2026 Songadeewin Staff

This summer will be Abby’s eighteenth working at Songadeewin. She has worked in every grove at camp and is excited to take on a different role at camp this summer on General Staff. Abby is a sixth grade ELA teacher and lives in Sudbury, Massachusetts with her family. She and her husband, Matt, have three daughters — Deirdre who is six years old and the twins, Phoebe and Josie, who are four. They also have two dogs and a cat and love their very busy household! Abby grew up in Vermont and is always so happy to return for summers on Lake Dunmore — canoeing, hiking, Saturday Spectaculars, campfires and more!

Ada is from Huntington, Vermont (about an hour north of camp) and just graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine where she studied environmental studies and gender and sexuality studies. She was a Songa camper for four summers, including Wilderness in 2019 and worked at Songa last summer in Willoughby, where she led trips to Kipawa and Verendrye. In her free time, Ada loves to play ultimate frisbee, knit, collage, and play spikeball with friends. She can’t wait to be out on a wilderness trip again and lose track of the days!

This is Ainsley’s fourth summer on staff at Songadeewin. She is from Glastonbury, Connecticut and just graduated from UTICA University in upstate New York, where she was studying psych child life. In her free time, she likes to swim, hang out with friends, and walk outdoors. Ainsley loves working at Songadeewin because she loves being outdoors, teaching activities in the lake, and camping. Ainsley loves working with the kids and can not wait to spend another summer at camp.

Alex is returning to Songa for her ninth summer. She lives in London, England where she works as a primary school teacher. In her free time, Alex loves to explore new places and spend time with friends and family. She can’t wait to be back at camp surrounded by the trees, the lake, and all the chipmunks.

This is Alisa’s first summer on staff at Songa. Alisa is from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and attended University of Mary Washington. She earned a Business Administration degree and learned a lot about leadership and team building. Alisa has many hobbies and in her free time, she loves to hike, crochet, practice yoga, journal, play the ukulele and roller skate! Alisa loves being outdoors because it is where she feels the most connected to herself.

Annette works for the Keewaydin Foundation year round as Office Manager, and will support the Songa Office this summer. In her free time, Annette is a musician at heart and can be heard all over Vermont, she is also an amazing cook and mother of six. Annette lives in Middlebury, Vermont with her family.

Annie was a cabin staff in Cedar cabin at Songadeewin 23 years ago, she then returned to camp to work in the Songa office one summer and Dunmore office the next summer. Annie currently lives in Ripton, Vermont but lived in Australia for four years prior to her return to VT. She works as a literacy interventionist so she can share her love of reading with children. In her free time you will find Annie kayaking anywhere there is water, reading and practicing and studying bellydancing. Annie loves the way Songadeewin and Keewaydin enrich the lives of children by introducing them to; simple living, loving the outdoors, living in community and discovering how capable they are of having joyful adventures.

Annika was a camper for eight summers and has completed eight summers on staff at Songa. She has lived in many different cities over the past eight years, but currently resides in Burlington, Vermont, where she works as an EMT and spa receptionist. In her free time, Annika is trying to learn how to crochet. Annika’s favorite things about camp are canoeing in whitewater and cooking over a fire.

Attie was a camper for three  summers through Wilderness, and this is her first summer on staff. She is from New York City and attended the Brearley School; this fall, she will be a freshman at Williams College. Attie loves to laugh and dance, but also enjoys quiet-time reading and painting. Her two favorite activities at camp are hiking and running club! After embarking on Songa’s 30-day canoeing trip, Attie decided to return to camp this summer to spread the joy and closeness unique to Songa’s program.

Audrey was a camper for five summers, and this is her first summer as a staff member. She is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and just finished her junior year at Abington High School. After high school, she plans to attend college. In her free time, Audrey loves running, hiking, and discovering new places. She loves being part of the Songa community and spending time outdoors, and she is excited to be back this summer.

