Georgia and Mike never intended to start a private summer camp. It all began with our desire to work for a community non-profit. In early 1997 we accepted leadership positions with the financially struggling (former) YMCA of Anne Arundel County. The goal was to utilize our skill and background to help the organization revitalize their youth programs. Unfortunately, a few months after beginning the process of creating a new summer camp and other youth programs the board of the YMCA declared bankruptcy and closed the doors. The board had led us to believe they were focused on turning things around and committed to staying open. That Spring, with the summer getting close many families that had signed up early for camp were going to lose monies that had been paid for summer camp and were being forced to make alternative arrangements not knowing if they would ever be reimbursed. While the YMCA of Central Maryland was given permission to begin programming in the county and create programs they did not want to take on any programs associated with the former YMCA and absorb any of the financial loss. It took many phone calls and a lot of effort before the YMCA of the USA to help Baywatch Camp (the program Mike and Georgia created for the now closed AA County YMCA) stay on track. The program ran successfully with the two of us and seven dedicated staff. Unfortunately, at the end of the summer the YMCA of Central Maryland offered no professional positions (although there were ones available and both of us had backgrounds with the YMCA) and our positions ended after the first summer. It was through the encouragement of those initial families that attended that first summer (and those we stood up for), that began the process of opening and creating a unique summer program that we named BAYSIDE SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP.
Bayside Summer Camp Founder, Education Director & Teacher, Georgia has her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and undergraduate degrees from SOSU in Theater & Music. Georgia also started a small preschool program (that continues today) called TALS. Georgia has enjoyed teaching, creating, developing & implementing a multitude of programs for children and families for many years. With an extensive summer camp background she is part of the foundation that makes Bayside the place it is. Spending two summers working side by side with Mike, first, with Maryland DNR and then their brief time with the YMCA of Anne Arundel where they created Baywatch. After that summer she accepted a position that saw her revitalize and expand a small YMCA in Arlington, Virginia. She spent 5 years creating numerous programs and camp opportunities for the community. In 1995 she rejoined Mike to continue helping Bayside become the program it is today. As an educator she has also been fortunate to travel to Reggio Emilia twice for short, study abroad experiences to help better grasp the important work being done there within the community and amongst educators from all around the world. Georgia is seeking to create an Annapolis Learning Collaborative (ALC), a professional community for early childhood educators. If you are looking for a small preschool check out the TALS preschool program pages. Click here if interested!
Founder, Camp Director, Activity Specialist and teacher, Michael (Rafiki), has had the great fortune to fill most of his days with work and play along side children and their families. He worked his way through college at YMCA Camp Letts and was on track to obtain a degree in Business/Accounting. What started as a summer job, became a discovery of a passion for working outdoors and with children. At 15 he began as an Aide at Camp Letts and eventually worked his way up to become a full time Assistant Director for YMCA Camp Letts with the shared responsibility of hiring, training and supervising the summer program and it's 80 staff and 300 plus campers. Ready for a change (and more control over the camp program) he accepted a job working for Baltimore City Parks and Recreation & Maryland State Parks. Hired to turn around a program that had been reduced from fours summer sites to one he began the process of creating a different culture and attitude. In 9 years he took the program from operating one small camp program at a local state park to operating six different camps located throughout the state that always covered all of it's expenses. After 9 years and no full-time job offer from the state he was forced to move on. (They hired three part-time staff to continue the program and then two full time staff the year after.) The next challenge led to the opening of Bayside Summer Adventure Camp. A short professional position with the YMCA of Anne Arundel County and their unexpected bankruptcy led to the creation of Bayside Summer Adventure Camp where he feels blessed and fortunate to still be 27 years later!. In the "off-season", he helps create wonderful opportunities for students attending the TALS Education Program. He is dedicated- helping children grow, utilizing the outdoors and the “teachable moments” that we encounter every day.
