Ian Hoke
Ian has worked on Camp Ross staff for 9 summers now and has worked in a plethora of areas and positions around Camp Ross. He is a very exciting and outgoing individual and especially loves working closely with the Scouts. He will bring much experience and joy to the camp and ensure Camp Ross maintains it’s positive growth and excellence for years to come. When Ian is not a Camp Director, he teaches 8th Grade English in the Shenandoah Valley.
What year on camp staff will this be for you?
This will be my 9th year.
What are your favorite song and skit?
My favorite song (as all of my staff members know) is “The Froggy Song.” I love the energy and chaos it eventually causes, and the scouts learn it easily! The hands down favorite for skits has to be Flower and the Bee — definitely a crowd pleaser.
What is your favorite camp memory?
There are so many it is hard to choose! The one that stands out the most for me has to be my first day of camp ever as a staff member.
Matt Hanson (former Camp Ross Director and current Assistant Reservation Director) and I were carrying a rolled tent outside of the old dining hall. It was the first day of set up, and I remember the rain falling just outside of the awning that covered the porch on the front side of the building. We threw our tent on the stack and turned to go back inside, when all of the sudden I saw a flash of light in the stand of pine trees next to the parade field. I felt a thud in my chest and both of our heads were immediately ringing — the sound of the thunder reflected off of the porch and right into our ears. The smell of burning wood carried quickly to where we were standing, still shocked at what happened. What a way to start our careers at camp! To this day, that tree still has a stripe of bark missing from the lightning strike in 2008. Next time you are in Camp Ross I would be happy to point it out to you!
What do you do in the off-season?
I teach Middle School English in Rockingham County.
What is your favorite thing to do at Goshen?
Easy, fly fishing! There are TONS of great fishing spots around the reservation for all kinds of species — from Smallmouth Bass to Largemouth, Catfish, Sunfish, and even multiple Trout species!
What makes Camp Ross special to you?
At Camp Ross, our mission statement is, “To give scouts a great week and an introduction to scouting.” This mission symbolizes the special nature of Camp Ross as a place for young scouts to grow as young men and women. Camp Ross is special because of the incredible people tasked with achieving this vision for our scouts. The mission and growth of participants would never happen is not for out incredible staff. Many places offer an opportunity for scouts to grow within the program, but our top notch staff guides young scouts through an unforgettable week of camping, friendship, and character building. The Camp Ross staff truly is “Boss.”
What are you looking forward to in 2018?
Another year of excellence! We are excited about some of our new program opportunities in the works, the the staff this year is shaping up to be truly stellar. Come and experience the adventure for yourself!