Senior Staff
Laurie Palagyi (She/Her) | Executive Director
WEHGC is led by Executive Director Laurie Palagyi who joined the camp in April 2013. As a former educator, Laurie earned a Master’s degree in Experiential Education from Wheaton College, and later turned her focus to mental health earning a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Laurie has extensive experience working with youth, children, and families in multiple settings including outpatient and in-home therapy, residential therapeutic homes, wilderness trip leading, adventure challenge programs, and summer camps. Laurie is passionate about creating innovative outdoor experiences where girls can flourish and be empowered.
Betsy Brown (She/Her) | Camp Director
Betsy Brown joined WEHGC in 2013 managing our Food Service and her role increased over the years encompassing every area of the WEHGC program. She returned in 2023 as our Camp Director. Betsy has a degree in Education with a minor in Native American art from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Betsy is a Wilderness First Responder and holds an American Red Cross Lifeguarding and Serve Safe Manager certification. She has worked with children and youth for most of her career as an educator, 4H leader, camp counselor, and camp director. Betsy has a heart for campers and families and has earned the nickname “Camp Mommager”. Betsy was born and raised in Maine and strongly believes that the woods and waters of Maine are a place every child should be able to experience and explore.
Isabel Snyder (She/Her) | Program Manager
Isabel Snyder is WEHGC’s Program Manager. Deeply committed to camp, Isabel has deep roots to West End House and is a fourth generation West Ender: her great-grandfather grew up in the West End of Boston; he, his brothers, and their boys attended the boys’ camp, as did Isabel’s father and uncle. Growing up as a camper and counselor in Maine for ten years, Isabel came to West End House Girls Camp in 2017, taking a year off in 2019. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in American Sign Language - English Interpretation from Rochester Institute of Technology. Professionally, in addition to her camp work, she is an Interpreter in Education in the Worcester Public Schools, working with K-12 students. Isabel believes that summer camp can change people’s lives and is passionate about ensuring that any child who wants to go to camp is afforded the opportunity to do so.
Seasonal Staff
2024 Staff Announcements will be Coming Soon!