Riel Peerbooms

Riel comes to Frost Valley with over 30 years of experience working with non-profit organizations, specializing in youth service and development. He has served as the Executive Director of Trail Blazers Camp since 2008. Riel has served as a member of Community Board 9 in Brooklyn for 5 years, has been Chair of Board 9’s Economic Development Committee since 2018, and Chair of that group’s Education Committee during the past three years.

Riel’s background in education is what led him to become an industry leader in non-profit camp organizations. “My early experiences in camp,” Riel recalls, “have influenced every subsequent role, as a science teacher, high school guidance and crisis counselor, community leader, and business executive. The camping perspective provided me with an ability to find uniquely effective and creative solutions to the challenges of the competitive non-profit landscape.”

A native of The Netherlands and a teacher and social worker by training, Riel has spent the balance of his professional life in New York City, helping significantly to grow the youth services movement overall, while effectively managing the operations and finances of his own organization through fundraising in support of financial aid for children, robust strategic planning, and successful trustee engagement.