Our Story
Our team of dedicated professionals is committed to creating a community where children can build lifelong friendships, gain confidence, and create unforgettable memories in a safe and inclusive environment.
Meet Our Team
Denise Learned
Denise Learned first came to Camp Hazen YMCA in 1971 as the daughter of staff members, Gene & Carol Phaneuf. On the summer staff since 1979, Denise was an Assistant Counselor, Counselor, Waterfront Director and Village Director. After graduating with a BS in Human Development and Family Relations from the University of CT, Denise joined the year-round staff at Hazen as Program Director for 5 years. She was Executive Director of the Shoreline Soup Kitchens for 7 years, while remaining involved with Hazen as a member of the Board of Directors. As her passion has always been camping, and specifically Camp Hazen, Denise rejoined the Hazen staff as Executive Director and CEO in 1999. Denise is currently active as a member of the CT Alliance of YMCAs Public Policy Committee, and a member of the Alliance’s Strategic Planning Task Force; a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chester Historical Society; and a Trustee at Essex Savings Bank. Denise lives in Chester with her husband Michael, longtime Hazen alum and current Maintenance Director.
Kath Davies
Kath Davies first came to Camp Hazen YMCA in 1999, flying over from the UK for what she thought would be one summer of fun while studying for her B.Ed at the University College of St. Mark and St. John in Plymouth. Instead, she realized she wanted to build a career in camping. After completing an 18‑month YMCA training visa, she joined Hazen’s Professional Staff, initially overseeing Group Camping and directing Day Camp each summer.
Today, Kath oversees all programs at Hazen and works closely with both the Food Service and Maintenance teams. She is deeply involved in the broader YMCA and camping communities, having chaired the CT Membership & Program Network and the Northeast YMCA Camp Conference, served on a Y‑USA Overnight Camp Task Force subcommittee, and taught multiple YMCA training courses.
She has also led significant statewide work in youth camp safety. Kath has long served on the State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood’s Youth Camp Safety Advisory Council and most recently became its chair.
Outside of camp life, she can often be found attempting to play golf or dreaming about race car driving.
Alex Learned
Assistant Camp Director
Alex is our Assistant Camp Director at Camp Hazen YMCA. He grew up at Hazen—first attending in 1994 and joining the staff in 2005. Over the years he has worked in nearly every corner of camp life, from cabin counselor and program instructor in both overnight and day camp to serving on the summer leadership team beginning in 2009. After earning his BA in History and Religion from The George Washington University, he returned to Hazen full‑time.
In his current role, Alex oversees portions of Hazen’s year‑round youth and family programs, camp marketing, staff hiring and training, and several specialized summer activities. He also serves as a Camp Yankee committee member, Vice‑Chair of the Connecticut Y Network, a member of the Chester Winter Carnivale planning committee, and a volunteer at Chester Elementary School.
And while he’s always loved heading back to camp, these days he’s most excited about being a dad to his 2 sons and enjoying some quality family time.
Nicky Fauteux
Senior Program Director
Nicky is from Enfield, CT and is one of our Program Directors on the Year‑Round Staff. She graduated from the University of New Haven in 2014 with a degree in Communication. Nicky oversees our Summer Program Directors and leads our Vacation Days throughout the year.
She first joined Hazen as an Overnight Cabin Counselor in Creative Arts, later stepping into leadership roles as Creative Arts Director and, in 2017, one of our LEA Directors. Before joining us full‑time, Nicky worked in the radio industry, where she hosted her own country music show and appeared as a panelist on a talk show.
Nicky is also deeply involved in the wider camping community and currently serves as the 2nd Vice Chair of the Connecticut Camping Association.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing sports, and doing arts & crafts. And one thing everyone should know about Nicky—she loves a good cheesy joke or riddle.
Jake Fernandes
Program Director
Jake Fernandes began his Hazen story in 2014 as an Overnight Camp Counselor in Creative Arts, quickly becoming a familiar and trusted face around camp. In 2018, he joined the Year‑Round Team, where he now brings his energy and experience to two of our most impactful programs—serving as our Day Camp Director and supervising our LEAdership Program. Jake loves working with both our youngest campers and our oldest teens, helping them discover confidence, community, and the joy of camp.
Outside of Hazen, Jake is an enthusiastic traveler who spends his free time visiting friends across the country and around the world. He’s also on a personal mission to visit every National Park—he’s currently at 26 and counting.
If Jake weren’t a camp professional, he’s convinced he’d be a world‑champion speed jigsaw puzzler and would be lobbying hard to make it an Olympic sport.