Meet our 2025 site directors!

Name: Arden Varley-Twyman

Camp Director

School: VCU Graduate ‘24

  • 8 years old

  • 11 years

  • Before I became the Director, I was a Base Camp, Check in, and Rock and River Climb Site Director, before I worked as the Assistant Director for several years.  This will be my second summer as the Director of Passages Adventure Camp!

  • Working at camp has allowed me to grow my love for the outdoors and my sport.  I've also met some of my closest friends through this camp, which I will forever be grateful for.  Passages has really allowed me to figure out what I want to do with my life as well as how I want to live my life, and I'm so thankful that I've had the opportunity to do so.

  • My older brother Luke went to camp before me with his friends Sam and Bailey, and loved it so much that I decided I also wanted to go.

  • Honestly, it's really difficult just to pick one, but one of my favorite days from last summer was the day that it started storming and we all had to meet under the bridge and spend the rest of the day playing in the rain. Campers were using the mud as a slide, puddles as pools, and the spout of rain from the highway as a shower, and it was really awesome to be able to make such a tough situation fun for the kids.

  • No, a hotdog is most definitely a taco, think about the shape of the bread, very taco-esque, sandwiches need two separate bread pieces enclosing the meat, tacos have an open side, like a hot dog.

  • I would love to go to Advanced Kayak this summer! I’d love to get out on the water all week and spend time with the kids and the staff, it’s tons of fun and kayaking is such a cool sport!

  • Stingray for SURE. Those things are so pretty but dangerous as heck. It could easily defend me, and could you imagine gliding through the ocean on a giant stingray's back? That’d be crazy cool.

A young girl smiling while kayaking on a body of water, wearing a red helmet and a blue life jacket inside an orange kayak.
Two friends standing on a rocky mountain summit, smiling with a scenic view of green rolling hills and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
A person is rock climbing on a steep outdoor rock face with the assistance of two women below, in a forested area with green trees.

Name: OG Morris

Assistant Director

Kindergarten teacher at Ecoff elementary School 

  • 8 years old

  • 9 years

  • Base camp, rock and river climbing 

  • I have always enjoyed working with kids and I always enjoy going to Passages as a camper. Passages has made me who I am today and I am forever grateful.

  • My water bottle, sunscreen, and my notebook!

  • I would create National Breakfast Day: Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day so a day dedicated to it would be awesome!

  • The community at Passages is like no other. Everyone is so accepting, welcoming, and supportive of one another. I have made some of my best friends through passages.

  • Passages have made me the person I am today. If you told eight-year-old me that I would be the assistant director, I would have laughed. Passages have given me so much confidence in myself.

  • I would love to do the Blast!

  • The cookout on Wednesday!

Three children sitting on the ground, each with a cookie on their forehead and making funny faces, outdoors near graffiti-covered structures.
Young woman in a blue helmet and life vest holding a white phone and a water toy, standing by a river with trees and other people in helmets in the background.
A young woman smiling outdoors on a sunny day, wearing a gray tie-dye sports bra, blue shorts, and sandals, standing on a sidewalk with a parking lot and cars behind her.

Name: Nolan Taylor

School: Virginia Tech — Senior

Young man standing outdoors near a railing, smiling, wearing glasses, a white shirt, a colorful bow tie, and beige pants, with trees and buildings in the background.

  • 9 years old

  • 8 years

  • Climbing

  • Time at Passages has deeply improved me as a person. When it comes to my confidence, camp has allowed me to feel comfortable in almost any situation. I have learned how to talk to people and help people in the world. Camp has taught me that with patience and positivity you can work to make any situation work.

  • I heard about Passages because I would always ride in the car as my older sister would get picked up and dropped off at camp. Hearing all of her cool stories made me jealous and I wanted to experience camp for myself. I ended up following her footsteps as I went to camp and also became a staff member just like her.

  • My most treasured memory at camp was my last parents day at rock and river. I thought I couldn’t complete a certain climb and had given up. My staff talked to me right and encouraged me and boosted my confidence. I was then able to complete the climb for my mom as she was so proud of me and thankful for the staff for helping me

  • I decided to pursue Site Directing because I thought I had learned enough and had enough experience to be able to handle a higher responsibility. Just like how I learned from my peers and older staff, I want to help be a role model for the younger staff and future staff too. Success as a site director is inclusive, organized, energetic and fun while making sure every risk is being managed.

  • I would love to have Mushu the Dragon from Mulan as my sidekick in a movie.

