Meet the candidates for the 2026 Board of Directors election. Each candidate will complete a Q&A questionnaire which will be posted below, along with links to their WGA and Geocaching.com profiles. Learn more about your 2026 candidates and then head over to the elections page to cast your vote(s).
Emily Anderson
WGA profile: acre_and_dale
Geocaching.com profile: Acre_and_Dale
Candidate Q&A: Coming soon!
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Hailey Brown
WGA profile: hgb927
Geocaching.com profile: hgb927
Candidate Q&A:
Background & Experience
-Geocaching Resume: How long have you been geocaching? How many finds and hides do you have? I have been geocaching since 2015 and have found 2,176 caches.
-WGA Involvement: Which WGA events (Spring Picnic, Fall Picnic, West Bend, etc.) have you attended or volunteered for in the past? I have attended the West Bend Cache Bash every year since 2016 and the Chili Feed as many years as possible since 2016.
-Your Skills: What skills do you possess that would benefit the WGA? (e.g., website management, accounting, graphic design, public speaking, event planning). I bring strong writing and communication skills, along with experience in education and outreach. I enjoy connecting with people and helping to build bridges between individuals, groups, and organizations.
Mission & Vision
-The Mission: The WGA’s mission is to promote and protect geocaching in Wisconsin. Which part of that mission (Education, Landowner Relations, Events, or Community) are you most passionate about, and why? I am most passionate about the community aspect of the WGA’s mission. Community is the reason geocaching works–why organizations like the WGA exist, why we gather for events, and why the game can continue to thrive.
Community & Leadership
-Member Engagement: How do you think the WGA can better reach out to new geocachers or those living in underrepresented parts of the state? I think spending time on outreach to college students and young adults in particular could really help grow the game and community. Prior to my experience at UWSP, they had a geocaching club, which does not exist anymore. Reviving or supporting potential campus-based geocaching groups in high schools or colleges is something I would love to see explored.
Just for Fun
-Geocache Types: What’s your favorite style or type of geocache to find and why does it appeal to you? My favorite caches to find are gadget caches. They often strike the perfect balance between fun and frustration.
-Geocache Hiding: Do you have a passion for hiding geocaches? I do enjoy hiding caches, especially creative ones. I enjoy designing hides that will offer a memorable experience for finders.
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Anna DeMers
WGA profile: campwebb12
Geocaching.com profile: campwebb12
Candidate Q&A:
Background & Experience
-Geocaching Resume: How long have you been geocaching? How many finds and hides do you have? 4344 real caches (not including adventure labs)
-WGA Involvement: Which WGA events (Spring Picnic, Fall Picnic, West Bend, etc.) have you attended or volunteered for in the past? Attended West Bend, Fall Campout
-Your Skills: What skills do you possess that would benefit the WGA? (e.g., website management, accounting, graphic design, public speaking, event planning). education, public speaking, event planning, have knowledge and experience in many areas including:
Serving on boards
Board member at large on Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Board (2025-present)
Secretary for the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum (2015-2024)
Secretary for the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League (2016-2019); also served on the Code of Conduct and Safe Sport Committee creating league policy
Secretary, Superior Lobe Chapter, Ice Age Trail Alliance (2022-2023)
Vice President of the Wisconsin Mycological Society (2023) and Bylaws Committee Chair (2023-2024).
Assisting the Washburn County 4-H Leaders Association Board on their bylaws as well as other organizational management (2012-2022).
President, UWSP Nordic Ski Club (2007-2008)
I own a business, Tamarack Wetland Services, LLC, and understand and practice the importance of fiscal responsibility and making connections with people in the community.
Listening to young people is an important part of planning for the future. I’ve worked with youth in leadership positions—Washburn County Youth on the County Board, Superior Days and Heart of the North Legislative Day—to bring youth voice into spaces where it often isn’t heard. At UW Extension/4-H I brought that youth perspective to the table, through youth-adult partnerships; I have continued to do this through volunteer efforts. It is important to listen to the young people because they are not only the future, they are leaders now.
