Leadership
NWL Leadership is comprised of the organization’s owners, C.G. Stephens and Jodi Browning, and longtime Langskib Director, Michael Jarvis. Together, we guide, influence and ensure NWL’s core values of empowering young people to become the best versions of themselves, and share three major commitments.
Our first commitment is to safety. Beyond professional standards and accepted practices, each of us is a parent. We know how difficult it is for you to entrust us with your children and how important it is to keep them safe, both physically and emotionally.
Second, we are deeply committed to running absolutely the finest wilderness program anywhere. Each of us has been profoundly influenced by our experiences on the trail and so believe deeply in the power of our programs.
Third, we are deeply committed to the young people we serve. We measure our success in the feedback we get from young people and their parents. We often hear from participants years afterward that their experience with us shaped their development and character for years to come.
C.G. Stephens
C.G. Stephens
Owner/Director
he/him
C.G.’s boyhood quest for wilderness adventure brought him to Langskib in 1975. After an incredible trip to the James Bay the next summer, C.G. hired on. He led trips for many years before becoming a Director in 1984. C.G. has a BS from Hartwick College and is a passionate student of experiential education and wilderness leadership. A consummate paddler, sailor, telemark skier and student of nature, C.G. spends the winters in the Adirondack Mountains with his wife Jodi Browning and their three children; Hudson, McKenzie James and Grace Ruth.
Jodi Browning
Jodi Browning
Owner/Director
she/her
Jodi grew up exploring the lakes and woods of southeastern Ontario where her family has a summer home. Since 1986 she has worked in various capacities throughout the field of adventure based education including directing an outdoor center in eastern Ontario, leading extensive canoe tripping expeditions for youth at risk and directing courses for the Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association. She has paddled thousands of kilometers with young people through lakes and rivers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba & Minnesota and led several expeditions to Hudson Bay. She began working for Northwaters in 1996. A trained ballet dancer, musician & vocalist, Jodi has spent much of her life pursuing both the arts and the outdoors. In the winter she can be found cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the Adirondack Mountains where she lives with her husband, C.G. Stephens, daughter, Grace and two sons Hudson and McKenzie James.
Michael Jarvis
Michael Jarvis
Director Emeritus
he/him
Michael Jarvis lives with his wife Lynne and their two children in northern Michigan. He is trained as a therapist and works as a counselor, teacher and administrator at The Leelanau School a small boarding high school during the school year. He also teaches psychology, world religions, and a rite of passage course for the senior class. At the age of 17, Michael left the small town in northern Idaho, where he grew up, to attend the United States Air Force Academy. During the 11 years he was in the Air Force he graduated from the Academy with a bachelor of Science degree, flew helicopters with the Air Force, The Army, and the Coast Guard, taught aircrew survival, earned parachute jump wings, and worked with the Coast Guard on a night vision goggle research project. Michael left the Air Force in 1991 to work in Outdoor Education. He has been a certified high ropes and initiatives instructor and has worked with groups ranging from elementary schools, and church youth groups to corporate teams and adult retreats. He also worked with probate courts in several counties designing and leading wilderness experiences with adjudicated and other youth at risk.
Administrator & Program Directors
Our programs are managed by an outstanding team of Program Directors and Administrators who share in our collective commitment to safety, program quality, and the young people we serve. While each of them have specific areas of responsibility, they work together during the summer (and year round) to manage all aspects of operation and programming at Northwaters and Langskib.
All of us (Leadership, Program Directors and Administrators) spend our summers in Temagami and one or more of us will be in charge of (and working directly with) whatever program your child is enrolled in.
Claire Miller
Claire Miller
Program Director
she/her
Since 2004 my summers, in part or in whole, have been spent with Northwaters Langskib. Over that time, I have worn different hats – participant, trip leader and program director – each challenging and rewarding in its own way. At Northwaters, the work is meaningful.
Time on trial creates space for young people to grow in confidence, resilience, and leadership, discovering what they’re capable of through challenge and shared experience. It’s a privilege to be part of that journey. I am very lucky to live and work in such a beautiful place, with our staff and the young people who paddle with us. It is also incredibly fun and exciting-each day can be a true adventure. No two summers are ever the same, and every one of them is memorable in its own way. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that? When I am not in Temagami, I live in the mountains of Golden British Columbia finding ways to connect with the world through hiking, biking, sliding on snow and of course- the occasional month-long canoe trip.
