Full-Time Directors
NICK MARKOFF
A) About Me: Married 4 kids. 4yrs BYU Majored in History. Love to kayak, climb, ski, frisbee, read books and go to the beach. Served a two year mission for church in Netherlands - (used to be fluent in dutch). B) I'm in charge of...Haunted Forest design and construction, Office books and payroll, Food on programs. C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be...Adventure Island - It's new, exciting and can include many activities. D) Calleva Memory: The greatest growth I saw in a camper was....Eric Hanson on the Kayak High Adv. 2005 within a few days he went from "scared" on the cheat narrows to "can't get enough" on the New. John Gay finally pulling the overhang at Annapolis Rocks. ( It took 2 years) E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is...keeping Calleva a small and personable family business.
ALEX MARKOFF
A) About Me: I have just finished building my home out at the Calleva Farm for my wife and 3 girls. We have a new one on the way and I am trying to finish the baby room. B) I'm in charge of...staffing. C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be...sailing, rafting, kayaking... anything in the water. D) Calleva Memory: My earliest Calleva memory is... swimming classes in poolesville, TP crying because he couldn't put on his skirt, open houses at darnestown, mole, goat, nicole, mushro, mcadams, nortons, holly, jane parise, walsmans, --- alot of the first campers. E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is... realize riley's lock road location, grow explorers, corp, - create the best staff and working environment for all calleva staff.
MATT MARKOFF:
A) About Me:Believe it or not, I Love the Outdoors. I love planning for the next big trip, almost as much as doing the trip. I just turned 30 and have been in the camping business my entire life. I attended USU and the NOLS. I have led climbing, kayaking, biking, caving, & ski trips all over the country and parts of Mexico. I think I have ran every program at Calleva, and developed many of them -o.k. maybe not fishing! I am married to Kolette (she ran the office and many other programs in the early years of Calleva) and have a beautiful baby boy, Sotir Davis. Right now I am questioning my priorities because I am writing this instead of going skiing with the Calleva Snow Club. B) I'm in charge of...program design, itineraries, and activity camps. C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be...Caving! D) Calleva Memory:The High Adventure that I will never forget was... There are too many so I will cheat and piece together some fragmented memories: Climbing Linville and spending the night on the top of the rocks without sleeping bags, TP saying "I thought Calleva was where the paths cross", sleeping on a fallen billboard in Moab, Which is better Karate or Kung Fu?, "My friends call me Bru", "I didn't realize you had to hike on a backpacking trip?", and I will update and purge my memories for those others that bring smiles to my face. E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is...to take advantage of Riley's Lock for our Camp, School, & Other programs.
ERIC "FLASH" HILL:
A)About Me:I'm married, live in the country, speak German, have 2 teenagers, 2 dogs and 2 cats, worked at Calleva since.... the beginning. B) I'm in charge of... Ski Club /Transportation/ Vehicles. C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be...:C'mon, what kind of question is that? Skiing or Mtn. Biking! D) Calleva Memory:One of my favorite memories was our first overnight ( yes, the very first). We were on the Shenendoah River and got caught in a wicked thunderstorm. We had to pull out in the middle of the river on rock band. Some left looking for shelter and the rest of us stayed and sang every camp song that I could think of to entertain the campers that were huddled under, propped up rafts and canoes, until "help" arrived. Nevertheless we ended finding a sweet location to camp and would later befriend Jim Kuhn, the owner of the farm.
JILL KNUDSON
A) About Me:Most important things in my life, next to horses, are my family, friends, good health and spending times outdoors. I've been teaching riding more than 20 years and have competed in a wide variety of disciplines. My most memorable equestrian accomplishment was cross country jumping with Eventings' Olympic double gold medalist, Blyth Tait from New Zealand. I currently hold the level 3 certification in Eventing with the ARICP. B) I'm in charge of...Calleva Equestrian Educational Program C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be...Riding :) D) Calleva Memory: sailing high adventure in the BVI. There were so many delightful moments. One was watching "6-pack" feed the seagulls bread from between his teeth. Laughing portside as we watched "Mo" unclog the septic line under the boat and then swim for his life as the 'debris' floated out of the pipe into his snorkel!! Spencer racing other dinghies, snorkeling over shipwrecks, charades on deck, exploring the islands, hot sun, great food, good friends and beautiful, warm clear water ...what more can I say?? E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is...To help kids and adults learn more about the amazing world of horses. At the same time creating fun memories that will last a lifetime.
TONY WITTER
A) About Me:I love the outdoors and adventure. Maybe this is why my first career was a 26 year tour in the Army. I was an Infantry Officer, and I enjoyed Airborne, Ranger, and Combat Tracker Training and all the leadership opportunities. I have a graduate degree and I did teach Leadership to Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point. It has been great for me to work at Calleva, as it stands for so much of what is important to me. I am married and have a young son. We can't wait to get him out hiking. B) I'm in charge of... Calleva's "Leaders in Training Course" for 12 to 15 year-olds. It is my passion to teach the tools of empowerment to participants and for them to apply these in fun and exciting outdoor adventure activities like orienteering, paintball and a solo vision quest, so they experience the power that is within them! I'm also responsible for company and corporate team building and leadership training. C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be...hiking and searching for animal tracks to follow. D) Calleva Memory: My favorite overnight memory was the first time the "Leaders in Training" did a night hike without flashlights. We took turns in the pitch dark leading our group up a winding dirt trail along a ridge line in the Prince William Forest Park in Virginia. It was amazing to experience the power of our sense of hearing, as we were able to follow a trail without seeing it. You could hear the difference in the sounds made as your feet landed on the dirt trail or the undisturbed forest floor. All of us were able to get back onto the trail if we wondered off by moving in different directions until we heard the sounds of our feet on the dirt trail again. We overcame our fear of the dark! E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is... To facilitate even more teenagers and adults through exciting and adventurous programs which increase their self confidence and personal power and to grow more myself.
