“In the cathedral of the wild a glorious language is revealed in every breath.”- Robbie George
“The quickest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”
Camp W Leadership
Camp W is a team of expert educators, and a community of parents, mentors, and professionals of trades. We are made up of compassionate individuals who focus on caring for their family and yours, competence and eloquence in all that they do and of course, gathering together for great food. We believe kids (and adults) should have real adventures in the natural world.
We hire only the most qualified staff who have demonstrated strong leadership skills, a love of children, and a true camp spirit. Our staff understand the importance of creating a fun, nurturing, challenging, and safe environment in which children can learn about themselves and the world around them. Many staff are former campers themselves! To find out what it takes to join the Camp W Family check out our employment section at the bottom of the page, fill out an application, and get it to us.
Sean Ashcraft
Director
With 17 years of experience in experiential education, I have dedicated my life to creating unique and memorable learning experiences. Through my work, I strive to inspire individuals to embrace their passions, explore new horizons, and uncover their true potential. I specialize in development and leadership of outdoor programs, and am particularly interested in youth development through outdoor opportunities and challenges. I have a focus and passion for deepening family connection & communication through exploring awareness of self and the natural world.
I have been or am currently a Coastal Kayaking Instructor, Climbing Guide, Nordic & Alpine Skiing Instructor, WFR, Outdoor Emergency Care (NSP), AIARE 2, Flat & Whitewater Canoe Instructor, Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) Instructor, Pilot, PPG 2 Paramotorer, NYPUM Dirt Bike Instructor, Carpenter, Gardener, Beekeeper, Breathwork Facilitator, Biohacker, Surfer, Father, Lover of Life, Gear Guru, Motivational Speaker, Reality TV Personality, Backcountry Travel Guide, General Wilderness and High Altitude Mountain Guide, Biochemist & Molecular Biologist, and Psychonaut.
I facilitate marketing initiatives, assist Cagney with admission/registration paperwork, handle facility maintenance and improvements, and work in conjunction with the Residential Life Directors to ensure a great time at camp for every camper! Together we can plant seeds of growth in order to create a more beautiful world.
Join me on this incredible journey of learning and discovery as we learn to curate the life you want! www.SeanAshcraft.love
Jamie Mauk
Co-Director
Dedicated to a more beautiful world, Jamie is an Embodiment Coach, who helps people from around the world come into their purpose, step into offering their unique gifts, and most importantly, learn to love themselves and others more along the way. He is currently offering transformational work for kids, teens, and adults in both one-on-one and group settings.
His background and studies include Somatic Psychology, Non-Violent Communication, martial arts, breathwork, massage therapy, wilderness and leadership training, rights of passage work, grief work, natural building, preschool teacher, after-school programs, kayak guide, SUP instructor, and much more!
Aside from coaching, he is the founder of Warrior Poet LLC and the Embodied Leadership Program, a container to improve social-emotional learning for at-risk youth within public schools. He is also involved in doing Rights of Passage work for boys and young men in his local community.
He currently resides in Port Townsend, WA. In his free time, he enjoys time in the wilderness going on hikes, cold plunging in wild water, spending quality time with his girlfriend and his friends, reading, writing, making delicious food, playing chess, traveling, and continuing to seek new opportunities to learn and grow on this beautiful journey that is life.
Assistant Director/Wellness Coordinator
Cagney carries a passion and devotion to supporting the wellbeing of children.
She has worked with children in various capacities; as a nanny, a preschool teacher, a child and family therapist, and now as an Assistant Director and Wellness Coordinator at Camp W.
While working as a child and family therapist in Seattle, Cagney discovered the world of yoga and meditation and recognized how potent the spiritual facet of one’s healing journey can be. She obtained her 200 hour yoga teacher certification in Rishikesh, India, and came back to the northeast to open a community wellness center. She is excited to bring her background in community wellness to the campers at Camp W through.
Cagney graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the College of Saint Rose, in Albany NY in 2013. Her experience in the psychology program solidified her desire to empower children throughout their healing journey. She graduated in May 2015 with a Master of Social Work degree from the University at Albany, in New York.
