Camp Wastahi runs on 100% volunteer power both on campus and behind the scenes. Our amazing Directors and Board Members volunteer hundreds of hours a year to make Wastahi possible! We might be a small camp... but we really are a BIG family!
Meet our Board and 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 loves helping campers learn about nature and the environment. But don’t let her catch you littering or not having FUN! A recent retiree, Soleil hung up her hat as a Sr. VP at an international equity plan management firm to enjoy retired life on the coast and more time for Wastahi. She credits much of her life successes with her early experiences at camp.
"WHISPER"
Sandra Nakamura
Camp 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. Outside of camp, Whisper works as a Respiratory Therapist at a children's hospital. She loves snowboarding, dancing, music, and art. Whisper’s exuberance and creativity flow throughout camp.
"OHANA"
Jillian MacLeod
Assistant Director
Ohana started going to camp as a 12 year old in 2011. She loved the unique community that camp provided and felt like it was one of the only places that she was encouraged to be her true self around her peers. She credits camp’s leadership program with teaching her excellent independence, problem solving, team building, and leadership skills. Over ten years later, she has 6 years of volunteer experience as a counselor under her belt (it would have been 8 without the pandemic)! She believes that camp was a huge reason that she developed her drive to make the world a better place for others, and she now has a J.D. degree and job at a legal nonprofit.
"LAUGHING PENGUINS"
Michael Mrizek
Program Director
LP started as a camper at Wastahi in 2007. Since becoming Junior Staff, he was always eager to help kids have the best time possible at camp. This goal has only grown 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.
"OCEAN"
Anna Gonzalez
Kitchen Director
Ocean discovered camp Wastahi for her son Kuma. Never having attended camp herself, she didn’t know what to expect. After their first drop off, Ocean fell in love with the vibe at camp and knew she had to partake in all the fun! Growing up Italian, feeding people comes naturally to Ocean. So, she began by volunteering in the kitchen as one of the bakers. A few years in, when Wastahi was in need of a new Kitchen Director, she graciously took the reins. Ocean and Seaweed continue to wow us with their amazing food and generous hearts! It’s Mama Ocean’s mission to ensure every camper has a happy tummy before leaving the dining hall. Outside of camp Ocean is the Director of Information Technologies in the healthcare industry. She loves cooking, hiking, animals, crafting and spending time with her family.
"UME"
Nora Tryhorn
Executive Director &
Board Vice President
Ume’ has been joined at the hip with Soleil for almost 30 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! Outside of camp, she recently retired from her position as President of an R&D and manufacturing plant in San Jose, and enjoying her new job as Grandma.
"STAR"
Amy Bright
Camp Director
Star found Wastahi when her two Campfire USA club leaders (Ume and Soleil) challenged their club to run Wastahi as their senior project. Beginning as a cabin counselor, she quickly became one of the driving forces of camp. As camp grew, she seamlessly joined Whisper as Co-Camp Director, and they have been happily "sharing a camp brain" ever since. Star leads with enthusiasm and approachability and continues to inspire those around her. One of Star’s favorite pastimes is getting to know others and always has a ready ear for counselors and campers alike.
Fun Fact: Her kiddos currently hold the only claim of attending Wastahi since the womb!
"PISTACHIO"
Emma Ly
Program Director
No matter what time of year, Pistachio loves being a little silly a lot of the time. Since the age of 10, Pistachio finds herself dreaming of camp, returning each year as camper, then Junior Staff, cabin counselor, and now senior staff. Wastahi sparked Pistachio’s love of working with kids, spending their time in college introducing K-12 students to STEM fields while studying engineering. Since graduating, Pistachio works as an industrial designer developing store fixtures and mentors high school students pursuing design and trade careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Pistachio is counting down the days until camp in roman numerals!!
"FOUR"
Cheyenne Dufall
Junior Staff Director
Four has been coming to Wastahi for as long as she can remember! Four credits her time at Wastahi for much of her personal growth and decision to pursue a career 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.
"SEAWEED"
Brandon Cordova
Kitchen Director
Seaweed's journey with Camp Wastahi began in 2010 as a camper. He progressed through the ranks, transitioning from junior staff to counselor, and after several years of leading his own cabins, he combined his love for cooking with his camp experience by joining Ocean to run the Wastahi Kitchen. Seaweed furthered his culinary education at Diablo Valley College and now plays a key role in planning and preparing all of the camp meals. He is dedicated to accommodating every camper's dietary needs and embodies the spirit of Camp Wastahi. Outside of camp, Seaweed owns a mobile knife sharpening business, but he returns to camp every year, maintaining a perfect attendance record.
"CLOVER"
Chloe Sanders
Lead Counselor
Clover has been a part of the Wastahi family since 2009 and has returned to camp every year! After going through the Junior Staff program and many years as a counselor, Clover now works as a Lead Counselor, to oversee and assist camp counselors as they navigate through the week. Her years as a counselor make her a great resource for all cabin staff, to provide the best possible camp experience for their campers. Clover is extremely creative and fun, which is only magnified at camp. From face painting and balloon twisting to fire building and learning about nature, she enjoys the opportunity to use and share these skills.
"GHOST STORY"
Everett Schneiderman
Lead Counselor
Ghost Story started at Wastahi as a camper in 2007 and worked their way up through the ranks as a JC, CIT, Counselor to Lead Counselor. They have taught the drama, music, and writing electives at camp, drawing from their education in theatre at UCSC. After graduating in 2016, they began working with junior theatre programs in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz, as well as for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Ghost Story's great enthusiasm for learning through fun is what keeps them coming back to camp year after year!
"EGGROLL"
Nico Kumec
Lead Counselor
Eggroll began at Wastahi as a young camper, following in his big brother, Mushu’s, footsteps. He fell in love with the fun songs, cool games, and beautiful outdoor setting of camp. He grew up through the ranks of Junior Staff to Counselor and now, uses his experience to provide support and advice as one of our Lead Counselors. Eggroll calls Wastahi his family away from home and keeps returning year after year to make sure everyone has the same experience at camp that he did. Outside of camp Eggroll is a master's level engineering student, working towards building a better future.
"PISMO"
Debbie Phillips
Board Treasurer
Along with Ume and Soleil, Pismo was one of the amazing camp moms that pushed to keep Wastahi running after the local Campfire USA chapter disbanded. She is mom to Wahine and Hawk. 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. Pismo handles money in the real world as a Controller for an avionics company.
"MADAM MIM"
Sarah Cade
Art 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!
"WAHINE"
Danielle Corso
Board Secretary
Wahine first attended Wastahi when she was 9. She credits her awesome counselors and letters from Togo, for helping her break out of her shell. As staff, Wahine excelled through the ranks from counselor, to program director, to camp director, to secretary of the board. She credits camp for 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.