Friends News
2025 Board of Director Candidates
At this year’s annual membership meeting, the membership will be voting on three open seats for the board of directors. Here are the nominees, and keep reading below for information about each candidate.
Rebecca Kaminek
David Parr
Rebecca Powell
Melanie Sainz
Jeff Sederstrom
Rebecca Kaminek
I am interested in serving on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Devil's Lake State Park. Below I've outlined a few of my skills and experiences that would be beneficial to the Friends organization.
I currently manage multiple committees for my job, this includes coordinating the meeting schedules, adhering to WI open meeting laws and Roberts Rules, hosting the meetings (in person and virtually), taking minutes, and preparing the meeting agendas and materials.
I completed an internship at the Aldo Leopold Center with a focus on invasive species removal and prairie restoration.
Many years ago I worked for Devil's Lake State Park as a LTE through the DNR and had a good relationship with the park staff. I stayed on for 3 full seasons, spring to late fall. I primarily worked in the Visitor Center helping guests with directions, park stickers, and checking people into the campground. At times I worked with Sue at the Nature Center. I guided canoe/kayaking trips, led school field trips on hikes, and helped with educational workshops. I also stayed late into the season and helped with property maintenance. I literally did everything from trash pickup and vault bathroom cleaning to trail restoration, painting, brush clearing, and "pest removal" (mostly wasps and raccoons).
I have worked at a variety of volunteer and community hosted events since I was a young girl.
I have a Bachelors in Art & Science with concentration in Sustainable Management.
I am organized, efficient, creative, and have good communication skills.
Aside from the few skills and experiences I've shared, I really believe the reason I would be a good fit for the Board is because I absolutely love Devil's Lake State Park and I spend a lot of my free time there. It is my home away from home. I would be honored to have the opportunity to help preserve our beautiful resources and to find ways to get others in our community to connect with the park on a deeper level too.
David Parr
David Parr has loved Devil's lake since his first visit as a child. He previously served on the board from 2020 to 2024. David operates a Greenhouse and Farm market outside of New Glarus along with a wholesale produce business.
Rebeca Powell
Rebecca Powell grew up in Baraboo, where summer vacations were spent camping or renting a small cabin at Devil’s Lake—memories that shaped her deep respect for Wisconsin’s natural beauty and the role state parks play in connecting people to the outdoors. She is a communications strategist, community organizer, and former lavender farmer, now serving on the Board of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the Democratic National Committee’s Climate Council. Rebecca is also the co-founder and host of Town Road Talk, a podcast dedicated to rural storytelling and environmental advocacy across the state.
Relevant Experience & Skills
Environmental Leadership: Currently leading a tree canopy project and climate justice event in Milwaukee; former owner of Devil’s Lake Lavender Farm, where she established a monarch butterfly flyway, pollinator gardens, puddle ponds, and bee colonies—while using the farm as an educational resource for the community.
Lake Stewardship: Founder of Friends of Beaver Lake (2008), partnering with the Wisconsin DNR and Citizen Lake Monitoring Network on Secchi disk monitoring and establishing the lake’s first invasive-species boat-washing stations.
Community & Education: Helped establish rain gardens and pollinator habitats at UW–Baraboo/Platteville; experienced in developing outreach programs and mobilizing volunteers.
Policy & Government Insight: Through her work in the Wisconsin State Assembly and on statewide boards, Rebecca gained direct experience with how legislation, budgeting, and DNR policy affect the long-term health of our natural resources and state parks. She understands how funding streams, conservation programs, and community partnerships fit together, and can help the Friends navigate opportunities to strengthen support for Devil’s Lake through these channels.
Board & Governance Experience: Current board member of the WisDems Environmental Caucus; skilled in strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, and organizational leadership.
Communications & Outreach: New York Times bestselling co-author, former television producer, and current podcast host with professional media experience. Has the skills, equipment, and vision to help expand park educational programming through creative outreach such as podcasts, video storytelling, and educational campaigns.
What Excites Me About Joining the Friends
For me, Devil’s Lake is more than a park—it’s where I first learned to love the outdoors, and it represents a place of belonging for families like mine who found camping and cabins here to be their only “vacation.” Those early experiences gave me a lifelong commitment to conservation, and today I want to give back by helping ensure this park remains a place of discovery and joy for generations to come.
