Executive Director of Laity Lodge Camping Programs
cary@llyc.org 830-315-9209DISTANCE RUNNER
FIRST TO CRACK A JOKE
COOLEST KIND OF SCHOLAR THERE IS
Cary is the Executive Director of Laity Lodge Camping Programs, serving campers and families in the same Canyon where his own family began.
Beginning in 1985, Cary spent the 13 summers in the Canyon as a camper, then a program crew member, and finally a counselor at Echo Valley where he met his wife, Jenny (Allenbaugh) Hendricks. They even worked some of the early Family Camp camp sessions at Echo Valley in the 1990s.
Due in large part to these experiences, Cary pursued a career in relational ministry, spending eight years on Young Life staff as an associate area director and area director in both Texas and Illinois. During his time in Illinois, Cary also served more than four years at a Presbyterian church as the youth and college ministry director. In 2017, he completed a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently working toward a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership Development at the same institution.
Cary has been with the Foundation since 2013, first as a Director of Echo Valley, and from 2015 to 2021 as the Senior Director of Laity Lodge Family Camp. Cary and Jenny have been married since July 1999, and their three kids—Seth, Stella, and Sloane—have been fixtures in the Canyon and in Kerrville for many years.
Director of Echo Valley
TOM@LLYC.ORG 830-315-9262ADVENTURE LOVER
CAMP KID AT HEART
GIANT OF A MAN
Tom grew up spending his summers at Deerfoot Lodge, a Christian boys camp in upstate New York. For him, it was always worth the 19-hour drive from his home in Clemson, South Carolina. His experiences there led him to get his degree in Recreation and Youth Ministry at Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina.
After a few years living in Munich, Germany, teaching ESL and doing youth ministry, Tom chased a woman to Texas, married her, and went into full-time Christian camping. He was a director at Camp Cho-Yeh in east Texas for four years and then spent two years in residential construction before the opportunity to work at LLYC surfaced, which he couldn’t refuse.
He loves fly-fishing, playing basketball (he’s a six foot six), reading to his kids, watching Clemson football, and building things with his hands. He and his wife, Brynn, have three children: a daughter, Piper, and two sons, Finley and Rowan. During the year they live in Fredericksburg, where Brynn works full-time in the home and part-time as a teacher. Tom loves camp ministry because of how formative and rewarding it can be for campers and for his college age staff.
Assistant Director of Echo Valley
JACQUELINE@LLYC.ORG 830-315-9248LONGHORN FOOTBALL ENTHUSIAST
ASPIRING CHEF
FRIEND FOR LIFE
Austin native Jacqueline Brustkern first came to LLYC the summer after her freshman year at UT. Jacqueline recalls having a real desire to work at a camp and had opportunity to interview with quite a few. But it was her interview with Karla, along with a number of LLYC friends, that ultimately swayed her decision to accept a temporary full time position at LLYC. “It wasn’t a checklist of my abilities or personality,” says Jacqueline. “It was an authentic conversation. I felt like Karla really wanted to know me—which I learned is a true reflection of LLYC.” Having served as an EV counselor, SH Crew Boss, SH Assistant Girls’ Director, and LLYC Intern, Jacqueline brings diverse experience and relationships to her current role.
Jacqueline jokes that her friends might describe her as a bit indecisive. But when the position at LLYC presented itself, she knew with absolute clarity it was the right fit. Her friends were shocked at her quick decisiveness—maybe for the first time ever! Jacqueline is excited to invest in something she cares so deeply for—a place and ministry she loves. A place to which God keeps bringing her back.
With a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Nutrition, Certification in Business Foundations and a Minor in Kinesiology from the University of Texas, Jacqueline is excited to continue serving at LLYC.
Director of Singing Hills
dayton@llyc.org 830-315-9263SECOND GENERATION LLYC LIFER
HARDWORKING PROBLEM SOLVER
LOVER OF GAMES AND GOOD TIMES
Dayton’s history with LLYC goes way back. In fact, his history began here. His parents met at camp and were on staff in the 1980’s. Dayton grew up hearing stories about camp and was eventually a camper for three years at Echo Valley. He went on to spend many summers on staff. He was on Program Crew. He was a Singing Hills Counselor for two summers. He was on leadership staff as a PC Boss, and he was a Guy’s Director for two summers. After he graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Biomedical Sciences, he became an LLYC intern for a year in 2013. The next summer he followed in his parent’s footsteps by marrying his camp sweetheart, Rachel, and they both took jobs in San Antonio. It didn’t take long, though, for them to find their way back to Kerrville to work for the organization that has meant so much to them and has been such a part of their story.
