Success in our work with boys depends largely on the qualifications of our staff personnel. Unlike most programs, we are not specialists who have earned degrees in mental or behavioral health. Instead, we choose to train the necessary physical skills and professional techniques of working at camp into staff who have proved their personal character — counselors who are positive, optimistic, and confident; who display an attitude of interest and faith in people and in wanting to help others learn to be successful. Our staff members are here not because they chose a career, but because their hearts are filled with the love of Jesus and they long to show that same love to others.
God has blessed us tremendously with a wonderful staff team made up of varying background skills and personal strengths. Please meet…
Our Director:
Brian Martin grew up on the edge of an alligator swamp in Georgia amidst a long line of dairy farmers who are passionate about relationships and good food. His family home was a sanctuary where children were taught respect, the value of hard work, and the adventure of working in God’s kingdom. In his late teens, Brian traveled to Canada to serve as a counselor to native American kids riddled with addiction problems and cultural barriers. During his time in Canada, he was engaged to Angela. After they were married, they again served in Canada for several years. Brian sensed a continued call from God to reach out to young people who are struggling. In 1994, they moved to Pennsylvania to help Bald Eagle Boys Camp become established. Over the next seventeen years, Brian served as supervisor, program director, and eventually director before moving to Maryland to start Allegany Boys Camp. He and Angela, along with their twelve children, are outdoor enthusiasts. They’ve enjoyed hiking the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia, canoeing the Suwannee River in Florida for eight days, and hiking to Krotys Rock in Ireland. Along with his invaluable years of experience, Brian brings a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to camp. Whether it’s working with government agencies or walking down trail to talk to a boy, Brian is there with his whole heart.
Our Program Director:
Jeff Mowen has served in various roles around camp in the past number of years, and is currently our Program Director. He married his wife Rachel on November 7, 2020, and they have one little girl, Addison. Jeff enjoys telling, as well as listening to, a good story. He also enjoys traveling and has a goal to spend some time in all 50 states — so far, he has crossed 40 off the list. His passion for good relationships led him to pursue camp where he served as a chief in the Mountaineer group from 2013 to 2015. He also served as a supervisor for 3 years before taking his current position as program director.
Our Supervisor Staff:
Charles Yoder’s love of the outdoors began as a child when he roamed the woods on a neighboring farm near Gladys, VA. He enjoys fishing, hiking, canoeing, and playing basketball. He also likes to sing and play guitar, skills he uses frequently here at camp. Before coming to camp, he worked at a sawmill where he learned much about identifying trees and working with wood. His love for kids led him to get involved with a boy’s club at home and travel to Canada nearly every summer to help with VBS on a remote First Nations reservation. From 2012-2014 he served as a chief in the Pioneer group here at Allegany Boys Camp. He returned to camp in 2017 as a groupwork supervisor and transitioned to the role of education supervisor in 2023. Charles is married to Tasha, and they have one little boy, William.
Austin Lapp grew up in West Virginia alongside his four brothers and one sister. His family enjoyed singing together and playing most sports. He worked for his dad most of his teenage years doing many construction related jobs, including drywall, roofing, and remodeling. He also repaired and installed garage doors. More recently he had been doing lawn care and landscaping. Moving to a new community when he was eight had a big impact on his life. While it was not easy, he says he is thankful for the people he was able to meet and for the things he learned through that experience. Some of Austin’s hobbies include reading, cubing, music, and many different sports. After serving for 2 years as a chief in the Mountaineer group we are happy to have Austin returned to camp as a groupwork supervisor.
Jonathan Smoker returned to camp as groupwork supervisor after serving as chief in the Woodsmen group for two years. Jonny grew up in Atglen, PA, and is the 4th child in a family of 8 children. Jonny and his wife Erynn have two little boys, Grayson and Sawyer. In addition to serving at camp, Jonny has worked for a framing company and more recently, a fencing company where he installed fences of various materials. He enjoys hunting, fishing, playing softball and basketball, and basically anything outdoors. Traveling to Nepal to help with earthquake cleanup in 2015, in addition to helping out with a local kids ministry, opened his eyes to the needs of hurting people. Jonny’s influence in the Woodsmen group was a wonderful asset to Camp, and we are happy to have him back.
