YMCA CAMP WAPSIE STAFF

MEET THE YMCA CAMP WAPSIE STAFF

Paul Denowski

Executive Director

Paul has been a part of Camp Wapsie since 2003, bringing with him a wealth of experience from other camps and environmental programs. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Paul holds a degree in Natural Resources Management with an emphasis in Environmental Education and a minor in Camp Management.

With a deep passion for the outdoors, Paul loves sharing the wonders of nature with campers and staff—whether it’s spotting wildlife, exploring scenic trails, or leading adventures like canoeing, climbing, and camping.

For Paul, Wapsie is more than just a camp; it’s a special place where generations come together to learn, grow, and create lifelong memories. Watching campers grow up at Wapsie and return year after year is one of his greatest joys.

Hanna "Fidget" O'Toole

Summer Camp Director

Hanna’s connection to YMCA Camp Wapsie began as a camper, attending from Village. Though her first week as a camper started with kicking and screaming when her parents dropped her off, she fell in love with the magic of camp by the time they came to pick her up. She continued coming to camp through middle school when her family moved out of state. Having always participated in candy sales to earn her way to camp, traveling back became financially out of reach. Even then, Hanna promised herself she would someday return to Camp Wapsie.

After her first year of college at Mount Mercy University where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Special Education, she applied for a staff position at Wapsie and got the job. Hanna spent seven incredible summers on the seasonal staff, filling a variety of roles. By the middle of her third summer on staff, working as one of the Ranger Directors, she knew she wanted to work at camp forever.

Hanna gained additional experience working in different camp settings, including three fall seasons at Camp Courageous of Iowa, where she utilized her Special Education degree, a summer at a Girl Scouts camp, and a few years as the Director of a YMCA camp in Michigan.

In 2021, Hanna’s dream came full circle when she returned to YMCA Camp Wapsie as the Summer Camp & Retreats Director. For the past year, Hanna has balanced working remotely during the school year while being on-site during the summer, a schedule that allows her to honor family commitments. She now lives in Virginia, where she is raising her younger cousin and planning her upcoming wedding.

Heather "Koala" Donahue

Retreat Director

Heather’s camp journey began as a camper at YMCA Camp Benson, in Mount Carroll, IL where she grew up attending camp and later began working. She started working as a Kitchen Assistant at the age of 17 and later spent two summers as a camp counselor. She then moved into various roles, including Camp Nanny, Waterfront Director, and Day Camp Counselor at YMCA Camp Algonquin in Michigan, before joining the YMCA Camp Wapsie team.

At Wapsie, Heather has served in multiple leadership positions, including Health Service Director, Day Camp Director, and Program Director, and now works as the Retreats Director.

Heather’s major study was in Geography with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Her diverse experiences have shaped her into a skilled camp professional who leads with love and patience.

William Rogan

Food Services Manager/Head Cook

William began his journey at Camp Wapsie in 2014 as the Day Camp Bus Driver, a position that introduced him to this incredible community. In 2015, he transitioned into his current role as Food Services Manager/Head Cook, where he has enjoyed serving meals to campers and ensuring they have the energy they need to make the most of their time at camp.

Before his time at Camp Wapsie, William served six years on active duty in the United States Air Force, an experience that shaped his work ethic and leadership style. Afterward, he worked with Linn County LIFTS, a paratransit service, which allowed him to help individuals with mobility challenges. This fueled his interest in the hospitality industry, leading him to complete a degree in Restaurant Management from Kirkwood Community College in 2012.

During the school year when camp isn’t in full swing, William drives a school bus for North Linn, a role that has allowed him to connect with the community and be an advocate for camp.

A few words from William:

“I’ve had the privilege of building a life that blends my passion for service, farming, and family. At home, I’m fortunate to share this life with my wife and our five boys. We live just across the street from camp, where we’ve created a homestead that includes raising Miniature Hereford cattle, pasture chickens, and operating a portable sawmill. I’m grateful for the balance I’ve found between family, work, and farming, and I look forward to continuing to serve the camp community while raising my family and enjoying the rural life we’ve built together.”

Lori Frasher

Office Manager

Lori’s first camp experience was at a 6th-grade campout, where she met “the kids from the other town”—a mix of students from two small schools. One of her most memorable moments was tipping over a canoe and thinking she might drown—until she stood up and realized the water wasn’t as deep as she thought! She also made many lifelong friends at camp, some of whom she still keeps in touch with after 40 years.

Lori loves many aspects of camp, especially the changing seasons. She enjoys the new growth in spring, the cheers and laughter of kids during the summer, and the beauty of the fall leaves changing with the crisp air.

John Wick

Camp Caretaker

John’s camp journey began at the age of 9 with the Cub Scouts, participating in day and weekend camporees. By 11, he joined the Boy Scouts, attending week-long summer camps focused on merit badges and seasonal survival skills competitions. Between the ages of 13 and 15, John assisted his mother with staffing the Kankakee Trails District summer day camp. His passion for adventure took him to Philmont Scout Ranch at 15, where he backpacked for 11 days in the New Mexico wilderness, and to Florida Sea Base at 16, where he shark-fished, caught a 6-foot lemon shark, and camped on an island. At 17, he explored the High Knoll Trail of the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation in Virginia, enjoying white water rafting, mountain biking, and canoeing—an experience that included a surprising encounter with a submerged car.

John spent 4 summers at Culver Woodcraft Camp in Indiana. His roles included Operations Assistant, Scouting Director, Program Assistant, and Nature Instructor. In 2010, John served as a camp counselor for Lime Hollow Nature Center’s Naturalists Day Camp, using Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature as a curriculum. Throughout his life, he has also participated in and helped instruct at numerous baseball camps, adding to his diverse background in mentoring and outdoor education.

John’s journey at Camp Wapsie began in 2022. He came to Wapsie with his wife and their three children, embracing the camp lifestyle as a family. At Camp Wapsie, John works hard to ensure the property is in the best shape possible. Whether organizing, cleaning, or creating safe spaces, he dedicates his time and effort to providing a welcoming and well-maintained environment for all campers to enjoy.