My educational background in Environmental Education and Adventure Education, plus years of getting youth and adults outside and geocaching—including at camps, nature centers, and local hikes.
Mission & Vision
-The Mission: The WGA’s mission is to promote and protect geocaching in Wisconsin. Which part of that mission (Education, Landowner Relations, Events, or Community) are you most passionate about, and why? Education – it’s my background and also what I have done both professionally and with anyone that wants to learn!
-Future Goals: If elected, what is one specific goal or project you would like to see the WGA accomplish during your term? Creating a replicable Geocaching 101 event that cachers around the state could use with local partners (libraries, schools, hiking orgs, etc).
Community & Leadership
-Conflict Resolution: Board members often must work through disagreements. Describe your approach to working with a team where there are differing opinions. I like to work with a team by consensus, and have a clear understanding of expectations and how to attempt to resolve conflict. I think it’s important to talk about how decisions are made as well as how conflict is addressed ahead of time so that people are in agreement before things get contentious. Listening to everyone’s piece is important and creates an environment where everyone hopefully feels heard.
-Member Engagement: How do you think the WGA can better reach out to new geocachers or those living in underrepresented parts of the state? I think that having family events and partnering with libraries and other local organizations (like the Ice Age Trail chapters) would be helpful. I think that I am in an underrepresented part of the state (NW WI) – we have lots of old caches and not too many new ones, many old teams have left the area or stopped caching. Having caches that are well-maintained is helpful to get people into the game as well as events where they can learn how to use the app and meet others that they could cache with.
Commitment & Logistics
-Time Commitment: Being on the Board requires attending meetings (online and in-person) and helping run events. Are you able to commit the necessary time to fulfill these duties for the duration of your term? Yes
-Delegation: Are you comfortable asking for help and delegating tasks to other volunteers, or do you prefer to handle projects solo? I can handle projects solo and also am comfortable asking for help and delegating.
Just for Fun
-Geocache Types: What’s your favorite style or type of geocache to find and why does it appeal to you? Earthcaches! I love to learn about the land around (as well as other things). Earthcaches have helped me understand where I live and visit in a way that really has added to my life!
-Geocache Hiding: Do you have a passion for hiding geocaches? I enjoy hiding caches – again, my favorite is earthcaches. I like to learn and then explain (usually more simply than I found it elsewhere) how the world around us was formed.
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Dee-Jay Lund
WGA profile: bddeejay
Geocaching.com profile: bddeejay
Candidate Q&A:
Background & Experience
-Geocaching Resume: How long have you been geocaching? Well my profile says I joined 8/9/13. I say I didn’t get serious about it until this past October. Since I joined in 2013 it was more of a here and there grab a few. Not cache for a couple years, then grab a few, which I always enjoyed. For whatever reason this past October the timing was right and everything clicked into place. I just took off with geocaching, started getting more involved, and here we are now. Me being able to really get into something I am passionate about, and just love doing.
-How many finds and hides do you have? As of today (1/23/26)
I have 617 finds and 2 hides. Again, in all honesty most of these hides have been since this past October, along with my first two hides! Hid my 1st in December, and my second in January. Thoughts are brewing for my next…..
-WGA Involvement: Which WGA events (Spring Picnic, Fall Picnic, West Bend, etc.) have you attended or volunteered for in the past? In short, and in honesty, none. I did not even know most of these events happened until diving head into geocaching recently. I am learning more and more, which is totally surprising me, and feeling the need and want to be involved. I recently joined and signed up for WGA this past Nov/Dec. after going to my 1st event in De Pere, GIFF event. Which is the 1st time I got to witness how geocaching connects people. I also went to the Happy New Year 2026! where I was able to put more faces to names. I discovered and entered the photo of the month contest for WGA and entered my photo in December, and won. I also have been trying my hand at the Lonely Cache Game as of late. I may not have as many years of experience with all this, and involvement, but I will. Dedication is definitely not lacking. And I am looking forward to all the new experiences ahead for me and providing new insight.