Avila is from Trinidad and Tobago, an island in the Caribbean. She loves to spend time outdoors and specifically hiking, swimming and playing tennis. On a rainy day, she is more than happy to stay inside reading books and cooking. Avila was a camper at Songa for five years, and this her first summer on staff. She couldn’t be more excited! 

Brenda is a nurse, grandmother and lover of nature! This is her first summer on staff. Brenda enjoys doing most any activity that gets her outside and in nature. Her own camper experience is one of her favorite memories and she is excited to spend time this summer at Songa.

This is Britney’s 24th summer on the Songa staff. Brittney graduated from Plymouth State University in 2009 with a Physical Education degree. She loves spending time outside, exploring nature and seeing sunrises and sunsets, playing softball, kayaking, hiking, biking, snowboarding, mowing her lawn, relaxing in her hammock, and being at peace. What she loves about Songa is the very friendly staff and happy campers. It’s a great place to work!

Candelaria, or Cande, is 27 years old and is part of the international staff at Songa, coming from Colombia, a beautiful country full of nature. She is a cheerful, creative person with a lot of energy! She loves outdoor sports and arts activities. Cande was a scout for almost 12 years, so camping is one of her favorite hobbies as is hiking. This is Cande’s fourth year being part of the Songa team, and she is happy to be part of creating another incredible summer!

This is Cara’s first summer on staff. Cara is from Cardiff, Wales, and attended the University of the West of England. During high school and college, Cara did her studies while working and volunteering with children of all ages. In her free time, Cara loves fitness and running. Cara has always had a strong love for the outdoors and enjoys spending time hiking and exploring nature, and she is excited to combine this passion with working with children at Songa this summer.

Carmen never got to be a camper at Songadeewin but was part of its inaugural staff in the summer of 1999. Originally from New York City, Carmen now lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. She attended Rutgers University for her undergraduate degree in Dance and Widener University for her masters in Human Sexuality Education. After teaching many years at many different schools both in New York and in Pennsylvania, she now works independently as a Health Educator. Carmen loves to cook and have dance parties with her family. She is delighted not only to come back to Songa and be on the shores of Dunmore, but also to share the magic of camp with her family.

Casey was a Songa camper for eight summers and is now excited to be back for her first summer on staff! Casey is from Woodbury, New Jersey, and just finished her first year at Chapman University in Southern California studying advertising and entertainment marketing. During high school, she was the public relations officer for her thespian troupe, as well as attending their national competitions and performing in many plays and musicals. In her spare time, Casey loves hikes, board games, reading, singing, and adventuring. She is thrilled to be back in the beautiful mountains of Vermont this summer and make that experience so special for all of her campers! 

Cece is back on staff for her second year! She grew up in the Danish countryside, where she still lives and loves the outdoors. This is her second gap year, which she has spent traveling and heading out on as many adventures as are possible. The Songa spirit followed her home, and now she’s excited to be back at camp.

Chelsea is from Orange County, California and attends Cypress College. After college she hopes to pursue journalism. In her free time, Chelsea loves to go on runs and to hike. She loves how Songa creates a space where children can connect with nature, grow in confidence, and experience the joy of discovery, all while fostering a sense of community and adventure. Chelsea was a camper for five summers and this is her second summer on staff.

This is Chris’s first summer on staff. He returned to Vermont August 2024 after 30 years working for Marriott and Hilton in hotel finance at 18 hotels in 14 cities including Boston, Denver, NYC, Baltimore and San Francisco. His family first bought the Chipman Inn in Ripton in 1978 to 1985, and bought it back again in 2012 to 2023. Chris has identical twin daughters who are both MDs in Connecticut and Arizona. Chris moved back to Vermont a third time in 2023 from California and enjoys living in a renovated boat house on Lake Dunmore fulfilling a lifelong dream.

This is Damaris’ second summer at camp and is excited to be back again this year! Damaris lives in Maine and teaches art to kids year round. She has two sons who will be over at Keewaydin this summer. In her free time, Damaris loves gardening, metalsmithing, singing and being in nature. 

