2025 Annual Report: The Magic Maker Behind the Lens

“DJ VLo!” “Mrs. Picture Lady!” “Vanessa!” “Ms. Lopez!” No matter how you know her, to know Vanessa Lopez Rodriguez is to be in the presence of someone whose hard work, creativity, and passion for young people make the spaces around them better. 

As the Lake Valley Camp season wound to a close in 2025, Vanessa earned a plaque commemorating her “exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment over five summers” on staff. But Vanessa’s LVC journey began many years ago, as a camp participant starting in 2008 all the way through to her graduation from the Leaders-in-Training program in 2019. 

Over the years, Vanessa has contributed to the PEAK & Lake Valley Camp community in innumerable ways. If you have seen a photo, video, or TikTok of a loved one having fun at LVC in the last several years, it is likely you have Vanessa to thank for capturing the magical moments of camp and sharing that magic with the wider community. 

Haley Woods, Assistant Director of Camp Operations at LVC, met Vanessa in 2021 during her second year on staff. “From day one, Vanessa’s commitment to LVC was apparent. Camp is a place that Vanessa knows, loves, and cares for, and she has given back to camp over the years by creating staff yearbooks and end-of-summer gifts, providing the soundtrack and vibes to nearly a dozen camp dances as ‘DJ VLo,’ and encouraging even the most camera-shy campers to feel comfortable in front of the lens.”

Outside of camp, Vanessa serves the community as a bilingual elementary special education teacher. As she has grown as an educator, she has demonstrated great leadership at camp in the ways she understands and supports campers and peers. 

This summer, you can find Vanessa at PEAK in Milwaukee, capturing the magic at Day Camp and Community Camp. Please join us in thanking Vanessa!