Eric Miller
Eric Miller
Program Director
he/him
It’s been many years since I first came to Langskib in 2004. I’ve been with the organization for so long because its role in my life continues to change. My first trip was challenging. It taught me perseverance and patience as I grappled with the unfamiliar demands of wilderness travel. When I returned the following years, it was the friendships I had fostered that drew me back. The communities I was a part of while canoeing supplied me with a safe place to explore who I was while in high school. As a guide, I recognized the difference my time in Temagami had made in my life, and it was unbelievably rewarding to be able to facilitate that experience for other young adults. As a program director, it is a privilege to manage the container that permits Northwaters and Langskib’s work to happen. Outside of my work in the summer I live in Toronto and work in documentary and corporate film as an editor and videographer.
Hannah Sourisseau
Hannah Sourisseau
Program Director
she/her
I began tripping with Northwaters and Langskib when I was sixteen years old, and remember being immediately struck by the beauty of Temagami, the warmth of the NWL community, and the awe and wonder that come from paddling through the backcountry. For a decade and a half, Northwaters and Langskib has been a constant in my life and a continuous source of learning and inspiration. As a teenager, paddling through Northern Ontario and Quebec taught me about my own personal strength, how to work within a community, how to challenge myself, and how to pay attention – to others around me, to my own feelings, and to the wonder and joy of being alive. Guiding for Northwaters let me move into a role where I got to center and celebrate the authenticity, resilience, and strengths of the young folks with whom I paddled; I look at my summers of being on trail with young folks as ones where I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and really experienced the magic, comfort, and strength that comes from being part of a community. As a director, I embrace the opportunity to manage all the ins-and-outs that make the work at Northwaters and Langskib possible – I truly believe in the ability of a canoe trip, and the heart and meaning we put in, to be transformational.
Outside of summers spent in Temagami, I completed a BA in English Literature at the University of Ottawa, and then spent some time in Western Canada, completing an MA in English Literature at the University of Victoria, and enjoying the temperate coastal weather. Years of paddling in Northern Ontario fostered a love of the outdoors and moving my body that has taken me on many hiking and backpacking trips, a couple rafting adventures, and to countless beautiful places. When not in Temagami, I live in the Ottawa, and can be found running (both trail and road), climbing (both rock and ice), skiing in the winter, fair weather biking, all-season reading, and enjoying potlucks, trivia nights, outdoor adventures, and craft evenings with the community I’ve cultivated here.
Jen Zahorchak
Jen Zahorchak
Program Administrator
she/her
Jen has spent most of her adult life teaching outside and playing with kids. After graduating with a science teaching certificate she led trips and taught outdoor and environmental education at camps and science centers across North America. Jen and her husband Gregg (a Waldorf Forest Kindergarten teacher and retired NWL trip leader) have traveled through 7 provinces and all 50 states together and have embarked on several domestic and overseas hiking and wildlife excursions. Jen enjoys being on, in, or near the water, gardening, photography, yoga, reading, and exploring outside with Gregg and their three ridiculously awesome young humans- Wren, L, and Otis.
Tripping Staff
These are the people who make our programs extraordinary. Occasionally we hire a professional from outside our community but the vast majority of our trip leaders start out as participants. After working their way up through the ranks, earning a spot on a James Bay Trip and then completing our Leadership Program, they begin a multi-year apprenticeship to become a Northwaters/Langskib leader. All in all, it takes from 5 to 8 years for a young person to become a trip leader.
Our camp leaders are chosen because they have earned our respect and trust, because they have demonstrated a strong ability to relate to young people and because they share our commitment to providing outstanding wilderness experiences for young people coming of age.
Once they sign on, our camp leaders tend to stay—many for 10 or more years. Low turnover insures consistent program quality and the capacity to train new leaders. During the off season, we encourage our staff to pursue endeavors which stretch them as individuals and develop them as leaders. This makes for a diverse group of adventuresome staff with an ability to relate to young people from all walks of life.
Lily Beaumont-Boulanger
Lily Beaumont-Boulanger
Trip Leader
she/her
Hi! My name is Lily Boulanger, my life at Northwaters started at the ripe age of 10, where I went on my first ever northern lights adventure, ever since I’ve been hooked and haven’t missed a summer up on one of Temagami’s happiest islands. I can’t wait to meet new and old faces again this summer, listen to the birds, explore big and small rocks alike and really take it all in! Outside of my work at Northwaters, I work at a cafe while going to school in Halifax, studying sustainability and sociology- on a regular Saturday you would most likely find me sunbathing on my porch (weather permitting), strolling around the north end of Halifax, hiking or thrifting!
