Dear Friends of Pine Island Camp,
This week, our staff begin arriving at PIC to complete Wilderness First Responder training and prepare for another incredible summer. Before campers arrive on the island, our staff spend weeks immersed in training and preparation. They set up tents, practice emergency procedures, review camper forms, lead mock camp days, and participate in seminars on counseling, leadership, conflict management, and trip safety. It’s a tremendous amount of work, but it’s what allows Pine Island to run with the energy, care, and professionalism that we expect.
This is a talented group of staff who care deeply about helping young people grow in confidence, character, and independence. Many of them were Pine Island campers themselves, while others come to us with significant leadership and expedition experience from around the world. Every counselor has been personally interviewed by Alex. We recruit, select, and train each member of our team to be exceptional counselors, mentors, and role models for our campers.
We’d like to introduce you to a few of these remarkable staff members who will help make this summer another great one.
Thank you,
Meet a few of our Staff
Corinne Alsop
Corinne is taking a hiatus from their full-time gig as Logistics Coordinator for NYC Outward Bound Schools and returning to PIC this summer as Assistant Director of our Whitehead Program. Those who attended Winter Campfire in NYC will remember Cornine as a standout performer, leading favorites like “Wagon Wheel” along with their own newly rewritten classic, “Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Counselors.” This summer, Corinne will assist director Sam Hecklau in running our saltwater outpost on Whitehead Island, where campers explore the rocky shoreline, study the rich intertidal ecosystem, and build skills through games, knot-tying, clamming, and foraging for wild edibles.
Kai Harashima
Kai is a computer science major at Cornell University. He returns for his sixth summer at PIC to teach campers the ropes of sailing. From knot-tying and properly rigging and unrigging a Bazoomarang to confidently skippering a JY-15, Kai will teach campers the skills to safely and competently sail our hand-crafted wooden boats. When he’s not in school or sailing, Kai enjoys playing tennis and squash, learning piano, and graphic design. We’re glad he’s returning to lead our sailing program this summer.
Candela Gatinois Canal
Candela joins us for her first summer at PIC to teach kayaking. A recent high school graduate, she plans to study psychology in college. Candela will teach campers a wide range of kayaking skills, including wet exits, T-rescues, paddle signals, high and low braces, and even the Eskimo roll. Advanced kayakers will also work with her to plan a four-day kayak expedition, complete with navigation, menu planning, and emergency preparedness. Candela is looking forward to spending the summer in nature, and we’re glad to have her at PIC.
Adlai Lipton
Adlai is a neuroscience and pre-med student at Middlebury College in Vermont. He teaches the fundamentals of rowing, preparing boys for trips like the Great Pond Rowing Trip as well as the more advanced ONG-BAK (O.A.R. Navigators Going Backwards Along the Kennebec). An experienced backpacker, Adlai also enjoys swimming, skiing, and mountain biking. We’re fortunate to have his talent and energy back at camp for his sixth summer.
Xander Smart
Xander, a social studies education major at Southern Utah University, joins us for his first summer at PIC to teach swimming. Campers arrive at PIC with a wide range of swimming abilities, and Xander will work with everyone, from true beginners gaining confidence in the water to experienced swimmers looking to sharpen their technique and endurance—including those aiming to complete a timed swim to the Mainland. A certified yoga instructor, gymnast, and volleyball player, Xander brings energy, versatility, and enthusiasm to camp. We’re excited to welcome him to the PIC community this summer.
América Ramirez
América, an international finance student at the University of Monterrey, will travel from Mexico to teach paddleboarding at PIC this summer. Introduced last year, paddleboarding quickly became a popular activity, offering an accessible and confidence-building introduction to boating and time on the water. América will help campers develop balance, coordination, and comfort on the lake—skills that translate naturally to other boating activities. In addition to paddleboarding, América enjoys swimming, running, and hiking. We’re excited to welcome her to the crew this summer.