Daniela is an interdisciplinary food engineer from Colombia. She loves rock climbing, cooking, and reading a good book. Dani likes to share a cup of coffee with friends and to create unique moments combining her two loves— food and the outdoors. This is Dani’s third summer at Songa, and she is looking forward to teaching the art of packing out and trip preparation in the outdoors with Songa girls and the whole community!

This is David’s third summer as a driver for Songadeewin. During the school year, he drives a school bus in southern Vermont. David can’t wait to catch a glimpse of some of the wild places Songa trips get to explore.

Elijah was a camper for nine summers (eight + Wilderness) and this is their second summer on staff. She is from Sarasota, Florida, and is pursuing a dual degree at Tufts University and School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Elijah worked as an Interfaith Ambassador creating multi-faith programming at Tufts. In their free time, Elijah can be found at outdoor dance practice, or making photographs. Elijah’s favorite thing about camp is the crazy, unpredictable weather that keeps everyone living in the moment.

Eliza was a camper for six summers and this is her third summer on staff. Eliza is from Briarcliff Manor, New York, and currently attends Wesleyan University. During high school Eliza played varsity soccer and basketball.In her free time, she loves to hang out with friends and spend time outside. What Eliza loves about Songa is the long lasting friendships campers make and their profound experiences on trip.

Emma was a camper at Songa for eight summers, and this is her first summer on staff! She is from Cambridge, Massachusetts and plans to attend Colby College in the fall where she hopes to major in Biology and English. In her free time Emma loves to row, ski, sing A Capella, journal, and listen to music. She is super excited to return to the shores of Dunmore and spend the summer in the gorgeous outdoors!

Fred was a staff member at Songadeewin for 2013-2023 principally as a driver, head of sailing and on-campus handyman. He is a retired Middlebury Town Planner 1981-2013 and a current member of the Middlebury Selectboard.  He and Dorothy Mammen, former Songa Assistant Director are in a third stage of retirement, enjoying cruising sailing and their grandchildren, and Fred still loves doing some backup driving for Songa.

This is Freya’s first summer on staff. Freya is from Norwich, UK, and spent the past nine months on a gap year. In September she will head to Manchester to study midwifery. On her gap year, she worked in retail, traveled throughout Bali and Vietnam, taught English to local children, helped in a Kindergarten, got her scuba diving qualification, hiked a volcano twice, did a four-day motorbike tour in the northern Vietnamese mountains, and so much more! In her free time, Freya loves seeing her friends, dancing, and travelling. She adores being outside and being in nature because it’s so good for you and instantly lifts your mood! Freya loves working with children because their energy is contagious and loves having a lasting impact on their development, plus they’re absolutely hilarious. 

Gabby was a Songadeewin staff for three summers from 2011 to 2013; this summer will be her sixth on staff. After graduating from Bucknell University, she worked as a second grade teacher and Wellness teacher. Gabby is now back working at Songadeewin as the Program Director for the second month of camp. Gabby lives in South Hero, Vermont with her husband, Ben and their daughters Quinn, age 5, Elsie, age 3, and their (almost) 1 year old boy, Milo. Gabby is a full time mother and especially enjoys spending time with her family outside. Gabby could not be more excited to be a part of the Songadeewin community!

This is Gabby’s fourth summer on the Songa staff. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Gabby was a Songa Camper for nine summers including Songa Wilderness. She is a graduate of Tufts University where she studied Classics. Gabby is now teaching at St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn. What Gabby loves about Songa is that it is a welcoming environment where girls can be themselves.

Gabrielle Jacquet, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and an Attending Physician in the Emergency Department at University of Vermont Medical Center and some of UVM’s critical access sites in rural Vermont and upstate New York. Her background and expertise are in global health, wilderness medicine, and practicing medicine in resource-limited settings. Dr. Jacquet serves as the faculty director of the UVM LCOM Ski Medicine elective at Sugarbush. As a child, she attended overnight camp in Vermont, became a counselor, and participated in NOLS courses. Having served as the supervising camp physician for Mass Audubon Habitat Camp since 2023, she is excited to join the health care team at Songadeewin & Keewaydin this summer, along with her 11 and 8 yr old daughters who will be campers at Songa as well. 