Lexi Berger
Lexi Berger
Assistant Trip Leader
she/her
Hello! I am Lexi Berger, and I am a neuroscience student, novel enjoyer, and interested climber of rocks and trees. Originally from Mississauga, Ontario, I am currently living in Vancouver while studying at the University of British Columbia. Living in BC has offered me some fantastic opportunities to get outside, enjoying skiing in the mountains, outdoor climbing, and hiking the various trails that seem to be right in my backyard!
I’m passionate about the feeling of lying in a sleeping bag in a tent in the rain, and knowing the groundsheet underneath is folded so that no water will get into the tent. I am also passionate about the feeling of waking up by water, early enough to see the mist rise. Entering my third year as a canoe guide, I’m massively passionate about having the chance to share the feelings that, while maybe existing in some form or another during life off of trail, never feel so acute or as vivid as when on a river.
Jo Bisantz
Jo Bisantz
Trip Leader
she/her
Hi! My name is Jo! I’m from the southwest corner of Colorado and was lucky enough to spend so much time outdoors adventuring and exploring. I have been spending my summers with Northwaters since 2016, and before that listening to my sister’s stories and watching her paddle in from trips. For almost as long as I can remember Temagami has been my home away from home. There I was introduced to the best people in my life and built relationships I know will last our lifetime. Northwaters is a place I am encouraged to play and feel empowered… and where I am also given the opportunity to be vulnerable and grow. Northwaters also comes with a guarantee I am coming home with the best stories from the summer.
After a few gap years of traveling, skiing, and exploring, I have settled down in Seattle,Washington and am pursuing a degree in psychology. I am an outdoor guide for Seattle University, and a sewing teacher for elementary schoolers over the fall and winter. Between work and school I find myself exploring the coast, hunting down hot yoga classes, and skiing when I can. So excited to return for my fourth summer of guiding with Northwaters and Langskib, see y’all in Temagami!
Lily “B” Bisantz
Lily “B” Bisantz
Program Director
she/her
Hi there! My name is Lily but I more frequently go by ‘B’. Home for me is currently Colorado, but I have also lived in Austin, Texas, Northern France, Cairo, Egypt, and after 9 summers of returning to Temagami, this place has become a home as well. In 2023 I graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.A. in International Affairs and Religious Studies and a minor in Arabic. During the last year I started a new position at CU Boulder as a Coordinator in the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution and have also been working towards obtaining my 300 hour Yoga Teacher Certification. In my free time I can be found running, meandering through known/unknown streets, sipping coffee, reading, or daydreaming. I choose to return to NWL summer after summer because of the freedom, empowerment, and sense of community that is born from these adventures. The opportunity to work with, connect, teach, and be inspired by young people on the lakes and rivers of Northern Ontario has truly been the gift of a lifetime, and one I am beyond grateful for.
Chance Boyer
Chance Boyer
Trip Leader
he/him
When I was in 6th grade and my mom told me she was sending me on a ten day canoe trip in northern Ontario, I was fuming. Now, over a decade later, it’s hard to imagine how I would have turned out as a person if I had managed to talk her out of sending me. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan meant that winters were spent indoors reading comic books and watching movies, so throughout high school my trips to Temagami in the summer months served as a much needed recalibration that helped me reconnect with myself, nature, and the community that is this camp. In college while I was earning my degree in anthropology and media studies at Kalamazoo College, working for NWL as a trip leader gave me a break from academia, and more importantly, time for some good clean fun. Currently I work at a sushi restaurant and guide kayak tours on the Detroit River. In my free time I’m still watching movies, reading funny books, and also squeezing in as much rock climbing and bicycling as I can.
Rosa Corak
Rosa Corak
Trip Leader
she/her
My first summer at Northwaters I arrived at the Temagami landing shy and unsure of how the next two weeks would unfold. It only took the boat ride to the island to feel welcomed into the community and excitement for the adventure I was on.
Since my first trip in 2010 I have returned every summer, brought back by the friendships I have made and the beauty of the wilderness. As a leader I want participants to feel that Northwaters Langskib is a place they can challenge themselves, be honest with themselves and others, and feel supported by the people around them.
When I am not in Temagami I can be found in Ottawa, where I attend the University of Ottawa, or cycling through the Gatineau hills.
Esther Crawford
Esther Crawford
Trip Leader
she/her
Hello! My name is Esther Crawford.
I’ve lived all over the U.S., from being raised in Michigan and New York, to spending my college years in Arizona and Colorado. I have just graduated with my bachelor’s in Political Science! Next on the agenda is moving to Oregon after the summer.