Ryan Lapp hails from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but also spent 5 years living with his family in Kenya. He is the second-born in his family and has 5 brothers and two sisters. His family lives on a farm, so most of their activities revolve around animals and equipment, but they also enjoy vacationing in the mountains where they spend time swimming and hiking. In addition to working on the farm, Ryan also spent a few years building fences for a company in Lancaster. Ryan enjoys reading, woodworking, and most summertime sports. He also enjoys running and has participated in a few 5ks as well as a half marathon. Ryan loves learning and being in the classroom and considers the influence of his years in high school to have had a positive impact in his life. From 2021-2023, Ryan served as a chief in the Navigator group here at Allegany Boys Camp, and we are happy to have him back as a groupwork supervisor.
Sheldon Frey returned to camp as a groupwork supervisor in the summer of 2022 after serving for two years as a chief in the Pioneer group. Sheldon is from Annville, Pennsylvania, and is sixth in a family of eight children. He worked on a dairy farm for the first part of his life, and later in blasting, drilling, and excavating. Prior to returning to camp, Sheldon also spent a year teaching a learning support program at a Christian school in his home area. Sheldon enjoys outdoor activities such as elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains, fly-fishing, white-water kayaking, hiking, and trapping. Sheldon’s good foundation in a Christian family and the relationships he has cultivated with his siblings will be a tool in helping boys learn to know who Jesus is. His influence in the Pioneer group was a wonderful asset to camp, and we are happy to have him back.
Our Family Worker Staff:
Daryl Miller was born and raised in Nappanee, IN, along with 2 brothers. Growing up without sisters, it was definitely a “boys’ world.” They spent hours riding their ponies on trails through the woods, making their own bows and arrows, fishing, and other various outdoor activities. Daryl learned to love the outdoors at a very young age. He helped work at his Dad’s sawmill, and to this day enjoys the smell of freshly cut wood. Losing his youngest brother three months after being diagnosed with cancer was a difficult experience. During Daryl’s junior high and high school years, he had teachers who helped shape him significantly. In 1998, he went to Bald Eagle Boys Camp to serve as a counselor for 2 years. Leading a group of 10 adolescent boys had a profound impact on him. He married Kendra in 2003 and they have 5 children. Before coming to Allegany Boys Camp, Daryl installed cabinets for a cabinet company and worked as a service technician for an RV manufacturer called Newmar. He also served as board chairman of United Christian Mission, which supports a church and school in Belize, Central America. Daryl is very detail oriented, and enjoys learning “what makes things work.” He enjoys playing basketball, hunting, fishing, reading, woodworking, and learning new things. He is passionate about “making a difference,” and helping others find healing in their relationships.
Floyd King grew up on a dairy farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and is the youngest of 11 children. In 2006, he went to Bald Eagle Boys’ Camp where he served as a chief for two years. It was there that he met his wife, Heidi, who was working as a secretary. They were married in May of 2008 and have been blessed with 5 children: Caia, Chloe, Kayden, Ashton, and Abigail. Besides working as chief, Floyd has done landscaping and mechanic work at a dealership. Numerous short-term mission trips and helping at a local youth center in town while growing up aided in the shaping of his passion to show people the love of Jesus. He’s great at fixing things and enjoys camping, the outdoors, and being a dad.
Delmer Stoltzfus grew up in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, and is the second youngest in his family with four sisters. He married Brooke in 2016, and they have three children: Everett, Sophia, and Elsie. Delmer enjoys hunting, water sports, softball, hockey, as well as fixing up and remodeling houses and campers. For several years, he owned a business doing commercial and residential painting. In 2011, Delmer spent a few months at Comeragh Wilderness Camp in Ireland. Later that year, he moved to Allegany where he helped with maintenance around camp for several months and served for two years as a chief in the Pioneer group. Those years had a significant impact on his life. When Delmer was twenty, his dad had a severe stroke, and ten years later slowly died from a brain disease. Watching the last ten years of his dad’s life made him want to live life with purpose and make the most of each moment. Delmer returned to camp with his family in the spring of 2023 where he served as a supervisor for a few months before transitioning to the role of a family worker. His life experience, sense of humor, and passion for mentoring boys through difficult things in life are very valuable at Camp, and we are happy to have him and his family here.
Our Chiefs:
Caleb Schwandt was raised in Wagontown, Pennsylvania on a four-acre mini farm alongside his one brother and five sisters. Growing up, his family did a lot together, from homeschooling and a home business to playing music for retirement communities, churches, and special events. Prior to coming to Camp, Caleb worked for Eastern Shore Fencing LLC. He enjoys raising poultry, bicycling, and woodworking. He also loves music: from playing several instruments and singing to composing music of his own. We know his talents and interests will be a blessing to Camp, and we are happy to have him serve as a chief in the Pioneer group.
