Joseph Aste’s first experience with Wah-Tut-Ca was as a camper with his troop, and when the opportunity presented itself to join the staff, he jumped at the chance.

As the Frontier Director this past Summer, Joe stood out for his energy and enthusiasm. He brought new ideas to the area, singlehandedly reinvigorating Frontier by creating new programs and finding ways of making existing programs more fun.

As an example, one of these new activities was an outdoor overnight campout for the kids. For many of them, this was their first time ever sleeping outside, but Joe helped them find the confidence to take on the challenge. He found ways to keep it entertaining and fun for them by incorporating games, s’mores, and more.

An active member of the Order of the Arrow, Joe is a past Chief and Vice Chief of Pennacook Lodge and a Vigil Honor member. He has volunteered to help run NYLT for two years and has earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Outside of camp, Joe Aste is a freshman at Keene State College in NH, where he is studying for a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Robert's scouting journey began in 2017 after a close friend told him about how much fun he had had learning fire building and camping skills at New England Base Camp.  Jealous, he joined Pack 42, Quincy, where he earned his Arrow of Light before crossing over to Troop 42.

In Troop 42, Robert became known for his meticulous and organized nature.  He was frequently the first one to arrive at meetings and the last one to leave.  His mindset shifted in his time there to become that of a leader and mentor of others.  

While in Troop 42, he served as Senior Patrol Leader and advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout.  He recalls being especially proud when the members on his Eagle Board of Review acknowledged how organized his project workbook was.

Robert has also been on the Camp Wanocksett Staff for the past two years, serving as the Scoutcraft Director this past summer.  In addition, he continues to be active in the Scouting community as the current President of Venture Crew 42.

Outside of Scouting, Robert is a Freshman at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where he is studying Mathematics and Physics.  He hopes to go on to earn his masters and become a Mechanical Engineer.

Originally from Quincy, Leo He has emerged as one of the most passionate and hard-working individuals in the Spirit of Adventure Council.  He started his journey as a Scout in Troop 42 in 2016 and continues to be involved in Venture Crew 42.

Over his decade in Scouting, Leo has variously served as Senior Patrol Leader, Crew President, Council Venturing Officers Association President, and Territory Venturing Officers Association Vice President. His work ethic is best exemplified by the innumerable awards that he has earned in Scouts, including the Eagle Scout, Venturing Summit, National Outdoor Achievement, Venturing Ranger, and Venturing Leadership Awards, among others.

Through Scouting, Leo discovered his passions for the outdoors and photography.  He has summited all 115 of the Northeast “4,000 Footers” and completed thru-hikes of the Vermont Long Trail and Colorado Trails.  This Summer, he plans to tackle the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail and document the expedition through video and photography.

Leo is a sophomore at the University of Vermont.  He hopes to build a career by using his photography skills to inspire the next generation to explore the outdoors.

Boglarka Kiss is an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 306 Arlington and a Vigil Honor Member of Pennacook Lodge. She will graduate Arlington High School this June and attend Washington University in Saint Louis next year. She is also a high school gymnastic athlete and youth coach supporting other girls in their pursuit of healthy minds and bodies.

Bogi has been a strong, spirited and welcoming presence in her troop and the Lodge. She has been an active, engaged leader in Troop 306 thriving in several roles, including PL and SPL. She was inducted into the OA and set her path on bringing people together and making authentic relationships. Bogi took on roles related to building and improving relationships and has been a key leader in the creation and development of Pennacook’s Sisterhood of the Brotherhood Program working to ensure a welcoming and inclusive path for all our new young women members.

Bogi, a constant presence and role model of good Scouting and quality engagements, took on roles related to gathering people together. She made a real difference serving on the Executive Committee, as Lodge Secretary, as our first ever Chief Excitement Officer and now as Program Leader and Big Cheese. Bogi was a nationally recognized ceremonialist and delegate to the 2024 National Order of the Arrow Conference in Colorado. She has led events and programs at Wah-Tut-Ca, TL Storer and NE Base Camp and served on the staffs of two National Youth Leader Training conferences.

Carolyn Abernathy is best described as a “creative spark.”  To paraphrase the Lantern Light leadership, if you were to give her a bench to work with and nothing else, she would find creative ways to turn that bench into the most popular program area at Wah-Tut-Ca.

As the head of the Creative Expressions program, Carolyn has displayed that she can be creative and artistic; but also engaging and charismatic.  She is always thinking of novel ways to grow and change the program while keeping it fun and exciting for kids, and her impact is felt not just at Creative Expressions but throughout camp.

She is a current Senior at Coe-Brown Academy in Northwood, but her extracurricular activities speak as much to her character as her academics.  She is the President of the Forensics Club and Gay-Straight Alliance; has acted, edited, and directed shows for the Film Club; is involved in the Drama, Debate, and Craft Clubs; and beyond all of that, has been organizing collections for the homeless shelter of Strafford County.

After graduation from Coe-Brown Academy, she hopes to study Biology and eventually pursue a career in Forensic Science.

When asked about Emma Perry, her Camp Director described her as a “spark of positivity each and every day.”  That is how she is known - as having the ability to energize a room with just her presence, even when everyone else is dragging.

