Samuel came to Birchwood because of his sense of adventure, appreciation for the outdoors, and passion for mentoring youth. His love of working with people was cultivated over years of working with diverse populations in various professional settings. For nine years, Samuel worked in Outward Bound’s at-risk youth program – first as a wilderness educator, then as a Course Director, staff trainer, and finally as a medical and psychological screener. Samuel also spent several years working as a youth treatment counselor in a residential facility, as an assistant teacher mainstreaming children on the autism spectrum, and as a behavioral therapist for children on the autism spectrum.

Samuel has long been passionate about medical and behavioral interventions for social, emotional, and psychological well-being, particularly as concerned with youth and young adults. Before coming to Camp Birchwood, Samuel was pursuing a career in medicine and was a clinical research coordinator at the University of California San Francisco in the immunotherapy department, where he worked on curing incurable cancers. Samuel has coached high school softball, climbing/bouldering, and lacrosse teams.

Throughout all of his professional endeavors, Samuel has been guided by his North Star – the drive to mentor kids to be their healthiest, happiest, most capable selves. Samuel brings many talents to Camp Birchwood, but especially his extensive wisdom and knowledge in working with kids from all walks of life – adjudicated youth, youth who have lost parents and loved ones, children who are wards of the state, “gifted” children, etc. When he isn’t talking to parents, hiring and helping train our wonderful staff, running our marketing, or overseeing our facilities, you can find him teaching canoeing, going for a trail run, practicing his handstands, riding horses alongside Georgia, or cheering (probably the loudest!) for our campers at camp and in their everyday lives.