Creatures Of The Field
Small groups
A season of preparing
Two nights in the mountains
Reflection
The Idea
Most programs keep people busy. This one slows them down. We walk, cook, sit quietly, and talk around a fire about things that matter: what we notice, what we're grateful for, what kind of work and life we want. Small group. Real conversations. A facilitator who makes sure it goes somewhere.
The Program
Every session has someone shaping the room. Bringing the right people in. Making sure the conversation goes somewhere.
01
The Circle Forms
Three monthly virtual sessions, March through June, plus a half-day hike together in May. We get to know each other, practice the fire circle, and prepare for the trip. Everyone gets a Creatures Of Field Journal to use along the way.
02
Students sit alongside recent grads and working professionals. Different stages, different perspectives. That gap is the point.
Across Generations
03
Facilitated
“Over time, relationships form. That’s the point.”
Who Can Join
Students
Middle and high school students who want more than instruction. Who are curious about the world and the people in it. Who are ready to be in a room with people they don't know yet.
Recent Grads & Young Professionals
People who are a few steps into their journey and want to stay connected to learning. Who have something worth sharing and want to give it somewhere meaningful.
Experienced Professionals
People who've built something, learned something, or figured something out. Who believe that knowledge shared in conversation goes further than knowledge kept to yourself.
Samir Abukhodair
Program Director and Founder of Creatures Of
Samir Abukhodair is an educator, builder, and founder of Creatures Of.
With a background in engineering, design, and education, he brings a systems-minded approach to teaching that connects structure with creativity and learning with purpose.
Samir has worked across classrooms, startups, and community programs, helping students discover confidence through curiosity and connection. His work focuses on bridging academic learning with mentorship, emotional intelligence, and real-world problem-solving.
Through Creatures of Mentors, he is building a community where students and mentors learn to think deeply, collaborate meaningfully, and grow into compassionate, capable people.
Raphael Cohen-Shippee
Founding Mentor
Raphael Cohen-Shippee is a teacher, recent graduate, and aspiring entrepreneur. From studying sociology and entrepreneurship at Temple University, he learned how to analyze problems and develop impactful solutions. He is passionate about making a positive difference in peoples’ lives, and he believes that the most powerful way to do that is through education.
At Temple, he was a Career Advisor, tutor, social researcher, and President of the sociology club. He is currently a Student Success Coach in a public school in Philadelphia. In the fall, he will join Teach For America to be a middle school science teacher in D.C. He is also developing an educational game that utilizes AI to allow students to have open-ended conversations that develop their critical thinking and social-emotional skills.
He hopes to share some of his experiences to help guide and support mentees through Creatures of Mentors.
