"The instructors were so much fun to be with. They made everything as safe and as fun as possible. I was as close to the instructors as I was to the students."
- Andrew Herman
Dix Hills, NY
Since 1978 schools from all over the eastern U.S. have brought classes of students to beautiful western North Carolina for week-long outdoor education programs run by Adventure Treks.
We currently work with classes ranging from 6th graders to seniors in high school during our fall and spring programs. The programs mix outdoor adventure activities like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and backpacking with outdoor education and team building.
The trips have become such a highlight for the students that the experience is often mentioned during graduation ceremony speeches several years later. Several students have also joined our summer Adventures to further develop their outdoor skills.
Follow the links to learn more about our school group programs:
OUR MISSION is to ensure the safest, most substantive, and most exciting adventures for young people through our personal attention to every student, our caring, and our competence.
As educators, we have learned that the wilderness can be the best classroom. We have found that an outdoor adventure with excellent leaders and peers can be the most defining and positive experience in a young person’s life.
Even during a short trip, the wilderness experience provides a setting for teenagers to be themselves and to have fun. When students experience the satisfaction of an incredible mountain-top view after striving all day to reach the summit, or when they share a bonding experience with a new friend, priorities shift.
1. Safety.
Safety is our primary concern and we are extremely proud of our outstanding safety record. All of our instructors are certified Wilderness First Responders and have participated in our extensive training program.
2. Fun and exciting adventure.
In order to capture every student’s full participation, each Adventure is carefully designed to include a wide variety of fun and exciting activities tailored specifically to your needs. See below for a full list of activities we offer.
3. Building a community.
Knowing that we all have more fun and success when we feel included, valued and supported, we put a lot of energy into the intentional development of a small community. Students are divided into small groups as soon as they arrive. While a student may be in a group with one or two friends, they will also get to know a variety of classmates that they may not have spoken to before. Our instructors facilitate games, activities, and discussions that foster the development of a close, caring community. After a week of taking care of each other, you can expect students to return home with a new friend or two.
We believe that Adventure Treks has the finest staff of any outdoor program. We are proud that we have the most committed and most professional outdoor instructors. Most importantly, they are outstanding role models for young adults. During a summer program with Adventure Treks, we have a return rate of over 75%, and the average age of our instructors is 27. We are delighted that so many of our excellent summer instructors continue to work with us each fall in North Carolina.
Scroll down for a complete list of instructors that will be out with your child!
Sliding Rock
Sliding Rock is the highlight of every trip. It's a natural 60-foot water slide into a (VERY COLD!) pool at the bottom. Adventure Treks instructors will show students how to safely slide, and we'll let you slide as much as you want. Try to set the record for "most slides" with your small group!
Day Hike and Group Games
Your days are filled with activity at Adventure Treks. Pack a lunch, and explore Pisgah National Forest. You can see Looking Glass Falls, or maybe even hike under Moore's Cove Falls. Take in the view from any nearby vista while you learn about the natural history of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Team building activities are a great way for students to become more comfortable with their classmates. Our instructors provide a large array of fun and challenging games to help students realize the attributes necessary for working as a team. Many Adventure Treks games become favorites among the class for the rest of the school year.
Rock Climbing
Though many students have been rock climbing before, a chance to climb on real rock outdoors is a great challenge! At the climbing site, students learn all about climbing safely and can choose from a variety of climbs ranging from easy to difficult. The accomplishment of completing a climb is something to be proud of!
Bonfire and Evening Activities
After a full day of activities, students return to base camp for a bonfire and evening activities with the entire group. This is one of the few times that the group gathers as a whole, and stories between the small groups are full of hilarity and laughter.
Some small groups may choose to go on a short night hike for a star talk and other fun night-time activities.
Overnight Backpack
Students divide into small groups with two instructors and a chaperone from your school, and walk out of camp for a night in the wilderness. Weather and time permitting, they'll be able to see a spectacular view from their hike or campsite. The beauty of North Carolina in the fall, along with the community of classmates and teachers, makes this evening a very special part of the school group experience. Tonight, students will begin to learn the fundamentals of camping in the wilderness, basic Leave No Trace skills, enjoy a fabulous camp dinner together, share in some group-building activities, and sleep in tents or under the stars.
White Water Rafting the Nantahala River
This is the day students look forward to all week long! A short drive from the Pisgah center on the last day of base camp, our outfitters will instruct and outfit students for a day on the river. Studnets learn to paddle, then head out for an afternoon of exciting class II and III rapids. Lunch is provided before the drive home.
Where are you located?
Students arrive and leave from the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, located in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. The colors here in the fall are absolutely stunning!
Groups will set up base camp near the Education Center, and all our overnight backpacking groups will be within a few minute's drive (or walk) of the base camp. Groups occasionally spend a night at Camp Green Cove in Tuxedo, North Carolina.
How can I contact my child?
In an emergency, please contact your school, and they will be able to contact our office and our base camp. There is a phone at the Pisgah Center, but groups will not typically have access to cell phones during the Adventure.
What should I pack?
