Elections Hub

Friendship. That's how my Camp Airy and Leaf story begins. The friends I have made through camp have become family. Some I met in Unit A, others as a CIT and staffer, and more recently through volunteering at camp. Friendship is what brings us together and keeps us coming back.

I've always been someone who looks for ways to spend more time with my camp friends - organizing reunions, putting together activities, and creating opportunities to reconnect. As President, I want the Order to continue creating those opportunities for alumni of all ages to make new memories and keep those relationships alive.

Loyalty. I've got Leaf's back, I've got Camp's back, and I've got your back. Loyalty to Camp, to our friends, and to the traditions that have made this organization what it is. As President, I would look toward the future while making sure the Order remains strong, active, and relevant for generations to come.

Service. When it comes to Leaf, I truly want to be "Of Service." I don't just show up. I'm willing to roll up my sleeves, volunteer my time, support Leaf and Camp, and look for ways we can make a difference. I've demonstrated that commitment through my involvement with the Order, Camp, and our various activities, and I will continue that commitment as President.

After serving as an at-large officer and Vice President, I believe I am ready and willing to help lead The Order of the Leaf forward. My goals remain simple: support current Camp staff throughout the summer, grow our alumni base, and help bridge the gap between generations.

After more than 30 years, I'm still finding ways to give back to the place that gave so much to me. I would be honored to continue that service as President.

Friendship. Service. Loyalty.

Those aren't just words to me. They are what The Order of the Leaf is all about.

Hello, my name is Zach Mittelman, and I'm running for Vice President for the Order of the Leaf. I am a CIT 2020 and a staff member since 2021. On staff, I was a junior camp counselor in 2021 and 2022 and a CIT counselor in 2023.

I have proudly served on the Leaf Board in the At Large role since 2024, and in this time, I believe the Order of the Leaf has grown stronger each year. During my tenure, I had the pleasure of creating and spearheading a number of events. Key highlights include organizing two Leaf & Lagers events at White Oak Tavern (netting $1,200 in profit), launching the first annual Leaf Open golf tournament to donate thousands back to camp, and founding the Leaf LinkedIn Group. Additionally, I helped lead direct outreach via cold calls and texts, securing 300+ registrants over the last two terms which is a significant increase from the previous average of 240.

While we have achieved great success together as a board, I also recognize an area where we can do better: engaging with our members who are 50 and older. By creating tailored opportunities that are meaningfully catered to this group, we can push our membership from 300+ to 350+ and beyond.

I am running for Vice President to take on greater leadership, deepen my understanding of our members' needs, and build a strong foundation to eventually serve as your President. Our mission is clear: to ensure every camper has the best possible experience.

I am nominating myself for Vice President because of my strong connections across generations from rising first-year counselors to our older alumni. Leaf exists to support camp staff, and this role allows me to stay directly tuned into their morale, wants, and needs. Whether you have volunteered for two weeks or decades, Camp Airy holds a special place in our hearts. I will continue to bring my energy and passion to work in the entire Leaf network's best interest. Thank you for your consideration, and it would be an honor to earn your vote and keep making camp the best place on the planet.

Hello, fellow Leaf members! I request your consideration for re-election as secretary of the Order of the Leaf Board of Directors.

I have served as a Leaf officer since 2017, and as secretary since 2018. I would like to remain on the board as we continue to support Camp Airy, its staff and alumni. I am proud to have served on a board that has accomplished so much. We have expanded our impact on camp, funded campus needs specified by camp leadership and provided extra support for summer staff. We've also created new and exciting events for members as we continue to build on our foundation pillars of friendship, loyalty and service.

This summer marked my 16th on staff, 12th as department head of Public Relations. For those not at camp recently, the PR Department's role is to promote camp both internally, to campers and staff, and to our customers, the parents of our campers. I serve as the editor of the Daily Airy (D'Airy) newspaper, which is now a popular activity for campers, supervisor of summer photographers (we post an average of 750 photos daily on the camp website for parents), and celebrate camper and staff birthdays.