George is the Director of Food Services at Keewaydin, assuming that position in 2025 when Keewaydin decided to operate food services in house. In addition to bringing great leadership and high quality food service, George is a friend to all and loves the camp life!

This is her first summer working at Songa. Gypsyn is originally from Medellín, Colombia, the City of Eternal Spring, and studies Forestry Engineering at the National University of Colombia. Before working at the YMCA of The Rockies in Colorado last year, she also volunteered at the local Botanical Garden and with the FIFA. In her free time, she loves hiking, dancing, and reading. What motivates her most is the opportunity to be in the forest with the children; she values ​​Songa’s philosophy, “Strong Heart,” and the adventure of being in nature and sharing her love for it. 

Hannah lives in Proctor, Vermont and is the camp photographer at Songadeewin. This is Hannah’s fourth summer at Songa. We are grateful for Hannah for capturing moments that help us tell the story of our camp.

This is Hazel’s second summer at Songa! She is from Harbin, China and is studying at Northeast Agricultural University. Her hometown is called Ice City because in winter, it is like a fairy tale kingdom of ice and snow. Hazel loves outdoor sports and has climbed many mountains. She enjoys spending time with children, whose ideas, curiosity, and energy are one of the most precious things in the world.

This is Helena’s ninth summer on the Songadeewin Staff. She was also a camper for eight summers, including Wilderness. Helena is from Pennsylvania and is currently a theater teacher for elementary and middle school students at Taylor Swift’s elementary school! Her favorite part about camp is leading trips and teaching campers how to whitewater canoe.

Originally from New Jersey, Hillary and her husband Chris now reside in New Haven, Vermont. There, Hillary taught at a private school in New Jersey before teaching fourth grade in a public school. Hillary, Chris, and their two daughters spent many summers at their summer home where they became part of the small town community of Rochester, Vermont and that of a full season summer camp, where Hillary taught ceramics and sports. Hillary enjoys reading, music, sports, and spending as much time as possible outdoors.

Izzy was a camper for four summers and this is her second summer on staff! She is from Irvington, New York and is currently studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder with a minor in Engineering Management. She spent this past year enjoying the Colorado weather and can’t wait to be back at camp. She loves reading, being outdoors, sailing and recently started playing rugby. She can’t wait to have even more fun tripping adventures this summer!

Jecca is thrilled to return to Songa for her fourth summer at camp. During her childhood, she spent summers at Camp Waukeela in New Hampshire where she experienced the magic and power of camp. Jecca is from Putney, Vermont, attended Bryn Mawr College, and currently works as a math teacher and tutor during the school year. In her free time, she cross-country skis in the woods and paddles her solo canoe down the Connecticut River. Jecca feels that life is meant to be lived outside and is grateful to the Songa community for welcoming her back this summer.

Jenn was a camper when Songadeewin reopened on Lake Dunmore in 1999 and this will be her twentieth summer on the Songadeewin staff! During the year, Jenn teaches history and theater in the Philadelphia school district. At camp, Jenn loves sailing, canoeing, the Saturday Spectacular, and ice cream sandwiches.

This is Jenny’s first summer at Songa and she will be working in the camp office during the second month. Jenny grew up in Pennsylvania and has a Master’s degree in English from Georgetown University. She has worked at three different liberal arts colleges helping students engage in community service and doing one-on-one academic coaching. She lives in Middlebury with her husband and four daughters. She loves to read and listen to books, take walks, and go to the beach in Maine. She is excited about getting to know the people, places, and traditions of Songa this summer!

John is from Brandon, Vermont. He received his Masters of Art in Teaching from the Upper Valley Graduate School of Education in 2013 and received a BFA in Painting from Montana State University in 2004. He has been teaching art at Neshobe Elementary School in Brandon, Vermont since 2016. In his free time, John loves to be with his family, go mountain biking, draw comics, and play chess. He is excited about being part of the Songa community for his fourth summer.

