Our Team

Brian is an Eagle Scout, National Camping School Graduate and Certified Master Naturalist who has over two decades of camp leadership experience working with exceptional populations focusing on social and life skills curriculum. Brian holds a Master’s degree in inquiry-based education. He is currently licensed in K-12 Gifted Education and grades 4-8 general education with endorsements in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. He holds credentials in Mental Health First Aid, Wilderness First Aid and as a 10 year certified Crisis Prevention Instructor building upon a background in advanced life support Emergency Medicine. Brian has presented papers at two World Gifted Conferences, the International Conference on ADHD, and at the Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities as well as numerous local and regional events. He has also led several sessions relating to best practices on exceptional populations for the American Camping Association Tri-State conference and spoken as an invited guest at the Oxford Forum. He serves as a reviewer for manuscripts submitted to The Teacher Educators’ Journal. His articles on giftedness, frustration tolerance, and the twice exceptional (2e) mind have been seen in a variety of print and online venues including Planet Neurodivergent, Additude Magazine, Attention Magazine and MetroKids et. Al.

Brian additionally serves as a long standing CASA (court appointed special advocate for children), advocating for youth in difficult home environments. He serves as President of a volunteer Master Naturalist board and served as the Founding Director of the National Park Educational Institute for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as well as a Medicaid Waiver Service Supervisor on the Big Island of Hawaii. He currently sits on the IACUC committee for his alma mater and is a field supervisor for pre-service student teachers.

Brian enjoys making profound and meaningful differences with exceptional populations, especially in a camp setting. He believes in the transformative experience that Camp Sequoia can provide for all children and especially for children in need of social skill development. In his free time, he enjoys travel and time spent connecting kids with nature domestically and internationally.

As former campers and camp counselors, our leadership team is adept at identifying qualities that make great camp staff, and as parents, we want to make sure that our campers are being instructed and supervised by people who truly “get” them and have our children’s physical and emotional well-being as their first priority. Our 2 staff to 5 camper ratio supports our mission. This is why we certify our leadership team in Crisis Prevention and spend two weeks of training dedicated to making sure that those working with our Camp Sequoia family have the knowledge, skills, and ability to make a difference in camper lives.

We are lucky to have Brian as an influence in the lives of our children. He truly understands our kids in a way that few others in their lives do.Rick & LauraVirginia Parents

Kristen is a mental health and camp professional with a passion for supporting neurodivergent individuals. Kristen’s expertise in social work and supporting youth with ADHD was sparked by her initial experience working as an activity specialist at Sequoia. Kristen has held leadership roles at Sequoia within the Scaffolding Success Team and as a Division Head. After completing a degree in psychology, Kristen worked in a residential setting supporting at-risk youth who’ve experienced trauma, and diagnosis such as ADHD, ASD, oppositional defiant disorder, PTSD, and similar diagnoses.

During the school year, Kristen is an elementary Behavior Specialist in the Rockingham County VA Public Schools. Additionally, Kristen provides support and consultation to educators, administrators, and paraprofessionals. She is a noted speaker on innovative interventions, ADHD, and self-care. Kristen has also presented research at various symposia highlighting her evidence-informed approaches. She has earned additional certification and specialized training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) Mental Health First Aid and Conscious Discipline.

In her free time, Kristen enjoys time spent travelling, hiking, and spending time outdoors with friends and family–and on a snowboard during the winter.