Growing up in many different places gave me a fantastic life perspective, from exploring vibrant and diverse cities, to appreciating quiet desert and mountain towns. While I am thankful for the many lessons these places have taught me, as a youth I always yearned to be somewhere grounding. Somewhere I could take time to look inward and discover who I was, rather than where I was. During my adolescent years, Northwaters provided an environment where I could find community and learn to be my authentic self.
After many trips as a participant (and a few years off to do more exploring!) I became a leader with the intention of providing empowering experiences for participants. On trail, we hold space for joy, strength, courage, and community, and LOTS of fun! I’m looking forward to another season full of laughter, paddling, and of course, bannock.
Thomas Dixon
Thomas Dixon
Trip Leader
he/him
Hello! My name is Thomas. I live in Chicago and have been doing trips at NWL since I was 11 years old. Temagami and NWL have had a massive impact on me throughout my life and I am very grateful for all the opportunities it has offered me. I particularly love all the outdoor skills and knowledge I have gained over the years. My trip mates throughout my childhood continue to be some of my best friends in the front country to this day.
During the off season, I am an undergraduate student at American University in Washington DC where I study International Service. I hope to one day work for the foreign service in Latin America. I enjoy spending time in Chicago by the lake and cycling all over the city and Midwest. I am on the men’s club volleyball team at my university and I enjoy playing on the beach and indoors. I love all outdoor activities and I am constantly on the hunt for adventure. Growing up near a big city and living in DC, there are not a ton of outdoor opportunities, so I am grateful for the release provided by my canoe tripping in Canada.
Anna Fahey
Anna Fahey
Trip Leader
she/her
I first tripped with Northwaters & Langskib in 2014, when I was twelve years old and very nervous that I had no outdoors experience. What I discovered that year, and have continued to find every summer, was a community and a challenge that pushed me to embrace discomfort and take risks. I owe so much of myself to this place and its people, and I am so grateful to return for another summer of leading and learning from the amazing young people we take out on trail. I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and am happiest when spending time outdoors, writing, or playing my guitar. I just graduated from Kenyon College with degrees in English and French, where I most enjoyed interning for a literary magazine and leading trips for the school’s outing club.
Bainon Hart
Bainon Hart
Trip Leader
she/her
I’m Bainon! I think of my years at Northwaters-Langskib every day, without fault. My first program here was in 2014- a 10-day blur of inside jokes, a little rain, and feeling pretty cool. Today, over a decade later, I am still so amazed by the trail experience. I hope to always be learning from this land and the people with which I share it. It has and always will be the greatest teacher.
I studied English at Williams College and have been perched in Jackson, Wyoming for the time being. Snowboarding, skate skiing, eating a banana, reading classic novels, and swing dancing are where you can find me these days.
Kaia Karimi
Kaia Karimi
Trip Leader
she/her
I began my journey with Northwaters and Langskib at age 13 when I attended the Northern Lights program. I remember being struck by the beauty of the land and warmth of the community, and the experiences and friendships I made led me to return every summer! My time paddling and portaging has inspired my love of adventure and the wilderness, taught me to find joy in the smallest of things, and shaped who I am today. I can’t wait to share my love of this place with others during my fourth year on staff!
Outside of Temagami, I can be found in Texas completing a BS in biology, leading trips for my school’s outdoor recreation program, working at a therapeutic horseback riding center, conducting field research on birds, shadowing a neurosurgeon, and exploring the natural world. I have also gained experience through training as an EMT and volunteering at a clinic.
Lucy Knudsen
Lucy Knudsen
Trip Leader
she/her
Hi! My name is Lucy and I was born in Wilmington DE. I currently live in Philadelphia and am working toward an MSW degree. In my free time, I like to read, do crafts, spend time outside, and be active through running, yoga, or picking up heavy things!
My NWL experience began in the Northern Lights program, where I found an incredibly uplifting and empowering community. NWL quickly became a sacred space for me and reminiscing about what I had accomplished physically and what I had shared with the community stayed with me through the school years as I waited to return. I am so excited to return this summer and help create that same environment and community in my fifth year on staff!
Daniel Lampert
Daniel Lampert
Trip Leader
My journey with NWL started in second grade when I made a promise to my friend: as soon as we were ten, we would do something extraordinary and canoe in the woods. The lakes and forests of the Temagami area are truly breathtaking, and their spirit captivated me. NWL taught me to tune into that spirit, showing me the importance of values, communication, and teamwork. Even as a ten-year-old kid from New York carrying a wooden box on my forehead, I felt something new in me when I returned home.