What excites me most about joining the Friends is the chance to combine my personal connection to Devil’s Lake with my professional experience in conservation, communications, and public policy. Alongside supporting hands-on projects, I can bring insight into how legislation, funding, and DNR priorities intersect with the work of the Friends. I believe this perspective, paired with my skills in communications and community organizing, can help strengthen partnerships, expand volunteer engagement, and open new opportunities for support.
I see this role as an opportunity to bring both tradition and innovation to Wisconsin’s busiest and most beloved state park—whether by continuing essential on-the-ground projects or by developing creative outreach such as podcasts and video collaborations with the naturalist program to connect even more people to the mission of the Friends.
Melanie Sainz
My name is Melanie Sainz and I'm the founding director of Little Eagle Arts Foundation. Since 2019 we've partnered with our friends at the Nature Center to provide Native arts related experiences for the visitors of the park. I'm a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and I've always held a place of respect and honor for Teewakacak, Sacred Lake in my Ho-Chunk language.
Jeff Sederstrom (currently serving)
Jeff was born and raised in Milwaukee. He learned to love camping during his short time in the Boy Scouts. He was introduced to Devil’s Lake State Park in a high school earth science class trip in the mid 70’s. After that trip, Jeff knew he needed to spend more time at this beautiful park, making the trip numerous times, preferring to camp in the cool fall weather.
Jeff moved to Baraboo for work in the 80s. Finally being close to the best park in the Wisconsin State Park System, he could enjoy camping, hunting, time on the trails, and a splash in the lake whenever! Jeff also enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, downhill skiing, bicycling, nature photography, and astrophotography.
Fast forward a few decades, and now he’s a retiree looking for a way to give back. Still living in Baraboo, Jeff started as an avid volunteer with the Friends of Devil’s Lake and will be completing his first year on the board (filling year 3 of a vacant seat). Jeff understands the importance of raising funds to plan and fund repairs and improvements in the park. This is important now, more than ever, with the state legislature cutting funding to the parks.
New "Hike Selector Tool" now online!
With over 30 miles of varied terrain at Devil’s Lake State Park, it can be challenging to find the right trail for the right experience level! We’ve developed a list of “things to know before you go” along with a matrix of North and South shore trails to help visitors pick the trail for them. Arranged by time and difficulty, the matrix provides different options for putting your trek together to see and experience what you want.
Find the Hike Selector Tool here.
More hiking and park resources are here.
Now Hiring: Friends of Devil’s Lake Executive Director
We are currently looking for a full-time, year-round Executive Director. Interested candidates should please review the position description and then email a cover letter and resume to Hiring Committee Chair Randy Pfeifer, rpfeifer@friendsofdevilslake.org. Applications are accepted through August 14, 2025.
RSVP for the Annual Meeting today!
Our Annual Membership Meeting is Monday, September 15, 2025 inside the 100-year old Chateau on the North Shore. RSVP today!
SCHEDULE
4:00 pm - Celebrating 100 Years of the Chateau: Learn about its history from Paul Wolter of the Sauk County Historical Society (free talk!)
5:30 pm - Member Social Hour*
Enjoy pie, ice cream, and beverages!
6:00 pm - Business Meeting, Awards, and Board Member Voting*
*FREE TO MEMBERS
*$10 FOR NON-MEMBERS
Check your membership status online
Volunteers Needed for Devil's Challenge
Help the Friends of Devil’s Lake raise funds by volunteering at the Devil’s Challenge Triathlon on September 14! For every volunteer who signs up as part of the Friends, we receive a generous contribution for their time. Learn more about volunteer slots available and sign up today!
Annual Meeting - save the date!
Save the date for our Annual Meeting - Monday, September 15, 2025
Join us for pie and ice cream at our annual members’ meeting! Come ready to hear about everything we did in 2025 and everything on deck for 2026. We’ll vote for board members and plan for our 30th anniversary!
See you at the historic chateau!
Not a member yet? Join here.
Seeking Social Media Contractor!
The Friends are currently seeking a social media contractor to maintain our Facebook and Instagram accounts! Are you an experienced creative looking to share your love of Devil’s Lake State Park, the Friends, and all of our work with the world? Join our team!
Applications are due June 20. Learn more: https://www.friendsofdevilslake.org/social-media-contractor
Be one of the 100
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Chateau at Devil’s Lake, we are running a 100x100 fundraising campaign! Be one of the 100 donors contributing $100 to Devil’s Lake. Join us on June 17 for a special party and donor recognition.