Staff Profiles
- Mike MattsonCamp DirectorMike MattsonCamp Director
Mike has been a member of the Birch Rock community since he was 12 in 1983. As a camper, his highest honor was getting the 15th Archery badge, an accomplishment that has only been achieved around ten times in the history of Birch Rock. Once on staff, Mike taught many seasons on the field before moving to the waterfront and teaching swimming for many more. He moved up the ranks to Waterfront Director and then Head Counselor, joined Rich Deering as Associate Director for 6 years, and finally became Camp Director in 2002. Mike attended Towson State University in Maryland but feels his primary education in camping comes from a lifetime of leadership in a place he loves and calls home.
Mike lives in Windham, Maine with his wife Becca, his toddler sons Simon and Reid! He is a long-time member of the American Camping Association and his dogs, Perseus, Oliver and Linus, are camp staples.
- Rich DeeringAlumni & Community DirectorRich DeeringAlumni & Community Director
Rich started attending Birch Rock at the age of 9. His mother was sure that he would come running home; instead, he signed up for more, and was a camper for 6 summers before matriculating into the staff ranks. He worked his way up from teaching Swimming to Waterfront Director to Head Counselor, and then, after a few summers off, he returned as the Assistant Director for Brad Smith before taking over as the camp’s Director in 1995. He held this position until 2001, during which time he used his business acumen to reorganize BRC’s structure, and, thanks to him, the camp has never been stronger. A Maine native, he is a graduate of Colby College and the University of Southern Maine, where he earned a Masters in Adult Education and Counseling. In his current role Rich is responsible for marketing, alumni development, and external affairs, and helps facilitate the Birch Rock community. A long-time member of the American Camping Association and past President of Maine Youth Camping, he is currently a realtor with the Buckspan Deering Group at ReMax Shoreline in Portland.
- Erik JoelssonProgram Director & MWA LeaderErik JoelssonProgram Director & MWA Leader
Celebrating 23 seasons at Birch Rock, Erik has it all: a love for our traditions and values, a keen sense of fun, and a quiet charisma that gets kids psyched! After several years of teaching sailing Erik became the Waterfront Director in 2007, thus earning the radio handle “Captain Nemo,” as he is affectionately called. A native of Sweden, Erik grew up in Philadelphia and attended Penn State. In 2013, Erik transitioned onto land to become our full-time Program Director for 7 summers, orchestrating staff and camper programs and specialty events of the day – while continuing to lead our American Red Cross Lifeguard program and First Aid Certification. This summer Erik will take on the challenge of heading up the BRC Trip Program and MWA trip. An active member of the American Camp Association, Erik is a Standards Visitor for Accreditation of other camps. He champions Birch Rock’s Outing Club (visit the Club page on our website!). When not skiing or conquering crossword puzzles, Erik serves as part of the camp management team during the off-season.
- Brian FarleyCIT DirectorBrian FarleyCIT Director
A native Mainer, Brian grew up in York, earned a Sociology degree at St. Joseph’s College in Standish, and finished his Master’s in School Counseling from the University of Southern Maine in 2015. An outdoor enthusiast, he spent many summers at his family’s camp on Long Lake, is big into road cycling, snowshoeing, swimming, and hiking, and once spent two weeks backpacking along the upper Amazon River in Ecuador. After five years of leading trips and MWA, and one year of CIT Director. Brian will be taking on the Program Director this year!
- Nick MuscianoHead CounselorNick MuscianoHead Counselor
Nicholas “The Italian Stallion” Musciano, aka Musc, originally hails from Falmouth, Maine. Nick received his Master’s in Teaching from the University of South Carolina in 2016 and currently lives in Columbia, SC where he teaches 4th grade math and science. He has been a diehard Birch Rocker since he arrived at camp at 9 years old in 1998, and loved basketball, tennis, and campcraft. Musc has truly done it all at camp; he spent many summers on the hill as the Field Director, teaching basketball and baseball, he has been an enthusiastic instructor down at Nature, and Nick has even been a trip leader on our 3-week Maine Wilderness Adventure program. Nick has been Head Counselor since 2018 and is very excited for our 95th season!
- Logan LandryOffice ManagerLogan LandryOffice Manager
We are so glad that Logan will be returning this summer as our office manager! Logan lives in Poland, Maine where he is a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School. He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2010 for Elementary Education, and graduated with his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Southern Maine in 2019. Logan looks forward to another great summer at camp!
