William Therrien
Willy has been with Camp Takodah for 28 consecutive summers, the last twelve as our Camping Services Director. Willy oversees summer camp operations, alumni relations, facilites development and our annual campaigns. Willy holds a BA in English from Drew University and studied at Antioch New England University for his Masters in Elementary Education. Prior to his work with the Cheshire YMCA, Willy was a founding faculty member at the Rising Tide Public Charter School, where he designed integrated curriculum and taught middle school Language Arts. Willy also worked as the Assistant School Programs Director with the Aloha Foundation’s Hulbert Outdoor Center.
In addition to his work directing Takodah’s summer programs, Willy is a Board Member with the New Hampshire Camp Directors Association, an American Camp Association Accreditation Visitor, and remains an active volunteer with ACA’s New England Section. In his spare time Willy is an avid “hack” musician, and enjoys playing and repairing guitars, banjos, and other instruments.
Scott Peckins
Scott is the Executive Director with the Cheshire YMCA, Camp Takodah’s parent organization. Scott is at camp on opening days, closing days, and many days in between offering support and direction to our Camping Services team. Scott’s role also sees him overseeing the rest of our YMCA, including Developmental Travel Programs, Board Development, and Strategic Planning. Scott holds a Masters in Recreation from the University of Maryland. Before arriving at the Cheshire YMCA in April 2011, Scott was the Executive Director for the City of Dublin YMCA in Ireland, the Operations Manager for the Northern Trust (Ireland), CEO of YMCA Camp Letts, and directed Parks and Recreation in Virginia and Florida.
Scott is a certified Parks and Recreation professional and is active with the YMCA’s Executive Alliance in New England. He is also a member of the American Camp Association.
Peter Simmonds
Peter serves the Cheshire YMCA as our Director of Outdoor Education, overseeing Takodah’s Adventure Camps, spring and fall Outdoor Education Programs, and shoulder-season rentals for user groups. Peter has a degree in Geographical Sciences from the University of Portsmouth in England, and worked as Boys Camp Assistant Director at Camp Thunderbird in Minnesota and as a Program Coordinator with Wilderness and Training Expertise in the UK before arriving at Takodah in 2011.
Peter has a rich background in Outdoor Leadership, and maintains certifications as a Lifeguard and Wilderness First Responder. In his spare time, Peter enjoys racquet sports, fitness, and outdoor pursuits, and is a member of the American Camp Association.
Micci Freyenhagen
Micci is the Cheshire YMCA’s Program Registrar. Micci handles camp registrations and payments, and is a main point of contact for new and returning parents. Micci also oversees the Takodah Office in the summer season, and administers the campership program. While 2011 was Micci’s first summer at Takodah, she is no stranger to camping or to the Cheshire YMCA. Micci has a long and deep background with camping and education, having served as a classroom resource at Keene’s Symonds School, a teacher at the Walpole Elementary School, a staff member at Camp Menotomy, volunteer with the Cheshire YMCA’s New England and American Heritage Tours, Director of our Hornets Nest Day Camp, and is a former Board Member with the Cheshire Y.
Micci holds a BA in Education from Keene State College, and enjoys crafting when she is not busy signing kids up for camp!
