Executive Director
david.sherry@dmymca.org
515.432.7558 ext. 221
Established at Y Camp: January 2001
When Not at Camp I like to….Spend time with my wife and kids, enjoy nature from a tree stand and lots of bird hunting. I also love to watch football and old Dukes of Hazard Episodes!!
What is your perfect pizza? I love a thin crust meat lovers. The thinner the crust the better.
Family/Background: My wife Kate and I were married in 1993. We have three great kids, Dakota, Hunter and Sierra. We moved here from Wisconsin, where both Kate and I were born and raised – Go Packers!!! Both of our Parents are still in Wisconsin, so we go there as often as we can. We believe in a commitment to Christ and in investing in our children.
What is your favorite place at Camp? My favorite place at camp when I’m alone is a point overlooking a steep ravine on the far east side of the property, off the common trail. But when camp is in session I love to sit above the lower athletic field and watch the activity, so many people having fun!!
Mike Havlik
515.432.7558 ext. 221
Established at Y Camp: January 2001
When Not at Camp I like to….Spend time with my wife and kids, enjoy nature from a tree stand and lots of bird hunting. I also love to watch football and old Dukes of Hazard Episodes!!
What is your perfect pizza? I love a thin crust meat lovers. The thinner the crust the better.
Family/Background: My wife Kate and I were married in 1993. We have three great kids, Dakota, Hunter and Sierra. We moved here from Wisconsin, where both Kate and I were born and raised – Go Packers!!! Both of our Parents are still in Wisconsin, so we go there as often as we can. We believe in a commitment to Christ and in investing in our children.
What is your favorite place at Camp? My favorite place at camp when I’m alone is a point overlooking a steep ravine on the far east side of the property, off the common trail. But when camp is in session I love to sit above the lower athletic field and watch the activity, so many people having fun!!
Mike Havlik
Program Director- Environmental Education
mike.havlik@dmymca.org
515.432.7558 ext. 224
Established at Y Camp: I began my journey with the Y-Camp in 1997 arriving from Northern California where I was working at an Outdoor Education school as a seasonal naturalist.
When Not at Camp I like to….Go birding, hiking with my family, stomping through the woods with my 6 year old son Max, and playing the guitar.
What is your perfect pizza? Pesto chicken with tons of garlic
Family/Background: I grew up in Humboldt Iowa. My father was the high school guidance counselor and my mother taught elementary school. I spent a lot of time playing in the Des Moines River. I am the oldest of 4 siblings. I met my wife in college at Iowa State but we didn’t date until several years later. We were married in 2003 and have a 6 year old boy who is more fun then a pet raccoon. The Des Moines River seems to be the reoccurring theme in my life since I grew up on it, it runs through Y-Camp and I live in Madrid.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Inspiration Point. It has such striking views and is such a powerful place to teach. I have wonderful memories of evening programs there.
BJ Murray
515.432.7558 ext. 224
Established at Y Camp: I began my journey with the Y-Camp in 1997 arriving from Northern California where I was working at an Outdoor Education school as a seasonal naturalist.
When Not at Camp I like to….Go birding, hiking with my family, stomping through the woods with my 6 year old son Max, and playing the guitar.
What is your perfect pizza? Pesto chicken with tons of garlic
Family/Background: I grew up in Humboldt Iowa. My father was the high school guidance counselor and my mother taught elementary school. I spent a lot of time playing in the Des Moines River. I am the oldest of 4 siblings. I met my wife in college at Iowa State but we didn’t date until several years later. We were married in 2003 and have a 6 year old boy who is more fun then a pet raccoon. The Des Moines River seems to be the reoccurring theme in my life since I grew up on it, it runs through Y-Camp and I live in Madrid.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Inspiration Point. It has such striking views and is such a powerful place to teach. I have wonderful memories of evening programs there.
BJ Murray
Program Director- Summer Camp
bj.murray@dmymca.org
515.432.7558 ext. 223
Established at Y Camp: Spring of 2004, going into my 8th summer.
When Not at Camp I like to….
