Camp Akeela is proud to boast a ratio of more than 1 adult for every 2 campers. More essential than the number of staff we employ is the quality of our personnel. At Akeela, every camper benefits from the care, spirit and skills of each staff member. We undertake extraordinary lengths to find the best of the best, to ensure that campers have the safest, most fun and most transformative experience possible. Each of our staff members has chosen to join Akeela because they are excited about living, playing, laughing and learning in our camp community. They approach each summer with the energy, dedication and sense of humor that make it evident how much they enjoy and truly “get” Akeela campers!
This incredible group of people includes experts in the fields of child development, psychology, special education, therapeutic interventions, and health care. All of this combined expertise helps ensure that every Akeela camper receives the individualized care and attention that he or she requires to have a successful summer.
Our Camp Directors
Eric Sasson has more than 40 years of camp experience, at some of the Northeast’s finest camps, including Camp Walt Whitman, Camp Wingate*Kirkland and Camp Mah-Kee-Nac. He has been a full time camp professional for over 25 years and is an active member of the American Camp Association. Eric earned a BA in Math from Haverford College and a Masters in Education from Harvard University. Outside of the camp world, he has extensive experience working with children and young adults in a variety of settings. Favorite Book: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Place I’d Like To Visit: New Zealand Camp Food: Fajitas
Debbie Sasson has been spending her summers at camp for more than 30 years. She has a BA in Psychology and a Masters in School Counseling from the University of Rochester. After 3 wonderful years as a middle school counselor in Belmont, MA, she returned to school and earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University in May 2008. She works as a full-time director of Camp Akeela, a position to which she brings extensive knowledge of the fields of child, adolescent and Family-Systems psychology. Favorite Book: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving Place I’d Like To Visit: South Africa Camp Food: Tacos
Debbie and Eric met at a summer camp and have been partners in camping ever since. They have each held virtually every job available at camp, from bunk counselor and swim instructor to unit head and camp director. Throughout their careers, Debbie and Eric have always found themselves gravitating towards the “quirky” kids. Opening Akeela enabled them to create an empowering community for boys and girls who thrive in traditional camp setting with a little extra social support.
David is a Vermont native who grew up about an hour north of Akeela in St. Johnsbury. He earned his degree in Education and has worked as a teacher, coach, dorm parent, and enrollment professional at several New England independent schools. After spending nearly a decade away from Vermont, Dave and his family returned home to the Northeast Kingdom (“the NEK,” if you’re a local!) where they now live year-round. Dave worked at Akeela in the summers of 2010 – 2016 as a Cabin Counselor, Golf Specialist, Assistant Head Counselor, and Head Counselor, before joining the year-round leadership team as the Director of Camp Akeela Wisconsin from 2016 – 2018. He is thrilled to return to Akeela to be part of the life-changing summers that it creates. Outside of camp, Dave loves meeting new people, playing golf (not particularly well), belting show tunes with his family on long car rides, cheering on New England sports teams, and finding a great Philly cheesesteak anywhere he goes. Dave met his wife, Katie, while working at Akeela in 2011, proposed to her at the campfire pit in 2013, and held their rehearsal dinner on the porch of the dining hall in 2015. More than 25 camp friends attended their wedding, so it’s safe to say Akeela has always been a special place for the Baker family. Dave and Katie have three children — Adelaide, Deek, and Juniper — along with their sweet rescue dog, Luna, all of whom are excited to spend summers at camp together.
Favorite Book: Dream Driven by Jason Prendergast Place I’d Like To Visit: St. Andrews, Scotland Favorite Camp Food: Chicken Patties
Erin Stewart
Assistant Director
Erin was born and raised in Country Derry, Ireland, and has been living and working in the US since 2012. She has always loved the outdoors, and was a member of Scouting Ireland for 15 years where she learned to love camping, climbing, and hiking, as well as the friendships and bonds that come from experiencing these things together! While studying for her Bachelor’s in English Literature, she took part in an exchange program which placed her at a summer camp in New Hampshire, and she immediately felt at home. Since then, she has worked through the ranks at camp, first as a camp counselor, and then as Adventure Staff member and Program Director. She accepted a position as a Camp Director in 2016, and has been directing since then. When she isn’t at camp, Erin loves exploring new places, visiting National Parks (she hopes to visit them all eventually), and spending time with her partner, Amy, and their two dogs, Koda and Archie, who you might spot at camp!
