Sadie (Prime): Courage, Purpose, and the Kind of Leadership That Stays With You
Before Sadie ever stepped onto staff at Muskoka Woods, she already knew a thing or two about the place. Her dad, who worked here three decades ago, filled her childhood with stories: wild programs, hilarious camp names, unforgettable friendships, and the magic of giving kids the best week of their lives. Even before she ever wore a staff shirt, the seeds of camp were already planted.
So when she showed up as a Junior High counselor and jumped into Star Search for the first time, fully decked out in an ABBA costume, dancing with her section, it all clicked. “There’s no level of craziness you can’t go to,” she laughs. Camp felt like a place where she didn’t have to dial it down. She could be her whole self, exactly as she was, and be cheered on for it.
But while her bright spirit and love for kids were clear from day one, there’s a much deeper story behind Sadie’s strength.
Challenge That Could Have Stopped Her, But Didn’t
At four years old, Sadie had a serious brain tumor removed. Years later, as a teen, her health took another unexpected turn. She began experiencing daily pain, extreme food sensitivities, and moments where she’d suddenly blank — not knowing her name or where she was. The diagnosis eventually came: epilepsy.
The medication hit hard. She was sleeping up to 16 hours a day. Talking to friends became difficult. Life shrank.
At 17, when nothing seemed to help, her doctors recommended two more brain surgeries. They were risky. There was a chance she could lose her memory, her ability to move, or even her speech. But even with all that, Sadie chose to face it head on.
And on the way into surgery, she made a move only Sadie would think of. Instead of counting down from 100, she started rattling off prime numbers to impress the anesthesiologist, making it all the way to 67 before drifting off. That moment stuck. It became her camp name: Prime.
The surgeries worked. Her seizures stopped. Her recovery surprised even the doctors. They thought she might barely finish high school. Instead, she aced her classes and found a new passion: learning about the brain and helping others living with disabilities.
Turning Her Story Into Support for Others
Sadie’s journey through pain, fear, and healing didn’t just shape her — it gave her the tools to lift others up. She knows what it’s like to depend on someone else. She knows how hard it is when your body won’t cooperate. And she knows how much kindness and patience can change a day.
When she became an exceptionalities counselor at Muskoka Woods, her story became more than inspiring, it became useful.
She supported kids with a wide range of abilities, making sure they could fully join in on the fun, connect with their cabin, and take in everything camp has to offer. She didn’t just see their challenges. She saw their courage. And she made sure they saw it too.
For Sadie, that mindset starts with one word: “Invite.”
It’s the value that hits closest to home. Not just inviting kids into an activity — but inviting them into community. The kind where they feel known, accepted, and included.
Where That Story Is Taking Her
Now, Sadie is studying to become an occupational therapist. She wants to support kids recovering from brain injuries and disabilities, not just in hospitals, but in classrooms and at home too. Her journey didn’t just change her direction. It gave her a purpose that keeps showing up.
She’s shared her story with schools, youth groups, even on the news. But not to stay stuck in the hard parts. She shares it to reach the people who feel scared, lost, or unsure about what comes next.
And at Muskoka Woods, that sense of purpose shows up in every conversation, with campers, with staff, with the one-to-ones who meet her on a tough day and walk away feeling like maybe they’re not so alone.
Why Camp Still Matters to Her
When parents ask if they should send their kid to Muskoka Woods, Sadie doesn’t have to think twice. She’s seen what happens here. The confidence that builds. The friendships that last. The way kids start to believe in themselves, exactly as they are.
At camp, kids learn more about who they are.
They learn what it feels like to belong.
And they start to see how their own story — even the hard parts — can help shape the world around them.
Sadie believes that. Because her own story is doing just that.