Cagney Houlihan
Chef and Dietician
Heather has been a dietitian for over a decade, and working with food and health for over 2 decades. Heather started cooking when she was in middle school. She has prepared food and baked cookies for the rich and famous, intravenously fed sick preemies, and worked with families to manage food allergies. When camp isn't in session, you may find her working at a hospital or helping individuals wrestle with food difficulties. She is working to build an automated fungus farm in shipping containers, but in the meantime, she gardens plants in the dirt and inoculates shiitake logs.
Heather loves making healthy food delicious, creating vegetarian meals that inspire cheers, poetry, and songs among campers. She is happiest when she turns a vegetable skeptic into an adventurous enjoyer of plants.
Residential Life Coordinator
Brenna loves working with kids and being outside. She enjoys hiking, singing camp songs, and sleeping in her hammock. She is excited for her second year of making memories at Camp W.
Brenna is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she is studying psychology and special education. Brenna plans to earn her Master’s degree in counseling and become a school psychologist.
Wilderness Trip Leaders
Carina is passionate about facilitating transformational outdoor experiences. It’s her second summer at Camp W as a Trip Leader and she’s thrilled to be back.
She is from St. Paul, Minnesota and grew up exploring the Boundary Waters with camps surrounding the area, and participated in a Leadership Development Program there.
She is currently attending the University of Maine majoring in Kinesiology and Physical Education with a concentration in Outdoor Leadership. At school, she works at the Maine Bound Adventure Center, participates in the University Singers choir, and plays ultimate frisbee. Her other hobbies include playing card games, singing, and exploring the great outdoors.
Hey Everyone,
My name is Evan Odell and this will be my first summer at Camp W, but my fourth working at a summer camp. I'm currently studying Environmental Sciences and Humanities at Paul Smith's College in Upstate NY with the hopes of becoming a Fisheries Biologist.
I am an Eagle Scout and have spent a lot of my free time being outdoors whether that's backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains or snorkeling in the Florida Keys. I can not wait to explore the Vermont wilderness with all of you and make so many good memories
Movement Coordinator and Activities Instructor
My name is John Leone, I am a 21 year old college student looking to get my education certification in both Physical Education and Health. Over the past few years I have really developed a love for coaching and teaching as an extension of physical fitness. My life goal is to help people discover and rediscover an enjoyment in physical activity that is often lost as we age. This passion has been growing since the age of 16, when I took my first coaching job at the gymnastics gym I had been learning at for years. Since then I have worked in a multitude of positions all centered around teaching people new skills. My hope is that going forward I can continue to introduce and teach people skills that they may not have even considered, things like parkour, Ninja Warrior, and martial arts are just a few examples of "non-traditional" sports people may have never even been exposed to. With all that said, I am excited to return to camp this summer to help foster a love for nature and all the activities one can find themselves doing in the great outdoors.
Instructors
Ray, originally from Wales, is a rising junior at the Putney School. She has been a camper at Camp Waubanong for seven years and is excited for her first summer as a cabin counselor! Ray enjoys the wilderness skills at camp like fire building and wood carving in addition to the loving community. When not at camp, some of Ray’s hobbies include fiber arts, drawing, and playing guitar. Ray is looking forward to meeting all the new campers this year!
Hi, I’m Nico. I used to be a camper at Camp W, and am excited to start this year as a counselor specializing in outdoor skills. You can visit me up at the Sanctuary, where I will be spending a lot of my time.
I love spending time in nature, because it pushes my comfort level and allows me to just think for a bit without distractions. I also love music and writing, which are both activities that can be performed best in the wilderness.
This year I hope to push my comfort level and by doing so, help myself and others become more independent and able human beings.
Hello! I'm Miles Ackerman Hovis and this will be my first year as a counselor at Camp W!
I've been going to the camp for six years now, and it's been a place to grow, connect and make wonderful memories along the way, and I'm psyched to be back! Outside of camp life, my hobbies include running, reading, and writing/playing music of all kinds, especially post-punk, jazz, and alt rock. I'm currently working on an EP in fact!