Over a decade later, I still feel the same sense of wonder and awe when I think about the magic of Northwaters & Langskib. Canoe-tripping guided me into adulthood, and I am now a third-year student at Dartmouth College. I’m a computer science major, president of my improv comedy troupe, and I play saxophone in a student band. No matter where I go, the guiding energy of NWL draws me back. I am beyond excited to lead trips this summer, to cultivate a love for the outdoors in others, and to show them the same spirit that captivated me when I was young. Teeth to the Wind!
Joseph Lopez
Joseph Lopez
Assistant Trip Leader
he/him
My first NWL trip was a school trip and I’ve been hooked ever since. When I started, I was attracted to the discipline of pushing through the rockiest situations and coming out the other end feeling accomplished. Throughout my years of being on trail, I learned “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” Each trip was not only one of physical growth but of emotional, spiritual, and mental growth. Other than canoeing and being in nature, my other hobbies include cooking, baking, going on side quests, and taking care of people.
Seamus MacFarland
Seamus MacFarland
Trip Leader
he/him
I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan trotting around local parks with my parents and friends. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of canoeing down our local river, the Huron. I found NWL through one of my best friends. I remember being scared, anxious and homesick on my first trip, but by the end of that summer I knew I wanted to return. Since then these trips have become a very big part of my life. Having the opportunity to travel some of the most beautiful land, supported by some of the most amazing people I’ve had the privilege of meeting is something I’m very grateful for. In between summers you can find me in Chicago attending Columbia College for photography and working at the Museum of Contemporary Photography.
Brynkly Meyer
Brynkly Meyer
Trip Leader
she/her
When I try to explain this camp, no one understands. But I don’t need anyone to understand this aspect of my life for it to be true. This community I’ve become part of is genuinely indescribable. This place has taught me to be vulnerable, to use my voice, and to become a woman in this world through strife and physical exertion. I have emerged from this experience with my own definition of resilience: to stand tall as a woman with mosquito-bitten legs and conquer my insecurities and self-doubts. To prove to nature who I am. Who I can be. One paddle stroke at a time.I grew up in Boulder, Colorado and Santa Barbara, California. I love yoga, running, reading, and spending time at the beach! This year I guided an expedition trip down a river in the Amazon rainforest, and also worked as tripping staff for Santa Barbara Middle school. I have 2 younger brothers and a younger sister who all attend/attended NWL too.
Sonja Miller
Sonja Miller
Trip Leader
she/her
Hey y’all! My name is Sonja; born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Growing up surrounded by beautiful mountains only a short drive away, I developed a love for the outdoors early in life.
I first attended NWL in 2019 on a trip down the Temagami River. Arriving at base camp, I was nervous but filled with curiosity and anticipation. I could not wait to see what the next 19 days would bring! My first trip taught me the value and reward that comes from hard work and new experiences. My trips over the past 5 years have had an immense impact on my life and have heavily influenced who I am as a person. The beautiful people, places, and meaningful time spent amongst the woods of Northern Ontario are what make NWL such a formative experience.
I am currently studying at The University of Vermont, majoring in sustainable business. Outside the classroom, I can be found venturing out on weekends hiking, skiing, hammocking, canoeing with the outing club, as well as exploring new places with friends. I am always eager to try new things and meet new people which is why I am so stoked to be heading back up to NWL this summer!
Kestrel Mussleman
Kestrel Mussleman
Trip Leader
she/her
My journey with Northwaters & Langskib began back in 2012 when I attended the Northern Lights program as a 13-year-old. I grew up in a small family of outdoor enthusiasts, and spent much of my childhood exploring the natural landscapes of the East Coast, but this experience was different. The breathtaking Temagami wilderness, the welcoming community, and the epic adventure immediately drew me in. I was hooked, and I returned to NWL every summer after that.
Growing up through the Northwaters All Women programming was a profound experience that completely cultivated who I am as an adult and a woman. The sense of community, connection to the land, and emphasis on personal growth helped me better understand who I am as an individual, while fostering a lasting relationship with the outdoors that has continued to influence both my work and personal life.
In 2017, after five years as a participant, I was lucky to join the amazing team of staff members who aim to facilitate the same incredible experiences we encountered as young people, for a new generation of NWL participants.