- Sara LavertuLibrarian/TutorSara LavertuLibrarian/Tutor
Sara Lavertu is currently a 4th grade teacher at Oxford Elementary school here in the Oxford Hills. She also has past classroom experience at 2nd and fifth grade during her 17 year career. Sara holds an undergraduate degree in Finance/Economics and prior to becoming a teacher, she worked in banking for four years in the Bethel area. In addition, Sara earned her Master’s in Education in 2008. Sara lives with her husband, John, at their home in Norway and is looking forward to another great summer at Birch Rock.
- Emily WoodworthLibrarian & TutorEmily WoodworthLibrarian & Tutor
More information coming soon!
- Emme ScottHealth DirectorEmme ScottHealth Director
Emme is excited to be at Birch Rock for her second summer as our camp nurse! She started her nursing career at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, in 1976 after graduating from the University of Virginia. She has worked in Pediatrics and OB- working mostly with moms and babies. Emme has three grown children and seven grandchildren who are her treasures. She has been a camp nurse since 2013- escaping hot summers in Mexico, where she has lived since 2012. She loves music, babies, and swimming in the ocean. Emme is here at camp with her husband, Jorge, who is one of the chefs.
- Jon AllberryHead CookJon AllberryHead Cook
Jon hails from Sarasota, FL where he has been cooking and baking for years. With family in Poland, ME, Jon decided to come to Birch Rock 10 summers ago and help us out by cooking many of our dinner meals. After two summers in the kitchen, he is now the Head Cook, and the community is looking forward to whipping up some new food and old favorites this summer.
- Peter BrewsterField DirectorPeter BrewsterField Director
Pete was born and raised in New Hampshire and recently graduated from the University of Vermont this past spring majoring in graphic and applied design. When he’s not at camp Pete enjoys fishing, painting and playing basketball. He first came to camp in 2009 and has looked forward to every summer at camp ever since. As a camper he enjoyed everything field related - baseball, tennis, basketball, etc. He can’t wait to get back to camp this summer and he’s most looking forward to evening activity, treetalk and 3rd period basketball.
- Sebastian TringaleCounselorSebastian TringaleCounselor
Sebastian Tringale’s first summer was 2011, when he was a ten-year-old in Tourmaline. He’s from Medford, MA and is in his third year at Tufts University studying International Relations. Sebastian loves teaching the activities along the water including kayaking, boating, nature, campcraft and music. He is looking forward to helping campers develop their skills at every activity and hanging out and doing crossword puzzles.
- Nick FerrainaCounselorNick FerrainaCounselor
Nick Ferraina was born and raised in Waterford, CT, and moved to Portage, MI in the summer before his junior year of high school. Although he has never attended Birch Rock Camp, Nick attended 5 summers at New London County 4-H Camp in CT, so he knows the value of camp and is very excited to experience it again. Nick would have been a senior this past year studying Film & Television Media at the University of Michigan, but elected to take a year off due to Covid-19. In his free time, Nick enjoys watching movies (of course), traveling (Ecuador, India, Hawaii), hip hop, and playing multiple sports (mostly soccer and basketball). He is very excited to work in field sports and have a great time at camp!
- Bob DowNature SpecialistBob DowNature Specialist
Bob Dow aka “Dancing Owl” is our long time nature instructor and is thrilled to be back for another summer! Bob lives in Waterford, and is a 7th grade Life Science teacher and middle school coach. He loves teaching nature and seeing young campers discover new things about their natural surroundings. He’s certified in CPR and First Aid.
- Kye ChristensenTrip LeaderKye ChristensenTrip Leader
More information coming soon!
- Elizabeth WiseCamp NurseElizabeth WiseCamp Nurse
Elizabeth is thrilled to be back on the Birch Rock medical team this summer! She is originally from Bangor, Maine and now lives in Norway where she works at Stephens Memorial Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant and EMT-A. She is excited to bring her medical and outdoor experience to BRC this summer, and to meet all the campers and families!
- Janice WalkerMaintenanceJanice WalkerMaintenance
Janice is Birch Rock’s matriarch and Queen Mother, and what she says goes around here! Her green thumb and Walker riding mower keep camp trimmed and beautiful all summer long. If you want something done correctly, you go to Janice.
- Charlie MacDonaldMaintenanceCharlie MacDonaldMaintenance
Charlie is a true Maine-uh and is the mechanical genius around these parts. He is the hardest working gent on campus and cannot be stopped. He loves to keep us laughing and is usually busy at work before anyone on camp wakes up.