I'm currently a junior at Brattleboro Union High School. I'm hoping to make meaningful connections with all my campers this summer and to make their experience just as wonderful as mine was.
Hey! I’m Ziven. This will be my eighth year at Camp W, and my first as a counsellor. Camp has provided me with some of my best memories and friends in addition to useful skills and a deeper appreciation for the world around us.
I’m from Wales, United Kingdom but will be moving to Vermont this summer! I couldn’t be more excited to live here and be at Camp! At camp I enjoy learning and practising survival skills such as fire making and shelter building in addition to the arts and crafts and activities offered. My hobbies include drawing, painting, spending time in nature, and reading. Additionally, I volunteer at my school's gardening club, educating children on how to nurture many varieties of plant and providing outdoor activities. I can’t wait to meet new and returning campers and share in the magic of camp and nature.
Dorian is a Brattleboro local who has been involved with Camp W since he was 7. He enjoys swimming, hiking, and playing card games. He is a Senior in High School and looks to study Graphic Design in college. At camp he enjoys playing circle and field games with campers and showing campers around the Camp W trail system.
Rowan is named after the rowan tree, Sorbus aucuparia, which in folklore carries magical protective properties. She grew up in Arkansas, but is also a citizen of the United Kingdom. Rowan loves to travel, bake, and play tennis. Any activity outside and surrounded by nature is one she loves- especially hiking! She will be attending Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge this fall where she will major in Coastal Environmental Science. This will be her first visit to the lovely state of Vermont as a camp counselor!
Hi, I'm Jacqueline.
It will be my first time at Camp W. I love nature, hiking, art, and many other things. I currently work at an elementary school as an IA (instructional assistant). One day, I hope to work in education. This summer, in excited to meet new people and be in nature.
Hey everyone! My name is Sam Bowen and I’m very excited for my first year as a Camp W counselor. I’m a student at UMASS Amherst studying environmental science. In Amherst I’ve been enjoying the wilderness and love to hike, exploring the trails around campus. I also love to travel, and experience new sights. I’m excited to meet the campers this summer and do what I can to make sure Camp W is a great and welcoming community. I’ll be putting to use and expanding what I know while making new friends!
Aurelia has spent more years of her life at camp than not. This is her 10th year, and third as a counsellor. Living just down the road from camp, and attending The Putney School, outdoor experiences have always been an important part of Aurelia’s life.
At camp, Aurelia loves games of any sort, building fires, climbing things, and telling bad jokes. She also plays guitar and frequently leads the community in song. In the fall, she’ll be studying computer science at the University of Vermont.
Hi! My Name is Allison Ackerman-Hovis and this will be my second year at camp W but first as a counselor! Although I have been working with kids in a summer camp setting for three years.
I am a sophomore student at Brattleboro Union high school and when I have some free time I enjoy art projects, reading, spending time outdoors and with friends and most importantly (in my opinion) swimming! I am so excited to bring what I know to the camp W community and gain some new skills skills! And maybe meet some new people along the way!
I can't wait to learn and make memories together this summer at Camp W!
Kaleb is an art student from Long Island, New York, where he studies anti-gravity basket weaving. He is a nature enthusiast and loves hiking, camping, and exploring in the wilderness. He also loves fun games with campers, playing guitar, and teaching kids about art. Kaleb has been a Counselor at Camp W for 4 years.
Land Steward
Clara is a creative nature lover. She likes helping others see how special the earth is through creativity and play.
Clara has worked for mostly nonprofits and summer camps. She attended art school for four years and loves doing arts and crafts in nature.
When not working, you can usually find Clara climbing a tree, looking for critters, or sculpting out of sticks and stones.
Watersports Director
Tyson Whitcom
Tyson has been involved with watersports since his childhood. He owns a local retail watersports business and loves being able to get kids out on the water for days full of fun and education. Tyson works with Sean and our other staff to curate experiential learning on the water!
