Meet Our Staff

Peter Christnacht, Executive Director

2024 was Peter’s 20th summer of leadership at Copper Cannon Camp and his 36th in camp administration. He has run programs throughout the country with the common thread being a heartfelt belief in the good camp does for the campers. Peter has seen the impact quality staff can have on youth. He holds a Masters Degree from Northern Illinois University in Curriculum and Instruction and did  his undergraduate work at Gonzaga University.

Married with four children of his own, Peter knows what parents need in order to feel comfortable with a camping program, what children want from camp and how to meld the two together. Through the years, his children have grown up at Copper Cannon and share his passion with Peter’s only daughter running the arts and crafts program for the summer of 2012. His wife, Teresa, is an active volunteer with Copper Cannon having been instrumental in the growth of our Counselor in Training (CIT) leadership program since its inception and taking a lead in the annual auction.

Favorite camp activity: Native American storytelling at campfires

Favorite camp food:  “Dough on a Stick” – fabulous cooking over a fire… burnt on the outside, raw on the inside, but who cares?

Best memory from Copper Cannon: Meeting one of the first campers from 1963, who was so excited to share stories of his time at Copper Cannon Camp.

Biggest Challenge: Finding enough hours in the day to make the program even better.

Vision for the future: To see more former campers returning to Copper Cannon as staff.

Katie Gadapee, Administrative Assistant

As of 2024, Katie has worked in the camping world for the past 31 years. Her experience ranges from high end, expensive camps to Girl Scout and YMCA camps. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services/Counseling from Northern Vermont University. She received a Masters of Science in Sport Psychology and is currently working to finish her dissertation for her PhD in Educational Psychology. Her topic will be on the cultural adaptation of summer camp staff.

Katie has a Labrador Retriever named Maximillion. Max will be loves to play while his mom is hard at work in the office. Campers love Max’s playful personality and never-ending energy!

Favorite camp activity: Archery

Favorite camp food:  Chicken Nuggets

Best memory from Copper Cannon: Walking with Max and Roscoe in the snow

Biggest Challenge: Learning to write a grant!

Vision for the future: Becoming more involved with the ACA, and enhancing the experience of the campers and staff of Copper Cannon!

Toby Hall, Day Camp Coordinator

2024 was Toby’s third summer working on a summer camp. Toby was meant to be with us in 2020 but was unable to due to COVID. Despite this, he remained connected with the camp and finally managed to make it in 2022. During his first two summers, he worked as a camp counselor. But in 2024 he stepped into a year round position on a J-1 Visa and is staying with us until November 2025. He is very excited to see camp throughout the year

Toby graduated twice from the University of Plymouth and holds both a Bachelor’s of Arts and Masters of Arts in Acting. He puts these to use outside of camp by performing in local theater groups, most recently performing with Theater Up in Fiddler on the Roof, and shares these skills with the campers

Favorite Camp Activity: Watching skits and singing songs

Favorite Camp Food: Taco Tuesday!

Best Memory from Copper Cannon: The first time looking out towards the mountains, and all the subsequent times with the view changing everyday

Biggest Challenge: Being over 3,000 miles away from home/Spelling Color without a U!

Vision for the Future: Introducing more of the arts to camp

Copper Cannon Camp Board of Directors

The success of Copper Cannon is due in a large part to the wonderful Board of Directors. Through the years, their hard work and dedication has helped Copper Cannon grow and thrive. Find out more about each member below!

Nancy Goebel, President
Member since 2008

Nancy currently shares her time between homes in Pembroke, NH and Franconia, NH. She first fell in love with the North Country in 1985 skiing at Cannon Mountain. That led to her passion for hiking the beautiful forests of the White Mountains. The mountain bike program is in memory of her husband Gary. The thing she loves most about her role with Copper Cannon Camp is bringing New Hampshire children into the beautiful woods she treasures so much. Whether on their feet or on a bike, she believes the woods have a magic that every child needs to experience. In the past she has been actively involved with several charitable associations including the Caregivers in Manchester, NH, Alzheimer’s Association in Massachusetts, and a Patron of the Balle de Plage in Newport RI. Nancy has a BS in Sports Communications with a minor in Small Business Management from the University of New Hampshire

Amy Ford
Member since 2008

Amy lived for the first 13 years of her life in Franconia, just down the road from Copper Cannon’s founder and her grandfather, Ham Ford. Currently, Amy lives in Waldoboro, Maine and serves as the Director of Faith Formation at St. Mary Church in Bath and St. Charles Borromeo Church in Brunswick. She is the youngest of three, aunt to four nieces and one nephew, and keeper of a sweet cat, Truffle, who came to her from the local animal shelter. One of Amy’s past times is learning about organic gardening. Amy is glad for any chance to help support Copper Cannon Camp and its mission!

Phil Parker, Treasurer
Member since 2013

Phil attended summer camp as a kid for six years and was a counselor for two more years. His camp experience was some of the best memories of his youth. He joined the CCC board in order to give back that experience. Phil has lived in Easton, NH for the past seven years with his wife Isabel and dog Augustine. He works as a Controller at Garnet Hill, a catalog company that sells women’s clothes and home furnishings. Phil received an undergraduate degree from St. Lawrence University and an MBA from University of Washington Seattle.

Mark Butterfield
Member since 2021

Upon retirement from a career in banking, Mark joined the CCC Board in December 2020. He had become very familiar and interested in the mission of CCC through his wife’s long time involvement on the CCC Board. His background includes over 25 years of commercial lending and 10 years of economic development experience directed at both small and large businesses in NH, ME, and VT. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1977 with a B.A. in Economics and also received an MBA from Boston College in 1982.  With a long family history of vacationing in NH in his early years, Mark, his wife Toni, and their two daughters, Allie and Hannah, permanently moved to Sugar Hill, NH in 2008.