- Jorge StevensonRiflery & KitchenJorge StevensonRiflery & Kitchen
Jorge was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. When he was young, he raced cars; they called him “El Loco del Norte." He attended university in El Paso, Texas and earned a BA in Marketing and Business Administration.
For 25 years, Jorge did import and export work between El Paso, TX, and Cd. Juárez, Mexico. He became Port Director of Juarez Customs in 2000, and initiated cooperation with US Customs that year. Jorge’s claim to fame is that he is married to Emme, the beautiful nurse. Jorge and Emme moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico in 2012 and for the last 8 years they have been working in summer camps.
- Lacey OliverKitchenLacey OliverKitchen
Lacey’s first season as part of the Birch Rock kitchen staff was in 2018. She was born and raised in South Paris, where she still lives today. She works year-round at the New Balance Factory in Norway making sneakers. She enjoys living in Maine, and getting to experience all four seasons, but her favorite is by far summer because she gets to spend time at Birch Rock! She is looking forward to another unforgettable summer at camp.
- Thomas JoyceMWA Secondary LeaderThomas JoyceMWA Secondary Leader
Thomas is returning to join the staff this summer as one of the trip leaders for the MWA program. He first joined the Birch Rock Community in 1989, and has served in many roles at camp, including camper, CIT, counselor, Head Counselor, Assistant Director, CIT Director, and Senior Counselor. Aside from preparing for and co-leading the MWA program this summer, he will be working around the woodshop, campcraft, and documenting much of the activity this summer through his camera’s lens. He is looking forward to making his own canoe paddle for the Allagash portion of the MWA and cooking over an open fire. Thomas is certified in Wilderness First Aid, he is a certified Trip Leader, and a Lifeguard.
- John ReisertWaterfront DirectorJohn ReisertWaterfront Director
John was in Cabin 2 (now Hornet’s Nest) as an eleven-year-old in 2010. Now he is proud to be our Waterfront Director, teaching swimming and keeping us safe on the lake. John is a talented swimmer both at camp and at Bard College, where he attends college.
- Seth BrewsterCounselorSeth BrewsterCounselor
Seth Brewster grew up in Cambridge Massachusetts, where he graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin with a focus in carpentry. In the next year he plans on traveling around the world and experiencing new cultures. His first year at The Rock was in 2010 in Bee’s Hive. Outside of camp, he enjoys all sorts of sports (rugby, boating, basketball), painting, and woodworking. He is looking forward to meeting new campers, creating all sorts of projects in the woodshop, and Sunday activities.
- RJ HewinsCounselorRJ HewinsCounselor
RJ Hewins’s first summer was 2013, as a 12-year-old in Dogpatch. He was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is American by nationality. He just finished his second year at the University of Toronto studying Chemical Engineering. RJ is an avid fan of soccer, tennis, kayaking, and anything else water related. He's super excited to be back at Birch Rock since last being here in 2018 as a CIT, and looks forward to meeting new campers, and reuniting with old!
- Jeffrey Naipier-KaneCounselorJeffrey Naipier-KaneCounselor
Jeffrey Naipier-Kane started at Birch Rock in 2010 as a 7-year-old in Hilton B. He lives in Brunswick, Maine and works at a nursing home. After camp, he plans to travel abroad and explore new frontiers. Jeffrey is a master of nature, and loves teaching down in the nature hatchery, as well as out in the woods. His favorite quote is “I think, therefore I am.” -René Descartes. Jeffrey likes Chaco Tacos.
- Jack FlynnCounselorJack FlynnCounselor
Jack Flynn is from Cincinnati, Ohio, but is currently attending Colgate University in New York. As a 10-year-old Jack first came to Birch Rock in 2012, where he spent the summer in Hornets’ Nest. Jack is excited about coming back to camp after a year off due to COVID. He cannot wait to get back onto the water for some kayaking and general swim. Jack’s favorite Birch Rock memory is getting woken up early in the morning to get ready to swim his whale.
- David ColasinCounselorDavid ColasinCounselor
David Colasin started at Birch Rock in 2014 when he was 12 years old. David lives in San Diego, California and attends San Diego State University studying Environmental Science. When he’s not busy with schoolwork, David works at a small restaurant close to his home. In his free time, David enjoys being outside especially when surfing, skating, or hiking. David also enjoys playing guitar and he can’t wait to bring it to camp again.
