Staff & Board of Directors

Marcus “Gopher” Roskamp – Executive Director

Marcus has been with Camp Fire Samish since the summer of 2023. He grew up on a farm in Minnesota, but has called the PNW home since 2016. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dordt University and his master’s degree from Western Theological Seminary. Before coming to Camp Fire Samish, he spent 13 years as a Lead Pastor. Marcus has always had a heart for serving youth. He has been a youth mentor in various schools for over ten years, served as Board President of a TeamMates Mentoring chapter, and coached many different youth sports teams. Outside of work, you’ll find Marcus spending time with his wife Amy and their three kids (ages 14, 10, and 8), playing golf, listening to music, baking, or working out in his yard.

Direct Line | (360) 255-7554
Email | marcus@campfiresamish.org

Kathryn “KitKat” Deshaies – Executive Camp Director

Kathryn, otherwise known as “KitKat”, has more than eighteen years of experience working at Camp Kirby. She attended as a 2nd generation camper and as a counselor before taking on the role of Camp Director in 2014. Kathryn and her husband, Aaron (“Olaf”), and children, Keith (“Wiggles”) and Kelly (“Belle”), live in the Gatehouse at Camp Kirby. They share their home with their three cats, Basil, Sage, and Sassafras. Kathryn has a BAE in Exceptionality and Disability from Western Washington University, and loves working for an inclusive organization. When not busy with Camp, you can find Kathryn traveling throughout the United States with her family, playing board games, or spending the day at the Zoo.

Camp Line | (360) 255-7765  Direct Line | (360) 404-7070

Email | kathryn@campfiresamish.org

Emma “BigBird” Bird – Office Manager

This past summer, Emma was the Operations Coordinator at Camp Kirby and fell in love with Kirby and the local area. She wanted to continue to engage with Camp Fire Samish and started as our Office Manager this October. Emma is so excited to learn more about Camp Fire Samish and experience more about camp life. Emma is the eldest of 7 children and grew up in a small town in Illinois. As a kid, she spent her time outdoors, taking care of the farm animals, and spending time with her family. She just graduated Western Illinois University with a MAS in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration. When Emma isn’t at the office or at camp, she loves to travel, try new foods, read, and watch cooking shows.

Email | officemanager@campfiresamish.org

Joey “Lapis” Cisneros – Marketing and Social Media Manager

Joey grew up in Skagit Valley, Washington. As a kid he enjoyed spending time hiking and camping in the North Cascades, playing sports and video games with his friends, and drawing. Joey is very excited to continue working with Camp Kirby and Camp Fire Samish, he never attended Camp Kirby but fell in love with it after being the Camp Photographer in 2022, and returned as Program Staff in 2023, and 2024. Joey graduated from the University of Idaho in 2023 with a BS in Virtual Technology & Design and a minor in Art. Outside of camp Joey enjoys spending time in nature, creating works of art, gaming, and spending time with his friends.

Email | marketing@campfiresamish.org

Elena “Colibri” Rodriguez Stecca – Full Charge Bookkeeper

Elena brings a wealth of knowledge to her role with more than 10 years dedicated to non-profit work.  Elena has extensive bookkeeping experience, and also brings her love for community to Camp Fire Samish. Beyond her bookkeeping endeavors, Elena is a passionate filmmaker who empowers youth through the art of visual storytelling. As a long time resident in Whatcom County, her love for the area extends to its trails, where she enjoys hiking and trail running, finding inspiration in the beauty of nature. Her camp name is “Colibri” –  the Spanish word for hummingbird, and a nod to her vibrant energy and strong connection to nature.

Email | bookkeeper@campfiresamish.org

Cheyanne “Munchlax” Bennett – Registrar

Cheyanne Bennett has been a member of Camp Fire Samish for over 20 years. Her family joined as Camp Fire Club members in 2004, participating in Kirby camporees and seasonal volunteer events. Cheyanne’s passion for Camp Kirby led her to join our CIT program and dedicate her summers each year to creating fun and unique experiences for kids like her. Since 2015 she has fulfilled various roles such as Cabin Counselor, Program Staff, Kitchen Staff, and most recently one of our Assistant Camp Directors. Cheyanne graduated from Western Washington University in 2019 and worked in the campus bakery for many years, finding a passion for baking. Outside of camp she spends time gardening, walking with her cat Greta, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends and family.

