Meet our new Board President, Janine Valine
We are excited to introduce our new Board President, Janine Valine! Janine joined the Westminster Woods Board of Directors in April 2022 and moved into the role of Board President in October 2023. At Westminster Woods, we strive to create opportunities for transformation, connection, and reflection through Outdoor Education, Ministries Programming, and Guest Experiences. As a former summer staffer and summer camp alumni, Janine has experienced the transformative power of our programming first hand and will bring this lived experience into her role as Board President.
Janine first came to Westminster Woods in 1993 as a camper in Sherwood Forest and attended camp every year through High School Camp. She went on to serve on summer staff for 5 years working as a counselor, in the kitchen, and on the First Aid Team until she eventually became the First Aid Coordinator. Janine credits her summers working at the Woods for igniting her passion for healthcare and helping her find a career as a Nurse. Janine is a Certified Nurse Practitioner with a BS in Animal Science from Cal Poly Pomona, a BSN-RN from San Francisco State, and a MSN NP from University of Southern California.
As a lifelong member of the Bethany Presbyterian Church in San Bruno, Janine has strengthened her connection to Christ and community while maintaining a strong bond with us here at the Woods. In addition to her time at Summer Camp, Janine has enjoyed attending Westminster Woods Adult Ministries Programming including Women's Weekend, Alumni Weekend, and she even participated in the construction of our beloved playground. Her years of service at the Woods have brought others closer together and closer to Christ.
Janine will be bringing her rich personal history at the Woods into her work on the Board of Directors. As president, Janine says, “I am looking forward to guiding the Woods through the post-Covid era where many of us still haven’t felt fully comfortable returning to our communities from our self-made silos. I am excited to help re-cultivate the culture of Westminster Woods, reconnect alumni and supporters to the Woods, and embrace new connections. I am looking forward to exploring new perspectives of what camp can be to this new generation of campers while still longing for my children to get to know and experience the amazingness of the camp I grew up in.” As a Summer Camp Alumni, Nurse Practitioner, practicing Presbyterian, and mother, Janine is uniquely qualified to understand and meet the current needs of our community while maintaining the deep roots of love, transformation, and community that make Westminster Woods so special.
As we welcome Janine into her new position, we’d also like to appreciate our former Co-Presidents, Corinne Dedini and Brian Gidney for their service and all that they have done to support Westminster Woods over the years. We bid Brian Gidney a fond farewell as he moves off of the Board of Directors and are fortunate to be able to welcome Corinne Dedini into her new role as Board Secretary. To learn more about Janine and the rest of our Board Members, visit our Board of Directors page!