Born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Sarah grew up going to sleepaway camp in a rustic forest setting since the age of seven. Her experiences of community living, experiential education, sustainability and her affection for connecting children to nature, led her to become the Camp Director at Habonim Dror Camp Tavor. After graduating from Michigan State University, Sarah hopped around the east coast and the west coast studying and apprenticing on organic farms. She landed in New York State to hold the role as Educational Farm Director at Eden Village Camp, a Jewish farm and wilderness camp in the Hudson Valley. She has been shaped by her transformative experiences at Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland, participating in the ADAMAH farming fellowship, and guidance from her many mentors, friends and family. Sarah and her husband, Shimon, moved to Ithaca in 2015 to serve as Program Director for Primitive Pursuits. They absolutely love the Finger Lakes and feel grateful to explore the very beautiful forests, creeks, gorges and natural lands almost every day. Sarah is (most importantly) the mother to the lovely Davida Birnbaum, born in December 2017.
