Billy & Judy Haynes

- Camp Owners

Camp Ton-A-Wandah has been owned and operated by members of the Haynes family for three generations. Billy is a graduate of Wofford College with a B.A. in psychology. Judy Haynes is a native of Jacksonville and an alumna of the University of North Florida with graduate studies in sociology as well as elementary and secondary education. The second of Donnie Haynes’s grandsons to follow in her footsteps, Billy and his wife Judy became the owner and operators of Ton-A-Wandah in 1988.  For over thirty years, Billy and Judy have made it their mission of making TAW a place where young women can come and grow in a sisterhood that fosters the development of Women of Substance. Together, they are proud to see that this mission is being carried on through their son and daughter in law.     

Kim & Ben Haynes

- Camp Directors

Kim and Ben met at Camp Ton-A-Wandah in the early 1990’s. Ben, son of Captain Billy and Ms. Judy, graduated from Presbyterian College with a degree in Political Science. Kim graduated from Converse College with a degree in Accounting and Finance and then later went on to get her Masters in Business Administration from Clemson University. Ben has worked at camp since his high school years in various operational positions and Kim began her camp career as a camp counselor teaching tennis. Kim later became a CIT coordinator, a program director and continues to run our camp office and financials. They were married in 2000 and have three children – John Carswell, Ellie and Brayden. They feel that camp plays an integral role in developing skills such as independence, self-confidence, social skills, and responsibility that impact the happiness and growth of children outside everyday routines. 

Marci Irazuzta

- Staff and Camper Development

Marci Irazuzta is from Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a BA in Anthropology. Marci has always been interested in youth development and working outdoors. While studying at UNF, she worked as a facilitator for the university’s challenge course. There, she fine-tuned her techniques in guiding and persuading individuals to step out of their comfort zone and lead them to success. Post graduation, she took the opportunity to become a full-time mentor at a girls therapeutic boarding school. We are so excited to have Marci on the team as she brings 10+ years of camp experience including 5 summers on TAW’s Leadership Staff. During the off-season, Marci enjoys exploring the outdoors with Freya, Posie, and the other camp dogs. Marci is so excited to learn and grow with the Ton-A-Wandah community.  

Todd & Brad

Maintenance Team

Meet our Maintenance Team! They work hard throughout the year to keep camp up and running. Todd has a dog name Marlo, and a cat named Kitty. Brad has a dog named Goose and  We really appreciate all the hard work they do.  

Jenny Taft

- Receptionist

 Jenny joined the TAW team in 2021. She grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia where her dancing career started. Jenny was a professional ballerina with the Cincinnati Ballet and even danced as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. She is also in the movie "Dirty Dancing." Jenny even has an identical twin! She also has a dog named Rocoe and is Juliet's (our marketing directors) Mom. You can find her in the Lodge answering the phone, sending out mail, and greeting anyone who comes to visit including camp dogs.

Jesse Wharton

- Alumni Coordinator

Jesse grew up in Tryon, NC and spent 11 summers at Ton-A-Wandah!  It was at TAW that she fell in love with outdoor adventure and backpacking.  She completed Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership Courses before coming back as a counselor to lead the climbing wall and backpacking programs for two summers in college.  Her early career continued in outdoor education, working ropes courses, climbing wall, and kids backpacking programs in many places in the US.  Jesse graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a double major in English and Women's Studies, and later earned her MAT in English education from Western Carolina University.  She was a classroom teacher, mainly in middle school, for 18 years.  Now Jesse lives not far from camp in Saluda, NC, with her two boys Everett (11) and Alister (5). She is thrilled to come home to her TAW community. In her free time you can find her paddleboarding, practicing yoga, hiking, and dancing!

Zoe R

Evening and Special Programs Coordinator

Hey there, my name is Zoe. I was born in Florida but grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. However, I have truly found my home in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

This is my first year at Camp Ton-A-Wandah, but I have been attending and working at camps for many years!

I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Recreation and Sports Management from Mars Hill University and am currently pursuing my Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Social Impact at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Alongside my studies, I work full-time in ministry, where I focus on community engagement, development, and direct service work.

I am most excited about the opportunity to build meaningful connections with campers and staff, create fun and engaging programming, and be a part of the amazing traditions that make camp special. As Program Coordinator, I look forward to planning and leading activities that bring people together, challenge them to grow, and help create unforgettable memories. I love seeing campers step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and develop confidence through outdoor adventure and teamwork!

I am Wilderness First Responder (WFR) trained, love spelunking (caving), and enjoy leading outdoor adventure trips where I can combine my love for the outdoors with mentoring others!

Mimi Alexander

Executive Chef

Mimi graduated from The University of the South, Sewanee, with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Sciences. She was raised in East Tennessee; but as an adult, mostly made her home in Tryon, NC, where she raised her family. She has been living in the Flat Rock/Tuxedo area for several years. She has worked for several non-profit organizations in various capacities: Financial Administrator, Program Director, Volunteer Coordinator. She has taught Middle School and High School Math. Eventually, she began cooking and has worked in restaurants in Tryon, Asheville and Hendersonville, and at another Flat Rock summer camp. An avid sewer, she has taught sewing at Camp Greystone; she does a lot of custom sewing; and has spent many weekends selling at craft shows and on Etsy. She has 2 grown sons and a daughter-in-law.Mimi is happy to  bring her expertice to the Tonawandah community!