Team

Meet Alvaro “Alvi” Baquero-Benedetti, our Head Counselor whose connection with our camp runs deep. Starting as a camper for seven enriching years, Alvi transitioned into roles such as Counselor-in-Training, Head Counselor for four years, and Director of Family Camp for one. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and an MFA in Film and TV Production, providing him with a unique blend of creativity and media expertise. Throughout his journey at camp, Alvi discovered a profound sense of belonging and authenticity, especially cherishing the warmth of campfires—a sentiment that underscores his passion for every aspect of camp life. 

Beyond his professional qualifications, Alvi brings a wealth of personal skills and interests to our team. Known for his methodical approach, organizational prowess, and adaptive leadership style, he creates a structured yet empathetic environment where campers and staff thrive. During winters, Alvi channels his passion for teaching by instructing skiing, further demonstrating his commitment to empowering others through outdoor activities. His love for travel enriches his perspective, allowing him to appreciate and celebrate the diverse backgrounds of our counselors. 

Alvi’s vision for our camp community is rooted in inclusivity and mutual respect. He aims to foster an environment where everyone feels accepted and valued, contributing to a cohesive and supportive camp culture. His dedication to creating meaningful experiences aligns with our mission to nurture personal growth and camaraderie among campers and staff alike, ensuring that each summer at camp is filled with cherished memories and positive transformations. 

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Meet Kelli Scott is a chef, activist, and cultural storyteller. She was born and raised in Walker, Louisiana, where she developed a deep connection with nature and food early on. Growing up living off the land gave her a strong appreciation for the outdoors, making her transition into the world of summer camps feel completely natural.

Kelli holds a degree in Advanced Culinary Arts from the Louisiana Culinary Institute, where she refined both her technical skills and her creative passion for food. Her involvement with summer camps began as a way to give back to the community. Over time, it evolved into a true calling focused on expanding young people’s palates and introducing them to a variety of cultures through the universal language of food.

In her role at camp, Kelli is guided by a vision of empowerment, education, and cultural exchange. She connects deeply with the camp’s values, particularly those centered around curiosity, inclusion, and personal growth. She believes food is a powerful bridge between communities and uses it to help campers embrace new experiences and broaden their perspectives.

Outside of work, Kelli is an avid traveler who immerses herself in global cultures and culinary traditions. Whether exploring a bustling foreign market or enjoying a local live music performance, she is always absorbing inspiration. For Kelli, cooking is more than just a career—it’s also her favorite pastime and a lifelong passion.

A fun fact many may not know about Kelli is that she was once featured in The Boston Globe, where her unique blend of culinary artistry and cultural advocacy was highlighted in a personal profile.

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Traci grew up on Long Island, spending her summers on Fire Island and winters in the Berkshires or the Green Mountains of Vermont, which sparked a lifelong love for the outdoors. From riding bikes with her sister Kristy as a child to leading major nonprofit organizations, Traci’s passion for helping others has been a constant.

With a degree in Psychology and Health Science from SUNY Oswego and a Business Management Certificate from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Traci brings a strong foundation in both human development and organizational leadership. She spent most of her career in administrative roles supporting children and families, eventually serving as CEO of a large nonprofit. Despite her success, she craved a deeper connection with the people she was helping and found her perfect fit at Forest Lake Camp.

Drawn by the opportunity to combine her professional strengths with her love of the Adirondacks and her commitment to youth development, Traci knew FLC was where she was meant to be. As Executive Director, her vision is to ensure the long-term sustainability of camp while fostering an environment where both campers and staff thrive—learning, growing, and having fun every step of the way.

A lifelong learner herself, the FLC value that resonates most deeply with Traci is “We will strive to improve in all we do.” She believes that improvement, innovation, and joy can go hand in hand, especially in a setting as powerful as camp.

Outside of camp life, Traci is an avid skier, kayaker, paddleboarder, and reader. At home, she loves spending time with her husband, Mike, and their dog, Ziti. Her family nickname is “TT,” a name lovingly given to her by her sister that has stuck through the generations.

A fun camp memory? Traci once attended Peconic Dunes Camp in 5th grade and quickly became a natural at archery—a skill she’s excited to dust off and revisit at FLC. She also fell in love with paddling during a canoe trip through Long Island’s salt marshes, which marked the beginning of her passion for kayaking.

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Meet Tyler born and raised in Warren County, NY, he knows what it means to seek a place to belong. Having attended several different schools while growing up, he found that his true sense of home was always rooted in the woods. Whether it was camping, fishing, or hunting, nature offered him a consistent source of peace and connection. Though he didn’t attend summer camp as a child, his love for the outdoors started early and has stayed with him ever since.

