Emily Goupil
Director of Camp Foss
Email: egoupil@graniteymca.org
Emily (or Goup as many have come to call her) has been involved with Camp Foss for over 20 years. She began as a camper in the 90’s. Over the years, Emily progressed as a staff member at Foss as a CIT, Counselor, Recreation Director, CIT Director and Program Director. After nearly 10 years on staff, she stepped away as a full-time staff member to pursue other opportunities.
Despite stepping away, she remained connected as a volunteer and as an Advisory Board member for Camping Services. During her time away, Emily attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management from UNH and a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel from URI. Emily has worked at a variety of colleges on campus as a Hall Director focusing on leadership, inclusion and healthy living. Most recently she worked at UNH as the Coordinator of Instructional and Youth Programming as well as the Director of Camp Wildcat. In her spare time she enjoys escape rooms and hosting trivia.
Sage Shepard
L.I.T. Director
Sage is excited to return to camp for her 12th summer as L.I.T Director. Sage is a Senior at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, getting her degree in Stage Management. After getting her degree, she wants to work as an assistant stage manager on national tours of musicals. Sage loves crocheting, reading, and rock climbing in her free time. She is very excited to spend another summer on Willey Pond.
Emma Sheridan
Waterfront Director
Emma Sheridan is from Massachusetts, but her family has since moved to Narragansett Rhode Island. Recently, she graduated from Syracuse University in Syracuse NY. She started attending camp as a camper when she was 12 and since can never bring herself to leave. Now she loves the impact she has as the Waterfront Director today and the impact the role has on her. As a certified lifeguard, this is her sixth year working on the waterfront and her second year as Waterfront Director. Emma could not picture spending summer days anywhere else but the shores of Willey Pond. Her love for camp has also shaped the life she hopes to live now after college. Spending her summers here for the last 10 years has caused her to love the lifestyle and vastness of NH. She plans to move to New Hampshire and spend the summers working at Camp Foss. The goal is also of course to work, ski, swim, and explore as much as possible in the off-season. She cannot wait for campers to join the staff at Camp Foss for the summer and to see everyone enjoy the beautiful waterfront of Willey Pond.
Chloe Doonan
Woodside Village Head
Chloe is thrilled to be spending her 11th summer at Foss as the Woodside Village Head! Originally from Ipswich, Massachusetts, Chloe is currently studying at Brandeis University with majors in Political Science and American Studies on the pre-law track.
At camp, Chloe spends much of her time in Willey Pond working on the Waterfront teaching swim lessons. Chloe loves doing arts and crafts and hanging out in the center camp, or at the rock in the pond. In her free time, Chloe enjoys hanging out with friends and family, running, and going to the beach. She cannot wait to spend the summer of 2023 in the place she loves most!
Gray Pierce-Jordan
Hilltop Village Head
Gray is very excited to be returning for their 9th summer at camp and 3rd year as Hilltop Village Head! She is originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire and currently lives in Rochester, New York where she attends Nazareth College and studies psychology. Gray hopes to continue working with kids in the future and is looking forward to spending the summer making new memories with campers!
When not at camp, you can find Gray doing arts and crafts, sitting in her hammock, or exploring a new place outside. At camp, her favorite spots are the lodge porch and of course up in the village of Hilltop. Gray’s chocolate lab, Henry, is also excited to spend his 1st summer at camp. Gray can’t wait to see everyone for another fantastic summer at her favorite place!
Sarah Beck
Program Coordinator
Sarah is so excited to be returning for her 11th summer at camp! She is originally from Philadelphia and is currently pursuing a degree in both accounting and marketing at Syracuse University. At school she is involved in multiple organizations including a community service fraternity (Alpha Phi Omega) and serves as VP media for a women’s health and wellness club (CHAARG). In her free time she enjoys seeing live music, attending sports events, spending time with friends and family, and working out!
At Foss, Sarah loves playing kickball on Cooper’s Field and attending evening programs, especially Kangaroo Kourt! Sarah is eager to get back to camp and have another amazing summer.
Riley Kennedy
Recreation Director
Riley is thrilled to be Rec Director this year, her sixth year at camp! She is originally from Chichester, New Hampshire but is currently attending the University of New Hampshire. There she will be going into her senior year as a communication science and disorder major with the intention of being an audiologist. In her free time she enjoys playing all kinds of intramural sports through her college, going on runs, spending time with her siblings, and reading!
Riley’s favorite camp activities are opening and closing campfire, watching all the air band performances, watching the Camp Foss plays, and singing all the classic camp songs. However, her best memories have come while at Cooper’s field (her favorite place in the whole world)
Sarah Lagasse
Staff Development Director
Sarah is so excited to be back at Foss for her 11th summer! Sarah started as a camper, completed the CIT program, and worked as a counselor and supervisor at Foss for many summers.
When not working at camp, Sarah is a Family Service Worker in Lowell, Massachusetts. As a family worker, Sarah works to make her clients feel supported, cared for and able to be their most authentic selves. As the Staff Development Director at Foss, Sarah strives to create a similar culture of encouragement and inclusivity at camp!
Sarah is a proud mother to Daisy, her 3-year-old dachshund dog. You will see Daisy at camp this summer, probably attached to Sarah’s hip! When she is not working you can find Sarah trying new restaurants and coffee shops, going on walks with Daisy or reading.