AJ Powers
AJ is a student at Maine Maritime Academy and a volunteer firefighter for the town of Castine, ME. He returns for his sixth summer at PIC to helm the KWS, our 28-foot launch. In addition to sharing the skipper role with Sawyer Carson, AJ will lead some of our many trips that take campers to the stunningly beautiful mountains and rivers of the Northeast. AJ is looking forward to sharing his passion for the water with this year’s crew of campers.
Julie Harris
Julie joins the Kitchen Crew for her first summer at PIC. She’ll assist the Head Cook and Assistant Cook in preparing three hearty meals a day for our campers and staff – no small task! Julie enjoys hiking, winter sports, and reading, and we’re excited to welcome her to the PIC community this summer.
Ryan Gilbert
Ryan, a psychology major at St. Lawrence University who recently spent four months in Kenya researching baboon sleep patterns near Mount Kenya, will lead our LTIP (Leadership Training Internship Program) this year. He’ll teach our LTIPs everything from motorboat operation to power tool use, along with the hands-on maintenance tasks that keep the island running smoothly. We’re thrilled to have Ryan back for his tenth summer at Pine Island.
Saywer Carson
Our most overqualified skipper returns for another summer at PIC! A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Sawyer is a merchant mariner who has already sailed to five continents. He’ll bring his depth of experience to safely ferry campers and staff to and from the island, navigating the one-mile passage between the mainland and PIC with ease. Boarding the KWS, our 28-foot launch – quickly becomes second nature for campers, who make the crossing daily for mainland activities and to set off on overnight camping trips throughout the season. We’re lucky to have Sawyer back at the helm this summer – his eleventh at PIC.
Matthew Hawkins
Matthew is the director of the Clifford Arts and Student Center – part of the Ecology Learning Center in Unity, ME. He returns for his 13th season at PIC to serve up hearty, delicious meals for our campers and staff at our saltwater outpost. We’re fortunate to be treated to Matthew’s culinary and musical talents once again this summer.
Kai Scutero
Kai is a mechanical engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines and an avid rock climber. He’s returning to PIC for his fifth summer to lead our Workshop program. Kai will teach campers how to complete simple, useful wooden projects using a range of hand tools, starting with foundational skills and progressing to more complex builds. Many PIC Shop projects – birdhouses, small tables, chairs, and more – are still in use out in the world today. It’s a testament to the craftsmanship and enduring designs that come out of the PIC Shop each summer. We’re thrilled to have Kai heading up this program for us.
Sarah Jun
Sarah is a nursing student at the University of Virginia, where she is also active in the student-run magazine. She joins Pine Island Camp this summer as our medic. Sarah will administer medications, maintain health records, provide first aid and emergency care, and support the overall health and safety of campers and staff throughout the summer. She joins a long line of University of Virginia nursing students who have spent their summers caring for our campers, and we’re delighted to have her as part of our community this summer.
Alex Eisen
Alex returns to Pine Island Camp for his second summer on staff, this time to our Expedition Camp Program. This past year, he completed a 10-week Raleigh International expedition in South Africa focused on community service, environmental conservation, and wilderness trekking. His experience included helping build a learning shelter for local children, conservation work in a nature reserve, and a 19-day trek through the remote Drakensberg Mountains with no marked trails or modern conveniences.
Navarro Vaisbort
Navarro returns to Pine Island Camp for his fourth summer before heading to the University of Austin to study Philosophy and Data Analytics. He’s bringing his passion for fishing to camp this year as the leader of our fly fishing program. Whether teaching casting techniques, reading the water, or helping campers land their first fish, Navarro is excited to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport. Outside of camp, he enjoys backpacking, art, reading, and playing polo. We’re thrilled to welcome Navarro back after several years away.
Daniel Leonce
Daniel returns for his seventh summer at Pine Island Camp and will be teaching swimming. Campers arrive with a wide range of swimming abilities, and Daniel will meet each swimmer where they are while encouraging them to build confidence and develop new skills in the water. Outside of camp, Daniel is a talented singer and gymnast and is studying Neuroscience at Oberlin College of Arts & Sciences. We’re grateful to have his experience, energy, and dedication on the waterfront this summer.