Nothing bugs Sam more than a program with no substance. After her 12 years at ALIVE, we are thrilled we could create a role that allows her to concentrate on overseeing program philosophy and content, alongside recruiting, and mentoring the instructors who deliver it.

As a self-proclaimed introvert, it may seem that Sam has chosen a strange job for herself.  She conducts close to 100 interviews a year, often leading big groups in loud dining halls, and has constant demands being made of her. She has tapped into her strengths as an empathetic, attentive listener, thoughtful decision maker, and fueled most when mentoring students and building the ALIVE instructor community. Sam is most in her zone when she is teaching. As a gifted lecturer and workshop leader, her ability to draw the attention of a crowd does not go unnoticed.

Her professional journey has been a dynamic one, from transient canoe guide to navigating moral dilemmas while traveling abroad. For the past decade and a half, she has landed at ALIVE Outdoors where she has embraced her passion and continues to deepen her knowledge in many disciplines of Outdoor and Experiential Education.  Sam pushes the ALIVE team to create programs, both in Canada and Internationally, that embrace complexity, foster critical thinking, values clarification, a deep respect for nature and above all, motivation to get up and do something good for the world.

Sam holds an Honours Degree in Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism as well as a BA in Geography from Lakehead University (2005). Following volunteer experiences in Haiti, Southern China, and Tibet, her interest in ethical issues surrounding international development and global education grew. To delve deeper into this field, she pursued a post-graduate certificate in International Project Management from Humber College in Toronto (2008) and a Master of Arts focusing on Reciprocity in International Service-Learning Programs (2012).