Emily Rumble – Co-Director of RYLA
Emily Rumble has been with the RYLA program for 14 years of service. She was a camper in 2010 and has gradually made her way from camper to facilitator to Senior staff to Advisory board member. Then she became Training Director, developing curriculum for the program and helping to develop our facilitators and staff. She has now been honored with the role of Co-Director of RYLA with her dear friend, Sam Klemarczyk. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, with a focus in English, at the University of Maine at Farmington in 2016. Emily is in her fifth year of teaching English at Marshwood High School in South Berwick, Maine and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education. Much of what she has learned at RYLA influences her teaching philosophy.
Sam Klemarczyk – Co-Director of RYLA
Sam Klemarczyk has served the RYLA program since 2011. He shaped the on-boarding staff program, which trains first and second year staff members in their facilitation at camp. His passions for innovation, community, and service grew during his time at The University of Rhode Island, where he studied Communications and Leadership with a focus in Experiential Education. Sam has been a servant leader with Interact, Rotaract, and has been a local Rotarian since 2017. One of Sam’s most cherished parts of RYLA is that he gets to co-direct alongside the best in the business: Emily Rumble. He now is a Learning Consultant for The Predictive Index, focusing on Talent Optimization, Leadership, and Team Performance at the corporate level.
Jacey Chavez- Co-Director in Training
Jacey Chavez is a recent graduate from the University of New Hampshire. He is currently working as a Jr. Architectural Designer at Adrenaline, a company which has a focus of financial institutions. He is a diehard Celtics and Patriots fan and enjoy being outdoors regardless of the season. In his free time he has been working on constructing his very own tiny house on wheels, which he designed from the ground up. Jacey has dedicated 9 years of service, and begins training with Tim Moyer for Directorship this year.
Tim Moyer – Co-Director in Training
Tim Moyer has been with RYLA since his camper year in 2015. After serving as a lead facilitator for numerous years, he now serves in the role of Camp Co-Director in Training with Jacey Chavez. Professionally, Tim works as a saxophonist, teacher, and band director in the Somerville Public Schools in Somerville, MA. He is a member of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony and the jazz quartet known as Gateway Jaz. Tim received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Lawrence University Conservatory. He is an active member of the Servant Leadership Association for Music, which connects music teachers nationwide to elevate teaching and leadership skills in the pursuit of a culture of excellence in the classroom.
Abby Rioux- Training Director
Abby Rioux has been attending RYLA since the South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club sponsored her in 2014 as a camper. After graduating for South Portland High School she attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) where she earned a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Leadership Studies. Upon graduating from UNCW, she moved back to Maine to pursue a job in the nonprofit sector. She currently works as the Development Coordinator for Junior Achievement of Maine, while also teaching yoga around southern Maine. Abby attributes RYLA for helping her step out of her comfort zone and finding her authentic self.
Nick Johnson- Training Director
Nick Johnson has been attending RYLA since the Bethel Rotary Club sponsored him his camper year in 2013. Upon graduating Telstar High School he attended the Savannah College of Art and Design where he earned a Bachelors of Arts in Photography with a concentration in Fine Art. Currently, Nick works as a Digitization Photographer at a history preservation company in Portland, Maine. Nick believes that RYLA has been crucial in helping him understand himself and the world around him, and is thankful beyond words for the opportunity to continue to be a part of such a monumental program.
Katelyn Pierson – Senior Advisory Team
Katelyn Pierson has been with the RYLA program since 2011, including being a camper, being a part of Senior staff, being a member of the Advisory board and helping as the scheduling coordinator. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Biological Sciences from the
University of New England (UNE), while also being a player on the Women’s Soccer team. She earned her Doctorate from the UNE College of Dental Medicine in May of 2022 and practices as a General Dentist in the Sanford/Springvale area. After over 10 years of service with RYLA,
Katelyn joined the Scarborough Rotary as a member and is about to begin her second term as president.
Max Rawson – Program Directors
Max Rawson was a camper at RYLA in 2010 and graduated from Colorado College with a Bachelors of Art in Environmental Science. RYLA has inspired Max to professionally be involved in youth development. He has spent time as a camp counselor and outdoor education leader. He has served as a teacher’s assistant and after-school program leader in the Denver Public School system through City Year, and also as a Case Worker with Urban Peak, which ignites the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined, fulfilled lives. Max attributes RYLA for helping guide him to where he is today. His RYLA journey began thanks to a scholarship from the Bath Rotary Club. Max recently moved home to the Portland, ME, area and is enjoying life back in Maine!
Donald “Ducky” Clark – Program Directors
Donald Clark was a camper at RYLA in 2010. After completing high school in Cape Elizabeth, he attended and graduated from The College of Charleston. “Ducky” then gained incredible experience in the film industry, and was able to act in, direct, write and produce short & independent films. He also was a highly involved volunteer with the Flicks4Change program, which brings together nonprofits, celebrity activists and humanitarian filmmakers to unite difference makers in creating meaningful social change in our communities. Ducky is an essential part of training each year’s group of new staff members, having written “Ducky’s 8 Commandments of Reflection”. Ducky first attended RYLA due to a scholarship from the South Portland / Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club, and recently moved home to the Portland, ME, area, where he continues his filmmaking passions.
Morgan McKeown- Senior Advisory Team
Morgan McKeown attended RYLA as a camper in 2014 and 2022 will mark Morgan’s 9th year with RYLA. Morgan was a member of Interact Club at Scarborough High School and graduated from Trinity College in 2020 with a degree in neuroscience before working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in research for 2 years. Morgan will be attending Tufts University School of Medicine beginning July 2022 in their Maine Track program. Morgan was also a founding member of the New Voices Rotary Club and served as the club’s secretary for 2 years. Morgan has found RYLA to be an incredibly rewarding experience and loves seeing how staff and students are impacted by the program and the people who volunteer here. She hopes to continue to serve others through the program and a career in medicine.
Jack Rademacher- Technology Director
Jack has been with RYLA 7780 since 2015 and currently is a PhD student studying Electrical Engineering at MIT. He has loved every year as a staff member seeing the extraordinary development of campers in such a short period of four days and hopes that RYLA 7780 can continue to expand and offer its unique experience to more and more campers. Jack serves as the Technology Director of the RYLA 7780 leadership team, working to grow RYLA’s digital presence and improve its accessibility.