As the owner of a small marketing firm, I am experienced with writing and design in producing a wide range of materials. I am well-organized, detail-oriented and creative. With your vote, I will continue to use my expertise to promote The Order of the Leaf, its membership and our work to support our special place on the mountain.

Howdy everyone, my name is Joey Scheiner and I am running for the position of Secretary!

For those of you that do not know me or my background, I spent 8 years as a camper, finishing as a CIT during Covid in 2020. Once camp was back in Thurmont, I spent the following 4 summers on staff. Two of which were in bunk where I was fortunate enough to be an assistant unit leader, as well as a (losing) Olympic general. The last two years I spent as a senior camp and trainee division unit leader.

When I was deciding to run for this, I wanted to reflect on why a position on the leaf board matters to me. The conclusion was simple, it was because I know that the members of leaf deserve more representation and transparency, and I know that I can bring that to the table.

My main goal if elected is to establish the following protocols:

Bringing relevant information from board meetings to the masses VIA the Leaf GroupMe/Facebook as often as possible

Opening an anonymous suggestion box in which I will bring up every submission at board meetings. I believe that everyone should have an opportunity to voice their thoughts, whether they feel comfortable putting their name behind them or not.

Improving communication between the board and the alumni. The Order of the Leaf is one of the only ways many of us can stay connected to Camp Airy, and I want to make sure that connection remains strong.

I have learned from my time on staff and in the workforce that communication is one of the most important things a leader can provide. Keeping people in the loop and maintaining an open line of communication allows everyone to feel like they are a part of something bigger.

From one alum to another, I know what it means to be heard, and what it means to not be heard. If elected, I promise to make sure everyone that is a part of leaf feels like their voices matter and have an impact.

See you on the hill,

Joey Scheiner, CIT 2020

My name is Stacy Derrick and I grew up at Camp Louise. I was a CIT in 1995 and made Circle in 1998.

Life took me away for a stretch, but camp pulled me back - in 2015 my daughter started at Louise, and a couple of years later my son began at Airy. This summer, she'll make Circle and he'll be a CIT.

I returned as a parent volunteer through 2020. I made Leaf in 2021 and have spent my summers at Airy since that summer. My husband is in Leaf as well.

Alongside my camp life, I bring the financial and organizational experience this role depends on. I hold an Executive MBA and co-founded and lead two Maryland behavioral health organizations, where I built and manage the budgeting, forecasting, and reporting systems that keep a mission-driven operation accountable. I also serve as Treasurer on the founding board of a community program association, so I know exactly what this seat asks: clear books, honest reporting, and helping a board make sound decisions with the numbers in front of it.

As Treasurer, I would bring transparency, careful planning, and a steady hand to our finances, so Order of the Leaf stays strong for those who come after us.

I'd be grateful for your vote, and for the chance to give back to a place that has given my family so much.

Hello, my name is Adam Clay and I am running for another term as Executive Secretary for the Order of the Leaf.

My camp story starts in 1985 when I was a camper in bunk 28. I spent 9 summers as a camper (and I did not even get a jacket), was a CIT in 1994, and then spent another five wonderful years on staff. I took some time off from camp after college, changed careers to become a high school teacher, and started a family. Then, Marty asked me to join his team in 2015 as the Senior Camp Division Head and I jumped at the opportunity. My family and I get to spend our summers in Thurmont and we could not be happier.

I have now been an Officer for the Order of the Leaf for eight years. I began my service as an At-Large Officer. Then, I served as President for two years before moving to Executive Secretary. I accepted the position as Executive Secretary with the intention of serving the board for the long term. As a long-standing Officer, I have been able to provide institutional knowledge and, as a Division Head, a current perspective of Camp's needs. I am proud of the work that we have done as an organization to both support camp and to show appreciation to the summer staff members who continue to create magic for hundreds of campers every summer.

I'd be honored to serve another term as Executive Secretary.

Hello, my name is Ryan Pine, and I am running for Officer at Large for the Order of the Leaf.

I love Camp Airy and everything about it. I started as a camper in 1994 in Bunk 27, and I never looked back. Camp Airy is my second home, and my forever best friends came from camp. Our giant camp family continues to grow every year.