At just 10 years old, he knew he wanted two things out of life: to become a father and a carpenter. Today, he is proud to be both. He began his career in construction in his late teens and spent his early twenties working closely with a skilled crew of seasoned carpenters who taught him not only the craft, but also one of his most important life lessons: to never stop learning.

His path to Forest Lake Camp was as unique as it was serendipitous. At 20, he bought a house right next to the camp and thought how amazing it would be to work so close to home and, even better, with kids. A year later, he joined the FLC team as Head of Buildings and Grounds. Since then, he’s dedicated himself to enhancing the camp’s infrastructure, with a clear vision of modernizing its facilities to increase comfort for campers and streamline maintenance as the camp continues to grow.

What keeps him grounded in his role is the connection to the kids. His passion for working with young people first bloomed when he began coaching tee ball for his oldest child. At camp, he loves the energy the kids bring and the reminder that life doesn’t always need to be so serious. “They help me remember to stop and have fun along the way,” he says.

His personal values — being judgment free, inclusive, and growth oriented — align deeply with the mission of Forest Lake Camp. For him, it’s always about the kids and creating positive, memorable experiences.

Outside of camp life, he enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, and practicing judo. He’s also a dedicated dad and actively involved in his children’s sports teams, often taking on coaching and assistant coaching roles.

One fun fact that might surprise people? He lives his life through a spiritual lens, believing that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. It’s a perspective that shapes his approach to work, family, and community.

One of his most memorable moments at camp was being asked to judge the boys’ lip sync contest. “I was blown away,” he recalls. “The creativity, the confidence — these boys were dressing up, dancing, and just owning it. In most settings, I don’t think they would’ve felt that free to express themselves. It said so much about the culture here.”

Brenda is our Director of Finance and Operations and works year round to help all aspects of the business run smoothly. Brenda has been working with Forest Lake since 2009 and has been key to the success of behind the scenes operations like accounting, forms, transportation and various office matters. Brenda’s incredible organizational skills, attention to detail and ‘can do’ attitude brings an enormous benefit to FLC. She will be available year round to help parents and the other administrators plan and prepare everything so we can have a smooth and fun filled summer.

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Coby’s journey into the world of camps began at the age of 9, attending an arts camp in Maine where her fascination with photography and videography first ignited. Summers spent at her parents’ lake house further nurtured her love for the outdoors and water sports, shaping her into the passionate individual she is today. 

Coby pursued her education in Maine, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications New Media with a minor in Business Administration. Post-college, she ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing her own successful wedding photography/videography business while dedicating her weekdays to full-time work in development at a children’s advocacy center. This role deepened her conviction that every child deserves a carefree childhood. 

With several years of marketing and media experience under her belt, both through her own business and collaborations with others, her professional camp career began in her hometown. Here, she honed her skills in enrollment processes and discovered her desire to merge her passions and expertise in a meaningful way. 

Coby brings a unique perspective and extensive knowledge in showcasing the wonders of the outdoors to prospective campers and their families through social media. She also brings a furry companion, her dog Deshawn, who is excited to become a part of our camp community. 

Outside of work, Coby finds joy in water sports, hiking, movie nights, and spending quality time with Deshawn. She is eager to contribute to our camp’s growth, foster lasting relationships with our camp families, and enrich the lives of all who join us this summer. 

If you are looking to enroll your camper or have any questions about FLC send her and email or set up a call! 

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Of all the team members at FLC, Gary has by far the longest history at camp. Gary’s grandfather, Harold T. Confer, founded Forest Lake Camp in 1926 and was director until 1954 when Phil and Sally Confer took over. Gary’s parents ran FLC together for 32 years until he took over the directorship in 1986. Gary’s knowledge of camp history is second to none and we are grateful to have him as part of our full time team. He has come back to camp as groundskeeper and will help us keep FLC in tip-top shape through the year and during the summer. His calming presence on camp and encyclopedic brain about anything FLC is greatly appreciated by all.

Geoff is a second generation alumnus of Forest Lake Camp. His father Bob Blanck spent many summers at FLC in the 50’s and 60’s, and Geoff and his brother Rob were campers during the late 70’s and early 80’s. He spends as much of his summer as he can at FLC and is famous for leading the rain chant “Flee, Fly, Flo” at campfire each Sunday night to help us ward off rain clouds for the rest of the week. He lives in Waterbury, VT with his daughters Emma and Annecy who are both campers, and his wife Shalagh who runs the camp Store.

Tobin is an alumnus of Camp Tohkomeupog in Madison, New Hampshire where he spent 18 years as a camper, counselor and Head Counselor in addition to leading the alumni association for ten years. He has spent most of his career in the education and training field when not at camp. He comes to Forest Lake as much as he can over the summer to enjoy being surrounded by the spirit of a traditional summer camp and to get to know the Adirondacks. He lives in MA with his wife Margaret, son Quinn and daughter Kenzie who is a current FLC camper.