Meet our Board & Directors
"Soleil"
Patricia Boepple
Executive Director & Board President
Soleil was a Camp Fire USA leader for 11 years. Her love of camp began as a Girl Scout when her time at camp gave her confidence, bringing out the inner leader in her. Her two children have grown up at Wastahi and volunteered as staff members for many years. Hope and Gilligan’s mom is a certified tree-hugger and love helping campers learn about nature and the environment. But don’t let her catch you littering or not having fun! When she isn’t at camp, Soleil is a Sr. VP at an international equity plan management firm and she credits much of her success today with her early experiences at camp.
"Whisper"
Sandra Nakamura
Camp & Staff Director
Whisper has quite literally grown up Wastahi, Whisper started as a camper in 1990 only missing a handful of years along the way. Pulling from her Wastahi experience and a summer-long residential camp on the east coast, she has and continues to help Wastahi’s evolution while keeping long-standing traditions alive. Whisper’s exuberance and creativity flow throughout camp.
"Laughing Penguins"
Michael Mrizek
Program Director
LP started as a camper at Wastahi in 2007. Since becoming Junior Staff, he was always thrilled to help kids have the best time possible at camp. This goal has only grown larger after becoming Program Director, to also give his counselors a fun week and help them gain valuable experience leading children. He pulls his experience from the activities he participated in as a camper and counselor
at both Wastahi and Walden West. During the rest of the year LP enjoys his theatre career in Seattle and can be found doing one of his numerous hobbies such as snowboarding, cooking, camping and much more.
"Four"
Cheyenne Dufall
Jr Staff Training Director
Four has been coming to Wastahi for as long as she can remember—15 years and counting! From camper to Counselor to Junior Staff Trainer, Four credits her time at Wastahi for much of her personal growth and decision to pursue a graduate degree in social work. While in college, Four ran an educational outreach program that taught local middle schoolers about the legal system, culminating in a school-wide mock trial. Her time working with students and campers alike has shown her the positive impact support and encouragement can have on each child. When she isn’t at camp, she loves reading all things fantasy and sci-fi.
"Coyote"
Wiley Martin
Lead Counselor
Coyote has been a part of Camp Wastahi since 2005 when he was nine years old and has returned to camp each year since. After going through the Junior Staff program and many years as a counselor, Coyote now works as a Lead Counselor alongside his Lead Counselor counterpart, Golden Snitch, to oversee and assist camp counselors, ensuring good teamwork and a fun, in a safe environment for counselors to provide the best camp experience to their campers as possible. When he’s not working for Wastahi, Coyote spends his time missing Wastahi and prepping to be a high school teacher. While he is in a leadership position, he’s just as goofy as the kid who started coming to camp so long ago!
"Pismo"
Debbie Phillips
Board Treasurer
Pismo not only handles all of our money matters, she also double duties as our Camp Cheerleader. She has a kind word and a helping hand to offer to everyone which keeps all of us moving on. She is also a camp mom to Wahine and Hawk. Pismo handles money in the real world as a Controller for an avionics company near the San Jose Airport.
"Ume"
Nora Tryhorn
Executive Director & Board Vice President
Ume’ has been joined at the hip with Soleil for almost 20 years, since they were co-leaders at Camp Fire. Wastahi was Ume’s first experience at summer camp beside 6th-grade science camp. She loves it so much she has a Wastahi mug, hat, and pillow case! Ume’ is the proud mom of Salamander, Newt, and step-mom to Four. Ume’ can be found all around camp – checking in with campers, working in Arts and Craft and making sure everyone is having fun! Besides camp, she is President of an R&D and manufacturing plant in San Jose.
"Star"
Amy Bright
Camp & Jr. Staff Director
Star found Wastahi when her two Campfire USA club leaders (Ume’ and Soleil) challenged their club to run Wastahi as their senior project. Star’s enthusiasm, responsibility, and approachability help camp grow each year as she continues to inspire those around her. One of Star’s favorite pastimes is getting to know others and she always has a ready ear for counselors and campers alike.
"Madame Mim"
Sarah Cade
Arts & Crafts Director
Our Madcap Art Director, Mad Madam Mim, joined the Wastahi staff in 2010. An artist based in San Jose, she’s here to bring wonder, whimsy, and fanciful flair to all parts of the Wastahi experience. There’s no creative challenge she isn’t ready to help the kids tackle; from un-Birthday cards to cabin awards, a gift for someone back home or putting the final touches on a Halloween costume. So join Madam Mim in the Arts and Crafts Elective to see what fun activities she has planned for us this year!
"Inky"
Kevin Leary
Like many of his cohorts, Inky started his Wastahi career as a camper. He loved his time there so much that he wanted to pay it forward by going through the junior staff program to eventually become a counselor. After 9 years of camp, 5 of which as both counselor and senior staff member, Inky argues that his experiences at Wastahi have been some of the most fulfilling and memorable experiences of his life. He greatly enjoys bringing his goofy, outlandish self out in the open to show campers that it’s ok to step outside their comfort zone to be silly sometimes. Life's much more fun that way!
"Golden Snitch"
Emily Schneidermann
Golden Snitch started at Wastahi as a camper in 2007 and worked her way up through the ranks as a JC, CIT, and eventually Counselor and Lead Counselor. She has taught the drama, music, and writing electives at camp, drawing from her education in theatre at UCSC. After graduating in 2016, she began working with junior theatre programs in Santa Clara, and currently works with All About Theatre in Santa Cruz, as well as for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Her great enthusiasm for learning through fun is what keeps her coming back to camp year after year!
"Wahine"
Danielle Corso
Wahine first attended Wastahi when she was 9, and remembers what a hard time she had being away from home. With the help of her awesome counselors and letters from Togo, she was able to jump into the fun of Wastahi. She excitedly worked her way up the ladder from a counselor to program director, to camp director, and then to secretary of the board. She credits camp with her strong organizational skills and the ability to be herself. She carries a little bit of camp spirit with her every day when she teaches her 6th and 7th graders. Her passion and love for camp have helped shape Wastahi into the amazing organization it is today.