Jon is a retired forester and maple sugar maker. He graduated from UMass with a degree in Forest Management. This is Jon’s fifth year driving for Songa.

Julia was a camper for seven summers and this will be her fourth on staff. She is from Cambridge, Massachusetts, but currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she studies computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. Outside of camp, Julia works as a ski instructor in the winter and loves to get outside as much as she can. What Julia loves most about Songa is the incredible sense of community and all the lifelong friends she has made. She can’t wait to be back on Lake Dunmore for another summer!!

Kara’s Keewaydin experience began at KEEC (Keewaydin Environmental Education Center) and then she joined the Songadeewin staff. This summer is her tenth on staff. Kara returned to camp last summer, after a hiatus, with her six year old son, Charlie. Kara is from Seattle, Washington where she earned her degrees in History and Education. She has taught high school Social Studies and Health for 18 years. In her free time, Kara loves skiing with her family. She is looking forward to working with an inspiring group of girls and women who share a love of spending their summer outdoors.

This year will be Karen’s eighth summer on staff at Songa. Her first summer camp experience was right here on Lake Dunmore many years ago, when her father was on staff at Keewaydin and she was two years old! She grew up in Western Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and has lived in Seattle for many years. She is now retired from working as an instructional consultant for the University of Washington for over 30 years. She loves spending time with her five granddaughters and hiking and skiing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. What Karen loves about Songa is watching the campers develop friendships and self-confidence over the course of the summer while participating in enriching and fun activities that they so clearly love. She also enjoys listening to the owls from her tent at night!

This is Kempley’s 19th summer on the Songadeein staff. She lives in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. When not working at Songa, Kempley teaches kindergarten at a PreK-12 school outside of Philadelphia. What she loves about Songa is the opportunity to work with girls and young women, supporting and cheering them along as they discover their passions and their unique gifts. She also loves sharing her passions of sailing, sewing, and singing all while living together in the beauty of the Vermont woods.

This is Kylie’s first summer on staff at Songa. She is from Buckland Massachusetts and is currently attending Keene State college where she studies nursing. In her free time Kylie loves to spend time with family & friends, spend time outside doing many activities, and cook. Her favorite place is her camp up in Maine on a lake! She is excited to experience Songadeewin for the first time, make new connections and join a supportive community!

This is Laney’s first summer on staff. She is from Williamsburg, Virginia and attends Virginia Commonwealth University. She wants to be a pediatric nurse in the NICU and volunteers with infants. Laney loves rock climbing and hiking and teaching kids how to climb and find their passion in the outdoors.

Laney was a camper for seven summers and has been on staff for five years. She currently lives in Manhattan, where she works as a special education middle school teacher. In her free time, Laney loves to cook dinner with friends, cycle, walk in Central Park, and do ceramics. Laney’s favorite part of Songa is the confidence, independence, and sense of responsibility that our campers leave with.

This is Lauren’s fifth summer at Songadeewin. She hails from Worcester, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Washington and Lee University. Before coming to Songa, Lauren lived and worked in Putney, Vermont for 21 years where she led, created, and directed summer programs for middle and high schoolers focused on service and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. She and her husband Drew and their three boys live in Middlebury, Vermont. Lauren enjoys hiking with her dog Lewis, soaking up Vermont’s seasonal extremes, speaking Spanish, playing ultimate frisbee, being a mom to her kids, and traveling.

This is Lelia’s 22nd summer on the Songadeewin staff. When she’s not working at Songa, Lelia teaches elementary school in Seattle, where she grew up and now lives with her partner and three daughters. What Lelia loves about Songa is the trips – opportunities to spend time with small groups of amazing and supportive people in the beautiful outdoors!

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Lilia earned her Master’s in Applied Theater from CUNY and worked as a teaching artist in New York City before moving to Vermont last June. She spent the year rooting herself in Vermont and working alongside Lauren to get to know Songa and all the minutiae it takes to run our camp! She can be found hiking with her dog named Doug, running, and cooking. Lilia is excited for another summer on Lake Dunmore!