Child wearing helmet climbing a rock wall on a rope.
Child climbing an indoor rock wall with colorful holds, attached to ropes for safety.
Person hiking on a trail, smiling, giving a thumbs-up, wearing a hat and sleeveless shirt, standing on a ladder-like structure near water.

Name: Liam Tobin

School: George Mason University - Sophomore

Young man in a tuxedo and bow tie smiling against a blue background.

  • 5 years old

  • 4 years

  • Fat Tire, Blast, and Base Camp

  • Most notably, Barth. Per request of the awesome and hilarious Fat Tire staff. My grandma also calls me Lemonade

  • Water, a durable pair of shoes on your feet, and you always should wear a smile

  • Obtaining the most wacky t-shirts you have ever seen. Crazy Model Horse Lady forever.

  • My favorite camp activity is the Staff Rodeo. It's hilarious to watch your fellow staff try to escape and the fun of tying them with the campers is unbeatable.

  • Fat Tire. The community shift that we have developed over the years specifically in that site is incredible. It was great when I was a camper, and it's even better now.

  • The incredible staff when I was a camper were the coolest people around. Without a doubt, the reason I joined staff was to build on the community that they created

  • Fat Tire. The community shift that we have developed over the years, specifically in that site, is incredible. It was great when I was a camper, and it's even better now.

A young man with curly hair wearing a navy, red, and white jacket, using a professional camera with a large telephoto lens mounted on a tripod to take photographs outdoors on a grassy field.
A young boy wearing a red life jacket and yellow shirt kneeling in a shallow river with rocks.
A young person with light skin, brown, wavy hair, and a slight smile, carrying a green and pink backpack, standing on a sidewalk with trees and shrubs in the background.

Name: Zachary Bricks

School: Ithaca College - Sophomore

  • 9 Years Old

  • This will be my 7th year as a staff

  • Climbing, Kayaking, Base Camp, Summit

  • Blue

  •  I'm not telling :)

  • My first parents day because my dream came true from sitting on the floor at the pavilion to standing behind the camp Director with the rest of the staff in our tank tops.

  • Passages has given me so many different types of skills ranging from leadership to adaptability along with the confidence to take action. This has been a big help throughout my high school career when I was theater alongside being able to take initiative and get something done no matter what obstacles appeared..

  • I can sit and balance on a yoga ball for three minutes.

  • My favorite part of Passages is the connections that we as staff get to make with campers. We have the opportunity to really get to know our campers and watch them grow and improve at their own pace. And overall, who doesn't want to spend all day on the river and in nature and get to share your favorite sports with campers.

  • Passages has given me so many different types of skills, ranging from leadership to adaptability, along with the confidence to take action. This has been a big help throughout my career in film and theater, alongside being able to take initiative and get something done no matter what obstacles appeared.

Young man with messy, spiky blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a bright green sleeveless shirt, standing in front of a stone wall.
A young boy wearing a yellow helmet and blue long-sleeve shirt rock climbing on a steep, rough rock face outdoors.
A young girl in a blue helmet and climbing harness smiling and holding a rope in an outdoor rock climbing area, with other people and trees in the background.

Name: Jai Spicer

School: Collegiate - Senior

  • 14 Years Old

  • This will be my 4th year as a staff

  • SD in Fat Tire, average joe in Rock and River Climb, Advanced Climb, and Base Camp

  • Green

  • Spice, Oldspice, Big Spice, Spicy Jai, JaiSpice, The Skindian Slenderman, JaiBird, JaiMoney, JaiButter.

  • I like the community and the adrenaline. It's a community that applauds your success's and lifts you up when you crash. Since I've had my fair share of crashes, I can attest to that wholeheartedly.

  • I think that for me, the most rewarding experiences are the ones where I see campers come out of their shell. I can name a handful of times where campers are kinda apprehensive on Monday about the whole thing and by Friday they're bouncing off the walls and ready for anything we do. Those are always the most rewarding. The campers who grow over the span of the week are the most rewarding.

  • International Silly Goose Day

  • Fat Tire, because it is a fun, exciting, thrilling camp regardless of skill level and you get a lot of freedom and choice, and also, it's the best camp, duh.

  •  COOKOUTTTTT

A young boy with wet dark hair wearing a black, blue, and yellow life jacket and colorful swim trunks, standing on a rocky beach near the water.
Smiling woman with curly hair and sunglasses standing outdoors under a tree, holding a snack and giving a thumbs up, with bicycles in the background.
A person in a red shirt and black shorts holding a large white stick in front of an indoor rock climbing wall with colorful holds.

