2009 Summer Camp Staff
Annie McGuire
Annie McGuire is a junior at Iowa State University majoring in Art and Design and Journalism. Her dream job would be working for the Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Annie is a returning cabin counselor and lifeguard from last year. She grew up in Colo, Iowa, and graduated high school in 2007. Annie’s favorite things about camp are watching the growth of the campers by the end of the week and seeing them come out of their shell and loving camp. She also loves river canoeing, singing/shouting camp songs, opening and closing campfires, as well as skit nights!
Alex Feygin
Alex Feygin is a new cabin counselor and high ropes operator. He will be a sophomore in Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University next fall. Alex’s hometown is in Des Moines, Iowa, but was born in Kharkov, Ukraine, and lived in Chicago for two years. Alex enjoys traveling, being a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and sports- including football, basketball, and Frisbee golf. Last year Alex drove a school bus for the Ames School District so he is also excited for some Day Camp Driving.
Cassi Johnson
Cassi Johnson is from Altoona, IA and is a cabin counselor this year. She is going to be a sophomore at William Jewell College, majoring Biochemistry. She would like to work in a research lab after graduation. Cassie has three dogs named Emily, Puppy, and Buba, and a cat named Kitty.
David Mason
David Mason is returning for his second summer. He is a Leadership Mentor, and is looking forward to working with Counselors- and Leaders-in-Training. He is originally from Des Moines, and goes to Iowa State University as a senior this year in Political Science. He is a lifeguard as well as certified to work on the rock wall. His hobbies include playing guitar, reading, listening to records, attending shows and festivals, photography, and audio production. His plans for after graduation are always in flux, but he is considering graduate school in Public Policy/Public Administration, joining the Peace Corps, or Teach for America.
Darren (Daz) Crocker
This is Daz’s second year at the Iowa 4-H Center. He had to come back as he had so much fun last summer. He is from a town called Cheltenham in South West England. Daz is going to be a Cabin Counselor and High Ropes guy. He loves to participate in and watch lots of different sports. He is looking forward to having a lot of fun and helping the campers fulfill their camp ambitions.
Dean Telford
Dean is a Cabin Counselor and Lifeguard for this summer. He lives in London, England. He finished Chadwell Health Foundation School three years ago and went on to college to learn how to be a car mechanic. He has been working at a company as a trainee mechanic. Dean’s hobbies are soccer, basketball, and golf. When Dean finishes camp, he hopes to join the Metropolitan Police as a Police Officer.
Drew Demery
Drew Demery, a fourth-year camp staff member, is the all-area assistant this summer. Originally from Boone, Drew is a University of Iowa alum with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Ceramics. He plans to move to Montana to do an artist residency program after this summer. Drew came back to camp because it’s a uniquely special place where lifelong friendships are formed. He said it offered him a chance to better himself as well as others around him, including campers. Between canoe trips, night hikes, and campfires, he cannot think of a better way to spend his summer than with the kids at the Iowa 4-H Camping Center.
Emma Offenburger
Emma is a cabin counselor from Lacona, Iowa. She graduated from Chariton High School in 2008 and is currently a student at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids where she just graduated from the Pet Grooming/Pet Shop Management program and will return in the fall to major in Ag Business. She is also a Kirkwood Student Ambassador where she helps with TGIF and Campus visits. Emma is the President of the Iowa Junior Hereford Association and has served on the Board of Directors for 3 years. She is also serving as the Iowa Junior Hereford Queen. Her hobbies and interests include: showing and working with cattle, working on the farm, riding horses, playing soccer, being with family and friends, being outside and going to church. She is looking forward to having a fun camp experience where she can meet a variety of new people and make many new friends.
Erin Mugge
Erin Mugge grew up in Cleghorn, Iowa, on a farm and participated in 4-H through high school. After high school, she attended Iowa State University majoring in Zoology and graduated in December 2007. Erin then moved to Georgia where she worked at both Rock Eagle and Jeckyll Island 4-H Centers teaching environmental education. This summer, Erin is back in Iowa working as the Nature Center Coordinator at the Iowa 4-H Center. She enjoys being outside, baking, and scrapbooking. Erin is excited to enjoy Iowa’s outdoors this summer!