Over the years, my roles at Northwaters have evolved. After many seasons of guiding, I spent the past two summers (2024 and 2025) as the Outfitting Manager for NWL. This role marked a shift away from direct programming and guiding, toward a broader behind-the-scenes perspective, managing logistics and ensuring that both participants and staff were well equipped for their trips. It was a rewarding challenge that allowed me to develop new skills and gain valuable experience. However, this year I am excited to be returning to full time guiding for one last summer as I wrap up my time working for Northwaters.
Outside of the summers in Temagami, I’m based in Vancouver, BC, where I work for Outward Bound Canada. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Geography from McGill University, and I’m proud to serve as a board member for the Deepwater Experiential Education Project (DEEP Canada) where I get to help make outdoor experiences more accessible and inclusive. Outside of work, I spend most of my free time in the outdoors; running, skiing, hiking and paddling, as well as working on creative projects like sewing, knitting and graphic design.
Auden Naiman
Auden Naiman
Trip Leader
she/her
Hello! My name is Auden! I am originally from New York City, but my home for the past four years has been Williamstown Massachusetts where I attend Williams College and study psychology and environmental studies. I have been lucky to lead canoe trips with Northwaters since 2021. Paddling, portaging, and learning in such a beautiful environment with such a welcoming and warm group of people has taught me to find joy in challenge, to embrace self-reliance and tenacity, and to discover fun in surprising places. Throughout the school year, I also work as a ski instructor, a teaching assistant, and a lab assistant in a psychology lab. In my free time I love to dance, read, and hike some of the beautiful trails throughout the Berkshires.
Chloë Pequeux
Chloë Pequeux
Trip Leader
she/her
I have always been captivated by the sounds of trail. Falling asleep beside a waterfall or paddling quietly through a lake, only being able to hear the forest. There is so much to admire about being in the middle of nowhere, yet knowing you are in the right place. Throughout all my trips, I have continuously discovered more about who I am. All the hardships, times spent laughing in a canoe and sitting around a fire have shown me the importance of having a community like NWL. I have grown up in Temagami, and it has become my second home. I have been going to Northwaters since I was 11, and every year keeps getting better!
I grew up in Toronto but moved to Mexico to complete high school. However, I currently live in British Columbia, where I study Marine Science at the University of Victoria. I tend to spend my free time with my friends by the ocean, adventuring in the trees or kayaking down a river with my school’s whitewater club. I am looking forward to guiding this summer and being able to share the beautiful opportunities the wilderness has to offer.
Quinn Petrucci
Quinn Petrucci
Trip Leader
he/him
Hey everyone! I’m Quinn Petrucci from Toronto, Ontario, and I’m excited to be heading back to NWL for my third summer on staff. I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors and at the cottage, which is where I first learned to paddle and started building my love for canoe tripping.
My first NWL experience was in 2019 on the Dumoine River, and that trip really showed me how special the camp community and wilderness experience can be. Since then, Temagami has become one of my favourite places; I love the lakes, the long days on trip, and the chance to get away from the city.
I’m currently studying BMOS at Huron University College at Western, and outside of school I’m into the gym, music, sports, and getting outdoors whenever I can. I’m a big NBA and F1 fan, and I’m always happy to talk about sports on trail or around camp.
I’m really looking forward to another summer of paddling, spending time in Temagami, and seeing so many familiar faces. Excited to see everyone back at camp!
Renaud Pfister
Renaud Pfister
Trip Leader
he/him
Heyyy, I’m Renaud. I grew up in Montreal, and I’ve been coming to Northwaters and Langskib since I was 10. Having heard only positive things from my sister who had come the year before, I decided it was time for me to give it a try, and it did not disappoint! Ever since that first trip, I’ve been hooked on the outdoors, but especially on the world of canoeing. There’s this calmness and freedom that comes with these trips that I couldn’t find elsewhere and that I simply can’t get enough of, and it has brought me back every year.
Now a little about me:)! During the offseason, if I’m not at home, you can find me outdoors doing a wide variety of sports. I love biking, skiing, touring, hiking, and running, and I’m always on the lookout for more opportunities to enjoy the different seasons with different sports. On the off chance that I’m not outside, you can probably find me somewhere studying. Having just finished my Pure and Applied Sciences in Cegep, I’m going into engineering tor the next 4 years to get my bachelor’s degree in Quebec City.
I’m super excited for the summer, and I can’t wait to be back on trail with some awesome people once again!
