Lincoln Caverns program coordinatorJennifer Brumbaugh-McClain (right) stands with Lincoln Caverns Inc. owner/president Ann Dunlavy. “Jennifer has been a dedicated team member for over 25 years,” Dunlavy said.
Courtesy photo

HUNTINGDON — A longtime Lincoln Caverns employee was recently honored as “Employee of the Year, Tourism Entity” by the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association Spirit of Hospitality Awards.

Jennifer Brumbaugh-McClain received the award at a gala in Mount Pocono celebrating her outstanding service and commitment to Pennsylvania tourism.

The PRLA Spirit of Hospitality, Employee of the Year Award recognizes non-management employees with over two years of experience who demonstrate exceptional dedication and service to their place of employment, customers, and the wider community.

“I am incredibly honored; there were so many nominees, it is truly a big honor to be chosen,” Brumbaugh-McClain said.

Her journey to this state-level recognition began in April when she was named “Employee of the Year” by the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau as part of the Annual Destination Excellence Awards. This county-level honor served as an eventual stepping stone to statewide recognition.

She was nominated for the award by Lincoln Caverns Inc. owner/president Ann Dunlavy.

“Jennifer has been a dedicated team member for over 25 years. She is a very dedicated, kind and caring person,” Dunlavy said.

Dunlavy hailed Brumbaugh-McClain for her intelligence and ingenuity.

“If there is a program that needs done, something with our retail or ticket system that nobody else can figure out, Jenn can do it all,” she said.

Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Matt Price said Brumbaugh-McClain is a model employee.

“Jennifer is a model of what HCVB would like every customer-facing employee throughout the region to exemplify. Her attention to customer needs and her knowledge of the local area beyond the business of Lincoln Caverns have made her a great tourism ambassador for our region,” Price said.

The award holds special significance as it honors those team members who are often the face of the guest experience, shaping first impressions and creating lasting memories, said PRLA spokeswoman Stephanie Otterson.

“Since joining Lincoln Caverns in 1999, Jennifer has exemplified loyalty and dedication, passionately sharing the message of cave conservation with guests of all ages. As the program coordinator, Jennifer has developed and taught a wide range of classes on cave life, geology, and conservation on site and through outreach programs. She also runs the Kids Cave Kamp, where she fosters a love for nature among young visitors,” Otterson said.

Mike Leonard, who has worked with Brumbaugh-McClain for 12 years, said she is a worthy recipient of the award. He said she is a great team player and is always smiling — a “joy to work with.”

“She’s also a good role model for the new hires and silly at the same time, which is a good thing when you work with as many children as we do here,” said Leonard, lead guide trainer and an interpretive tour guide.

Brumbaugh-McClain grew up on a farm in the Saxton area and graduated from Tussey Mountain High School in 1996. She took some classes at both Juniata College and the Penn State World Campus.

“I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then I decided I might want to work in a museum so I took some art history classes, but I knew I couldn’t afford to live in a city,” Brumbaugh-McClain said.

She said she saw an ad for an interpreter guide, which was close to the role she wanted to have in a museum. She started as a tour guide at Lincoln Caverns in 1999 and today serves as program coordinator and also does the buying for the gift shop.

She loves education and enjoys working with kids.

“I am passionate about education, but I didn’t see myself in a school setting. Here, I get to teach people — it is a different kind of teaching experience. I get to keep learning new things, you are always learning more,” Brumbaugh-McClain said. “Teaching and working with kids is truly a blessing.”

Brumbaugh-McClain enjoys her role running the Kids Cave Kamp where she “fosters a love for nature among young visitors.” She said kids see the world through a completely different perspective, with a deep curiosity.

“Jennifer has run Kids Cave Kamp for many years. The fact that the program is for grades 2-9, but now welcomes students through grade 12 (because they don’t want to quit coming) is a testament to the great program she runs,” Dunlavy said.

Brumbaugh-McClain is also passionate about protecting natural resources. She said a group of Girl Scouts from the Washington, D.C., area attended Kids Cave Kamp in 2019 and later submitted a petition nominating the brown bat as the official mammal of Washington, D.C.

The D.C. Council designated the Big Brown Bat as its state mammal in 2020.

“I have a passion to let people know why we have to protect our significant resources, when you see people go out and act on things you taught them is what makes me feel successful,” Brumbaugh-McClain said.

She said it is important to always keep learning.

“Never think that you know it all, pay attention to questions people ask, find a good way to explain it so people can understand, is really important. Be enthusiastic and do something you’re passionate about and you love,” Brumbaugh-McClain said.

Brumbaugh-McClain said she plans to work at Lincoln Caverns as long as she can.

“I really, truly love my job,” Brumbaugh-McClain said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.

The Brumbaugh-McClain file

Name: Jennifer Brumbaugh-McClain

Age: 46

Position: Program coordinator at Lincoln Caverns

Education: 1996 graduate of Tussey Mountain High School

Family: Husband, Adam McClain; son, Jessie Walston; parents, Roger and Kathleen Brumbaugh.

Quote: “Our tour here is different, we focus on education, we do it in a fun and different way, they learn things they don’t expect to learn. Our guides are fantastic and very passionate about the cave and what we do here.”