Favorite Book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac (She also reads the entire Harry Potter series once a year!) Place I’d Like To Visit: Belize Favorite Camp Food: Mac & Cheese
Our Senior Staff
Our senior staff is composed of highly trained and experienced professionals in the fields of psychology, education, special needs, and therapeutic interventions. These “go-to” people train and provide on-going support to our counselors and activity specialists. They also work directly with campers as part of our regular program and on an as-needed basis.
Barb Wolfson
Head Counselor
Barb comes to us from Wayland, MA, and is a retired Special Educator. She has been a part of the camp community for a long time, both directing her own camp and working as a Head Counselor for Camp Akeela for several summers in the past. (Barb was the owner/director of the camp where Debbie and Eric met, 25 years ago!) She enjoys spending her days with her family, her dogs Nellie and Moose, and staying active by doing yoga, pilates, gardening and being outdoors. When relaxing, she loves to knit, read, cook, and listen to Bruce Springsteen. Favorite Book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Place I’d Like To Visit: Greece Favorite Camp Food: S’mores
Courtney Smith
Head Counselor
Courtney first came to Akeela in 2019 and couldn’t be more excited to return for her 6th summer! She has a BA in Communication Media and her Masters in Special Education from NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina – where she calls home. Courtney has been teaching for 7 years and works at a charter school where she recently made the transition to a Middle School EC Resource Teacher. Along with teaching at the school, Courtney is the Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach. When Courtney isn’t at camp, working, or coaching, you can find her loudly cheering on the NC State Wolfpack in all sports and playing kickball and volleyball in an adult sports league in Raleigh. Favorite Book: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey Place I’d Like To Visit: New Zealand Favorite Camp Food: Brookies (half brownie / half cookie)
Miranda Blevins
Head Counselor
Miranda graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in speech-language pathology and is a licensed SLP-A (speech language pathologist assistant). She will soon be returning to Tennessee to start a Masters program in speech-language pathology at the University of Memphis. The last two years, between summers at Akeela, she has been teaching abroad. She spent a year teaching in Taiwan through the Fulbright program, and is currently an English speaking assistant in Bilbao, Spain. In her free time, you can find Miranda reading, trying new food spots, or being outdoors. She is absolutely thrilled to be returning for her 5th summer and cannot wait to bring her enthusiasm and passion for Akeela back to Miller Pond! Favorite Book: Educated by Tara Westover Place I’d Like To Visit: Machu Picchu, Peru Favorite Camp Food: Hot dogs
Nick Mansfield
Head Counselor
Nick was born and raised just outside of Detroit, Michigan and he is pumped to be returning to Akeela for his fifth summer! He is currently living in Chicago where he is a special educator for third and fourth grade students. He also coaches middle school sports there. Nick holds a BA in Special Education and a MA in Special Education Leadership from Michigan State University. He loves running, reading, collecting onesies, and having fun with anyone who is willing! Nick loved every second of his time at camp last summer, and he cannot wait to bring even more energy to the summer of 2026! Favorite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Place I’d Like To Visit: Alaska Favorite Camp Food: Peanut butter
Rob Brennan
Head Counselor
Rob was born and raised outside Dundalk, a town in the Republic of Ireland. After graduating in 2017, he spent six years working as a primary school teacher in Dublin in both mainstream and special education settings. He recently moved to New Zealand where he has spent the past year working, travelling and adventuring! Rob first came to Akeela as a cabin counselor in 2016 and he instantly fell in love with camp. He returned the following year as a ropes course specialist and then became the Ropes Director in 2019. After a couple of years away from camp, Rob is delighted to be returning as a head counselor! In his free time, Rob enjoys playing piano, camping and spending time with friends and family! Favorite Book: Jacinda Ardern- The Full Story of an Extraordinary Prime Minister by Michelle Duff Place I’d Like To Visit: Paris Favorite Camp Food: S’mores
Keefe Traendly
Site Manager
Keefe Traendly was born in nearby Lebanon, NH, and grew up along with his two brothers and two sisters right down the road from Camp Akeela! He graduated from Thetford Academy in 2000 and began working as a carpenter for several years before deciding to move to North Carolina to attend college. After 10 years down South, the opportunity arose to come back home to Vermont to help his ailing father run his contracting business. Since then, Keefe has made carpentry into a career, on that gives him the type of satisfaction most only dream of. In 2013, Keefe married his wife, Yvette, who is a special education teacher at the Newton School in Strafford. His hobbies are hiking, fishing, hunting, and going to see as much live music as possible! Favorite Book: Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss Place I’d Like To Visit: Brazil Favorite Camp Food: S’mores
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