Staff Profiles

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!

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.

More information coming soon!

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.

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 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.

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.

More information coming soon!

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 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 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’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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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.