Executive Team

  • Person with short curly hair wearing sunglasses and a colorful striped sweater, standing in a wooded area on a sunny day.

    Caleb Seguin

    Director

    Pronouns: He/Him
    Hometown: Albany, NY
    On Staff Since: 2011
    Email: [email protected]

    Caleb Seguin has been working with youth since he was one. He was born and raised in Canada, and earned his BA from Trent University in Ontario. He is the owner/operator of Playful Pianos music studio for kids, and former Project Lead at Northern Youth Abroad, helping Indigenous youth in Canada’s northern territories develop volunteer projects to serve their communities.

    As an Indigenous person, Caleb draws inspiration from the core teachings of his Anishinaabe upbringing to examine youth work through an anti-colonial lens. Throughout his work, he maintains a commitment to fostering values of autonomy, community responsibility, and silliness for its own sake. He balances this with a commitment to addressing the inequities that make outdoor recreation spaces like Camp Unirondack inaccessible for many marginalized communities.

    Caleb has presented at schools, summer camps, conferences, and in professional development settings on topics related to LGBTQ+ inclusivity, anti-colonialism, youth autonomy and privacy, youth-centred behaviour intervention, and more.

    Caleb is dog dad to the little black and white menace known as Pingo. He has a deep passion for jigsaw puzzles and peach cobbler. here

  • A person with teal-colored hair, wearing a brown Carhartt beanie and a dark shirt, sitting in an old, weathered white vehicle with a small black and white dog wearing a red bandana in their lap, both looking at the camera.

    Arson Allen

    Manager, Kitchen Manager

    Pronouns: They/He
    Hometown: Albany, NY
    On Staff Since: 2019
    Email: [email protected]

    Arson has been a part of the Unirondack community for over 10 years, first as a camper and then as a staff member. They are honored to be a part of such a wonderful and wacky family, and are thrilled to serve such dynamic and diverse communities. They emphasize joy, silliness, and grounding in natural spaces in their approach to community building and care. They are passionate about expanding access to empathetic environments and outdoor recreation/education.

    Arson has the pleasure of acting as a steward of the camp’s grounds for the entire on-site operating season (from May through mid-October). You will find them making cinnamon rolls late in the evening so you can enjoy them early in the morning. Cooking is a big part of their life in and out of camp, working as a line cook and barista during the off-season. They have also worked as an infant lead teacher at multiple preschools and a kindergarten art teacher.

    Between cooking camp meals and traipsing about the woods, Arson is a musician, painter, and fan of long walks and diy projects.

  • A young woman with wavy, shoulder-length brown hair wearing sunglasses, a long-sleeve floral shirt, and a yellow overall dress standing outdoors on a sunny day with green trees and a blue sky in the background.

    Sam Meister

    Manager

    Pronouns: They/She
    Hometown: Albany, NY
    On Staff Since: 2018
    Email: [email protected]

    Sam has been a part of the Unirondack community since the late 2000s, when they attended as a youth camper. They took a hiatus before returning as an artist in residence, cabin counselor, Art Shop Director for five years, and then a Manager. During their hiatus from camp, Sam earned a BFA in Fine Arts with a concentration in Illustration from Towson University, and survived cancer. She deeply loves indie comics and other alternative forms of storytelling, and believes in the power of artistic experimentation to help each of us discover a sense of identity as children and a sense of levity as grown-ups. 

    Outside of camp, Sam has worked a variety of jobs including at a number of community arts and crafts studios and childhood education centers. As she’s lived and worked throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New York, Sam always strives to carry with them a responsible sense of childlike wonder, silliness, and enthusiasm. She also practices bookbinding.

    Sam and their co-Manager Arson, partners both in life and in work, live at Unirondack for its full open season, throughout half the year.

Leadership Team

  • A smiling person with shoulder-length curly hair, glasses, and earrings, wearing a scarf and a coat, outdoors near a stone wall.