Abbie Zendzian
Hobbies Director
Abbie is excited to come back to Camp Foss for her 7th summer as Hobbies Director! She grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire and first came to camp when she was 10 years old. Abbie is studying Psychology and Art at Stonehill College in hopes to practice Art Therapy in the future. In her free time, Abbie loves to be outside with her family, reading good books, and making art! At camp, she loves to spend time making friendship bracelets by the water. Abbie can’t wait to come back and spend her summer at her favorite place!
Sarah Leonard
Sunrise Village Head
Sarah is beyond excited to be back at Foss for her 10th summer as Sunrise Village Head!! She grew up near Boston in Lancaster, Massachusetts, and now spends most of the year at Syracuse University. She is studying Inclusive Elementary and Special Education and Spanish with plans of being a teacher!
Sarah loves spending time with her friends and family, going to the gym, being outdoors, and listening to music. Her fondest memories include the ones she made on Cooper’s field, in Willey Pond, and especially the ones she made as a camper in Sunrise with friends she still has today! Sarah is so excited to see campers make their own memories in the coming summer. Summer 2023 is bound to be filled with more amazing memories and she can’t wait to see everyone back at Foss!
Jenna Cushion
Farm Director
Jenna is stoked for her 11th summer at camp this year, and third year as farm director. She comes from Dunstable, MA and refers to Camp Foss as her “second home”. Jenna is going into her second year of Veterinary Technician school in hopes to be a certified vet tech come the year 2024, and while she’s not at camp she is a Veterinary Surgical Assistant! Jenna’s biggest passion has always been animals, and nature. On Jenna’s free time she loves to spend time with her pets, ride horses, kayak, or shoot archery. This summer, Jenna is joined by her two goats (Duck and Goose), three rabbits (Onny, Rue, and Cannoli), and chicken/quail who also call Camp Foss their home during the summer time. Jenna cannot wait to be Farm Director for its third summer up and running, and she can’t wait to see what new memories and experiences are created for staff, campers, and animals alike! Jenna and all the animal friends can’t wait to meet all new and returning faces! CF CF FOSS FOSS FOSS❤️
Arwen Giovaninni
Cabin Life Director
Arwen is embarking on their first summer with Camp Foss, and is excited to apply their skills alongside the rest of the leadership team to help campers get the most out of their camp experience! A recent New Hampshire transplant originally from Western Massachusetts, Arwen has a strong background in mental health, communication, and mediation. They are well-equipped to help campers and staff manage their mental health and navigate their personal and professional development while attending camp. They’ve actively studied child development and parental psychology for the past 9 years and are trauma-informed to ensure that they can be a positive and effective influence on others, regardless of their age or background.
In the off-season, Arwen is an egg farmer, human rights activist, and mixed media fine artist. They enjoy filling their free time with long scenic hikes, DIY home renovation projects, non-fiction reading, and spending time with their family, friends, and 2 Siamese cats!
Allie MacWilliams
Staff Development Director
Allie is so excited to be back at Foss for her 17th summer! Allie started as a camper, completed the CIT program, and worked as a counselor and supervisor at Foss for many summers.
When not working at camp Allie is a Middle School Math & Special Education teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. As a teacher, Allie works to make her classroom a space where all students feel successful, cared for, and can be the most authentic version of themselves. As the training coordinator at Foss, Allie strives to create a similar culture of fun and inclusivity at camp!
Allie is a proud mom to two tuxedo cats, Mookie and Ginsburg, and a black lab, Henry. When she is not working you can find Allie trying new recipes in the kitchen, drawing and painting postcards to send to friends, or going on a casual walk through her neighborhood or nearby park.
Lauren Frazier
Camp Registrar
Email: lfrazier@graniteymca.org
Lauren grew up in New Jersey and moved to Manchester, New Hampshire in 2009, where she now lives with her husband and two children, Eliza and Quinten. This year marks Lauren’s 20th year of overnight camp experience, with her as both a camper and a staff member! She has worked at The Granite YMCA since 2012, starting as a counselor at Camp Gundalow at the YMCA of the Seacoast, but this is her 8th summer in the registrar role.
During her spare time, she enjoys reading, going to the beach, spending time with her family and friends, and attending concerts. With her camping background, Lauren loves being involved with camp again and being able to use her knowledge to lend a helping hand at both Camp Foss and Camp Mi-Te-Na.
Matt Hanson
Executive Director of Camping Services
Email: mhanson@graniteymca.org
Matt has worked for The Granite YMCA since 1998. Prior to working, Matt attended Mi-Te-Na as a camper before getting his first job as Lifeguard at the Downtown YMCA. Over the years he has held several leadership roles across our association. These roles include, Camp Director, Allard Center Aquatics Director, Teen Services Director for the Downtown branch and Association Training Coordinator. Matt is a certified trainer through the American Safety and Health Institute and YMCA of the USA. Through which he teaches various enrichment and safety courses for the northeast. Additionally, Matt is active with the American Camp Association where he serves as a standards visitor. Matt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from Springfield College.
While not at the Y, Matt enjoys traveling, golfing and spending time with his family. He met his wife Megan when she worked at YMCA Camp Foss. They currently reside in Concord NH with their son Teddy.