Hang out with my wife Stephanie, and daughter Callen. Golf whenever I can. Spend time with friends and family. Read. I am a huge movie buff. Spend way too much money on ITunes. Be outside. Work-out/exercise. Attend church and bible study.
What is your perfect pizza? Tons of meat, no vegetables
Family/Background: I grew up in Osage Beach, Missouri home to Lake of the Ozarks (largest man-made lake in the world, and has more shoreline then the coast of California). Started working summers when I was twelve, and haven’t had a summer free since. Started my camping career as a counselor at YMCA Camp Wakonda (two years) in Springfield, MO, where I went to Missouri State University. Graduated and spent three years at YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln as a Program Director. Moved to Y Camp in 2004 as the Summer Camp Program Director. I was married in 2000 to my incredible wife Stephanie. In February 2010 we officially adopted our first daughter, Callen Elizabeth, one year after we picked her up from the hospital as a three day old.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Honor Point
Cole Bowermaster
Retreats and Conferences
cole.bowermaster@dmymca.org
515.432.7558 ext. 225
Established at Y Camp: I started working at Y Camp as part of summer staff in June 2005. I made the switch to fulltime staff in April 2011.
When Not at Camp I like to….
Hang out with friends and family. I also love sports, Go Hawks! and take any chance I can get to watch or play them. I love being outside and love grilling out, camping, and rock climbing. When I can find time I love to travel to new places, my favorite so far being Germany. I recently received my Scuba diving certification and would like to do that more often. I’m also a huge movie buff. Within the past couple of years I have really gotten into golf and like to go out to try and improve my game.
What is your perfect pizza? I don’t really have a perfect pizza but I do love taco pizza and pizza with tons of meat and veggies.
Family/Background: I grew up in West Des Moines and attended Valley High School. After high school I attended the University of Iowa and received my degree in Sociology. Having never been a Y Camper I worked my first summer as a cabin leader in 2005, after my freshman year of college. My mother was a leader during the annual Hard of Hearing camp that used to visit Y Camp and she introduced me to the Y Camp culture. Over the past 6 summers I have done everything at Y Camp from being a cabin leader, ropes course program head, swimming pool program head, day camp leader, to even a member of the summer camp leadership staff. I made the switch to fulltime staff in April of 2011 and am eager to explore this new side of camp.
What is your favorite place at Camp? I don’t have one favorite place on camp, however my top three places would be Chapel Point, Inspiration Point, and the deck of Chase Lodge.
Amy Joanning
Development Coordinator/Registrar
515.432.7558 ext. 223
Established at Y Camp: Spring of 2004, going into my 8th summer.
When Not at Camp I like to….
Hang out with my wife Stephanie, and daughter Callen. Golf whenever I can. Spend time with friends and family. Read. I am a huge movie buff. Spend way too much money on ITunes. Be outside. Work-out/exercise. Attend church and bible study.
What is your perfect pizza? Tons of meat, no vegetables
Family/Background: I grew up in Osage Beach, Missouri home to Lake of the Ozarks (largest man-made lake in the world, and has more shoreline then the coast of California). Started working summers when I was twelve, and haven’t had a summer free since. Started my camping career as a counselor at YMCA Camp Wakonda (two years) in Springfield, MO, where I went to Missouri State University. Graduated and spent three years at YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln as a Program Director. Moved to Y Camp in 2004 as the Summer Camp Program Director. I was married in 2000 to my incredible wife Stephanie. In February 2010 we officially adopted our first daughter, Callen Elizabeth, one year after we picked her up from the hospital as a three day old.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Honor Point
Retreats and Conferences
cole.bowermaster@dmymca.org
515.432.7558 ext. 225
Established at Y Camp: I started working at Y Camp as part of summer staff in June 2005. I made the switch to fulltime staff in April 2011.
When Not at Camp I like to….
Hang out with friends and family. I also love sports, Go Hawks! and take any chance I can get to watch or play them. I love being outside and love grilling out, camping, and rock climbing. When I can find time I love to travel to new places, my favorite so far being Germany. I recently received my Scuba diving certification and would like to do that more often. I’m also a huge movie buff. Within the past couple of years I have really gotten into golf and like to go out to try and improve my game.
