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All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures are thrilled to introduce the SMA Staff Team of Summer 2025! It feels especially meaningful to kick off camp on the summer solstice—the longest day of the year—giving us even more daylight to begin building connections, creating memories, and soaking in the magic of summer. Staff training has already been incredible, filled with energy, laughter, and lots of learning as we gear up for an unforgettable season. This year’s team is a vibrant mix of returning legends and fresh new faces, all united by a passion for working with teens in the outdoors. Our staff have journeyed from across the globe—including Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Mexico, and five U.S. states—bringing with them diverse perspectives, unique talents, and a contagious enthusiasm. I’m proud of this amazing group, and I feel confident that we’re on the brink of something truly extraordinary.
— Jud Millar
Camp Director and Owner
Assistant Camp Director Jeff!
Jeff is from the great state of New Jersey. He is a true SMA veteran, having spent five years here as a
camper, two as a counselor, and is now taking over for Chase as assistant to the camp director. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill…luckily, assistant camp directors don’t wear shoes. With the energy of a
yellow lab, he is excited to take on this new position and even eats from Chase’s bowl. Jeff has spent the
past two months at SMA, preparing for the summer and building our new garden since he wants to be an
organic farmer when he grows up.
Zoe is a new counselor from down-under in Melbourne, Australia, who’s all about water activities, especially wakeboarding. She’s got a superpower: always laughing, which is pretty contagious! Seriously, all you have to do to make her laugh is look at her. Zoe dreams of working in mental health and has a certificate in event management under her belt. Her favorite job was being a sports coach back home, and she’s a big fan of swimming, going to the gym, spending time with her family, and eating vegemite. If her life were a movie, it would be called Pink Paradise because everything she owns is pink (she is basically Barbie). If Zoe could be any superhero for a day, she’d choose her dad—because he's her hero. She’s ready to dive into the summer Olympics in swimming which she has perfected while escaping from the crocodiles.
DIEGO
Diego is a fifth year camp classic from Oaxaca, Mexico. He is an Aries with an adventurous spirit who loves mountain biking, rafting, and wakeboarding. He’s got big dreams of creating a tour company to offer extreme activities, and he’s already lived part of that dream as a tour guide in Mexico. Diego's superpower? Everything. He is litterally good at everything. His favorite foods are mountain pies and breakfast hot dogs. His life motto is Sometimes Close to Heaven, But Having Fun—a perfect movie title. Speaking of movies, Diego probably has enough stories to have his own.
Thea is a first-year counselor/intern and a proud citizen of Utah. This is already her favorite job she has
ever had. She is a renaissance woman of the outdoors who can be found mountain biking, skiing, rock
climbing, and canyoneering in her free time. She recently graduated from the U of U and her dream job is
to be a recreational therapist. However, what’s most important to her is that her life is full of adventure
(which it definitely is). Thea has a motivational quote for every situation and is always sure to make you
laugh pretty much every time she opens her mouth
Soph McCarthy is a second-year AOP, but began going to SMA as a camper way back in the olden days
of 2018. She is from Bronxville, New York and studies English and Economics at the beautiful Hamilton
College, where she has made the Dean’s list every semester. She is also in a college acappella group and
has sung for Obama. She claims that if her life were a movie, it would be called “Bruh”, but I think it
would just be “Pitch Perfect”. She prefers cake over pie, but her favorite foods are bagels and pickles
(Specifically Grillo’s). If she could have any job possible, it would be a dinosaur hunter like in Jurassic
Park (Rawr!). She is excited to be a rock climbing instructor at SMA this summer. Rock on!
Andre is a new counselor from Querétaro, Mexico. He is a recent chemistry engineering graduate, hoping to fight climate change by working in renewable energy. His superpower is a positive attitude that keeps him going through anything. When it comes to food, he’s not picky—his typical breakfast consists of eight eggs. Andre's favorite job was being a party animator for kids, probably because of his playful energy. He’s into going to the gym, reading, and hanging out with friends. If his life were a movie, it would be called A Life Lived—because he believes in making every moment count (he litterally has a tattoo that says "be here now"). If he could be a superhero for a day, he’d teleport to skip traffic. And if he were in the Summer Olympics, you’d find him in the route bike event, racing toward adventure!