Your school should have a complete gear list for you. Daytime highs can be 85 degrees, and night-time lows can be as cold as 35. Please plan for rain by packing your raincoat! Most often, students forget water bottles, good shoes, and raincoats. Please do not send snacks, as we provide plenty of food. Please do not send electronics, as all of your equipment will be stored outside under tarps at base camp.
To learn more about Adventure Treks programs for your school, please contact:
Dave "DMac" McGlashan, Educational Program Director
email: davemac@adventuretreks.com
phone: 888-954-5555
fax: 828-698-0339
mail: PO Box 1321, Flat Rock, NC 28731
About DMac:
As our Educational Program Director, DMac coordinates our spring and fall school group programs and is our staffing coordinator. Originally from Western North Carolina, he has whitewater kayaked all over the country and world. He received a Master’s in Recreation from the University of Tennessee and graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School. He ran the kayaking program at Camp Arrowhead for several years before working as their Program Director. Dave has lived in Southern France, is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and ACA Kayak Instructor.
John "Dock" Dockendorf - As our Director, Dock has been leading trips for young people since 1978 and founded Adventure Treks. He has an undergraduate degree in Recreation Management from the University of Vermont and a Master’s Degree in Management from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. Dock has worked as a corporate team builder and consultant with dozens of companies and organizations. He is a Wilderness First Responder, a whitewater paddler, former extreme and freestyle skier, marathon runner, mountain biker, and mountaineer. He is the Chair of two School Boards, and the outdoor instructor for his children Audrey, Ella, Ava Rees, and Charlie.
Dave “DMAC” McGlashan - As our Educational Program Director, DMac coordinates our spring and fall school group programs and is our staffing coordinator. Originally from Western North Carolina, he has whitewater kayaked all over the country and world. He received a Master’s in Recreation from the University of Tennessee and graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School. He ran the kayaking program at Camp Arrowhead for several years before working as their Program Director. Dave has lived in Southern France, is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and ACA Kayak Instructor.
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Niki Gaeta - Niki is our Logistics Director and Summer Regional Director for the sixth year. She graduated from Clemson University and an Outward Bound Instructor Course. Niki has led trips all over the country, climbed 19,947 foot Mt Chachani in Peru, and is a world-wide traveler, backcountry skier, and yoga teacher. She has earned her Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, and Avalanche Level I certifications.
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Hobbes Barber - Hobbes earned a degree in Zoology from Western Washington University, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Hobbes is a world traveler, most recently returning from Guyana where he volunteered at Iwokrama Eco Lodge. Hobbes spent seven years volunteering for Sardis Raptor Center, rehabilitating birds and educating people about birds of prey, eventually becoming a golden eagle trainer. In the spring and fall, Hobbes is an outdoor educator for the Appalachian Mountain Club in NH. He enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking and most anything found in nature, except ticks. This is Hobbes’s second year with Adventure Treks.
Andy Bleckinger - Andy joins us for his fourth year as an instructor. Andy earned a degree in Environmental Studies from Southern Oregon University and spent the winter teaching outdoor school in the Santa Monica Mountains. This fall he coordinated all of the food and delicious menus for our school programs here in North Carolina. He has led biking trips in New England and traveled throughout Central America. Andy is a certified Wilderness First Responder and frog/amphibian expert.
Daniel Bleckinger – Daniel joins us for his fifth year. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Portland State University and has spent time teaching outdoor science in several states. Daniel has traveled through South East Asia, Central America, and Europe, and has ridden his bike throughout Mexico and across the entire US. He is also a SCUBA Divemaster, ski instructor, and a fire performer. Daniel is trained as a Wilderness First Responder and in Outdoor Emergency Care.
Steph Bryant - Steph hails from Carrboro, NC. She earned her degree from the University of Connecticut, where she was an active member of the Outing Club and competed for the Women's Rowing Team. Steph has backpacked and hiked through Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and much of the Northeastern US. She has worked as an outdoor trip leader for at-risk youth from NYC, as well as volunteer coach for Girls on the Run International. Steph currently works at Fleet Feet Sports in Carrboro, and is the head coach of "Mini Milers," the store's youth running program. In her free time, Steph enjoys running, rock climbing, hiking, cooking, and reading. Her goal is to run a half or full marathon in all 50 states. Steph is a Wilderness First Responder.
Nicole Cronin - Nicole grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, and then traveled to Maine to study Adventure Therapy at Unity College. Since graduating she has been leading young people on wilderness trips around the continental United States as well as Hawaii and Alaska. She loves to rock climb, swim in the ocean, and quilt. She is a Wilderness First Responder, lifeguard and just finished crocheting her very first afghan.