-Your Skills: What skills do you possess that would benefit the WGA? (e,g., website management, accounting, graphic design, public speaking, event planning). Why is it so hard to say good things and talk about oneself!? I am actually really good with people, and having conversations. Just listening and gaining insight and new information. I do some accounting, public speaking, and event planning for work as it is, so I could definitely bring that to the table. I will also hopefully bring joy and laughter, as I feel like that is an important skill to have in any capacity.
Mission & Vision
-The Mission: The WGA’s mission is to promote and protect geocaching in Wisconsin. Which part of that mission (Education, Landowner Relations, Events, or Community) are you most passionate about, and why? Oooooo I think I have a passion for all of them to an extent, but right now I am really feeling the Education and Community parts. Education has always been important to me, for myself to continue to gain knowledge on a personal level, but also to be able to share that knowledge and help others grow in their education as well. Community for sure, I have just been feeling a lot of support from the geocaching community in such a positive way that I want to spread that feeling of community to others.
-Future Goals: If elected, what is one specific goal or project you would like to see the WGA accomplish during your term? I am sure there are already projects for this or in the making. If so, I would like to be a part of the efforts of getting geocaching out there, for more people to learn about and spread the word, for all age groups. Figure out ways to “advertise” if you will, that peak interest to get out there and find a cache. I would also like to be able to have a virtual suggestion box, and get ideas from other cachers that I may or may not be able to use or implement during my term.
Community & Leadership
-Conflict Resolution: Board members often must work through disagreements. Describe your approach to working with a team where there are differing opinions. It would be my hope that we have figured out how to handle this in life by now. Open communication is of the utmost importance. Hearing and listening to each other, and patience. Just because there are two different opinions doesn’t even mean one of them is wrong. Sometimes it does. In my work life, I deal with this all the time working with my team. Talk, listen, discuss. Repeat if necessary. Respect the process, and I find that resolutions will follow.
-Member Engagement: How do you think the WGA can better reach out to new geocachers or those living in underrepresented parts of the state? As I mentioned this is one of my future goals I would like to work on during my term if I am elected. Send me in coach! But no, the wheels are turning with some new ideas.
Commitment & Logistics
-Time Commitment: Being on the Board requires attending meetings (online and in-person) and helping run events. Are you able to commit the necessary time to fulfill these duties for the duration of your term? I don’t know, I might be geocaching :). Kidding (sort-of), I should be able to assist and help with said events and participate in meetings as I figured this would be a needed part of being on the board, and looking forward to working with others.
-Delegation: Are you comfortable asking for help and delegating tasks to other volunteers, or do you prefer to handle projects solo? Honestly, either works for me. One part of my job now is being the volunteer coordinator so I am able to delegate and handle tasks accordingly. The other part of my job is managing my own time and schedule, and keeping myself on task, and getting things done. I am fortunate enough to oversee myself in my work life.
Just for Fun
-Geocache Types: What’s your favorite style or type of geocache to find and why does it appeal to you? Eyi yi yi, how do I choose?????? They all are great and serve any type of mood I am in on any given day to find. Some days you want easy, and some days you want hard. I do really like the satisfaction of solving a mystery and making the find. Or a multi that takes you on a journey or an adventure, that is seemingly difficult, but yet you feel so alive after accomplishing the quest. I enjoy the traditionals when I don’t want to do a lot of thinking and just want to go for a hike, walk through the woods, or a graveyard. Okay, I realize this doesn’t give a specific answer to your question, but I just can’t have a favorite.