    Riley George

    Program Director

    Pronouns: She/They/He
    On staff since: 2016
    Email: [email protected]

    Riley George started coming to camp as a camper and has worn the hats of a morning program volunteer, counselor, head counselor, kitchen manager, and now program director for the past several years. 

    Riley believes magic is real and all it takes is dedicated community. 

    When not at camp, she lives in Philadelphia and works as a bartender, server, and substitute teacher. Riley studied French and secondary education at Michigan State University. 

  • A woman with curly hair and a beaded necklace, smiling and holding a mug of coffee in an outdoor setting.

    pep marie

    Racial Justice Director

    Pronouns: They/Them
    On staff since: 2024
    Email: [email protected]

    Raised in the Quaker tradition,  pep  marie believes in the good in all people and carries this with them into every collaboration they are a part of. For over a decade  pep  has provided consulting, facilitation and mediation support for organizations and individuals committed to transforming our world. Thru working with those committed to Educational Justice, Media Rights, Housing Equity, Decarceration, Gender Liberation and Environmental Justice they have sharpened their intersectional approach and understanding of intentional communities.  pep  is excited to support Unirondack  staff, campers and families in building their collective Racial Justice lens via workshops, informal conversations and more this summer!  www.pepmarie.com

  • A man with dark hair and glasses preparing gear next to a campfire on a grassy lakeside, surrounded by trees.

    'Canoe' Sam Berman

    Trip Leader, Trips Coordinator

    Pronouns: They/Them
    On staff since: 2024
    Email: [email protected]

    'Canoe' Sam has guided wilderness trips in the north woods of NY and Ontario for a decade, and is psyched to be with Unirondack in the western Adirondacks.  One of Sam's favorite parts of any trip is cooking in the woods, and they firmly believe that there's nothing you can't cook on a trip.  Sam's favorite trail is the one that they haven't adventured on yet!  See you out there!

  • Beth Cain

    Community Resource Coordinator

    Pronouns: She/Her
    On staff since: 2021
    Email: [email protected]

    Beth has been dropping kids off for youth programs since 2009, but waited a decade to attend a program herself. Family Camp 2019 was the first time Beth spent the night at camp, and it was a transformative experience. In particular, camp’s ability to embody radical inclusivity for children, youth, and adults has been both empowering and inspiring, and Beth is delighted to be able to support camp in offering programs for others. Since May 2021, Beth has led the spring Creatives Retreat for adults, and has served as a member of the Leadership team for Summer Youth Programs in various capacities. An experienced elementary teacher and teacher educator, Beth is grateful for the opportunity to bring together her professional expertise with an informal education setting in the woods. 

  • A woman with red hair wearing a cream-colored cable knit sweater and black pants standing smiling at the camera against the backdrop of green cliffs and the ocean.

    Elena Kopel-Theophanis

    Mental Health & Wellness Specialist

    Pronouns: She/Her
    On staff since: 2016
    Email: [email protected]

    Elena received her Master’s Degree in Wilderness Therapy at Naropa University, and her interests include biking, panda bears, Thin Mints, and Camp Unirondack. Elena has been a trusted counselor and head counselor at Unirondack for years, and continues her work with Unirondack’s leadership team. In her words, “Unirondack has helped to guide me through many aspects of my life, and it is my privilege to give back in any way I can. See you this summer!”

  • A woman smiling outdoors near a body of water with trees in the background, wearing a colorful dress, a necklace with a four-leaf clover pendant, and a brown cap worn backwards.