Derek Stoltzfus grew up in southern New Jersey surrounded by his six sisters and two brothers. When he was nineteen years old, his family moved to Greeneville, Tennessee. Prior to coming to camp, Derek worked for his dad in the retail food business and also did some general construction. He is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys fishing, horseback riding, and hunting-especially bowhunting giant whitetail deer in big woods. He also enjoys running and playing sports including volleyball, spikeball, and softball. Derek has seen God’s grace toward his life through several accidents including a bad snowboarding accident where he walked away with only minor injuries although it could have been much worse. He says that choosing to follow Jesus has been a decision that has impacted him in so many good ways. Derek thrives where the action is, and we are happy to have him here as a chief in the Pioneer group.
Anthony Weaver was born and raised in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, a small town in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley. Growing up with eight younger siblings and living next door to some of his cousins, there weren’t many dull moments around his home. Anthony enjoys crafts, blacksmithing, reading, and music. He has had experience in a variety of jobs including working at his family’s garden center, general construction and remodeling, as well as spending two years teaching at his church’s school. Though teaching had its challenges, Anthony says that the experience was a significant opportunity for him, and through that, he discovered that he really enjoyed teaching academics and working with young people. He feels that his life has been largely influenced by his church community as well as his close friends and peers. Anthony enjoys working with teens which will be a huge blessing at Camp as he serves as a chief in the Woodsmen group.
Justin Yoder hails from the town of Hiddenite, North Carolina, and is the youngest of five children. Prior to coming to camp, Justin worked as a painter and also did welding and fabricating. Some of his hobbies include cars, mountain biking, and cooking. He also enjoys reading and can often be heard telling all kinds of random facts that he has learned. As a teenager, Justin was a camper at the Idaho Wilderness Boys Camp where he was introduced to the camp system and learned the value of solving problems as a group. Justin lost his dad to cancer when he was 19 years old, an event that demonstrated to him how limited our time is and how we should make the most of it. He also believes that while people everywhere are in pain, no one should have to suffer alone. We are glad to have Justin here at camp as a chief in the Woodsmen group.
Simon Stoltzfus was born in Goshen, Indiana. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Virginia where they lived for twelve years before moving to Pennsylvania. Simon has three older brothers and one younger sister. He enjoys many outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and traditional archery. He also enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time around a campfire with his family. Simon worked on his family’s farm while he was in high school, and a year and a half after he graduated, he started doing lawncare. During that time, he spent his winters in Texas where he built storage sheds for a construction company. Simon also spent two years at Faith Builders, and educational program in northern Pennsylvania. He views those years spent away from home as times of personal growth as well as giving him a greater appreciation for his family. We are happy to have Simon at Camp, and we know that his experiences and skills will be a blessing as he serves as a chief in the Navigator group.
Patrick Miller is from the small town of Pickens, South Carolina. He is the second oldest in his family and has two sisters and two brothers. Before coming to Camp, Patrick worked alongside his dad building and installing cabinets and doing interior trim and other carpentry projects. He enjoys outdoor activities including camping, hunting, fishing, snow skiing, and water sports. Patrick says that his family and church have played a huge role in who he is today, and the most significant thing in his life has been Jesus Christ living inside of him. The year before Patrick came to Camp, his dad survived a life-threatening accident. Through that journey, he learned to really trust God and not to take anyone for granted because you never know when your last moment will be with them. Patrick’s interest in coming to Camp was to form a positive role model and help hurting people find Christ. We are glad to have him here at Camp as a chief in the Navigator group.
Josh Myers grew up east of camp in Keedysville, Maryland. He is third-born in a family of five boys and one girl. Josh’s hobbies include building model cars and working on old motorcycles. He also enjoys traveling, seeing new places, and meeting new people. At the age of 15, Josh was in a serious accident and at 17, one of his good friends died of cancer. These events were serious wake-up calls for where he was at in life, and he realized that life isn’t just about him and it piqued his interest in helping other people. Before coming to camp, Josh had his fingers in a number of things. He interned for a plumbing company one summer and spent some time working for some family members on their farm. Right out of high school, Josh started working in the lawn care business which was his job until he came to camp. We are happy to have Josh at camp as a chief in the Mountaineer group!
