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Moy Romero

About Moy Romero

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So far Moy Romero has created 12 blog entries.

Elyse’s Mom Took the Leap, On Her 68th Birthday

2026-06-02T17:24:48-04:00

There's a moment at the top of the pamper pole when the world goes quiet. The trees, the sky, the voices below, all of it softens. And you're left with one question: Am I doing this? Judy answered that question on her 68th birthday with a resounding, joyful yes. The leap that started long before the climb Judy is the mother of Elyse Lohrbach, our Executive Director. But to understand what happened on that pole, you have to rewind about two years, to a woman navigating real pain, real limits, and a crossroads many of us will one day face. [...]

Elyse’s Mom Took the Leap, On Her 68th Birthday2026-06-02T17:24:48-04:00

Expanding Access to Nature

2026-04-17T14:11:16-04:00

Camp Joy Announces New Community Partnership with Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District to Expand Public Nature Education Clarksville, OH — Camp Joy is proud to announce a new long-term partnership with the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD), expanding opportunities for hands-on, nature-based learning experiences for the broader community. This partnership is part of a Community Recreation Project funded through the State of Ohio, which supports the development of a new pavilion and restroom facility at Camp Joy’s former Orion Tower site. The location will also serve as the future home of a new high challenge [...]

Expanding Access to Nature2026-04-17T14:11:16-04:00

Go with One Step, Then Another

2026-03-31T17:45:54-04:00

At the edge of the ropes course, a student stood still, watching.Not just the activity, but the moment unfolding in front of them. Small against the tall wooden poles, they hesitated at the first step. You could see it in their body, the uncertainty, the quiet question of Can I actually do this? Down below, classmates called out encouragement. An educator stood steady, offering just enough guidance, not too much. And then, slowly, one step… then another. From the ground, you could see the shift. Not just in movement, but in belief. Blane Savage, a teacher at Harman Elementary, has [...]

Go with One Step, Then Another2026-03-31T17:45:54-04:00

On One Quiet Day, Care Took Center Stage

2026-02-02T16:58:49-05:00

Some days at Camp Joy are loud, full of laughter, movement, and kids discovering just how brave they can be. And some days are quieter. The day the vet came out to our Nature Center was one of those quiet days. There was no rush. No emergency. Just a shared understanding that caring well means checking in, even when everything seems fine. Especially then. When the team from Lebanon Small Animal Clinic arrived, it felt like an extension of the way we already try to show up here, with intention, patience, and respect for every life in our [...]

On One Quiet Day, Care Took Center Stage2026-02-02T16:58:49-05:00

A Winter Weekend Filled with Joy

2025-12-19T18:35:28-05:00

There’s something especially meaningful about winter at Camp Joy. The pace slows, the spaces feel cozier, and moments of care and connection rise to the surface. The annual Fostering Success & Respite (FSR) holiday field trip was one of those weekends. It was rooted in warmth, joy, and togetherness...one our staff and children will always remember. What we witnessed was a staff team fully leaning into the spirit of the season, not because it was required, but because it mattered. We saw care show up in the smallest details: the way spaces were prepared, the thought behind [...]

A Winter Weekend Filled with Joy2025-12-19T18:35:28-05:00

A Thousand Miles for a Week of Joy

2025-12-01T21:24:27-05:00

Bryce Matthew showed up to Camp Joy two hours early, because even after all these years, he still couldn’t wait to get here. Now 18, Bryce has made this journey from Louisiana to Ohio more times than most campers—year after year, flight after flight—because what happens at Camp Joy is worth every mile. His family has flown over 800 miles each way, many times, so Bryce could return to the one place that makes him feel free, joyful, and fully himself. In earlier years, it was his mom, Rebecca, who made the journey with him. Since her passing [...]

A Thousand Miles for a Week of Joy2025-12-01T21:24:27-05:00

Heart to Heart in The Pines

2025-08-29T17:30:44-04:00

This week’s all-staff meeting took us out and right into the pines. In the same spaces where children wander, discover, and grow, we gathered as a team to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate the season we’ve shared. Led by our Advancement Team, the day was filled with color, laughter, and a good dose of friendly competition. Staff split into teams, donned tie-dyed bandanas and face paint, and cheered one another on through challenges that had us racing with eggs, folding sheets, hula hooping, tossing balloons, and holding up the hefty backpacks our outdoor educators carry every day. The finale? A [...]

Heart to Heart in The Pines2025-08-29T17:30:44-04:00

Carrying The Joy Spirit Forward

2025-06-27T16:45:23-04:00

In her first month as Executive Director, Elyse has spent her time listening deeply to the stories, dreams, and history that make Camp Joy so impactful. From meeting campers and staff to reconnecting with alumni and board members, she’s discovered what many already know: Camp Joy is more than a camp—it’s a spirit that changes lives. a a a a a a a a a a a a a A 30-Day Reflection In my first month at Camp Joy, I've done a lot of listening to participants, staff, alumni, board members, external partners, and an [...]

Carrying The Joy Spirit Forward2025-06-27T16:45:23-04:00

Honoring Mike McGinty

2025-05-31T16:33:40-04:00

A Steady Hand and a Heart of Gold As Camp Joy continues its journey forward, we pause with deep gratitude to honor someone who helped steady the wheel and guide us through a season of transition—Mike McGinty, our beloved Interim Executive Director. Mike’s roots with Camp Joy run deep. A long-standing champion of our mission, Mike previously served as the Executive Director of the Camp Joy Foundation, where he played a pivotal role in advancing our philanthropic efforts. But his legacy doesn’t stop there—he’s remained a loyal alumnus, a dedicated donor, and a bridge-builder within our community. His love [...]

Honoring Mike McGinty2025-05-31T16:33:40-04:00

Camp Joy Welcomes Elyse Lohrbach as Executive Director

2025-05-12T15:59:58-04:00

From Leading National STEM Initiatives to Camp Joy’s Mission of Impact Clarksville, OH — After years of national leadership in STEM education and public service, Elyse Lohrbach has returned to mission-based, community-centered work as the new Executive Director of Camp Joy. Lohrbach officially began her role on May 12, 2025, and now leads one of the region’s most impactful nonprofits—an organization that provides transformative outdoor experiences for children and teens facing medical, foster care, or economic challenges, as well as team building and leadership development programs for adults. With more than 15 years of experience in education, nonprofit strategy, and [...]

Camp Joy Welcomes Elyse Lohrbach as Executive Director2025-05-12T15:59:58-04:00
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