Ashley Paquet
Executive Director
Email: apaquet@graniteymca.org
Ashley has spent 23 combined years at Camp Mi-Te-Na and Camp Foss. Her journey began as a camper, completed the CIT Program, and held different staff roles. She also worked the rental season at Mi-Te-Na since 2003. After the summer of 2008, she took some years away from camp to pursue a degree in outdoor education and teach then returned to work with camp. She has been a member of camp’s leadership team and has held many responsibilities such as Mi-Te-Na’s Operations and Rental Season Director. Her favourite activity at camp is the Leap of Faith, a high ropes element. She loves seeing others challenge themselves to complete that element. In 2021, Ashley became the Director of Camp Mi-Te-Na. Her approach is centered around creating kind, respectful atmospheres that empower others to do their best work and contribute meaningfully to the community.
Rick Ross
Staff Development
As a kid, Rick spent 7 great summers at Camp Mi-Te-Na as a camper. He went on to earn a BS in Psychology and Recreation from North Georgia Military College in the beautiful mountains of Dahlonega, Georgia. During the summers Rick returned to Camp Mi-Te-Na where he completed the Counselor In Training program and went on to hold several positions including Senior Counselor, Village Head, and Trips Director. He went on to spend four years in the military as a US Army Ranger. In 1986 Rick completed the military service and joined the YMCA team full time as Youth Director and Assistant Director of Camp Mi-Te-Na. In 1997 Rick became the Director of Camp Mi-Te-Na and served in that role 16 years before retiring and now returning to continue to assist at camp. Overall this is Rick’s 57th year at Camp Mi-Te-Na.
Jason Holdsworth
Program Director
This is Jason’s 19th year at Camp Mi-Te-Na. He has risen through the leadership roles at camp including Ranger Village Head, and is on his 8th year as Program Director now. His favorite activity at camp is the Zipline and loves the evening activity of Horrified. Jason worked for the Y in Massachusetts for 8 years. He moved up to New Hampshire in 2022 to continue and further his love of the state and camp by working year-round for the Granite Y. Jason loves bringing new experiences to camp, playing music, living in the woods in New Hampshire, and getting to know friends from all over the world and staying in contact with them.
Ben Gorelick
Cabin Life Director
This is Ben’s 20th summer at Mi-Te-Na. He holds a B.A. in Music Education from Boston University, and works as the Chorus Director at Bishop Guertin High School. He has loved the Waterfront since his first swim test as a camper and has been an aquatic aficionado ever since. Ben believes that all people deserves to know the joy of swimming and other aquatic activities. Ben is passionate about biking, teaching, and scoring films. He holds YMCA Lifeguard Certification as well as a commercial boating license. Ben understands many aspects of camp, especially what it is like to be a camper. He wants to make sure everyone has an excellent experience at camp.
Zeb West Groover
Counselor-In-Training Director
This is Zeb’s 15th year at Camp Mi-Te-Na. Zeb spent his early years as a camper on the Sportsfield and never looked back. His fondest camper memories are from his time on the Four Square court, especially when he remembers all the times he got Rick out with a dirty spin move (and continues to do so). Since then, he’s widened his horizons by picking up new hobbies such as swimming and rock climbing. Zeb loves classic camp activities such as Four Square, 9 Base Kickball, Basingstoke Kickball, but he also loves camp’s new activities like Horrified and always looks forward to whatever new activities staff can cook up. As the CIT Director, Zeb shares his experience with budding staff and works to help them reach better versions of themselves.
Owen Wilson
Sportsfield Director
Owen has been living and breathing the Sportsfield at Mi-Te-Na for 8 years now. As staff he loves being able to coach and develop campers’ skills every day. His favorite camp original sports are definitely Bennis Ball and Mooyah Ball. He studied Sports Business at Arizona State University and now dual majoring in Business and Justice Studies with a minor in Sports Management at the University of New Hampshire. You can always find him at the basketball courts every period if he could and if not there, he’d be playing water basketball on Halfmoon Lake. His other favorite parts of camp are Four Square, the stars at night, and watching the sunset over the lake.
Ethan Byerly
Village Head
Ethan is looking forward to his 2nd summer at Mi-Te-Na. A New Hampshire native, Ethan previously spent two years at the Teen Center housed in the Downtown Manchester branch of the Granite Y before joining the Ranger Village. When he’s not at camp, Ethan studies aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. In his free time, he enjoys soccer, volleyball, and a good campfire. When he’s not in the village, you can usually find him at the Waterfront. From lifeguarding and boat driving to swim lessons and the slide, he can’t get enough of Halfmoon Lake. Most of all, Ethan enjoys seeing the effects camp and its role models have on campers as they grow into young men.
Dennis Ryan
Waterfront Director
This is Dennis’ 11th summer at Camp Mi-Te-Na. He has a BA in Classics from College of the Holy Cross. His fondest memories as a camper are of swim lessons and building friendships with his cabin mates. As Waterfront Director and a YMCA certified Lifeguard, Dennis strives to create fun activities while teaching essential aquatic skills. He is passionate about swim instruction, learning languages, and traditional American country music. You can find him at the beautiful Mi-Te-Na waterfront holding a clipboard and wearing plenty of sunscreen!
Lauren Frazier
Enrollment Coordinator
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. Lauren brings over 20 years 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 10th summer in this role. She is excited for her own daughter to attend Camp Foss this year!
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
VP 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 and they currently reside in Concord NH with their son Teddy.