Janel Lawton
Member since 2014

Janel has been a resident of the North Country since 1999 and with her husband and kids has enjoyed skiing, snowboarding, biking and hiking the mountains of New Hampshire. Her kids have been CCC day-campers for years and find the counselors, activities and setting of the camp simply the best. When not playing in the mountains, Janel works for the State of New Hampshire. Janel holds a BS in Business Administration/Sports Management from Colby-Sawyer College and prior to owning a construction company, has over 15 years’ experience in e-Commerce.

Tom Simpson
Member since 2015

Tom and his wife Rosalind Page moved to the area with their two dogs and two cats in 2004. After and his partners sold their wine distribution and import company in CT in 2006, he was invited to stay on by the new owners as VP & GM of the Connecticut facility,  and remained in that role and commuted weekly to CT until September 2017. He now owns and operates Pearl Lake Distributors with Rosalind. Pearl Lakes Distributors is a local New Hampshire based wine import and distribution company, as well as an area manager for DB Wine Selections. He received a BS in Business administration from Suffolk University Boston. He became interested in CCC after visiting the camp several times, learning the history and seeing first-hand the difference the camp has made for many of these young people and wanted to be involved and give back to the community.

Russ Gaitskill
Member since 2021

Russ was President and CEO of Garnet Hill, Inc. from 2001 until retiring in 2014. Prior to joining Garnet Hill, Russ spent five years as President of Gaitskill and Associates, Inc which provided strategic planning services to a wide range of direct marketers and manufacturers. Russ has helped senior management positions with Federated Department Stores, Lands End and the J. Peterman Company. He has an extensive background in merchandising, marketing, strategic planning and operations for both retail and direct marketing companies. Russ is past President of the New England Mail Order Association (NEMOA) and recipient of NEMOA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He served as Vice-Chair of the Grafton Regional Development Council and is Past President of Littleton Rotary Charitable Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Littleton Coin Company and Gardener’s Supply Company. He and his wife, Linda, divide their time between Sugar Hill, NH and Isle of Palms, SC.

Joe Guinta
Member since 2016

Born in Boston and raised in Dedham, Joe graduated from the same high school as board member Nancy Goebel, only ten years apart. He is the past president of the New Hampshire State Elks Association and been the chairman of the NH State Elks Drug Awareness Program for the last 15 years. Joe retired from the Department of Transportation and enjoys working on the 200 acre family tree farm. He is a motorcycle enthusiast and has owned his 1968 Corvette for the last 45 years. Joe’s involvement in Copper Cannon began in 1997 and has been a board member since 2017.

Kevin Rasch
Member since 2018

Kevin J. Rasch is the Vice President of Government Affairs and Programs with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Mr. Rasch received a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Economic Analysis from Trinity College and then went on to earn his law degree from the College of William and Mary and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. In his career, Mr. Rasch served for two years as the General Counsel to the Governor of the State of Connecticut. As General Counsel to the Governor, Mr. Rasch advised on all legal issues concerning the Governor and the Executive Office.

Sandra Gamble, Secretary
Member since 2020

Mike Bruno
Member since 2020

Mike is a native of the Lakes Region of the Granite State. After a 24-year career in the US Army, Mike retired to his new hometown of Bethlehem. Mike has served his community as a Library Trustee, member of the Planning Board, and the Bethlehem Fire Dept. Mike currently is a teacher at White Mountains Regional High School. He holds a BS in Business Administration and a MS Education degree from Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, ME. He was also awarded the degree of Education Specialist (Ed.S) from Liberty University. Mike is the author of the book “Cruising New Hampshire History”. Mike’s first experience as Copper Cannon Camp was in 2009 and has been a supporter since.

Nancy Moyer Dingman                                                                                                                                                                        Member since 2021

Nancy lives in Cambridge Massachusetts.  She is an architect and loved designing  the new dining hall at Copper Cannon! Her family moved to Franconia when she was in second grade, and she and her siblings have kept the family home. Her father was a good friend of Ham Ford and was involved in the camp from its earliest days.  Her mother was on the board for a number of years as was her brother Ben (whose proudest achievement was enticing Pete Christnacht to lead the camp).  Nancy is excited to carry on the Moyer enthusiasm for Copper Cannon. She received a BS from Wellesley College and a Master’s in Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

Stephen Pelletier
Member since 2021

Stephen and his wife Jaykaye live in Boston, MA, but consider the North Country their second home.  Currently, he is a Manager in the Client Finance division at Digitas, Inc, a global marketing agency. Previously, he worked with the UConn Department of Community Outreach, where he focused on young alumni/student engagement and giving.  Additionally, Stephen enjoys volunteering with the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust where he serves on their finance committee.  Stephen became interested in CCC after meeting some of the counselors.  He was inspired by their passion for the campers and their dedication to creating an inclusive and fun space for these people.  Stephen is looking forward to doing what he can to give back to a community that has given so much to him!

If  you are interested in joining the board or a Copper Cannon committee, give us a call at 603-823-8107.

Copper Cannon Camp Summer Staff

Every year, Copper Cannon hires between 15-20 staff to be a part of our wonderful camp experience. Staff come from all over the state, country and world in order to give the campers (and the other staff) an experience spanning many cultures. Over the years, our camp has had counselors and staff from around the world, including Australia, Poland, Mexico, Finland, Sweden, South Africa and Britain. All Copper Cannon summer staff go through an extensive interviewing and screening process before being selected to join camp. After arriving, all staff go through a 10-day staff training to ensure they are the best possible counselors to show your children a fun and safe time. If you are interested in becoming a Copper Cannon staff member, check out the Staff page for more info.