What is your perfect pizza? I don’t really have a perfect pizza but I do love taco pizza and pizza with tons of meat and veggies.
Family/Background: I grew up in West Des Moines and attended Valley High School. After high school I attended the University of Iowa and received my degree in Sociology. Having never been a Y Camper I worked my first summer as a cabin leader in 2005, after my freshman year of college. My mother was a leader during the annual Hard of Hearing camp that used to visit Y Camp and she introduced me to the Y Camp culture. Over the past 6 summers I have done everything at Y Camp from being a cabin leader, ropes course program head, swimming pool program head, day camp leader, to even a member of the summer camp leadership staff. I made the switch to fulltime staff in April of 2011 and am eager to explore this new side of camp.
What is your favorite place at Camp? I don’t have one favorite place on camp, however my top three places would be Chapel Point, Inspiration Point, and the deck of Chase Lodge.
Amy JoanningDevelopment Coordinator/Registrar
515.432.7558 ext. 228
Established at YCamp: August 2002
When not at Camp I like to…Entertain at our home. Most weekends are spent enjoying our time with friends at our place. I love to travel and would be hard pressed to pass up a good road-trip! I enjoy playing board games and puzzles with my kids. I love to cook (and eat) and I’ve been known to watch a television show or two.
What is your perfect pizza? Locally- Belluci’s pizza- any flavor! Otherwise a wood-fired pizza with all the fixins’!
Family/Background: I am a native of Boone. My husband Bill and I attended Boone High School- class of ’95, but didn’t date until a few years after we graduated. We were married in 2003. We gave two boys - Keaton and Kyle, a beta fish named Rodger Doger and a blue heeler mix named Happy who has also become the YCamp's office dog! After obtaining my associates degree I was looking for a career as an Administrative Assistant and found my home here at YCamp.
What is your favorite place at Camp? I love driving into YCamp. Most people are afraid of ‘the hill’ but I find the drive in to be inspiring and always changing. After you make it past the hill you enter the only river valley in Iowa where children and adults make life changing developments!
Amanda Grout
Office Assistant
Eric Jaeger
Established at YCamp: August 2002
When not at Camp I like to…Entertain at our home. Most weekends are spent enjoying our time with friends at our place. I love to travel and would be hard pressed to pass up a good road-trip! I enjoy playing board games and puzzles with my kids. I love to cook (and eat) and I’ve been known to watch a television show or two.
What is your perfect pizza? Locally- Belluci’s pizza- any flavor! Otherwise a wood-fired pizza with all the fixins’!
Family/Background: I am a native of Boone. My husband Bill and I attended Boone High School- class of ’95, but didn’t date until a few years after we graduated. We were married in 2003. We gave two boys - Keaton and Kyle, a beta fish named Rodger Doger and a blue heeler mix named Happy who has also become the YCamp's office dog! After obtaining my associates degree I was looking for a career as an Administrative Assistant and found my home here at YCamp.
What is your favorite place at Camp? I love driving into YCamp. Most people are afraid of ‘the hill’ but I find the drive in to be inspiring and always changing. After you make it past the hill you enter the only river valley in Iowa where children and adults make life changing developments!
Office Assistant
515.432.7558 ext. 221
Established at YCamp: April 2011
When not at Camp I like to…I love spending time with my family and friends. Family is very important to me! I love to sing and play music - piano, bass guitar and bassoon. I love being involved in our church with music, bible studies and marketing. I enjoy running, taking photos, working on design projects. I love to travel, cook and I love eating anything from The Chocolate Season. Like any girl - I LOVE to shop! (All though - typically, I just shop for my kids now)
What is your perfect pizza? I will forever love Taco Pizza from Algona Godfathers. However, my perfect pizza is a hand-tossed crust with pepperoni and chopped tomatoes. YUM!