Heidi Beech
Hi! I’m Heidi Beech and I am from Adelaide, Australia. I graduated from high school last year and am taking a gap year before I go to the University of South Australia to study a double degree in Business and International Studies. For my gap year I decided to embark on a Camp America experience as a Cabin Counselor and Lifeguard. Swimming and water activities are my favorite sports and popular Australian pastimes. I come from a very large family all of which are in Australia. I am looking forward to camp this summer and hope that I get to know and work with your child this summer. As Australians would say, “See you when I’m looking at you”.
Jackye Manternach
Jackye is returning for her fourth summer at the Iowa 4-H Center. She is originally from Cascade, Iowa. This year she will be the Program Assistant and will also be working at the climbing activities. In addition to all of the camp adventures, Jackye is also excited this summer for her first international traveling experience. During the month of June, she will be in Australia visiting a former camp staff member. Jackye always looks forward to seeing familiar faces at camp, so if you visit while she’s away, please leave a note! Outside of camp, Jackye enjoys reading, cooking, and being with family. A recent Iowa State alumna, Jackye will be teaching high school English and speech in the fall.
Jon Cahill
Jon is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Linn-Mar High School and he currently attends the University of Northern Iowa. He is a Biology Education Major. Jon hopes to get a job teaching High School Biology or Physical Science. Jon loves science, technology, swimming, running, boxing, biking, and in his spare time likes to build and refurbish computers.
Kristyn Lemberg
Kristyn Lemberg is the Day Camp Morning Assistant this summer. She is from Humboldt, Iowa and is a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Early Childhood Education. Last summer, Kristyn worked at camp as the Day Camp Director. After graduating from ISU, Kristyn plans to work with children from infants to kindergarten aged. The best thing Kristyn says is about camp is the staff members.
Laura Barnett
My name is Laura and I am thrilled to be a Leadership Mentor and work with the leader in training and counselors in training. I go to Iowa State University majoring in History Education. I sing in the choir and play tennis whenever I can. Originally from St. Louis, I’m a huge Cardinals fan. I believe that every person needs to have a camp experience and I can’t wait to start my second year at the Iowa 4-H Center.
Leah Whitlatch
Leah is a cabin counselor from Des Moines, Iowa. She will be a sophomore at the University of Iowa, majoring in Child Psychology. She enjoys volunteering at the University of Iowa hospital, working with children, cooking, and baking. Leah loves animals and her family owns a boarding kennel for cats and dogs, so she has spent her whole life surrounded by animals. Leah attended camp as a child and thinks everyone should have some sort of camp experience before growing up.
Liz Metille metille@iastate.edu
Liz Mettille is the Operation Military Kids Camp Coordinator. She went to high school at Ames High, but has lived all over the United States. Liz is a super-senior at Iowa State University majoring in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She wants to work in prevention programs to keep “at-risk” kids out of the criminal justice system. Liz has two dogs name Roxy and Otis and a lizard named Uncle Ruckus. She is also a self-proclaimed art geek. She has been a military brat all her life, as her father was in the Army National Guard who served two tours for OIF.
Lucy Denne
Hey, I’m Lucy! I’m from Auckland, New Zealand and I am here for the summer as a counselor and lifeguard. I have just finished high school at Takapuna Grammar and will start university in 2010. I have been teaching swimming for four years and I really enjoy it. Back home I live on a beach so I swim a lot, take part in triathlons, and cycle. I have lived in New Zealand, England, and Washington D.C. in the United States! I enjoy new experiences and am looking forward to a fantastic summer!
Mackenzie Tope
Mackenzie Tope is nineteen-years-old from Edinburgh, Scotland. He is attending Edinburgh University studying electrical engineering. Working as the Outdoor Director and Challenge Course Assistant, he is looking forward to a great summer outdoors and with other staff members. His interests include playing the didgeridoo and the trumpet.
