Meet Our Team
Founding Director
James Frank
Founder of Lure of the Wild and father of two adventurous boys, James Frank is a lifelong enthusiast of nature with more than two decades of professional experience developing award-winning nature education programs. He’s found lifelong delight in sharing profound experiences in the natural world with everyone and anyone he meets. Camp parents have described him as akin to “Mr. Ray” from Finding Nemo…
Madeline Bartley
Madeline, a lover of nature, art, and animals, joined Lure of the Wild after meeting Ranger James at a Wilderness First Aid training in 2021. Known for her compassionate leadership, she is pursuing a degree in environmental science while teaching science to middle schoolers with social-emotional disorders. Affectionately nicknamed “Laser Eyes” for her keen insight into children’s emotions, she brings warmth and understanding to every interaction.
Julia Silver
Julia, a Catonsville native and UMBC student, discovered her love for the outdoors exploring Patapsco State Park as a kid. Formerly a Counselor-in-Training and volunteer at CCBC's Camp Heritage, Julia's years of experience at Lure of the Wild have helped her become a stellar counselor who's as skilled with children as she is observant, resourceful, and communicative. Julia enjoys trail running, playing guitar, and babysitting. She aspires to become a Wildlife Ecologist specializing in Ornithology.
Calayah Bennett
Calayah, a UMBC student, is studying Psychology and Gender Studies. She loves watching movies and going on adventures with her friends. She enjoys crocheting as a creative outlet and spending time outdoors on warm, sunny days. With a heart for growth and connection, she’s excited to help campers explore, grow, and create lasting memories in nature, while doing the same herself.
Izzy Kim-Brown
Izzy is a psychology student at George Washington University. She is particularly interested in developmental psychology and aspires to continue working with children. She discovered her love for nature while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Izzy is excited to spend her summer in Maryland's beautiful forests! She loves to hike, read, and bake. She's an optimist and sees the best in everyone.
Jalia "Leah" Mears
Jalia is a psychology major at Towson University with ambitions to become a clinical psychologist in the future. She looks forward gaining more insight about children's natural behavior while working at Lure of the Wild. Jalia has a passion for animals and nature. Jalia loves to explore and try new things. With a deep love for children and gentle nature, she loves kids! Her favorite hobbies include knitting, crocheting, trying new recipes, and spending time outside.
Molly Hess
Molly is a rising junior at UMBC studying early childhood education, psychology, and critical disabilities studies. Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania, she has a deep connection to the outdoors and nature. Molly spent her last three summers as a camp counselor in Frederick, Maryland, and has worked in preschool and childcare settings for several years. She enjoys hiking, music, and painting.
Shenandoah "Doe" Wolf
Shenandoah is a junior at Frostburg State University majoring in Recreation and Parks Management with a concentration in Adventure Sports. She is a lifelong Scout and considers summer camps her second home- She spent the last three summers living and working at Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation in Harford County. With five younger brothers and a background in childcare, Shenandoah enthusiastically excels in youth engagement and development, especially in nature and the outdoors. She aspires to share her love of self-discovery and adventure by establishing an outdoor education school of her own.
Meet our Collaborators
Bethany Fry
Bethany Fry, a Nurse Practitioner at a local pediatric practice, is passionate about outdoor play and its benefits for child development. Originally from Western New York, she has lived in the area for 17 years. Bethany balances her time between work, her love for plants, and raising her three spirited children, who are also Lure of the Wild campers. She’s currently working on transforming her Catonsville yard with native plants.
Bryan Gomes
Bryan and James are long-time colleagues with a shared passion for inspiring a love of the outdoors. When they first met, Bryan was inspired by James' role in the field, and expressed a desire to pursue a career as an outdoor educator. Two decades later, Bryan was named the 2024 Outdoor Educator of the Year by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. Bryan works with the CoreShark H2O organization and UMD’s Horn Point Laboratory.
Elise Smithmyer
A Catonsville-based mom and private practice psychotherapist, Elise is deeply passionate about mental health. Her commitment extends beyond her work to her broader community, with a particular focus on reducing the negative effects of screen time and social media on children, adolescents, and adults alike. When she's not working, you will find her spending time with her family, tending to her chickens, gardening, and playing bluegrass music!
Former Staff
Joan Odiaka
Lead Counselor, 2024
Counselor, 2023
Joan, a Towson University graduate, discovered Lure of the Wild at a career fair for psychology majors. Brave and adventurous, she has a passion for learning, facing fears, and connecting deeply with children. With a kind and loving nature, Joan excels at building meaningful relationships. Her favorite hobbies include hiking, DIY projects, arts and crafts, and cooking.
Alayna Fulton
Counselor, 2023-2024
Alayna, a music education student at Towson University, is passionate about teaching and caring for children. Growing up camping sparked her love for nature, which she nurtured as a camp counselor at a Pennsylvania nature preserve. She enjoys singing, playing volleyball, spending time with loved ones, and hanging out with her dog.
Molly Browning
Counselor, 2023
A Maryland native and Environmental Engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines, Molly spent her childhood exploring the outdoors in Maryland and Kentucky. She has a passion for kayaking, canoeing, and hiking, often sharing wild adventure stories from her time in Patapsco woods.
Nina Bautista
Lead Counselor, 2021
Training Consultant, 2022-2023
A bio-med student at Lehigh University, Nina brought five years of nature camp experience and her “child whisperer” talents to Lure of the Wild. Her leadership in behavior management training and deep connection with children were invaluable during her time on staff.
Natalie Moran
Counselor, 2022
Natalie is pursuing a clinical MSW degree at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, aiming to provide mental health services to women and children. With experience as a nanny and mentor for refugee children, she treasures the lessons and joy of summers spent with Lure of the Wild campers.
Jenna Holub
Counselor, 2021
A Wildlife Conservation graduate from Virginia Tech, Jenna combines outdoor expertise with a decade of ballet instruction experience. Her heartfelt patience and teaching background made her a perfect fit for Lure of the Wild. She hopes to return after her Peace Corps plans resume.
