Dayton Whites joined the team in a new role, Assistant Director of Operations.
As a second generation LLYC-er, Dayton’s history with LLYC goes way back. In fact, his story basically began here. Dayton’s parents met at camp and were on summer staff in the 1980s. 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 served on Program Crew and was a Singing Hills Counselor for two summers. He also served several years on leadership staff as a PC Boss and Guys’ Director. After graduating in 2013 from Texas A&M with a degree in Biomedical Sciences, he spent a year as the LLYC intern. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Dayton married his camp sweetheart, Rachel. They initially took jobs in San Antonio, but it didn’t take long for them to find their way back to Kerrville—to work for the organization that has been such a part of their story.
From 2016 to 2019 Dayton worked at Laity Lodge Family Camp assisting in the management of operations and program staff. He’s excited to incorporate what he’s learned from his time at LLFC into the LLYC program. Dayton’s deep knowledge of camp serves him well as he works to oversee and improve our program operations and activities as well as lead our operational summer staff.
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.
Early this summer, Melody Mabry joined the LLYC team as the Office Coordinator.
Melody loves her role in assisting the directors with the hiring processes for new and seasoned counselors and summer staff as well as providing office coordination and support to the entire LLYC team.
Melody attended Texas Tech University and studied Nutrition and Early Childhood Education. Working with kids is in her blood as she found her love for residential camping during her college summers at Texas Lion’s Camp in Kerrville. The most cherished job she has had in her life was teaching for Houston ISD’s Outdoor Education Center, a magnet school serving children in Houston.
Melody grew up in Colorado and has spent a good part of life in Texas. She considers herself 1/2 Texan and 1/2 Coloradan. She is the mother of three kids, Ella, Niles, and Violet Josephine, and lives in Boerne where she also owns and is the lead designer for Nila Melott Luxe Floral.
Melody has the unique experience of being an LLYC parent for many years. LLYC has provided important spiritual guidance and support to her family for the past ten years during her children’s summer seasons at camp. She is pinching herself that she is part of this team.
She says, “I cannot even express what Laity Lodge Youth Camp means to me as a mother and to my kids. As teens, they fight through the distractions of this world to love God and love others. It is my mission to serve and to share any skills and gifts I have in any way I can to give back to the place that has been an anchor to my family. I love everything about LLYC! I am honored to be here.”