Jules is a new counselor from Basel, Switzerland. She loves all sports related to water and would want to
do synchronized swimming if she were in the summer Olympics. She has a lot in common with Kim,
including being from Germany (originally), having a twin, studying primary school education, and having
empathy as her superpower. Weird coincidences. In addition to water sports, Jules loves to hike and rock
climb. Her secret talent is that she can wiggle her ears.
Alex is a third year counselor from Puebla, Mexico (clap, clap). He is a Leo with a knack for adventure. He’s all about wakeboarding, rafting, biking, and overnights. A marketing grad and proud business owner, Alex’s superpower is jumping really far—yes, really! He’s coached track and field, and loves medium-rare steak, vanilla ice cream, and pie. His life motto? Do it for the Plot!—he’s spontaneous and daring. If he could be a superhero for a day, he’d be Superman, but mostly to help others (and fly, of course). Always up for an adventure, Alex is ready for whatever summer throws his way!
Marina is a new counselor from Málaga, Spain. She also has a twin brother (why does everyone here have
a twin?) Her smile is contagious, but be careful because she can also read minds. Marina is a volleyball
superstar and wishes to be a PE teacher in the future. To work towards this goal she has earned a
bachelor’s degree in sports science and two masters in teaching. She is excited to be in the United States
for the first time this summer, especially because her favorite food is hamburgers. In addition to
volleyball, she snowboards, rollerblades, surfs, and travels to the mountains and sea.
Cillian, like McCarthy, is a second-year AOP and former camper from Bronxville, New York. This is not
a coincidence; they went to the same high school. If his life were a movie, it would be The Wizard of Oz
since he was born in Kansas. His proudest accomplishment is that he spent weeks backpacking in Alaska.
He either wants to be a history teacher or Batman when he grows up. Currently, he is studying history at
Iona College in Yonkers, New York. Cillian can be found looking at cars on Facebook Marketplace in his
free time and eating mac and cheese. A fun fact about him is that he is severely allergic to horses, so don’t
let him go near the pastures.
Kim
Kim is a third-year counselor from Bad Salzuflen, Germany (that’s a fun word to say). Coming to SMA
for the first time all by herself was her proudest accomplishment. In the winter, she works at a Christmas
market back home. Kim has a bachelor's degree in primary school teaching and is very empathetic, so feel
free to tell her your deepest, darkest secrets. One of her biggest hobbies is hobby horsing. Just kidding,
Kim loves to wakeboard and is one of our boat drivers. She is all-around very athletic and also plays
soccer. Ask her to show you her breakdancing skills!
Mason
Mason is a second-year AOP and former camper from the small town of Decatur, Texas. He claims that
his star sign is “cow” and his dream job is to write jokes for South Park. If he could be a superhero for a
day, it would be Roger from American Dad. Mason’s biggest passion is mountain biking and he is excited
to be a leader of the bikemasters program and get out on the trails this summer. In addition to mountain
bikes, he also rides horses (sometimes backwards). Another important fact about Mason is that his
favorite ice cream flavor is Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.
SOPHIA WATSON
Watson might be a new counselor/intern, but she is not new to SMA. It is actually her sixth summer here! She is from the small town of Waterford, Virginia, with a love for everything outdoors. She’s currently attending Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, working toward her dream of becoming an eco-therapist, blending her passion for psychology and the environment. Watson’s favorite food is her mom’s pasta (nothing beats it!), and her pizza topping of choice is... pickles (yes, really). She’s been to half of the U.S. states, and if her life were a movie, she'd call it The Secret Life of Sophia Watson. Just kidding, Watson would be much more likely to be in a sitcom. If she could be a superhero for a day it would be Jud. Always curious, and always moving, Watson’s ready to take on the world—one pickle pizza at a time!
Elena is a spirted new counselor from Pamplona, Spain, with a superpower for "heart reading." She’s a psychology graduate who’s all about making life her own—her proudest accomplishment is shaping her life the way she wants. A rock climber at heart, she’s also into water sports, dancing, and anything that gets her moving. She constantly makes her life feel like a movie, with Spreading My Wings as its title. If she could be any superhero for a day, she’d channel Katniss Everdeen. Her favorite pizza topping? Basil. And when it comes to ice cream, pistachio is the flavor of choice.
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