I was a camper from 1994 to 1999, a CIT in 2000, a counselor from 2001 to 2003, and a Unit Leader in 2004. I continued volunteering my time in the summers, helping in the office and wherever camp needed me. I was also invited to attend off-season planning meetings, where I had the honor of working with many legendary camp staff members who helped shape camp into what it is today.

My daughter, Maddox, just finished her fifth summer at Camp Louise, and now she wants to go for seven weeks. Oye!! She obviously loves it! I hope she continues to love camp as much as I do.

Camp Airy and the Order of the Leaf have a huge part of my heart, and that's never going to change.

Loyalty, Friendship, and Service. Three words that mean so much to me. They helped shape who I was growing up at camp, and they continue to guide me through life.

As Officer at Large, I hope to bring more people together through off-season events and by getting more Leaf members involved in committees throughout the year.

I also want to help bring people together to work on camp archives and rebuild some of the history we've lost over the years. I have been working on a list of all the past Olympic Generals from the beginning. I could use some help. We need to continue connecting generations and keeping our camp history alive.

My camp family has given me so much, and I want to do my part to give back, keep camp safe and fun for many, many years to come.

Thank you!

Ryan Pine, CIT 2000, Benrenal 2002

Hi, my name is Jared Simon and I am running for the Officer At Large position for The Order of the Leaf. I am a proud member of CIT 2021, a staff member from 2022-2025, and a 2023 losing general. On staff I was a junior camp counselor in '22 and '23, and Unit C and ST Unit Leader in '24 and '25.

Camp Airy shaped who I am, and being a part of Leaf has helped me stay connected with those who helped shape that. As Officer At Large, I want current and future Leaf members to stay close with camp even after their last summer on staff.

My goal for this position is to help the Leaf board expand on the recent uptick of opportunities for us to see each other outside of Leaf weekend. One thing that I'm proud of is my CIT class has gathered for a potluck every Thanksgiving weekend since 2021. I believe Leaf can support events like these. Think a sponsored Ravens or Commanders tailgate, helping a class organize a dinner, or just giving classes the nudge or resources they need to gather.

Additionally, I'd like to create a handbook with advice from former counselors. It would contain new perspectives, ideas, and advice that trainees and counselors can turn to on the job and in training. When I was a new staff member the one thing I could have used was an outside perspective from someone who understood what I was going through. This handbook would be exactly that, helping our counselors and trainees put forth their best work to create unbelievable summers for the campers.

My relationships with Airy alumni, young and old, are what I bring to this role. The ability to hear what the different generations want and help build that into this community we've created. The purpose of Leaf is to keep us connected even when we're not at camp, and I'd be honored to help grow that network.

Airy has been part of my life annually since I arrived as an infant staff brat in 1964. I was in a bunk as camper/CIT from 1971-1979.

My first tour of duty on staff (1980-1987) was as counselor, then Program Coordinator (think OG Schedule Maven) at a time when the work was done by one person, without use of a computer or photocopier. I served one term as Leaf President. My current stretch began in 2014 as support staff, handling office duty and driving over the first session.

During the gap years, I was an occasional visitor as volunteer and Camp parent. But my true calling became Reunion, where I was and remain an annual attendee. Concerned with poor attendance and antiquated snail-mail paper-based promotion, registration and payment procedures, I took on the task of networking to gather email addresses, database management and setting up PayPal. This enabled us to reach a far wider audience at no cost and laid the framework for what Jason and others have accomplished in growing Reunion to 300 attendees.

As Operations Manager, I took on most of the behind-the-scenes nuts-and-bolts involved in running the weekend in addition to registration. With a growing Reunion Committee, that title is now largely ceremonial as others assume much of the workload and I can experience Reunion largely as a guest.

In addition to sheer numbers, it is amazing how much Leaf has grown beyond a seasonal organization that functioned only during Camp and through Reunion. Creative member engagement programming makes Leaf a legitimate year-round operation where I can bridge multiple generations. As Officer-at-Large, I hope to expand my reach to Leaf beyond Reunion and contribute wherever needed as I ramp down my "day job" and look to volunteer opportunities to fill my time.

Thank you for your consideration.