Camp Line | (360) 255-7765
Email | info@campfiresamish.org

Riley “Fawnerfly” Judd – Program Manager

Riley grew up in Arizona, and has recently moved to Bellingham after spending her summers as a camper, then as a staff member at Camp Kirby. She spent 4 summers as the outdoor living skills specialist at Camp Kirby, and is excited to continue working in outdoor education. She has a BS in Biology from Northern Arizona University. Some of her “sparks” include hiking, camping, fishing and outdoor activities in general, as well as storytelling, sewing and skiing.  

Email | outdooreducation@campfiresamish.org

Aaron “Olaf” Deshaies – Facilities Manager

Aaron is a recent transplant from Bellingham and lives in the Gatehouse at Camp Kirby with his wife, Kathryn, son Keith, daughter Kelly, and their three cats. He attended Camp Kirby as a camper and returned in 2012 as a staff member. He has filled many roles at camp since then, from Archery Specialist to Head Cook to Director of Operations. He still fills in the occasional crack during the summer as well as tending to the maintenance log. His values are strongly rooted in integrity, self-worth, and being as ridiculous as possible.

Email | operations@campfiresamish.org

Shaun “Orion” Carlson – Maintenance Manager

Shaun works hard to keep Camp Kirby looking incredible. He chose the name Orion because he considers himself a bit of a space nerd, with a love for sci-fi movies and shows. Here on earth, Shaun enjoys working outside and working with his hands, which makes Camp Kirby a perfect fit for him. In his free time Shaun and his wife enjoy taking their puppy to the dog park to watch her play. It makes him happy to see his puppy happy! Shaun likes  looking for pretty rocks, and considers himself an amateur rock hound. Basically, Shaun will take any excuse to get outside and enjoy nature. Shaun is thrilled to be at Camp Kirby

Dave Roetcisoender – President

Dave Roetcisoender is a Senior Project Manager with Fisher Construction. He is a third generation Skagitonian who always shares his love and experiences of anything outdoors with family and friends. Dave says, “The great Skagit Valley, Samish Island, outdoors, and supporting kids is an amazing recipe for enriching our young people’s experiences and memories.” Despite often living elsewhere for construction projects, Skagit Valley is where Dave calls home. He is committed to supporting kids, the community, and Camp Fire Samish to ensure that Camp Kirby and our youth continue to thrive. 

Kelsey “Kneon” Cornish – Vice President

Kelsey is the Inventory Manager at Northline Seafoods, where she oversees product movement and inventory systems in the seafood processing industry. A proud Camp Kirby alum, Kelsey’s connection to Camp Fire Samish began as a camper and continued through roles as the CIT Director and Assistant Director. Kelsey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Western Washington University. Serving on the board is her way of staying connected to an organization that shaped her childhood and helping ensure future generations have the same opportunity to experience the magic of Camp Kirby. Kelsey lives in Ferndale with her husband, Kyle, and their daughter, Lily. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her family.

 Kayla Kennett – Treasurer

Kayla grew up in the Pacific Northwest with enthusiasm for all outdoor recreational activities. In her free time you can find her camping, fishing, kayaking, practicing her archery skills and riding motorcycles with her husband and son. She loves to be involved in the community and spends time playing recreational sports during the summer. Kayla jumped into a career in public accounting as soon as she graduated Western Washington University, eager to put her Bachelors in Accounting to use. Excited to offer her accounting skills to Camp Fire Samish, she was voted into the Treasurer position in 2021. She is very proud to be serving on the board of Camp Fire Samish where children get to find their spark and individuality. She believes creating a solid foundation early on of individuality and character not only to help them reach their full potential, but will also result in better societies as a whole.

