As Associate Director at Gravatt, I have a wide range of responsibilities throughout the year that keep me on my toes! I work with school groups, youth groups, facilities, budgeting, interns, and anything else that pops up–which can be a lot! I typically work on-site most weekdays during the year, and I enjoy interacting with our groups to make sure they have the best possible experience while they are with us
The largest part of my responsibilities is focused on summer camp. Part of my job is to serve as the summer camp director, which I have proudly done for the past two summers. I oversee everything from staffing and registration to facilities and logistics. There is a great deal of behind-the-scenes work that goes into ensuring that our summer camp experience is second to none, and this all happens throughout the school year ahead of the first day of camp. Preparation for the upcoming summer begins almost immediately after the current summer ends, and we are constantly ordering supplies, updating policies, addressing maintenance issues, reviewing applications, handling paperwork and payments, and working out any kinks that may arise.
Of course I cannot do all this work on my own! I have tremendous support from our year-round staff. They help me organize, plan, troubleshoot, prepare, and promote everything that we do at Gravatt in the summer and throughout the year. I am also thankful for the fact that my family gets to be a part of this experience with me. They live with me in the Westmoreland Director’s Cabin during the summer, and you may have met my wife Michelle or my mom Beth at Check-In for your camper’s session. You may have also met my three children who like to help at the store or the post office when they are not attending a session as campers themselves!
Despite all this, the people I work the closest with at Gravatt are the summer staff. They spend ten weeks with me during the summer, and they give up a great deal in their own lives in order to be able to spend the summer at Gravatt making a difference in campers’ lives. These young adults work hard every day to make sure that every camper feels loved, has a wonderful time, and leaves their session feeling like they have a home away from home. Of everything I do at Gravatt throughout the year, getting a front row seat to the magic that our summer staff creates is certainly the best part of my job, and I can’t wait for the summer of 2026!