From 2016 to 2019, Dayton worked at Laity Lodge Family Camp managing operations and program staff. Since 2020, Dayton also worked in the Foundation’s Risk Management Department creating trainings and working with programs. He’s excited to pour what he’s learned from those experiences back into Singing Hills. Dayton’s deep knowledge of camp serves him well as he works to lead and serve those call Singing Hills their second home.
Dayton enjoys all things outdoors, loves to play games of any kind, works constantly on his 1907 fixer-upper home, and kills time with his friends, his dog, Mack, or by enjoying a good story. He and Rachel are also over-the-moon excited to welcome their first child, a boy, in January of 2022!
Assistant Director of Singing Hills and Alumni Coordinator
molly@llyc.org 830-315-9219JIGSAW GENIUS
WORDSMITH EXTRAORDINAIRE
EXPERT AT EMPATHY AND SPEAKING HER MIND
Molly was born and raised in Corpus Christi. Both of Molly’s parents are teachers, and she believes they unintentionally instilled a love in her for working with children very early in life. Both of Molly’s sisters are married with children, which means she gets to play the fun, cool aunt to three little cuties.
Molly’s history with Laity Lodge Youth Camp began in 2013, when she was hired as a first half counselor at Echo Valley the summer before her freshman year at Texas A&M University. Shortly after graduation, Molly was hired in 2018 as an LLYC intern, where she fell in love with camp ministry. When the internship ended, Molly began working at Clarity Child Guidance Center as a marketing and development coordinator. Although Molly is thankful for and valued her time there, she was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to be back on the youth camp team when a full-time spot opened up.
When Molly is not thinking about summers in the Canyon, she is usually on the phone with family or friends or taking long walks with her dog, Milo. She has recently picked up solving jigsaw puzzles and re-learning the French language. Something many people do not know about Molly is that she went to school to be a journalist, worked at PBS for two years, and then as a contributing writer at a local magazine in Bryan/College Station. Outside of professional pursuits, Molly spends much of her free time reading and writing, and has a soft spot for rereading the classics.
Registrar
LLYCINFO@LLYC.ORG 830-315-9222JOYFUL SOUL
FRIEND TO ALL
SWORD FIGHTING MAMA
Emily loves our LLYC parents and campers. She orchestrates the registration process, blesses campers with the news of scholarships and fills camp with as many campers as possible. Emily, her husband, Chastan, and their twin boys, Paxton and Brody, live in Kerrville and enjoy everything “boy.” Most evenings and weekends, they can be found sword fighting anywhere the boys have free rein. The boys love organized sports—soccer, karate, basketball, and baseball.
Emily, her mom, and two sisters also own a children’s clothing boutique in downtown Kerrville, LulaBelle’s Pirates & Pretties. The girls love the extra time to get to be together, not to mention shop for the store (and their combined eight kiddos).
Emily graduated from Tivy High School and Schreiner University with a B.A. in Psychology. She has a deep desire for relationships. She understands parents’ needs and wants to serve them as well as possible. Emily loves our campers and their parents well. Her joy and love for life are contagious.
Administrative Assistant
kcollis@llyc.org (830) 315-9215LOVER OF THE ARTS
PROUD KERRVILLE NATIVE
LLYC TEAM REFEREE
Keonna was born in Houston but grew up here in Kerrville with her older brother. She considers herself a true Kerrville Native, having graduated from Tivy High School in 2009 and Schreiner University, completing their LVN program in 2013. While Koenna was employed as a nurse, she realized her passion for youth and young adults, which led her to work for a small local charter school as a Special Education Coordinator.
Keonna and her husband, Trey, have a daughter, Karsyn, and a pug puppy named Chloe. Keonna and her family are members of the Hunt Baptist Church, where her father-in-law is the pastor.