This past year, she took on the daunting task of starting a new Performing Arts program at Wah-Tut-Ca.  This was no small task, as it had never been done before.  

Emma approached the challenge with her brand of positivity, inventiveness, and creativity.  Through some trial and error, she was able to build one of the most successful and popular programs at camp.

Outside of camp, Emma is a Freshman at the University of Southern Maine, where she is a Theatre major.  Some of her recent theatre performances include acting as ensemble in the show “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” and as Nancy Drew in “Nancy Drew, The Secret of the Old Clock: A Radio Play.”

Connor Olson is one of the few individuals to have been working with Lantern Light Camps since the first Summer in 2022, and he has grown an extraordinary amount in those four years.

While Connor is not the most visible of staff, he has had an extraordinarily wide impact on the day-to-day operations of Wah-Tut-Ca. Like Craig, he is quiet but extremely hard-working. He is the first to volunteer for almost any task or to jump in to help out in any program area - but seeks no credit for it. As an example, his Camp Director recounted having to specifically ask him to take breaks on hot days - on multiple occasions.

Beyond his work-ethic, Connor is excellent with the kids. Campers would seek him out - either to make them laugh or to play gaga ball.

Even in the “off-season”, Connor has been instrumental in running events. He volunteers both during and after weekend program to ensure that work is completed.

Outside of camp, Connor is a graduate of Amesbury High School and is currently in the process of joining the Coast Guard. In the future, he hopes to serve his community while also protecting natural resources by becoming a New Hampshire Fish and Game Officer.

Erik Blankinship is an Eagle Scout from Troop 945 in Damascus, Maryland, having earned the award in 1993.  One of the highlights of his time as a Scout was the opportunity to perform in front of 35,000 people in the opening arena show at the 1989 National Jamboree.

As an adult, he served as Cubmaster of Pack 56 in Cambridge for more than seven years and continues to volunteer on the Committee of Troop 56 in Cambridge and as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 42 in Quincy. 

In 2023, Erik, along with his wife Sen, helped organize Cambridge Merit Badge Day, for which they each received the Outstanding Scouter Award from the Sons of Liberty District.  He earned his Woodbadge beads in 2024 and is an ordeal member of the Order of the Arrow.

Outside of Scouts, Erik has coached competitive FIRST LEGO League robotics teams for over six years. Professionally, Erik creates software products for clients such as LEGO Education and One Laptop per Child.

Originally from Troops 7 in Lowell and 74 in Chelmsford, Zack has become a fixture in the regional Scouting community.

Zack is an Eagle Scout, former Vice Chief of Nanepashemet Lodge, and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.  Under his leadership, the Lodge built the new lifeguard tower at the Wah-Tut-Ca Waterfront.  This was a huge (but also badly needed) undertaking, and Zack persevered until the job was completed.

Zack spent many Summers working at Wah-Tut-Ca, first at COPE and then as the Kitchen Steward.  After that, he moved into camp leadership as the Program Director from 2014-2015 and Reservation Director from 2016-2019.  

As Reservation Director, he was always trying to make Wah-Tut-Ca better by eschewing rigid ways of thinking in favor of innovative ideas.

Since then, he has served as the General Manager of New England Base Camp in Milton.  As the GM, he organizes programs for the hundreds of kids that pass through the camp each week.

Known for her can-do attitude and natural leadership abilities, Stephanie MacFarland is one of the most talented individuals to have emerged from the Spirit of Adventure Council.

There are few Scout camps and programs in the region that Stephanie has not been involved with. In the last 15 years, she has supported day and overnight Cub programs at Camps Massasoit, Norse, and Sayre. She also served as a Program Director at New England Base Camp for five years, from 2019-2024.

Beyond the traditional camp program, Stephanie has been volunteering with the Mass Bay Scout Climbers for more than a decade. For those unfamiliar, Mass Bay Scout Climbers is a group of climbing enthusiasts that gets kids excited about rock climbing and high ropes by facilitating programs throughout the Greater Boston area.

In 2019, she became one of the first female youth to be inducted into the Order of the Arrow as a member of Pennacook Lodge. An active member of the Venturing program, she was also one of the first women to attain the Summit award in 2021.

An entrepreneur is an individual who identifies a business opportunity, takes on financial risk, and organizes resources to innovate or launch a business.  Ray Southworth is an entrepreneur and the President of Lantern Light Camps.  As President, Ray has been a driving force for change, growth, and development of the organization.  

Ray and his family have been part of Wah-Tut-Ca since its opening in 1937.  Ray is a third-generation alumnus, having attended as both a camper and staff member.

Ray has extensive experience as a turnaround leader in several other non-profits.  As the Chair of the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, he reorganized the board, recruited new talent, and implemented reforms that turned its finances around, leading to a stable and successful organization. 

Ray also provides talent to Native American Jump Start. NAJS grants are intended to break down barriers to employment or education for talented Native Americans.  With Ray's business skills, NAJS has awarded over $750,000.

A successful entrepreneur, Ray is the founder and COO of Netria Corporation, which he has steered for three decades.  Under his leadership, Netria has become a major distributor of computer and non-IT hardware in New Hampshire.