Liz Doby - Born in Virginia, Liz earned a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland where she raced with their cycling team, twice competing in Collegiate Nationals. Upon graduation she moved to the mountains of Colorado to pursue her passion for the outdoors. She has worked as a raft guide on rivers in both CO and WV and has done numerous multi-day trips, including one on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. She has taught and coached a swimming, downhill skiing, and Nordic skiing in Breckenridge and Steamboat ski resorts. She is a Swift Water Rescue Technician as well as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Meghan Ecclesine - Originally from the Great Lakes State, Meghan majored in Spanish at Western Michigan University. She's traveled and studied Spanish in Guatemala and Spain. Meghan joins us from Western Massachusetts where she has worked for the Student Conservation Association teaching Environmental Education, maintaining trails across the state, and for the past two summers working as a Zip Line Canopy Tour Guide. Meghan completed the Outdoor Leadership Program at Greenfield Community College. She is a Wilderness First Responder, ACA Certified Canoe Instructor and Leave No Trace Trainer. In her spare time, Meghan loves to paddle, hike, play ping pong, and cross-country ski.
Ali Garel – Ali was born and raised in Denver, and grew up skiing, biking and exploring the Rockies. After high school, Ali migrated west to study biology and environmental studies at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She spent the summers of her college years exploring glaciers in the Pacific Northwest. Ali graduated in the spring of 2010, and then spent time in Tanzania before moving to Bozeman, MT. She spends winters teaching skiing Big Sky, Montana.
John Greene - A graduate of Brevard College, John holds a BA in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. Since graduating, John has spent his time teaching and leading kayak trips on North Carolina's Green River. He has also traveled throughout the US and guided in Alaska. John enjoys climbing, backpacking, and whitewater in any form. John is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, Level IV Whitewater Kayak Instructor, and holds a Level IV Swiftwater Rescue Certification.
Carolyn Jackson - After four years as an Adventure Treks student, Carolyn joins us for her second year as an instructor. She recently graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Geography. She has previously worked for NBC News during political conventions as well as the Vancouver Olympics. Carolyn enjoys running, hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, skiing, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Daniel Kreykes - Daniel is a recent graduate of Brevard College with a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. He has instructed whitewater kayaking and canoeing in Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and he has backpacked more than 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail. When he is not out kayaking on the local rivers, you can usually find him exploring the hidden trails and gorges of North Carolina with a fly rod and camera in hand. Daniel is a certified Wilderness First Responder, American Canoe Association Level 4 Kayak and Canoe Instructor, Leave No Trace Trainer, PADI Open Water Diver, and ACA Swiftwater Rescuer.
Lauren Liebling - Lauren has been an Adventure Treks instructor in New England for four years! After participating in Adventure Treks for several summers as a student, Lauren followed her academic and recreational interests to Boulder, Colorado where she earned degrees in Sociology and Ecology from the University of Colorado. While in Boulder she served as an instructor for the university outdoor education program and interned at a local non-profit teaching principles of ecology to elementary students. She has traveled across the country in search of the best skiing and rock climbing, and now works as a member of the Keystone Ski Patrol. Lauren is a certified wilderness EMT.
Callie Nelson - Originally from southern Wisconsin, Callie earned her degree in Organismal Biology and Environmental Science. She has done a variety of work in the environmental field including working with elephants as a zookeeper, teaching environmental education, leading a crew on the Pacific Crest Trail, and leading backpacking, whitewater canoeing, and climbing trips for teens. She enjoys running and backpacking and is a Wilderness First Responder.
Valerie Pufahl - Valerie grew up on a farm in Kansas, earned a degree in Community Recreation & Outdoor Education, and has been a whitewater guide, avid mountain biker, and teacher. Valerie taught Movement & Outdoor Education at the Portland Waldorf High School in Oregon for four years. Valerie has cycled the Pacific Coast from Astoria, OR to San Francisco, self-published and printed a book of essays, and spent this last year writing, art-making, and homeschooling on a ranch in Big Sur, California. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder, a Waldorf-trained Movement Educator, and continues to work on her handstands.
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Allison Qubain - Alli is returning for her second year as an AT instructor. She has a degree in Biology and minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies from the University of Puget Sound. After graduating, she spent last fall working on an alpine ecology study in the Colorado Rockies looking at the effects of climate change on tree seedling growth. She took advantage of her first winter out of college to explore the mountains throughout the west coast on skis. She has lived in Ecuador, where she studied ecology and conservation. Alli is passionate about horse packing and backcountry skiing, and is a certified Wilderness-EMT.
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Neil Rudis - Originally from Chicago, Neil joins us for his second year. He holds a degree in History from Northern Illinois University where he was captain of the school's Ultimate Frisbee Team. He also spent a year at Southern Cross University, Australia where he studied Outdoor Education and Aboriginal Studies and surfed the East Coast. Neil coaches his climbing gym's youth climbing team. He is a graduate of the NOLS Outdoor Educator Semester and is a certified Top-Rope Site Manager, Leave No Trace Master, Wilderness First Responder, and EMT. His passion lies in surfing, climbing, and backpacking, which has taken him to almost every state in the country. He loves life!
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Carter Timbel - Carter joins us for his fourth summer as an instructor, and he was a three-year Adventure Treks student. He is a certified US Sailing Small Boat Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, and PADI Open Water Diver. Carter has volunteered as an English and Math teacher at a school in Accra, Ghana. He is an avid skier, road cyclist and fly-fisherman, and just returned from a trip to Bhutan. Carter recently graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Geology.