Name: Olivia Golliday

School: Virginia Tech, Sophomore

  • 9 Years Old

  • This will be my 5th summer

  •  Rock and River Kayaking, Check-in

  • Because I knew that this was the most epic summer job in the 804, and I wanted to have a blast outside all day and meet tons of new people!

  • Gorilla tape, extra snacks, and SUNSCREEN

  • The Elusive White Goose of Belle Isle

  • Because I knew that this was the most epic summer job in the 804, and I wanted to have a blast outside all day and meet tons of new people!

  • STAFF FISH!!! 🎣

  • I love that I get to spend time with kids and teach them things that ignite a passion for nature, wildlife, and the environment while being on the water

  •  Slip N' Slide with the JUMP

Two young women wearing helmets and sunglasses relaxing in kayaks on a river, with a bridge and clear sky in the background.
A young woman paddling a red kayak on a calm river, smiling and wearing a hat, backpack, and shorts with a helmet. Other kayakers are visible in the background near the shore, and the scene is set in a lush, green, wooded area under a partly cloudy sky.
Smiling woman in snow gear and sunglasses on a snowy mountain, with another person taking a photo and snow-covered mountains in the background under a blue sky

Name: Laura Luzatto

School: University of Virginia - 2nd-year

A young woman with long light brown hair is sitting outdoors surrounded by green foliage, wearing a pink sweater and blue jeans, smiling gently at the camera.

  • 8 years old

  • 4 years

  • Rock and River Kayaking and Advanced Kayaking

  • The Passages staff have the best time working, it doesn't even feel like a job! Seeing the fun they have on staff, and the close community all the staff have created, I knew that I wanted to become a Passages staff

  • It is so freeing to be on the water, and just letting the water take you downstream is so much fun. Kayaking has taken me so many places I never dreamed of, and being able to experience it all from the water is amazing!

  • National bring your pet to school/work day

  • Nalgene, raincoat, and a carabiner

  • The first camper I taught how to roll (a level 3 kayaking skill) by myself wanted to take a picture with me after the week was over so she could always remember her week at camp. When she came back the following year, she ran to me and gave me the biggest hug.

  • One of my friends originally attended Passages, and her mom convinced my mom to send me to camp.

  • I would LOVE to attend The Blast! I have wanted to do all the activities the campers do in The Blast for literally my entire time working at Passages

A woman smiling while kayaking on a calm body of water, wearing a white helmet and teal life jacket, holding an orange paddle.
People kayaking on a river under a clear blue sky, surrounded by lush green trees, with some standing on kayaks and others sitting in kayaks.

Name: Bridget Plank

School: Washington & Lee - Sophomore

  • 9 Years Old

  • This will be my 4th year as a staff

  • Rock & River Kayaking, and Advanced Kayaking

  • Crocs, water bottle, and a hat or sunglasses

  • I would domesticate a sloth because they are super cute.

  • It was my mom's idea to send me to camp, and after I had such an amazing time, I insisted on going back every year.


  • The Passages staff have the best time working, it doesn't even feel like a job! Seeing the fun they have on staff, and the close community all the staff have created, I knew that I wanted to become a Passages staff.

  • I would attend Rock and River because you get to kayak and climb all in the same camp.

  • My favorite camp activity is the cookout.

A young woman in a pink dress and brown cowboy boots smiling and posing behind a large rusted metal pipe outdoors, with a brick wall in the background.

Name: Luna Forlano

School: University of Virginia - Freshman

  • 10 Years Old

  • 5 years

  • Rock and River Climbing, Advanced Climbing

  • As a camper I always looked up to my counselors and knew I wanted to be like them!! The Passages Community is so welcoming, fun, and encouraging that becoming a staff member was always a top goal of mine! I love spending time outdoors on Belle Isle too! 

  • My favorite thing about climbing is the community! Everyone is so supportive and encouraging!

  • national karaoke day


  • Chacos, water bottle, trail mix


  • National Karaoke Day

A young woman with long blonde hair smiling while sitting in a hammock tied between two trees in a lush green forest with dense foliage.
A young girl wearing a helmet and harness rock climbing on a rocky cliff, surrounded by trees.
A person walking on a narrow trail through a green meadow with yellow flowers, leading towards large snow-capped mountains under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Name: Jameson Tobin

School: VCU - Sophomore

  • 5 Years Old

  • This will be my 7th year as a staff

  • Rock and River Climbing, Advanced Climbing, The Blast

  • I always looked up to the staff as a camper, they are why I love camp so much. I wanted to have the opportunity to be in that same role.