Liam Powers
Liam Powers
Trip Leader
he/him
Hi! I’m Liam, raised in Brooklyn but recently moved to the Adirondacks. I’m lucky enough to come from a family of avid canoers and nature lovers, who made sure to show me the beauty and incredible fun to be found in the outdoors. I’ve spent every summer since I was eleven at Langskib, and I owe many of my most beautiful memories, deepest friendships, and greatest personal strengths to my experiences with NWL. I believe the program is genuinely life-changing, and I’m beyond excited to do my part for the next generation of young adventurers!
I’ve been fortunate enough to do a great deal of travel including an incredible gap year in Madrid working as a fashion model, studying Spanish, and immersing myself in the incredible culture and history of Spain and Spanish guitar. I study at Oberlin College, where combine my love of language, the environment, and music. When I’m not in Temagami or traveling, you can definitely find me playing jazz guitar, preferably in a park with a nice view and some sun!
Gabe Richards
Gabe Richards
Trip Leader
she/her
I grew up in rural Ontario and from a very young age, learned to value the time that I was able to spend outdoors, whether I was camping, canoeing, skiing, or adventuring another way. Some of my family trips took me to Temagami and fostered an early connection with the area, and with canoe tripping in general. After a couple of older cousins shared stories and photos of their first summers at NWL, I decided that I should go and check it out. Clearly, it stuck, because I’m returning for my 13th summer this year. I treasure the way that spending my summers canoe-tripping reconnects me to nature.
I also really value the NWL community, and the connection and authenticity that it creates. From the uncontrollable giggling that comes from singing in the rain the end of a long day, to the power and strength felt at the end of a long portage or a tricky rapid, to the connections between friends that extend far beyond the confines of summer.
In the rest of the year, I can be found in Golden, BC, skiing and enjoying winter adventures in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Eve Rudin
Eve Rudin
Trip Leader
she/her
Hello, my name is Eve! I am a born-and-raised New Yorker who loves escaping into the woods. Northwaters has been a part of my life since I was 11 years old; it gave me a place to come into my body, live in the moment, use my voice, make new connections, and experience the magic of living entirely outdoors and away from the gray city. While I am not that 11 year old anymore, I find myself constantly growing and evolving thanks to Northwaters. The environment, values, creativity, and people here are truly special and I look forward to experiencing more of all this summer!
More about me outside of NWL: I went to Hamilton College, where I graduated with a double major in environmental studies and Hispanic studies in 2025. Since then, I have been back at home in NYC working for an environmental nonprofit focused on coastal science. I will be starting my master’s degree at Duke University in the fall, and am so excited to continue my education. In my free time, I love reading, hiking, celebrating, pottery and yoga.
Oliver Sanchez
Oliver Sanchez
Trip Leader
he/him
I live in Amenia, a small town in the Hudson Valley, New York. I graduated from Iona University in May this year, with a degree in Media and Production and a minor in Environmental Studies. I was first introduced to film and photography in high school and now have carried a camera with me wherever I have go, including on Northwaters trips, where I have captured some of my favorite photo’s. I hope in the future to be able to tell even more stories through my photography and film work.
I love to spend my time outside and while in school I rowed for Iona’s D1 rowing team. The sport has been a huge part of my life for the last 10 years and has taught me a lot about working as a team to reach a common goal; making the boat go faster! Outside of crew and class, during the winter I am an avid snowboarder, and in the spring and fall I enjoy hiking especially near the Taconic Range.
I’ve been going to NWL now for 9 years and I am just as excited to go back to Temagami this summer as I was the very first time, when my biggest concern was what shoes, I would bring! Whenever I am asked why I continue to lead trips when I tell stories of sitting in the rain, every day, for 5 days or having to carry a canoe over some crazy long distance, I say that is just one part of the trip. Eventually you find fun, at yelling at the rain or splashing in the water or laughing like mad men at the end of a tough portage. They are some of my best memories and I keep going not only to make more memories but to share them with new participants and introduce them to the wilderness and life on trail.
Kern Singh-Rehani
Kern Singh-Rehani
Trip Leader
he/him
I remember being 13 and going over to a school friend’s house for an event about some summer camp, feeling skeptical and not all that into the idea of going away from home for a whole three weeks. I had spent some time with family in the woods but had yet to find true joy in my time outdoors. Despite this, something about sitting on an unfamiliar couch listening to Micheal Jarvis talk about canoeing and portaging and especially the cool float-plane ride, convinced me, and my parents, that this was how I should spend the next summer.
Fast forward ten years and many many canoe trips, I can confidently say that decision changed my life. I have now found the joy in being outdoors and living in the communities that form on these trips. NWL holds a special place in my heart for how it has helped me grow and form my sense of self, and I love to help foster that growth and learning in the people that I take out into the woods.
