Sarah ‘Sam’ Summers has always loved a challenge. When she discovered the Expedition Instructor (XI) | 6-Month Residential Instructor and Wilderness Guide Training Program at Jack Mountain Bushcraft School, she immediately made plans to attend. As one of only a handful of people to successfully complete this intensive program—and the only woman in her cohort—she emerged with both hard-earned skills and a clear mission: to create bushcraft courses for women, led by women.
Certifications:
• JMBS Journeyman Certification, Levels 1 + 2, 2024.
• JMBS Engagé Canoe Certification, Levels 1 + 2, 2024.
• Maine Guide Medic and Wilderness First Responder, 2024.
• JMBS XI – Expedition Instructor, 2024.
• ACE Certified Health Coach, 2024.
Teaching, Guiding & Working With People
At Jack mountain Sam has been a student, teaching assistant, instructor, and guide. She also has lots of experience as a coach; basketball, soccer, and kickboxing. Sam is in the process of creating a health coaching nature immersion program to help combat nature deficit disorder and its effects on the physical and mental health of our society.
In the summer of 2025 Sam is very excited to be introducing a one week women’s bushcraft workshop to Bolton Valley Resort, she is also very excited to be introducing Jack Mountain Bushcraft School’s first women’s course in the summer of 2026!
Trips
During her time in Maine Sam has completed the Allagash, Aroostook, and Big Machias river expeditions. She has also spent weeks of time perfecting her guiding and teaching skills on the water on shorter trips closer to the Jack Mountain field school.
On the West Coast, she completed the Wild and Scenic and Rec Stretches of the Rogue River, the Klamath River, and Wood River in Oregon; the Salmon River in California; the Gunnison River in Colorado and the Ruby Horsethief section of the Colorado River in Colorado and Utah.
Athletics
Throughout middle and high school, Sam played soccer and basketball at a highly competitive level with her sights set on becoming a division 1 college athlete, but due to a recurring knee injury was not able to continue on that path. This transition brought music, art, yoga and martial arts in to her life. She worked as a coach for soccer, basketball, and kickboxing. After finally going through with the surgery to fix the recurring knee problems, Sam is incredibly excited to take her active lifestyle to the next level through running races, hiking the triple crown of hiking trails (Appalachian, PCT, CDT), and getting back into the martial arts. She is also in the process of becoming a certified yoga instructor.
Medical Certifications And Training
• Wilderness First Responder
• CPR
• Stop The Bleed
Contact
Sam prefers to be contacted via Signal messaging app at swsummers.01, and can also be reached by email at swsummers.01@yahoo.com.