- Sam RotmanCounselorSam RotmanCounselor
Sam Rotman started going to Birch Rock as a 10-year-old in Bee’s Hive in 2010. Sam lives in Westborough, Massachusetts and currently attends Saint Joseph’s College of Standish, Maine. Sam taught Windsurfing and Sailing last summer and can’t wait to get back on the water. Outside of camp Sam enjoys playing soccer and basketball and likes to hang out with his friends. Sam looks forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
- Eli ProtasCounselorEli ProtasCounselor
Eli began his Birch Rock experience in 2014 as a 10-year-old in Hilton B. Eli is from Takoma Park Maryland, but in the fall will be a freshman at Pomona College in California. Eli is looking forward to spending time in the nature hatchery, and sharing his love for the waterfront activities with campers. His favorite memory from camp is completing his whale.
- Gus TringaleCounselorGus TringaleCounselor
Gus was eight years old when he first came to camp in 2011. He hails from Medford, MA and will attend his second year at Tufts University in the fall. Gus loves activities all around camp, including mountain biking, nature, and lacrosse. In the off season he enjoys watching movies and a variety of outdoor activities. He is looking forward to celebrating 95 seasons of BRC!
- Abe TolkoffCounselorAbe TolkoffCounselor
Abe Tolkoff started at camp as an 11-year-old in 2014. He’s from Brookline, MA and is graduating in the Class of 2021 from Belmont Hill School. He looks forward to taking to the lake in various crafts this summer, especially sailing! He is certified as a Lifeguard, First Aid Instructor, Sailing Instructor and is currently becoming an EMT.
- Eric TraubCounselorEric TraubCounselor
Eric Traub first came to Birch Rock in 2014 as an 11-year-old in Walker. He is so excited to be returning now for his 7th summer at camp. Eric lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with his parents and 3 brothers and is looking forward to embarking on a gap year before college this coming fall. Eric is so excited to get back to teaching mountain biking on the hill, being part of some unforgettable campfires, and spending time with all the amazing campers that make Birch Rock the place that it is.
- Nathan ShatzCounselorNathan ShatzCounselor
Nathan Shatz spent his first summer at Birch Rock in 2014 as an 11-year-old in Hornet's Nest. Nathan is from Northampton, Massachusetts, and will study history and forensic science at the University of Michigan next fall. He is looking forward to spending time in all corners of camp: on the soccer field, in the woodshop, and down at the lake. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, playing ultimate frisbee and singing. After a year away from camp due to COVID, Nathan is thrilled to jump right back into the spirit of Birch Rock and can't wait to play quorum.
- Eitan SenguptaCounselorEitan SenguptaCounselor
Eitan Sengupta hails from Newton, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. His first summer at Birch Rock was in 2015, and he’s thrilled to be back as a counselor for his seventh. He loves nearly everything related to the waterfront, but is also known to do other things sometimes, when he’s feeling adventurous. In the offseason, he spends most of his time wishing he were back at camp. He is a certified lifeguard.
- Lleyton PowellCounselorLleyton PowellCounselor
Lleyton Powell started at Birch Rock in 2017 when he was 13 years old. Lleyton is currently finishing up his junior year of high school in Brookfield, Connecticut. During his free time, he loves listening to and writing music with his friends. When writing music, Lleyton enjoys playing bass and writing lyrics. When at camp, Lleyton enjoys activities such as lacrosse, music, and sailing. He could not be more excited for his first year on staff this summer.
- Joe BisonCounselorJoe BisonCounselor
Joe is from Hanover, Massachusetts and came to camp for the first time when he was 11 years old. Joe enjoys swimming and campcraft. His favorite memory is going on MWA and swimming his whale.
- Sam CluggishKitchenSam CluggishKitchen
This is Sam's fifth summer at Birch Rock. He is from Medford, MA and will attend The George Washington University in Washington, DC in the fall. Sam is excited to work in the kitchen and help out around camp as needed. His favorite activities are swimming and pretty much anything on the waterfront.
- Josh CervantesKitchenJosh CervantesKitchen
Josh Cervantes began his Birch Rock experience in 2018 as a 14-year-old in Owls Perch. Josh is from New York. He will be looking forward to spending time in the kitchen and learning new things. His favorite memory from camp is getting his American Archer.
- RD WeeksSenior Counselor & Trip LeaderRD WeeksSenior Counselor & Trip Leader
RD Weeks' first summer at BRC was in 2000 as a camper in Hilton A. He is excited to be returning back to the Rock and supporting the Birch Rock community. He enjoys spending time outdoors, seeking new adventures and believes life is a fun-filled journey. He is looking forward to being part of the team and making this an amazing summer for the campers!