Liv was a camper for four summers and first joined the staff in 2024. She is from Philadelphia but goes to school in Scotland at the University of Glasgow. Liv loves reading and writing, her guitar, running around, and most of all: laughing! She is excited to get back to infinite outside time and to get back in a canoe and on trip.

This is Liz’s eighth summer on the Songa staff. She has three daughters who also call camp home for the summer. Liz primarily leads Nature activities while also assisting in the office and camp store. She lives in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina where she teaches 7th grade science. Songa continues to call Liz back as she cherishes the time spent around campfires and on the lake.

This summer is Lolo’s 15th on the Songa staff. They live in Waltham, Massachusetts. When not working at Songa, Lolo teaches sixth grade science in Newton, Massachusetts. Their favorite things to do at Songa are to play campfire games and to go on whitewater canoe trips!

Louise is a long time camp girl and this is her third summer at Songa. Her parents met as camp counselors in Maine in the 1950s! Louise loves being a part of the fun and learning that takes place on our waterfront. She had a wonderful year of learning and growth working at a new school in Putney, Vermont, where she lives with her two Songa girls and her husband. She can’t wait to take a dip in Lake Dunmore!

Lucia is from Madrid, Spain. She loves playing many different sports, which is what inspired her to study Sports Science. Lucia now works as a PE teacher which she loves. She is especially passionate about coaching volleyball, which she has been playing for 10 years. Lucia enjoys working with children and is excited to be at Songa this summer to play and work outside with kids, share new experiences, and learn together!

Lucy was a camper at Songa for six years, and this is her second summer on staff. Lucy is from New York City and attends Middlebury College (she never wants to leave Vermont!), where she is studying sociology, anthropology, and French. During high school Lucy played soccer, swam, and ran track, all of which led her to now playing rugby in college. She also adores music of all kinds, and spends her free time playing guitar, writing songs, and singing in an acapella group. Lucy’s summers on Dunmore were some of the most formative, freeing years of her life, and she is so excited to help create this experience for future campers!

Maddie was a camper for six summers and this is her fourth summer on staff. Maddie is from Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from University of Vermont with a degree in Psychology. In her free time, Maddie likes to spend time outdoors and with friends, and has recently picked up embroidery. Her favorite part of Songa is being able to disconnect from the world and enjoy the outdoors!

Maja is returning for her third summer on the Songa staff. She is from Slovenia and has just completed her first year of a master’s degree in public administration. During the year, she works as an administrator in municipal administration. In her free time, Maja enjoys running, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends. She is excited to be back and can’t wait for another unforgettable summer at camp.

Mandy first came to Songa in 2012 as the Director of Dramatics. She immediately fell in love with Vermont, Lake Dunmore, and camp life. Mandy is thrilled to return to Songa for her tenth summer to head the Dramatics program first month. She is most excited about supporting campers to explore and achieve in areas of their choosing, outside of the typical academic framework. During the school year, Mandy is a learning specialist with a passion for teaching structured literacy. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her young children, being outdoors, doing yoga, and listening to podcasts. Mandy lives in Tarrytown, New York with her husband, Peter (a long-time Keewaydin staff member and former camper), and their two children, Ellis and Amelia.

Marina is 21 years old and is from the Canary Islands, Spain. She is currently studying a double degree in Business Administration and Tourism at the University of Valencia. She is passionate about dancing, traveling, and learning new languages. Marina also enjoys sports and discovering different cultures around the world. Above all, she loves spending quality time with friends and family.

Mavi was a camper for six summers and this is her first summer on staff. Mavi is from Huntington Beach, California. Mavi has worked in a program called GOALS where she helped kids with homework after school. In her free time, Mavi loves to volunteer and swim. She loved being a camper at Songa and appreciated her staff who were mentors and role models to her as a camper. She hopes to be a staff that makes kids want to come back summer after summer!