Outside of NWL I am attending school for Adventure Tourism in Bend, Oregon. I keep the outdoors theme alive in my free time by fly-fishing, hiking and exploring. I can often be found spending lots of time planning new fishing adventures or canoe trips, reading (specifically fantasy books), and always looking forward to the next summer in Temagami.
Grace Stanton
Grace Stanton
Trip Leader
she/her
I grew up living in Mississauga, Ontario surrounded by the city, but quickly found a passion for the wilderness through my adventurous parents that immersed me in family canoe trips at a young age.
I studied Outdoor Recreation at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I’ve recently spent the year living in Ottawa, working for a paddling store, spending time with friends and getting really good at weekly trivia.
During my six summers spent at Northwaters, I learnt about myself as an individual and as part of a community, how to accept and push myself to be the person I wanted the world to see. I am so excited to be back for another summer of fun, sun, and growing.
McKenzie Stephens
McKenzie Stephens
Trip Leader
he/him
I’ve spent every summer (since i was 2 months old) in Temagami. Growing up at basecamp has given me a unique perspective of the work being done at NWL and a deep love of wilderness travel and adventure. As a child, I was constantly surrounded by people who had made their way through the NWL program. They were truly an inspiration and helped shape the person I am today. When not in Temagami, I attend Carleton University in Ottawa for Mechanical Engineering. School work is certainly time consuming, but whenever I have a spare hour or two I like to get outside and paddle, mountain bike, ski, sail, or just PLAY!!! I am so excited to be working at NWL this summer and hope to inspire a new generation of young people to love adventure and wild places as much as I do.
Alexis Stone
Alexis Stone
Nurse
she/her
I’m Alexis, and I’m excited to be returning to Northwaters & Langskib this summer! Camp has been a huge part of my life ever since I first came here as a participant, and I’m grateful to now help create the same experiences for others that made such an impact on me.
Over the years, I’ve developed a strong love for canoe tripping, wilderness travel, and the outdoors. Whether it’s paddling across a quiet lake, leading a portage, or sharing stories around the campfire. I love helping campers build confidence, teamwork, and unforgettable memories in the backcountry.
I recently graduated from my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, and when I’m not on the water, you can usually find me with a good book, spending time outdoors, or planning my next adventure. I’m looking forward to another amazing summer of challenge, growth, and fun at camp!
Mason Tateosian
Mason Tateosian
Assistant Trip Leader
he/him
Hello! I’m Mason. I first set out into the Canadian woods when I was thirteen, prompted by tales of adventure from my friend and now leader at Northwaters, Kem. Since then these trips have provided me with gratitude for the people and places around me and given me strong role models to look up to – something I hope I can be now for other young people. I grew up in Austin, Texas, but now I study bioengineering at UC San Diego. I also work in a lab building robots that monitor the world’s oceans to study the climate and weather. In my free time I like to hike, rock climb, cook meals with friends, and swim in the ocean!
Stuart Wilmer
Stuart Wilmer
Assistant Trip Leader
he/him
My life has been full of the outdoors, having a family that rarely spent a weekend at home and pushed me to explore my surroundings and the rest of the world. That brought me to NWL when I was 14, following in the footsteps of friends and family before me. Since then, I have done a number of trips, exploring rivers that only the adventurous have been able to paddle and making friendships that will last me a lifetime.
I was born and raised in Toronto but currently live in Halifax, Nova Scotia while I pursue a bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University. This past winter, I have been studying abroad in the Netherlands, where I’ve had the opportunity to explore a whole new continent with its own vast wilderness.
My weekends back in NS are full of rugby games with the University’s Rugby-15s team and getting away to explore lakes around Nova Scotia in my canoe. For the last few years, I have also been serving as a reservist in the Canadian Army. I’m super excited for another summer of paddling and exploring.
Ethan Zeidenberg
Ethan Zeidenberg
Trip Leader
he/him
My NWL experience began when I saw my older brother paddle into the end-of-summer barbeque after his Bay Trip. From that moment on, I was hooked. Starting with the Excalibur program when I was twelve, I’ve spent every summer since in Temagami. The NWL trips I participated in growing up introduced me to some of the most influential role models I’ve ever had, and the camaraderie and friendships that formed during those trips made me determined to assist in creating similarly impactful experiences for current participants. Canoe trips are challenging in so many different ways, and their challenges have since supported me in overcoming challenges in daily life. Throughout the year I work as a high school English teacher, where I try to implement the same lessons learned at NWL into my classroom.