Family/Background: I grew up in Algona and graduated from AHS in 2000. After high school, I went to Waldorf for one year, then transferred down to finish my college education for Advertising at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville. Go Bearcats! The summer of my last year of college I re-met my terrific husband Brad at a concert in Garner. We had met previously 2 years before that while we were both playing for different bands - and he remembered me from when I played bass for Set Apart. We started dating the weekend after the concert, and married 14 months after our first date in August 2004. My husband is a 7th and 8th Grade English teacher for Dallas Center-Grimes. We have two adorable kids - our son, Strummer is 3 and our daughter, Edyn is 1-1/2. We also have a wonderful dog named Bosco. I had been staying at home since my son was born and now working again full time after 2-1/2 years. My job is varied from doing office work to also helping the program directors and doing photography, marketing and advertising.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Thus far, I don't have an absolute favorite spot. I do love the views from Chapel Point and just walking around camp. It is just gorgeous out here!
Established at YCamp: April 2011
When not at Camp I like to…I love spending time with my family and friends. Family is very important to me! I love to sing and play music - piano, bass guitar and bassoon. I love being involved in our church with music, bible studies and marketing. I enjoy running, taking photos, working on design projects. I love to travel, cook and I love eating anything from The Chocolate Season. Like any girl - I LOVE to shop! (All though - typically, I just shop for my kids now)
What is your perfect pizza? I will forever love Taco Pizza from Algona Godfathers. However, my perfect pizza is a hand-tossed crust with pepperoni and chopped tomatoes. YUM!
Family/Background: I grew up in Algona and graduated from AHS in 2000. After high school, I went to Waldorf for one year, then transferred down to finish my college education for Advertising at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville. Go Bearcats! The summer of my last year of college I re-met my terrific husband Brad at a concert in Garner. We had met previously 2 years before that while we were both playing for different bands - and he remembered me from when I played bass for Set Apart. We started dating the weekend after the concert, and married 14 months after our first date in August 2004. My husband is a 7th and 8th Grade English teacher for Dallas Center-Grimes. We have two adorable kids - our son, Strummer is 3 and our daughter, Edyn is 1-1/2. We also have a wonderful dog named Bosco. I had been staying at home since my son was born and now working again full time after 2-1/2 years. My job is varied from doing office work to also helping the program directors and doing photography, marketing and advertising.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Thus far, I don't have an absolute favorite spot. I do love the views from Chapel Point and just walking around camp. It is just gorgeous out here!
Eric JaegerFood Service Director
YCamp Kitchen- 515.432.8623
Esablished at YCamp: January 2005
When not at Camp I like to…Spend time with my son Storm, go hunting and fishing. I enjoy hiking and looking for artifacts.
What is your perfect pizza? Bacon cheeseburger! Yummy!
Family/Background: Born and raised in Guttenberg, IA. Most of my family is in Dubuque, IA.
What is your favorite place at Camp? On top of the hills, like I.P. or Chapel. It’s a great place to sit and think, great views!
Chris Williams
Esablished at YCamp: January 2005
When not at Camp I like to…Spend time with my son Storm, go hunting and fishing. I enjoy hiking and looking for artifacts.
What is your perfect pizza? Bacon cheeseburger! Yummy!
Family/Background: Born and raised in Guttenberg, IA. Most of my family is in Dubuque, IA.
What is your favorite place at Camp? On top of the hills, like I.P. or Chapel. It’s a great place to sit and think, great views!
Maintenance Director
YCamp Office- 515.432.7558
Established at YCamp: July 2010
When not at Camp I like to…Hunt, fish, spend time with family, work around the house. I enjoy spending time outdoors.
What is your perfect pizza? Felix and Oscar’s Chicago style supreme pizza
Family/Background: Born and raised in Boone. I live on a acreage north of town with my wife Deana. We have two kids in college, Thayne and Jessica and two kids in High school, Ty and Kailyn.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Too many beautiful places to choose only one!
Established at YCamp: July 2010
When not at Camp I like to…Hunt, fish, spend time with family, work around the house. I enjoy spending time outdoors.
What is your perfect pizza? Felix and Oscar’s Chicago style supreme pizza
Family/Background: Born and raised in Boone. I live on a acreage north of town with my wife Deana. We have two kids in college, Thayne and Jessica and two kids in High school, Ty and Kailyn.
What is your favorite place at Camp? Too many beautiful places to choose only one!