CINDY BOSKA:
A) About Me:Moved to Germantown in 2000 when my husband got a job at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville. I met Mary Markoff in a book store (she was buying horse books!) and I have been in love with Calleva ever since. I have been the office manager since 2004. B) I'm in charge of...Pushing papers - which can be a challenge because you all know how hard it is to get your kids to do their homework, try getting weekly reports from 40 kids and then add that it is summer time and they have places to go, friends to see...C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be... Canoeing. But I have not done any whitewater canoeing. My canoeing days were on the St. Johns River in FL and it is VERY quiet and laid back! D) Calleva Memory: The biggest change Calleva has made since my first year is to get our new office. It is absolutely beautiful and in a great location. The only drawback is they may find me walking on the canal instead of working in the office. E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is... Better communication. It is always a challenge to keep the information flowing to directors, instructors, counselors, junior counselors, CITs, bus drivers, campers and most importantly, parents. I will be using email a lot more to keep in touch with parents.
DAVID ROY RITTER:
A) About Me: I have an Outdoor education Degree from Hartwick college Oneonta NY. I Owned and operated OuterQuest Schools and Camp from 1998 to 2005 and am very happy at my new home with calleva. I have lead High altitude mountaineering expeditions the highest was Aconcoqua Argentina 22,836 feet in January-1996. B) I'm In-charge of... Weekend programs and Equipment. C) If I were leading a trip it would be... Any multi-day program. D) My best calleva memory is... Working with some 12 year-old campers to jump off a 25-ft cliff into cold water on a School Program to Lake Somerville, West Virginia. E) My personal goal for Calleva 2006 is... To have full and frequent weekend classes and programs.
KAREN SEIBERT:
A) About Me: I have a degree in both Zoology and Environmental Science (there was no Outdoor Rec. major offered at that time). I spent 12 years working as an Environmental Scientist for the Cheseapeake Bay w/ EPA and MD Dept. of the Environment, and working on designing Environmental Impact studies for private consulting firms. Another 10 years developing nature, ecology, jewelry & backpacking programs at both day and residential camps. I have also been leading Girl Scout troops for over 10 years and introducing them to High Adventure. I am thrilled to have finally found a home at Calleva which truly fits my mindset (now if only my body can keep up.) I have 3 children who also love Calleva! When we aren't hanging out at Calleva, our family loves to ski, board, SCUBA, boat and if we can, travel at the same time! B) I'm in charge of... The Girl Scout and Boy Scout programs that we offer at Calleva, as well as working with Tony on developing our Corporate and LIT programs. I am also working on developing a SCUBA certification camp here at Calleva to adjoin our BVI trip.C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be... A High Adventure, Leadership Building program in the BVI which would include SCUBA & sailing! D) Calleva Memory: My earliest Calleva memory is...sitting under a tarp cooking with Jason & my scouts on the Appalachian Trail after a day of climbing at Annapolis Rocks. E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2006 is... To pull in more scouting and corporate programs than ever...to pull SCUBA week into our camp program and continue to develop the LIT program, and generally, to make "Calleva" a household word in the metro area, synonomous with "good times, skills building and adventure!"
ANDREW PRATT:
A) About Me: I was the director for Explorers in 2005 (the best year until this year) and left Calleva to get married... and I did. Now I am returning for year round employment and to lead my Explorers to greatness.
B) I'm in charge of... EXPLORERS
C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be... EXPLORERS
D) Calleva Memory: Getting my nickname!!!! Baldylocks!
E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2007 is... getting a new nickname!!
Chris "Big Tic" Poticny
Chris "Big Tic" Poticny A) About Me: I attended school at Frostburg State University working toward a degree in Recreation and Parks Management, with a concentration in Adventure Sports. I love whitewater sports especially kayaking and rafting but I also enjoy backpacking, and well, every activity at Calleva. My passion is the outdoors and I love exposing people to what I love so much!I am passionate about my job and love showing people the benefits of our natural resources for adventure (that and it gives me an excuse to be on the river everyday!) I couldn't think of a better place to work!
B) I'm in charge of... The Calleva River School, Rafting Instructor for the summer camp!
C) If I were leading a program right now I would want it to be... Come on now, what kind of a question is that? Rafting!
D) Calleva Memory: Every Lowell School backpacking trip (especially Linville), rafting overnights, dominating the events at last year's orientation(i hope y'all are ready for this year!).
E) My personal goal for Calleva in 2007 is... To make the River School a complete success and to have every week full for rafting this summer!! Pray for rain!