesee Valley he says his favorite thing about working here is exposing participants to things outside their comfort zone and having them find excitement in challenging themselves

Katie - Seedlings Educator + Summer Camp Director

Katie has started working as a summer camp counselor at Genesee Valley! Through that experience she discovered her passion for outdoor education and pushing the limits of our comfort zone! She has begun the process of creating our PreK program! Fun fact - Katie got married at Genesee Valley and LOVES chickens.

Becca - Summer Camp Office Guru

Becca first worked at GV as the archery instructor. In years to come, she has utilized her organizational skills to run and operates the office during our busiest season: Summer! Becca is a 4th grade teacher in BCPS when she is not at GV!

Annmarie - Facilitator and Licensed Therapist


Annmarie finds peace and healing when immersed in nature. An avid swimmer, runner, hiker, and kayaker, she brings energy and passion for the outdoors to all she does. Annmarie is a clinical mental health therapist who has embraced adventure therapy at Genesee Valley as one of her main treatment modalities. Aa a Genesee Valley facilitator, Annmarie brings 20 years of teaching experience and uses those skills to provide challenging, enlightening and really fun adventures for participants of all ages.

Alek - Facilitator

Alek has worked at youth camps ever since he was in high school and throughout his career as a personal trainer. Having been a Boy Scout and over a decade working at sleepaway and day camps, he has built a passion for getting participants to overcome challenges. He has always lived by the principle of "challenge by choice" and hopes to bring out the very best in everyone that chooses to rise to the challenge while allowing everyone to remain in their comfort zones. Moving into his third year heading up a summer challenge course, he hopes to bring the technical expertise he has accrued there to Genesee Valley and build upon them bringing out the best in everyone. 

Kristin - Facilitator

Kristin grew up in scouting and worked several years at summer camps in Pennsylvania and California. She has a background in education and taught in PA for 19 years. She enjoys the outdoors and traveling with her husband and dog. After 1 season at Genesee Valley she says her favorite part of working here is watching participants feel the magic of GV and grow throughout the program.

Tessa - Seedlings Assistant Educator + Facilitator

Tessa is a lover of peculiar creatures, sunshine, and collecting pine cones. She's thrilled to be at Genesee Valley as an outdoor facilitator, and she's looking forward to sharing her enthusiasm for adventure and the outdoors with anyone and everyone. She's also an assistant with Genesee's Pre-k program, a novelist, photographer, and artist. If she's not at Genesee, she's most likely watching Jurassic Park or snuggling with her ferrets.

Chris - Seedlings Educator

Honey - Farm Puppy

Honey is an excited and curious puppy that is following in Nova’s footsteps, even though sometimes its a little to close. She cant wait to be just like her big sister and meet everyone that visits.

Brittany- Senior Facilitator

Brittany has been a camper, lifeguard, counselor, aquatics director, and facilitator at Genesee Valley over the years. Brittany learned to scuba dive from a very young age which led to her passion for the environment and now a dive master! She went to Saint Francis University and received a BS in Biology with a double concentration in Marine Biology and Ecology & Environmental Biology. She then stayed at SFU and obtained her Master of Business Administration specializing in Leadership and Ethical Management. Currently, Brittany is working in Industrial Hygiene as an Industrial Hygienist Technician, as continuing her outdoor career with the Valley through Adventure Club program and facilitating on the weekends. In her free time, Brittany loves spending time doing anything outdoors, especially hiking and swimming!

Katie B - Facilitator

For over seven years, Katie has been an educator pursuing her passion of facilitating personal growth and empowering others through the outdoors. After getting her M.S. in Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies from Ohio University, Katie made her way to Maryland as a professional. When she’s not working at Genesee Valley, Katie is the Assistant Director of Outdoor Adventures at Loyola University. In Katie’s spare time, she enjoys trail running, cooking, snuggling with her cat Crawford and watercoloring!

Jeff - Senior Facilitator

Mr. Jeff as he goes by has been with Genesee Valley since 1992. Over the course of the years, Mr. Jeff has been a staple to making this place absolutely “Funderful”. He enjoys fishing and taking photos in his free time!

Shane - Handy Man

Nova - Farm Dog

Nova has grown up at Genesee Valley following in Jane’s footsteps. She enjoys running around Genesee Valley watching people try new things, swimming in the lakes, and rounding the chickens up. In her spare time she keeps watch to make sure Jane stays busy.

Greg - Senior Facilitator + Co Summer Camp Director

Greg spent many weeks at Genesee Valley during his summers as a child, and was a junior counselor for both the summer of 2010 and 2011. After growing up in northern Baltimore County, he earned a degree in Professional and Technical Writing from Virginia Tech with a minor in Sustainable Natural Resources. When he was approached about working with our fishing camp he decided to return for the summer of 2022 and has stuck with us. He loves the outdoors, fishing, and telling corny jokes. Greg is excited to help participants create fond memories similar to those he has from his summers spent at Genesee.

Josh - Facilitator

Josh attends Towson University, majoring in film and design. He enjoys working with students of all ages and providing them with the opportunity to connect better with their peers and create memories at Genesee Valley. Josh also is an intern at Genesee Valley creating and developing digital training material for future staff - pretty cool!

Aya - Facilitator and Marketing Support

Aya grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, which instilled in her an unwavering love of pine chats.  Despite her love of nature, she'd had enough of the shore's brand of rural, running away to Bard College in New York to the Hudson Valley's version of rural.  After graduating with a degree in German Studies, a minor in Dance, and 4 years work-study experience working in the Athletic department, naturally her next step was as an Assistant Field Hockey coach for Vassar College.  When that contract ended and with yet another snowy winter in sight, she threw caution to the wind and relocated to Orlando, FL where she accidentally spent the next 11 years, working in aquatics, training, hospitality, and co-owning a gift basket company with her BFF.  In 2020, she came to her senses and realized she belonged in Maryland after all, but not all the way back to the Shore, landing in Baltimore.  Aya enjoys yoga, hiking, rock climbing, snuggling with her pup, and spending quality time with her partner and his kids.

Cher - Facilitator

Cher has over a decade of experience working in outdoor recreation, from summer camps, to state parks, to ski resorts. Cher loves being outside and getting to see others enjoy the outdoors. In Cher's free time she enjoys hiking, swimming and camping. Cher is excited for her first season facilitating at Genesee Valley.