Megan will be joining the Songadeewin staff for the first time this summer! Megan grew up in Middlebury, Vermont, and has always loved coming to Lake Dunmore to swim, canoe, and kayak. She graduated from Middlebury college in May with a degree in Applied Math and will be pursuing a MSc in Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics at Cranfield University in Bedford, England next year. In her free time, Megan loves to snowboard and find new places to swim when it’s warm out. Her favorite part of any day is the time she spends outdoors in the sun.

Mel was an original Songa staff in 1999 and this will be her 9th summer. Mel started as a staff in Songa’s youngest cabin when she was 18, and grew with the camp, eventually helping to lead Songa’s first Verendrye and Wilderness trips. Originally from Middlebury, VT, Mel now lives in Lyons, CO and is the Admissions Director for Friends School, an independent preschool through middle School in Boulder. Mel has spent many of her years since college working for schools and organizations specializing in outdoor adventure and travel. In her free time, Mel loves to take river dips in the Saint Vrain, read, and travel. Her favorite place to be at camp is in the lake – swimming, kayaking, or in any kind of boat. She’s very excited to share the magic of camp with her daughter Willa, who will be a first month camper in Wabasso.

Meredith is from Greenwich, CT. She just graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from Harvard College. Meredith was a Songa camper for eight summers, including her own wilderness trip in 2019! In her three years on staff, Meredith has led two Verendrye trips, two Duposte trips, a Kipawa, and an ADK White trip. Her favorite activities are canoeing, baking cookies, drawing illustrations and comics for her school’s comedy magazine, brewing homemade kombucha, and lifting weights. Meredith has wanted to lead a wilderness trip ever since she was a camper!

This is Mia’s first year on staff. Mia is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a senior at Florida Tech studying mechanical engineering. In her free time she loves to hike, rock climb, and kayak. She loves fun adventures and making new friends!

Mimi is a transplant from New York City and adores living in Vermont now! She is back for her second summer at Songa. Mimi received a BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has worn many different hats during her career but has always enjoyed doing all types of fiber arts. Mimi can hardly wait to share and make fun fiber arts projects with the campers.

Miriam Altman was a Songa camper for seven summers and this is her third summer on staff. She is from Newton, Massachusetts and has spent a lot of time in Warren, Vermont. After high school Miriam took a gap year, improving her Spanish in Guatemala and painting in Normandy, France. She just finished her freshman year at Colorado College. Throughout high school, Miriam worked as a ski instructor and volunteered at an outdoor education preschool. In her free time, Miriam loves to spend time outdoors, create art, and play bananagrams. She loved her time as both a camper and counselor at Songadeewin and is excited to be a part of the community again this summer!

Mollie was a camper for eight summers and this is her third summer on staff. Mollie is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and currently attends McGill University. In her free time, Mollie loves to hike with her dog and play guitar. She has loved coming to Songa all her life and can’t wait to get back to this amazing community!

Naomi is from the UK, and is graduating from King’s College London this year. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, figure skating, spending time with her friends and has recently learned how to crochet. This will be Naomi’s second year on staff, and she is very excited to come back to camp this summer and spend time outdoors! 

Olivia was a camper for 9 summers and has also been on staff for 9 summers. She is from New Orleans, but currently lives in Arlington, Massachusetts. After college at Washington University in St Louis, Olivia worked for a disaster management company, but now teaches 5th and 6th grade math at Shady Hill School in Cambridge. In her free time, Olivia loves knitting and watching trashy reality TV. When asked what she loves most about working at Songa, Olivia said that she loves getting to spend the summer outside and teaching canoeing. She is so excited to return after a summer off in 2025!

Omi was a camper at Songa for five summers. Keewaydin and Songadeewin have been a tradition in her family; relatives going all the way back to her grandmother have all been campers and staff at both camps. She is a hippy dippy gal from Los Angeles, California, who spends the majority of her time outdoors and in the water. Omi has been a dancer all her life. If you see her walking around, she is most likely dancing and wearing bright colors. She is excited to return to Songa for her third year on staff!