Tom Bluhm – Secretary

Tom grew up in Edison where his parents owned a grocery store and managed the Post Office.  He currently resides in Anacortes and has lived in the Skagit Valley his entire life.  His family has a beach house on Samish Island and enjoys the “island life” as much as possible.  Tom recently retired from Island Health in Anacortes after 39 years as the Director of Information Systems/Technology.  He has one daughter and son-in-law, and is blessed with two young grandsons he adores.  Tom enjoys golfing, landscaping, traveling, and spending time with his grandsons. 

Amy Melin

Amy (B2) Melin grew up in Federal Way, WA and lives now in Blaine, WA with her partner Alix, their son Liam and their two dogs, Maple and Fluke. Amy is a second generation Camp Fire kid, participating in group programming in the Central Puget Sound Affiliate since elementary school, and receiving her WoHeLo Medallion in 1999. She attended Camp Sealth on Vashon Island for over 10 years as both a camper and staff member and while leading a Camp Fire group here in the Samish Council for her son, was lucky enough to attend Camp Kirby. Amy works for The Opportunity Council in the Early Education and Care division and also side gigs as a family and events photographer. Amy is passionate about the importance of youth organizations and camp experiences for children and youth and looks forward to supporting Camp Fire as a board member to continue the mission for generations to come!

Chris Duppenthaler

Chris first joined Camp Fire as a kid in the mid ‘80s then later Camp Kirby as a counselor with many canoe trips to Saddlebag island and hikes to the ferry circle helping form a deep love for the outdoors. A teacher and student of technology, he remains grounded with imagination games like D&D and through the local outdoor community with biking and trail work. A Metrology Engineer by trade and an avid sailor and backcountry skier by heart, Chris’ red campfire vest no longer fits very well, but he takes with him all those campfire stories and outdoor adventures.

Grant Lee

I have been a lifelong resident of the PNW and resident of the Skagit Valley over the last 18 years.  I currently oversee the Diagnostic Imaging Department at PeaceHealth UGMC in Sedro Woolley.  Over the last decade I have been involved in coaching and volunteering youth sports in Anacortes where I currently reside.  After graduating from Leadership Skagit in 2022, I found myself wanting to find ways to volunteer my time to support children and their interaction in the outdoors. My wife and I have two great kids who are ages 20 and 16 respectively.  Depending on the season you may see me outside of work skiing, biking, hiking or golfing.

Julia Renner 

My name is Julia and I have wonderful memories of attending summer camps in Germany where I grew up. In Germany I was trained as a marriage and family counselor before coming to the US in 2010. I joined the Camp Kirby Board to help other campers experience time with peers in nature to nurture connections with others and confidence. I live in Bellingham with my family, and work for a non-profit agency that provides in-home services to families for birth to three-year-olds experiencing developmental delays or disabilities. My children have loved their camp times at Kirby as participants, camp counselors as well as completed their scout projects there! In my spare time I enjoy doing sports, spending outdoor time in the beautiful PNW, and traveling.

Shaun Wesen

Shaun first joined Campfire as a 2nd grader in 1962 as a Bluebird and continued through high school in the Seattle area. During high school and college, she worked as a summer camp counselor for the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) camps. Shaun graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1977 with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and worked at SPARC (Skagit Preschool and Resource Center) for over 40 years with young children with special needs and their families. She and her husband, Rich, have 4 adult children and live on the family dairy farm in the Bow area. Having previously served on the Camp Fire Samish Board for 6 years, she was happy to return. She retired in 2022 and enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering at the Tri-Parish Food Bank, reading, traveling, and enjoying the retired life in the beautiful Skagit Valley.

Tim Lehr

Tim is a native of Skagit County, graduating from Mount Vernon High School. He attended Seattle University School of Law and is an attorney and partner at Stiles & Lehr Inc., P.S., a local civil law firm in Sedro-Woolley. Tim is also a local real estate agent.

Tim enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, golfing and spending as much time as possible outdoors with his friends and family. His love for the outdoors and his community brought him to serve on the Camp Fire Samish board to ensure local youth get the same chance to experience all that Skagit Valley has to offer.