We are gearing up for another great camp season in 2025. See you soon! 
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Meghan Erickson

Board President

Meghan has been a part of the Camp New Day U.P. family since 2016. Her first two years she was a counselor, and after being a counselor she realized she wanted to be behind the scenes of camp. Making it happen for some amazing kids! Meghan was born and raised in Marquette, MI. Her and her family now reside in the small town of Bark River, MI. Meghan works at Bark River-Harris School as a Paraprofessional. She really enjoys being around children and watching who they become. In her spare time she loves camping, fishing, hunting, four wheeling and spending time with my family. One of her favorite things about summer is attending Camp New Day UP. She enjoys meeting new campers and seeing returning campers.

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Jarroed Pierce

Board Vice President

This is Jarroed’s first year on the Camp New Day UP board. He was a counselor last year and after camp decided that he wanted to join the board and ensure some amazing kids have the best time! He was born and raised in Monroe, MI but now reside in Marquette, MI. He currently work at Pathways Community Mental Health in the children’s department as the Coordinator and also as a behavior technician working with some awesome individuals. He loves camping, fishing, baseball, and spending time with his wonderful family. One of his favorite things about summer is being out in nature.

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Rachel Placeway

Board Treasurer

Rachel joined the Camp New Day family in 2021 and has been a camp counselor for 2 years. She joined the board following camp in 2022. Recent graduate of Northern Michigan University, Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. With a passion for working with at-risk youth she is searching for a job working for social justice nonprofits. She enjoys hiking, camping, snowboarding, and reading. Rachel hopes to bring a new perspective to the board and continue to serve the youth of the U.P.

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Alyssa Murray

Board Member and Volunteer

Alyssa joined Camp New Day as a relief camp nurse and board member in 2022. Alyssa is a full-time nurse educator at Northern Michigan University. Alyssa has recently completed her master’s in nursing education. She enjoys the outdoors, camping, home renovations, and spending time with her family in her free time. Alyssa is a mother to two children who are her world. Alyssa hopes to make a long-standing positive impact on Camp New Day. She enjoys spending time with the kids while ensuring they are safe and healthy.

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Janette Polkinghorn

Board Secretary

Janette is one of the newer board members of Camp New Day UP and is excited to be a part of camp. The mission of Camp New Day is impressive and fits Janette’s passion for supporting youth who are at risk due to some challenging life circumstances. The fact that camp teaches and encourages outdoor activities and skills is an added bonus. Janette has worked as a school psychologist for the past two decades in the UP, as well as in Alpena and the Chicago area. Prior to this she worked in the mental health field with adolescent and adult inpatients. She holds a bachelors, masters and doctorate in educational psychology. When not working, Janette enjoys many Upper Peninsula outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, running, biking, cross country skiing and inline skating.

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Anjelica Thorne

Board Member and Volunteer

Anjelica (Jelly) is a dedicated board member, as well as a dean here at Camp New Day. She has been volunteering with the organization since 2019, showcasing exceptional leadership. Her unwavering commitment to serving at-risk youth is reflected in her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and current role as an Independent Social Worker for Public Defense Offices in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Jelly’s expertise and compassion positively impact vulnerable individuals in her community.

Jelly is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work from Walden University, demonstrating her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth.

We’re excited to announce Jelly’s return as Camp Dean for the upcoming 2024 year. Her exceptional leadership, dedication, and genuine care for campers make her an invaluable asset. We eagerly anticipate her continued positive influence on the lives of the youth we serve.

Lewis Goff

Board Member and Volunteer

Lewis has been involved with Camp New Day since 2021 and has been a counselor for 3 years before joining the Board in 2023. Camp New Day had an immediate impact on Lewis and he was passionate about joining the Board to get more involved with camp. Lewis was born and raised in Marquette, Mi, and is currently studying Sustainable Business and Enterprise Creation at Northern Michigan University. In relation to his degree, Lewis works at Invent@NMU and Innovate Marquette in an entrepreneurial support role. In the summers, Lewis has enjoyed spending his time coaching for the Superior Soccer Association.

 

Savana Driesenga

Board Member and Volunteer

Coming Soon!

Sydney Garlitz

Board Member and Volunteer

Coming Soon!

Louis Justman

Technical Consultant and Volunteer

Louis joined Camp New Day as a cabin counselor in 2019 and served on the board of directors for several years after that. His professional background is in Special Education and he is currently working on his doctoral studies. He enjoys working with young people in and outside of class, watching them learn and grow, and mentoring them through the seemingly endless curveballs of adolescence. Louis runs a web and graphic consultation business, SpeakEasy Design, and continues to advise the organization on all things technology!