Jonathan Deiter was born and raised in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania. He is the middle child in his family and has four brothers and two sisters. From working together on their farm to homeschooling, he and his siblings spent a lot of time together, and he values the relationships that he has with them. Jonathan has worked in landscaping and carpentry, as well as being a volunteer firefighter for the past three years. He enjoys outdoor activities including hunting, riding four-wheeler, biking, and hiking, as well as reading good books, mechanical work, and spending time with friends and family. In 2019, Jonathan volunteered for part of the summer at Beaver Lake Camp in Ontario, Canada. This and other experiences with short term mission trips have inspired him to help people in need. Jonathan has a desire to help others form good relationships with those around them, and we are happy to have him at camp as a chief in the Mountaineer group.
Our Cooks:
Kathy Stoltzfus has cooked at Allegany in the past and is happy to have returned after being gone for about 6 years. She grew up on a farm in Lewisburg, PA and is fourth in her family with two sisters and six brothers. Her family enjoys grilled foods, and they are a fan of their Dad’s smoked pizzas, chicken, ribs, and more. The number of nieces and nephews keeps growing which is quite fine by her because she thinks auntie life is one of the best! She counts it a tremendous blessing to have grown up with Christian parents who by example showed her what it was like to serve others. Prior to returning to camp, Kathy attended Bible school, visited Ireland, and worked as a secretary for a number of years. She also spent around a year and a half as house mom at a residential program for troubled teen girls in Lancaster, PA, an experience which impacted her life in various ways. Kathy enjoys reading, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, quality time and good conversations with friends, summer, and leisure floats on the water.
Regina Stoltzfus comes to us from Juniata County, PA, where she grew up with 2 brothers and 5 sisters. Before coming to camp, she worked as a cashier and food packager at a bulk food store and farmer’s market and she also did food preparation at a café. Regina enjoys summer water activities as well as volleyball and soft ball. A current joy is learning to play the ukulele. While traveling to Kenya, Africa and also a trip to Mexico, Regina’s heart was filled with compassion for the hurting and mistreated in our world. We are grateful to have Regina at camp.
Rachelle Graber was born in Sarasota, Florida. She is the oldest in her family and has two sisters. When she was eighteen, her family moved to Seneca, South Carolina. Though the transition to a new community was difficult, Rachelle says that it was one of the best things that could have happened, and she values the friends that she made and the experiences that she had as a result. Rachelle has done a variety of jobs, including working at a bulk food store and bakery, waitressing, and prior to coming to camp, she worked at her local school as a secretary, coach, and part-time teacher. Rachelle loves spending time with her family and friends, a day at the beach or the lake, coffee, playing her violin for the fun of it, and baking bread or biscotti. One of her favorite past times is trying to make different kinds of food, and we know that her talents will be greatly appreciated as she serves at camp as a cook.
Our Secretary Staff:
Linnea Meyer grew up in Harpers Ferry, WV, as the second oldest of five siblings. Homeschooled, with access to both the outdoors and her dad’s machine shop, she spent her childhood digging elephant traps in the garden and soldering circuit boards for her dad’s business. Before coming to camp, she babysat, got a degree in creative writing, and was an admissions coach for an online university. Linnea spends most of her free time reading or thinking about books. She also enjoys dabbling in art, cooking ethnic food, and finding good climbing trees. She is happiest when she can work hard at something meaningful, and we are glad to have her here at camp as a secretary.
Angela Hartzler comes to camp from southern Virginia where she spent the last several years doing office work at a sawmill. Angela has had a variety of experiences in life that have impacted who she is today. After teaching school in West Virginia, where she grew up, she spent several years teaching English as a Second Language in the little Southeast Asian country of Laos. Angela enjoys traveling, reading, and spending quality time with friends. Today she is grateful for the opportunity to serve in the office at camp.
Our Maintenance Staff:
James Kauffman and his wife Jan come to us from Oakland, Maryland, just across the mountains in Garrett County. They are parents to seven biological children and two other girls who are currently living as a part of their family. Over the years, their home has been a haven for a number of children from dysfunctional families. Before coming to camp, James worked as a mechanic, did some custom combining, and spent time growing produce. In his free time, James enjoys taking walks, exploring new roads, and one days dreams of fixing up a house to resell. James’ own experience of growing up in a dysfunctional family, coupled with dealing with depression and then being miraculously healed, provides him with a unique and special ability to interact with boys and families at camp. We are happy to have him as a part of our staff team here at Camp.
A Maryland native, Eric Myers is the oldest in his family and has four brothers and one sister. He enjoys singing, hunting, fixing up antique lawn tractors, and attending auctions. Before coming to camp, he was a small engine mechanic in his father’s business. He is happiest when he has grease up to his elbows. We are grateful for his assistance in the maintenance department here at camp!