Keonna considers herself a creative person and a true lover of the arts. To her, there’s nothing better than attending a play, visiting an art gallery, or listening to live music on a patio in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. She is also a talented photographer and has a small portrait business.
LLYC Associate
bchiovaro@llyc.org 830-315-9243VIRGINIAN BY BIRTH, TEXAN BY HEART
KING OF OUTDOORSING AND BROING OUT
VIOLENT VOLLEYBALL SPIKER
Ben Chiovaro hails from the Shenandoah Foothills near Charlottesville, Virginia. After reconnecting with some old family members at a reunion as a high schooler, his cousin Meagan recommended that he apply for Laity Lodge Youth Camp in Leakey, Texas, as an Echo Valley counselor for the summer of 2017 after his senior year. “Meagan spoke so highly and so loyally of this place she had worked for a few years of her college life,” Ben says. “This beautiful Canyon she spoke of and lifelong relationships with her campers are what fully piqued my interest. But I had never even been to Texas before I showed up. I have no idea what I was thinking! It was a leap of faith for sure, and the community and love kept me coming back.” From there Ben served as an EV counselor for 10 different cabins, a PC Boss, Activities Team Director, and now as a full-time LLYC associate.
Ben loves to snowboard (not much of that in Texas), play volleyball, go backpacking, and get outdoors any chance he gets. Ben has been working in youth ministry and with kids since he was old enough to babysit and loves to make an impact on kids lives and provide them with memorable experiences in the outdoors and with friends. He attended James Madison University and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Health Science and a minor in Chronic Illness with a pre-PA concentration.
LLYC Associate
hjones@llyc.orgGEORGIAN BY BIRTH, TEXAN BY HEART
WORLD-CLASS GRAPHIC ARTIST
FRIEND TO ALL PEOPLE AND ALL HOUSEPLANTS
Holland was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but has lived in Texas since 2010. She spent most of her childhood going to a summer camp in Georgia which sparked her interest in working in camp ministry. She graduated from Texas State in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration with a concentration in therapeutic recreation.
Holland was introduced to LLYC by a college friend who told Holland of her experiences and encouraged Holland to apply to work for the camps. Her first summer at camp was in 2021 when she served as the activities team director at Echo Valley. What has made Holland stay with the Foundation was the relationships she formed with the staff throughout the summer, and she’s excited to be a part of the tight knit community of camp and experience the magic of the Canyon with younger campers.
Holland loves outdoor hobbies such as hiking, camping, and swimming, specifically in the river, but she also loves taking care of her houseplants, painting, and designing and making prints. She is the oldest of three in her family.
LLYC Associate
ablair@llyc.orgHUGE PSYCHOLOGY NERD
STRAY CAT LADY
FARMERS MARKET AFICIONADO
Audrey was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She has been going to summer camps since she was eight years old and has developed a deep love for youth ministry. She attended Texas A&M University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and she hopes to one day become a licensed professional counselor and work with youth.
In 2021, Audrey worked as a counselor at Echo Valley, and in 2022, she returned as the girls side boss.
She loves swimming in natural bodies of water, eating her weight in ethnic foods of all sorts, listening to classical music and Chris Stapleton (not at the same time), going on nature walks around the neighborhood, and petting stray cats. She spends a lot of time reading, and recently got a Kindle. It’s her new love. On weekends you might find her at the local farmers market fully embracing her elderly woman era.
LLYC Associate
arickabaugh@llyc.orgPASSIONATE OUTDOORSWOMAN
DRY-WITTED SKIT-MASTER
READER, THINKER, ADVENTURER
Amy Rickabaugh was born in Austin, Texas but spent most of her formative years in San Antonio, where her parents call home. She has one brother who lives in Fort Worth. She graduated from Baylor University, where she studied communications and photojournalism.
Being outside is one of Amy’s very favorite pastimes, as she loves trail running and riding her bike, followed by any water activity under the sun. She also enjoys reading, and two of her favorite books are Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard and American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Amy previously served as an LLYC counselor, a media director for two summers, and a programmer, all at Echo Valley. She loves LLYC because it has fostered so much growth in her life over the years. She is looking forward to further growth for herself and for everyone who joins us at camp in summers to come!