Michelle Owens
Michelle Owens is from Liverpool, England. She will be attending UCLAN studying a BA Hons Children, Schools and Families. Michelle’s future plans are to be a social worker. This is her second and last summer at 4-H camp. Michelle’s current position this summer is Day Camp Director. The best thing Michelle says about camp is getting to meet lots of children from different backgrounds. She loves traveling and has been to lots of countries in Europe and visited America three times.
Nate Lawrence-Richards
Nate was raised in Cedar Falls, Iowa, but managed to come across the state to attend Iowa State University. He recently graduated from ISU, and is looking forward to working with the campers at the Challenge Course, where he is directing activities. Also an Outdoor Assistant, Nate loves camping, motorcycles, and Medieval Combat. His favorite color is blue, and this is his third year out at the 4-H Center.
Nathan Edwards
Head Counselor, Nathan, is joining the 4-H Center for his third summer. He is from Boone, Iowa, and has recently graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia with a degree in Illustration. In the coming fall Nathan plans to attend Kansas State University for his MFA in printmaking. For the past two summers, Nathan was a cabin counselor and worked with arts and crafts. Along with head-counseling this summer, Nathan is Arts and Crafts coordinator with a goal in mind to give campers an appreciation for craft and utilizing their creative thinking.
Samantha Morine
Samantha Morine is the Assistant Program Director as well as a lifeguard this year. She is excited to come back for her second year as a part of the Iowa 4-H Center camp staff. Sam is from a farm near Lamont, Iowa and attends Iowa State University majoring in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture. As a senior next year, she is planning to study abroad at the Royal Agricultural College in England. Sam says the best part about camp is being part of an amazing staff and getting the chance to be a kid again.
Shane Darby
Shane is returning for his second summer here at the Iowa 4-H Center. He is from Northalleton, a small town in England, however he wishes he could be an American citizen. He loves playing sports (it’s all he does during free-time), and his favorite team is Manchester United and his favorite player is Ryan Giggs. He works for his dad’s construction company back home in England and is looking forward to working this summer as a cabin counselor.
Shanna Higgins
Shanna would like to say “Hello!” to all the campers! She is from Remsen, Iowa, and is a sophomore at Loras College. Aside from studying marketing, Shanna was a 4-H kid for nine years and even came to the 4-H Center when she was younger. She is the Head Lifeguard, as well as an Arts and Crafts assistant. She loves movies, swimming, and everything and anything about the summer time. She has two pet beagles at home named Peanut and Maggie and a nameless pet fish.
Tom Dickinson
Tom is from Manchester, England, and is returning for his second year at the Iowa 4-H Center. He is a cabin counselor and is looking forward to a great summer. As a lifeguard, he enjoys swimming as well as playing other sports such as (English) football, rugby, Gaelic football, cricket and basketball. Back home in England he is a fitness instructor which he has done for about three years. He is a huge Manchester United fan, and is ready to see some familiar faces at camp!
Victoria Broderson
Victoria Broderson is from Homer, Nebraska. She is a Co-Head Counselor and she works at the rock wall. She attends Iowa State University as a psychology major. This is her second year on camp staff and she is looking forward to creek walks, campfires and food fights. She plays tuba, trumpet, and trombone.
Whitney Lenz
Whitney’s job this summer is Food Service Coordinator. She is from Waverly, Iowa. Whitney attends Iowa State and is a junior with an open option. Whitney might decide to declare pre-med /pre–human health. Whitney would like to travel in the future. She enjoys taking pictures, camping, cooking, and anything that deals with water. She has a fifteen-year-old cat and a five-year-old dog. This summer Whitney is most looking forward to getting to see all the campers in the Store and Dining Hall. Whitney has traveled to France, Washington DC, California, Florida and North Carolina.
Yeji Lee
Hi! This is Yeji, your very great cabin counselor this summer! I look forward to meeting all of you! I am from South Korea, which is very beautiful and gentle country in Northeast Asia. I am now studying architecture at ISU for a one year student exchange program. I like the USA, especially Iowa. In the future, I want to be a culture critic expert and am studying to do so. I like singing, dancing, and swimming. I love the camp’s natural environment here, lots of good friends and staff, all of which make a great camp experience.