  • I love kayaking because there isn't anything quite like it. There's always a new line to take, a new trick to learn, a new river to conquer. There's nothing like the thrill of powering through a rapid for the first time. ESPECIALLY during river week.

  • My pinky toe has a built in magnet. But it only activates at night. And instead of being attracted to metal, its attracted to the corners of sharp objects. Specifically the corner of the coffee table in my basement.


  • I was a really shy kid. I only made friends with people I was forced to be around, and I was terrified of the world. Passages undoubtedly changed that. Passages taught me that the world isn't as harsh as we sometimes feel it is. That there are always going to be amazing people to meet, and that the great things in life require that you take a leap.

  • Staff frisbee on Wednesday nights has got to be up there. A few hours of ultimate frisbee after a long day at camp is the best way to end my day.

A man with blond hair submerged in a river, wearing a life jacket and breathing tube, making a claw gesture with his hands, with city buildings and a bridge in the background on a sunny day.
Person in a black helmet and jacket tipping a bright orange kayak with the label 'Pyranha' in a river surrounded by green trees.
Four young people standing on a grassy field with trees and a parking lot in the background. They are making expressive gestures and poses, wearing casual clothing and black t-shirts with various prints.

Name: Rylan Powers

School: Virginia Tech - Junior

  • 7 Years Old

  • 6 years

  • Kayaking

  • To spread my love for the outdoors and for this amazing camp. Plus it’s really fun!

  • Ry ry curly fry and cheezit

  • Through any ups or downs, leadership is always transparent capable. Whether it’s site directors or camp directors, leadership get camp through whatever life throws at it.


  • Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday.

  • Ry ry curly fry and cheezit

  • Every time we go to rope swing island

Person in red ski jacket, black helmet, and goggles skiing down snowy slope.
A group of four people celebrating at a graduation ceremony, with the graduate wearing medals and a cap, surrounded by family and friends in a hall with an American flag in the background.
Lacrosse player in black uniform with red and white accents, wearing helmet, gloves, and arm guards, holding a lacrosse stick, standing on a sports field.

Name: Gordon Ross

School: VCU - Freshman

  • 17

  • 2 years

  • Rockin River kayaking and advanced kayaking


  • Gordy, Flash Gordon, Gord, Gordo, but probably more

  • What makes Passages a unique company to work for is that it feels like I’m not working at all while I’m at work, because I just get to have fun all day. The most rewarding thing that I’ve experienced is seeing kids progress in their hard skills.

  • Water bottle, Apple Watch, dry bag

  • T-Rex because who wouldn’t want to have a T-Rex as a pet

  • It would be advanced kayak because we had to do the coolest rapids on the river and have the most fun by far


A young boy with curly hair wearing sunglasses and navy shorts, shirtless, holding a large fish he caught, outdoors near rocks and water.
Three people, a woman and two teenagers, hiking outdoors on a forest trail, wearing backpacks and casual clothing.
Portrait of a young man with curly red hair wearing a black suit and white shirt against a plain light background.

Name: Carrington Harris

School: Randolph Macon
- Freshman

  • 12 years old

  • This will be my 4th Summer.

  • Base Camp, Rock & River Climbing


  • I decided to join the passages staff because of the community; everyone is there to help and support you.

  • I heard about passages from my mom, and it was her idea for me to come to camp, and it was the best decision that she has ever made for me!

  • My most treasured memory was passing my levels.

  • There is always a community in climbing, and it just helps me to become a better person.

  • Doom scrolling


A young woman standing outdoors near a flower bed with yellow flowers, holding a bouquet of mixed flowers, wearing a pink off-the-shoulder dress, smiling at the camera.
A woman rock climbing outdoors on a large rocky formation, wearing a helmet, a blue shirt, and shorts.
A smiling young woman holding a baby goat with a red bandana outdoors.

Name: Imogene McBrayer

School: Freeman - Senior

  • I started as a camper at 7, and I started working at 14


  • 4

  • Rock & River Climbing, Adv Climbing


  • I loved it as a camper!

  • All the times that I have helped younger campers who remind me of myself. 

  • Waterbottle, my notebook, and a snack!

  • I can make a clover with my tongue. 

  • A Bear!

