Alex Martone-Jackson

Camp Director

With nearly three decades of unwavering commitment to camp life and positive youth development, Alex is the driving force behind our year-round operation, ensuring that every summer at Runoia is filled with magic and growth.

A cherished member of the Runoia family since 1995, Alex originally hails from the Greater Manchester area of England. Her journey into the world of American summer camps began as a first-year counselor in Maine while pursuing her BSc in Physical Education and Sports Science. Alex found Camp Runoia while still a student, and ultimately made her full-time career here, building her Director role out of her passion for providing safe spaces for growth and learning, and her belief in the value of an uncomplicated, joy-filled summer. Her twenty-five plus summers at Runoia, including over a decade as a Director, exemplify her unwavering commitment to camping excellence.

Despite her demanding role, Alex still finds time to be hands-on, teaching campers at the ropes course, serving meals, or leading adventures by the lake. She gets to know each camper and their families, building our Runoia community year after year. With both her house and her office right in the middle of camp, Alex draws her energy from the buzz of camp during the summer months, and particularly enjoys the unplanned moments of connection with campers and staff.

Beyond the summer months, Alex leads and guides our year-round team, continuing to connect with families and overseeing camp upgrades and program design and improvements. Her meticulous attention to detail and dedication, in collaboration with the Leadership Team, ensures Camp Runoia’s spot as one of the country’s premier overnight camps.

A prominent figure within the camp community, Alex is not only a member of the Maine Summer Camps board but also actively contributes to the Maine State trip leaders committee. She has a Masters degree in Camp Administration and Leadership from Touro University; as one of Maine’s longest-serving American Camp Association Standards Visitors, she helps other camps be their best and uses that knowledge and experience to ensure Runoia exceeds expectations for safety and quality in all areas of camp.

Her dedication to upholding camp traditions while infusing a progressive spirit embodies her vision for Runoia’s longevity and excellence. With Alex at the helm, Camp Runoia continues to flourish, providing campers with unforgettable experiences and cherished memories year after year.

Mindy Martone-Jackson

Assistant Director - Director of Harmony Programs

Mindy is Assistant Director and Head of Harmony Programs, our shorter programs at Camp Runoia! With 6 incredible summers under her belt and a deep connection to Runoia, she’s here to make your child’s camp experience unforgettable.

Camp is more than just a job for Mindy. It’s a passion deeply rooted in her personal life and values. As a devoted mom of five, all of whom have experienced the magic of camp, including her youngest who thrived at HLC and is now a full-summer camper at Runoia, she understands the unique needs of both campers and parents.

Mindy is no stranger to life at camp. Starting as a cabin counselor when she was a college student, she fell in love with Camp Runoia’s mission and community before pursuing her professional degree in law. She returned as a full-fledged adult when her daughter was old enough to attend, and is thrilled to be back on Great Pond at the camp she loves.

Mindy excels in building strong relationships with parents and families, ensuring open lines of communication throughout the summer. Her vision for Harmony Land and Harmony Heights reflects her dedication to creating a nurturing, inclusive, and fun camp-within-a-camp experience. She believes in fostering each camper’s unique talents and interests, helping them grow and flourish, and giving them a safe and warm introduction to the Runoia community. She also provides support and guidance for our summer staff.

Mindy resides outside of DC with her partner, children, and a menagerie of pets and farm animals. She thrives on adventure, enjoying rock climbing, scuba diving, and exploring new places. She also loves fabric arts, reading books, and visiting any good farmers market.

With Mindy at the helm, Harmony programs are a extraordinary and unique place for our youngest campers to make friends and unforgettable memories and our oldest campers to have an amazing experience at the end of their camp journey. Join us for an extraordinary summer adventure!

Ali Wight

Assistant Director

Ali Wight, Camp Runoia’s newly appointed Assistant Director, has dedicated her career to supporting and uplifting children and families. With a background in education and counseling, she brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role at camp. This will be Ali’s 5th summer at Camp Runoia and she cannot wait to get back to Great Pond!

Ali lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with her wife and two children. While working as a counselor for the Allentown School District, she was chosen as Allentown School District’s Teacher of the Year. Known for her tireless efforts to support students, families, and colleagues, Ali has a reputation for going far beyond her role to connect families with essential resources, advocate for their needs, and foster strong community relationships.

Ali’s mission is clear: to make a lasting impact on young lives. Her path into counseling was inspired by her desire to build meaningful connections with students. Originally studying physical education, she soon realized that her true calling lay in providing direct support and guidance to young people. This shift led her to a career in counseling, where she has since made a profound impact by helping children overcome obstacles and build confidence in themselves. She embodies the spirit of Camp Runoia: adaptable, nurturing, and always ready to prioritize what matters most—the well-being of those around her.

With her extensive experience, compassionate approach, and dedication to youth development, Ali is poised to make a lasting impact at Camp Runoia. Her leadership will undoubtedly enrich the camp community, ensuring that each camper feels valued, supported, and inspired.

April Marini

Office Manager

April first joined the Runoia community in 2014 and now plays a vital role in running our camp office year-round. Living right here at camp in the off-season, she’s a dedicated part of our team, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. April shares her camp home with her two cats, Arya and Noodle, and in the summer she is joined at camp by her beloved horse, Phoebe. Her love for animals and commitment to camp make her an incredible resource for campers and families alike!

Tim Pearson

Head of Site and Facilities

As the Manager of Site and Facilities, Tim is the heart and hands behind Camp Runoia’s beautiful and well-kept facilities. With a long history of working with camps in the area, he brings both experience and passion to his role, living onsite to ensure every detail is covered. Safety is Tim’s number one priority, but he also loves innovating and improving things as well as solving problems. Tim is the go-to for both quick fixes during the summer and long-term planning to preserve and enhance Runoia’s buildings and grounds. An outdoor enthusiast who loves skiing (including both backcountry skiing and waterskiing on the lake), hiking, and exploring, Tim is a member of a group that maintains and stewards many backcountry ski zones Tim also helps lead our trip program in the summer and is a key member of our leadership team.

Pam Cobb

Director Emerita

After nearly 40 years of working to carry forward and nurture Camp Runoia’s legacy, Pam became Director Emerita in the fall of 2022. Pam continues her work with the mission-driven Camp Runoia Alumnae Organization (CRAO), championing Camperships and the Diversity Advisory Committee. She also will stay connected to the Maine camp community, including as a board member of the Maine Youth Camping Association and as a member of Maine Summer Camps, Maine Camp Experience, and a member of a long-standing camp director’s round table group. She has been appointed to the Maine Governor’s Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species and will serve with Maine EPA’s biologists and other interest group representatives.  Pam and Mark relish being the camp grandparents to not only their own camper grandchildren but all campers in camp during the summer! With director Alex Jackson and the Runoia leaders supporting the day to day operations, Pam and Mark can enjoy the camp summer helping with sailing and waterskiing and other activities around camp.