    Vaishali Konowitz

    Digital Media Storyteller

    Pronouns: They/Them
    On staff since: 2025
    Email: [email protected]

    Vaishali has been coming to Unirondack since 2012 as a part of Family Camp and spent 6 years attending youth summer camp. In 2023, they were a Youth Representative on Unirondack’s Board of Directors. Vaishali’s first year on staff was 2025 as a counselor and social media storyteller/photographer, as well as a member of the racial justice team. Vaishali likes to spend their time taking photos, stargazing, chasing sunsets, having dance parties while blasting music, and will always be ready to jump in a body of water. Vaishali is majoring in Math at the University of Vermont, their favorite word is panini, and favorite colors are orange and green! @shali.photos on instagram :)

  • A black and white dog lying on the ground in a wooded area, resting its head on a stuffed animal toy that looks like a raccoon. The ground is dirt with small pieces of wood and the background has green foliage and some blue and green outdoor furniture.

    Tuna

    Camp Dog, Assistant Dishwasher

    On staff since: 2021
    Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

    Tuna Noodle Casserole George has been lounging at camp for many summers now. Her great loves at camp are meeting new friends, lounging, getting jazzed in the sand, and sneaking food off of plates abandoned. Her great loves in her life in Philadelphia with Riley George are lounging, exploring parks, scoring street food, and spending time with her human and cat friends. She is lovingly  married to Knuckles - former assistant waterfront director - and loves her co-camp dog Pingo even if he sometimes forgets he knows her. Tuna is half husky half Anatolian shepherd, was born in Michigan, and has lived alongside Riley in Detroit, Salt Lake City, and Philadelphia. She also enjoys time at her grandmother's in the suburbs of Philly.  Some additional Tuna statistics: Throughout her time at camp, Tuna has stayed in the most cabins of any camp dog; she has splashed around in 4 of the 5 great lakes; and she has all four of her dew claws. 

  • A black and white dog standing on a wooden desk in front of a computer, with a window and a whiteboard in the background.

    Pingo

    CDiT (Camp Dog in Training)

    On staff since: 2021
    Hometown: Wherever Dad is

    Pingo is mostly a good boy. Except for when he’s not. But he’s working on it.

  • Pippin

    Camp Dog, Canine Resources

    On staff since: 2026
    Hometown: Wherever Beth is

    Pippin is happiest connecting with campers who miss their dogs, running around after small furry things in the woods, and scrounging for snacks under the tables outside Gilman. He takes his responsibility to alert us to unfamiliar vehicles on camp very seriously. He sometimes seems to think he’s in charge, but he isn’t, and he’s slowly coming to accept that. Like so many campers, Unirondack is his happy place, and he’s lucky to be able to spend his summers here. 

  • Suzy

    CCiT (Camp Cat in Training)

    On staff since: 2026
    Hometown: Under your cabin

    Suzy has distinctive milk-mustache markings, and started her career as a Camp-Cat-In-Training at just around one year old. Her interests include playing with trash, chirping at anyone who sneezes, gently attacking the hand of anyone who rubs her belly, hiding under camp cabins, and practicing her apex predator mouse-hunting skills. She has yet to catch a mouse.

  • A dog with a black and white face and a black bandana lying on green grass with trees and a body of water in the background.

    Knuckles

    Camp Dog, Assistant Waterfront Director

    Years on staff: 2015-2025
    Hometown: The Woods

    Knuckles’ first summer at camp was in 2014 and she has been a proud leader ever since. She is a 50-pound mut mix who loves campers and is eager to participate in camp activities such as lying in the dirt, chewing sticks, swimming, boating, chasing chipmunks, and looking pitiful in an (often successful) attempt to acquire treats and belly rubs. She has diligently served as camp’s assistant waterfront director since 2016.

  • Close-up of a gray tabby cat licking a dollop of white substance from a wooden stick.

    Bug

    Camp Cat, Assistant Manager

    Years on staff: 2012-2024
    Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

    Bug enjoyed basking in the sun in the hallway of Sophia Fahs, pretending to chase butterflies and squirrels but very slowly, and eating any snacks he could coerce you to part with. He was a constant companion to Eliz, especially in the spring and fall when he enjoyed bounding around along the paths at Unirondack, or lazing about the art shop.

Learn about our board of directors here