Hey there! My name is Matthew Read. Matthew, Matty or Matt are names that’ll get my head turning. I have travelled all the way from sunny England (maybe not so sunny) to join Camp Augusta this year! I am really looking forward to immersing myself in the magical atmosphere of camp – and looking forward to real sunshine!

This is my first time working at a summer camp – and it is also my first stay in the United States!! I will be working as a Cedar Counselor this summer, which is a big change from my nursing job in the UK.

I grew up in a small city named Durham, in the northeast of England. Durham is a wonderful place to be from – imagine a quaint, picturesque English village in the countryside. I spent the formative years of my life here. In school, I really enjoyed participating in sports and music. My favourite instrument rhymes with jello – can you guess?

Being active has always been a huge part of my life. I have tried all sorts of sports and activities, ranging from sailing, rugby, fencing, field hockey and much, much more. As a child, I could always be found monkeying around in trees. I chose my university in Sheffield in part because it was close to the Peak District, a beautiful area of England with lots of opportunity for outdoor adventures. Whilst at university, the monkey within me discovered rock climbing, with my specialty being bouldering. In more recent years, I have developed a huge passion for riding bikes, be it on the road or on a mountain trail. When I am not being active, I love to cook, spending time on creating all kinds of dishes and wonderful baked goods. I also really enjoy relaxing with some gentle yoga.

I am an avid adventurer – that spirit has definitely drawn me to Augusta! I have a deep passion for exploring. I have been lucky enough to be able to travel to many places in the world, which has really shaped me into the person I am. My travels began when I was young, with excursions such as family camping trips in France and visiting family friends in Spain. My father, who is a linguist, shared many stories with me about his travels around Europe as a young lad. These stories influenced me to have that same spirit of adventure through travel.

As I got older, I began to travel independently. I was able to volunteer on a work project in Peru, working on building a medical centre. I also volunteered at a hospital in Nepal. While I was there, I solo hiked over 4200m (that’s nearly 14,000 feet) to the base camp of Annapurna! I’ve also had the pleasure of taking surfing trips to Morocco and Indonesia. Lately, I’ve discovered snowboarding, which has taken me on a few more mountainous adventures.

Travelling has increased my confidence in meeting new people and facing challenges. Traveling allows me to face moments of stress, excitement, wonder, discovery and so much more.  Every adventure I have been on is unique, and spending this summer at camp will also be a unique experience.

I am incredibly excited to spend my summer here, being inspired by the dreams of campers and fellow counselors alike. I know I have many miles of adventures to go. The excitement spreads to sharing moments around a camp fire, the challenges we will face together, and most importantly to me – the fun and hilarity we will immerse ourselves into. I hope to give you campers an unforgettable experience – we are going to have one special summer!