This is Sarah’s 26th summer on the Songa staff. She’s originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and has a BS in Forestry from Colorado State University. Sarah and her husband lived in Kansas for five years and then moved to Middlebury, where they raised three daughters. After teaching elementary school for 28 years, Sarah retired in 2019. She now helps care for her four grandchildren as needed and stays active with racket sports. Sarah’s first summer camp experience was at age nine and she has been a camper at heart ever since.

This is Sarah’s first summer on staff. Sarah is from Severna Park, Maryland and just graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. During college, Sarah majored in Environmental Studies and spent her summers working on oyster restoration projects with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation or teaching place-based science lessons with Teton Science School. In her free time, Sarah loves to play ultimate frisbee and dance to live music. She is grateful for the opportunity to spend the summer surrounded by new friends and fun adventures!

Sherri is a Registered Nurse and this is her first summer at Songadeewin. She has many years of pediatric nursing experience and is looking forward to not just caring for the girls but delving into all that camp has to offer. Sherri would love to learn to play pickleball and maybe even fish! She has a daughter who enjoyed many years at overnight summer camp and is looking forward to following in her footsteps. When not working, Sherri loves cooking, singing in a choir, and spending time with family and friends.

Sina was a camper for eight years and this is her second summer on staff. Sina is from Greenfield, MA and currently attends Wesleyan University where she studies French and Environmental Studies. In her free time, Sina loves to hike and spend time with friends outside. What she loves most about Songa is the loving community and unique experiences of Songa tripping. Sina can’t wait to return back to her summer home on the shores of Dunmore!

This is Sophia’s first summer on staff at Songadeewin. Sophia spent her childhood in Vermont before moving to Rhode Island, and is currently an Environmental Science and Natural Resource Conservation double major at UMass Amherst. She loves to learn, and spent a semester taking classes for her degree while participating in research on migratory songbird habitat. In her free time, Sophia loves to ski, hike, listen to music, and spend time with friends. She loves to meet new people and can’t wait to build new connections and experiences at Songa!

Sophie is excited to return to the Arts Village for her second summer at Songadeewin!  Last year, Sophie moved from Brooklyn, New York to Brunswick, Maine and has been busy settling in and exploring her new home with her awesome family.  Sophie studied Visual Arts at Brown University and also attended The International Culinary Center culinary school for pastry and baking. She enjoys making things, especially paintings and elaborate baking projects. Sophie can’t wait to make lots of art this summer at camp!

2026 will be Steph’s 24th summer on staff at Songa. She was a camper for the very first summer of Songadeewin on Lake Dunmore in 1999. Steph is from Asheville, North Carolina. When she is not at Songa, Steph teaches elementary school outside of Asheville. Her favorite thing about camp is the sound of girls singing their hearts out and feeling free to be themselves.

Stuart is the father of three Songa campers, and will be leading hiking adventures and being the resident weatherman for the first month. Originally from rural South Carolina Stuart now calls Barnardsville, North Carolina home. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and exploring back roads. He loves how Songa inspires confidence and a love of outdoors in girls.

Taryn was a camper for seven summers and this is her third summer on staff. Taryn is from Los Angeles, California, and attends Cornell University. In her free time, Taryn loves to spend time with friends and enjoy the outdoors. What she loves about Songa is the supportive community that promotes meaningful friendships and appreciation of nature!

Teagan was a camper for nine years and will join the staff this summer as a babysitter for the youngest children of families living at camp. She lives in Woodbury, New Jersey and is a rising senior at Paul VI High School. Teagan enjoys rowing and participating in theatrical productions. She is so excited to be back at Lake Dunmore for another summer.

Tjaša is returning for her third summer on the Songa staff. She lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Tjaša got her master’s degree in physical education and now works as P.E teacher and swim instructor. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, running, and traveling. She is very excited to return to Songa and spend another summer full of activities and fun!

Vanessa is from Puebla, Mexico where she is currently living and studying to earn her BA in English Language Teaching. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys spending time with friends and in the outdoors. She is looking forward to working with the Saplings, having fun, and creating unforgettable memories together in the beautiful landscapes of Songa!