Three young girls in climbing harnesses standing on a large rock in an indoor climbing gym, smiling at the camera with a colorful rock climbing wall in the background.
Person climbing an indoor rock wall with colorful holds and a blue background.
A girl on a boat smiling and holding a small fish, with two other girls in the background. They are on a lake with a clear blue sky and trees in the distance.

Name: Julia Dougherty

School: St. Catherine’s - Senior

  • I first came to Passages when I was 8!

  • This will be my 6th Summer working.

  • Rock & River Climbing


  • I decided to join the Passages staff because I loved my counselors growing up and wanted to be able to spend my summers hanging with my friends and campers!

  • My favorite memory is doing hair wraps with campers while hanging out with all my friends and listening to music!

  • I love how encouraging everyone in the climbing community is and the feeling I get when I finish a climb.

  • I would want to go to The Blast because it would be so fun to just run around and explore Virginia. 

  • I could eat any type of pasta forever.

Smiling young woman in a floral dress standing in a grassy park at sunset.
A young girl in colorful athletic clothing eating a blue popsicle at an outdoor event with people, trees, and a vehicle in the background.
Girl climbing a rock wall wearing a helmet, tank top, and shorts, smiling.

Name: Lila Crenshaw

School: James Madison University - Freshman

  • 5 years old

  • 5

  • Base Camp

  • I wanted to be a part of the community of staff I looked up to so much as a camper!! Switching roles has made me realize I am now the one being looked up to !!

  • My most treasured memory is playing flour bomb as a camper, as a staff, going on field trips with the campers :)

  • Climbing is special to me because it takes my mind off everything else. On the wall, the only problem that needs solving is how to get to the top.

  • A water bottle with ice-cold water, a yerba mate, and a mental list of stories for the campers!

  • I can play the recorder

A young girl with blonde hair wearing a denim jacket, matching denim jeans, and white sneakers, standing in a parking lot with buildings and cars in the background.
Five girls wearing helmets and harnesses outdoor in a forested area.
Young woman with long wavy hair wearing a white tank top, pink skirt, and Minnie Mouse ears headband standing in front of Cinderella's Castle at Disney World.
Child rock climbing on a steep outdoor rock face, wearing a helmet, harness, and climbing shoes.

Name: Nadja Vucetic

School: Midlothian Highschool - Senior

  • 10

  • 4 years

  • Base Camp, Rock & River Climbing, Adv Climbing

  • I wanted to inspire campers the way my staff did for me as a camper and keep being a part of this community 

  • How fun it is! I'm always excited to go to work and spend the day with my friends and campers

    The most rewarding part is seeing a camper stoked on passing their level all week or asking to be in your group.


  • Summit! Because I would love to explore all the different camps and do a little bit of everything.

  • Eating burritos.

  • Burritos

A person rock climbing outdoors, wearing a red helmet, sunglasses, and a black tank top, with a blue climbing rope attached, ascending a rock face.
Young woman smiling at the beach with ocean and blue sky in the background.
Young woman in pink shorts climbing indoor bouldering wall with orange and pink holds, with a smartphone capturing her climbing.
A person standing at the base of a massive redwood tree in a forest.

Name: Bones Brakman

School: Virginia Tech

  • 9 years old

  • 4 years

  • Wilderness Survival Skills!

  • I really wanted to carry on and revive the legacy of WSS, and take on a role of leadership so I could advocate for the campers’ wants and needs.

  • Bones (obviously), Bonesey, Bone-a-lone, Noodle, Roach, designated bug handler, and briefly shrimp wrangler.


  • As a camper at Wilderness, we spent all week building a giant kiln out of bricks, mud, and pine needles, and then sifted our own clay and fired our pottery in the oven. It was so magical to see and feel our pots and sculptures, realizing that we had made real ceramics!
    As a staff member, my favorite moment was when a camper told me that I reminded them of an older counselor who I really looked up to. It made me so happy to realize I had become a source of inspiration for somebody.

  • I love wilderness survival because it strips life down to the essentials and challenges me to think like an animal and truly become a part of nature. It goes beyond a sport and opens the mind to adaptability, problem-solving, and resourceful thinking.

  • I no longer lose my family in public, because I have trained them to respond to monkey noises (a classic camp recall strategy) so I can find them. I also wholeheartedly believe that I could win on the survival show Alone.

Woman holding a crawfish outdoors near a concrete wall, with other people visible in the background.
Person kayaking in white water rapids, wearing an orange helmet and life vest.
A young girl with curly hair sitting on a thick tree branch, smiling, in a park with multiple trees and a clear blue sky.