Since his first summer as a camper in 2007, Sam has considered himself a lifetime Tawongan. Not only did Tawonga stop his picky eating habits right in their tracks, but it also took Sam on his first backpacking trip to Yosemite Creek, and a nature lover was born. He completed a Masters in Education from University of Washington, publishing a thesis on the intersection of literacy, science, and identity development in outdoor education. The first year of his Masters program was spent teaching and learning at IslandWood, an environmental education center on Bainbridge Island, Washington, where he also received a certificate in Education for Environment and Community.

In his 16 summers (and counting) at Camp Tawonga, Sam has been a camper, CIT, counselor, unit head, teen programs supervisor, and summertime assistant director. He also helped Tawonga implement LGBTQ affinity spaces for campers and staff, and is passionate about inclusion and belonging in the outdoors. Sam graduated with a B.A. in Linguistics from Pomona College, where he worked at the Outdoor Education Center and led many first-timer backpacking trips, hoping to foster the same love of backpacking Tawonga cultivated for him. In 2022 he completed the Nüümü Poyo, also known as the John Muir Trail, which sparked his interest in the importance of Indigenous knowledge and sovereignty in outdoor spaces. He is thrilled to be joining the year-round team in Tawonga’s landmark 100th year!