-Geocache Hiding: Do you have a passion for hiding geocaches? What types of geocaches do you like to hide and why? I have just discovered the joy in hiding my own caches. I was nervous about it at first, not sure why, but I have enjoyed it thus far. The two that I have hid, are both mystery caches, I believe I chose them as I have been solving a lot of mysteries lately and the ideas have just come to me. I enjoy being creative, and crafty. I do have a multi cache that I am working on next. Well maybe next, and some ideas for a traditional series. Which I hope will bring more people to my area to find some good geocaches.
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Kimberly Sudar
WGA profile: mrshack
Geocaching.com profile: hack1of2
Candidate Q&A:
Background & Experience
-Geocaching Resume: How long have you been geocaching? How many finds and hides do you have? My husband, John and I have been geocaching for 15 1/2 years. We have found 17,625 geocaches. We have hidden 288 Geocaches . My husband John does most of the computer work behind the placement of the caches. I help with the containers getting them ready and finding locations and giving the ideas of what to do as far as theme and hiding them.
-WGA Involvement: Which WGA events (Spring Picnic, Fall Picnic, West Bend, etc.) have you attended or volunteered for in the past? As a team we have helped hide caches for several of the events that have taken place over the past 15 years. We have hidden caches and some of the locations that were more than an hour from our home location as well. I have been helping with all of those cache placements and ideas. One year I helped with the children’s games organizing the games and helping the kids play games at a camp out. There were a couple of years where there were night caches for the camp out and John and I participated in that as well. Both John and I have attended most of the camp outs and picnics for the past 15 years.
-Your Skills: What skills do you possess that would benefit the WGA? (e.g., website management, accounting, graphic design, public speaking, event planning). The areas where I think I will be the most helpful is in public speaking as well as in event planning. I have done a number of event planning events for things through our church and through our neighborhood. Our neighborhood does Block parties for the past 25 years and I create the brochure information packet and sit on the committee to plan our theme ,actives and menu. When our children were younger, we planned neighborhood Bible clubs for our neighbors and we did this for probably 15 years. Sometimes I used curriculum that was already in existence at other times I created the curriculum for us to use. I have also done public speaking through our church and in the community. I work well with Children especially and I could help with children’s activities and ideas of things to engage the children at the camp out and picnic. I have gifts of leader ship, as well as ability to follow and be a worker to do tasks that are assigned. I very much enjoy hiking the Ice Age Trail and this is one of my hobbies. I could go out and help with checking on the WGA ice age trail series cashes, as well as the state park series cashes. I am able to get out hiking and about to help with these types of things. We are pretty well-connected with the Geocaching community and I believe I have people that I can engage to help with different projects and activities. I am able to lead and I am also able to follow others and do the required work needed to be done. I have gifts in teaching and leadership. I work well with others and am not afraid to interact with the public and people I don’t know.
Mission & Vision
-The Mission: The WGA’s mission is to promote and protect geocaching in Wisconsin. Which part of that mission (Education, Landowner Relations, Events, or Community) are you most passionate about, and why? I certainly am interested in educating others about Geocaching throughout our community. I certainly can help with education through the community and events that we have. I would not be so good at doing this through social media as I do not participate in social media platforms. My husband, John, Mr. Hack does do quite a bit of promotion of the WGA through his connection with social media and the website for the Geocaching site in Wisconsin. As we live in the same household, I certainly can give him updated information that would be helpful to share with the community through that social media platforms.
-Future Goals: If elected, what is one specific goal or project you would like to see the WGA accomplish during your term? I’m specifically interested in helping with the events that we have and encouraging more activities to take place at these events. Particularly the camp out which does go Friday Saturday and Sunday. In recent years it seems there has been less activity going on other than the daytime on Saturday for this event. When we first begin geocaching the camp out had a lot of organized activities going on Friday night as well as the evening on afraid to interact with the public. I do think it is valuable also to have activities for the children at these events to encourage families to come. I would be interesting in helping an organize planned activities for the children at the events.
Community & Leadership
-Conflict Resolution: Board members often must work through disagreements. Describe your approach to working with a team where there are differing opinions. I tend to work well with other people in community and in groups. I have done quite a bit of group work through my church as well as through my job for 43 years . I served on a number of boards where there was not always agreement. I feel that I am a good listener and I try to look at both sides of the story and see the pros and cons of both opinions. I do not struggle with anger management and like to maintain a level of peace with others. I also do not feel that I need to have my way in what we do and I am always open to other peoples input and opinions I like to think of myself as a peacemaker. Among our family and our neighbors there has been a lot of disharmony over the past five years related to political views as well as how to handle the Covid epidemic. I feel that I was very instrumental in keeping our family on speaking terms with one another as I have being very understanding of both points of view. I do not see myself as a highly controlling person, and I can take instruction from others. I am also not afraid to confront people who are saying things that may be out of line or inappropriate, in a gentle and kind way.
-Member Engagement: How do you think the WGA can better reach out to new geocachers or those living in underrepresented parts of the state? As far as member engagement that is a little bit tricky. I do think the way the WGA rotates their events throughout the state is very helpful. When we have an event in these under represented areas we certainly can reach out to people in the community to invite them to hide caches for us. Also, by having some of the state wide initiatives of the series that we have of the state trails, the state parks and the Ice Age Trail, this is a way to engage people in the WGA, by hiding cashes that are part of a series in different parts of the state. I do think it’s important to have members of the board representing different areas of the state as well.
Commitment & Logistics
-Time Commitment: Being on the Board requires attending meetings (online and in-person) and helping run events. Are you able to commit the necessary time to fulfill these duties for the duration of your term? As I have been retired now for three years and my mother has passed, I do have the appropriate amount of time available to be on the board and serve the required commitments. We go to the events anyways and we are able to stay the extra time needed to help for the events. I do have a new grandchild which I will be taking care of one day a week on Fridays. So if there is a need to be someplace early on the day on Fridays that will be difficult for me to do. When we have events that start in the evening on Friday there should be no problem. I am available on Sunday evenings to do the zoom meetings once a month. I also have time regularly to check emails or whatever format updated information will be sent out to board members. I do have some commitments through my church and my community but they do not require the entire day, and there is flexibility for me to serve time on the board.
-Delegation: Are you comfortable asking for help and delegating tasks to other volunteers, or do you prefer to handle projects solo? I am certainly not afraid to ask people for help and I do so regularly on projects that I work on. As a registered nurse at the hospital I had to depend on my nurses aides to delegate tasks to them and I have no trouble doing this. I will say though that in the absence of appropriate help I will complete the work if it’s not being done . I am also willing to work on projects alone, if it’s within my scope of ability. I Also, regularly served as a relief charge nurse in my job at the hospital where I had to delegate all the new admissions that were coming throughout the day to my staff.
Just for Fun
-Geocache Types: What’s your favorite style or type of geocache to find and why does it appeal to you? We definitely like to find geocaches that are in green spaces. We like to have some kind of a hike to go on and to find a very scenic location. To me geocaching is about the places it brings me and the adventure that I have when I go there. I am not a big fan of real tricky hard caches finds, particularly micros in the woods. I like to be able to find the cache that I’m looking for and if it’s a little bit tricky that’s OK and makes it fun but not something that’s nearly impossible to find. I also like to find caches by hiders that we know do a really good job. So often times we actually look for who is the person that hid the cache and that makes us more interested in finding it. We also like to look at caches that have a lot of favorite points especially when we’re traveling. When we’re traveling, we do enjoy the adventure Labs if they’re bringing us to a very interesting historical locations or scenic overviews.
-Geocache Hiding: Do you have a passion for hiding geocaches? What types of geocaches do you like to hide and why? We really do have a passion for hiding geocaches particularly for special events. I do like to hide themed caches for events that have a theme to such as the cache bash in West Bend as well as the janboree in Waukesha. Probably our favorite type of cache to hide is a letter box hybrid.