Originally from New Jersey, Helen currently calls North Carolina home. While at Duke, Helen spent a few years leading backpacking orientation trips for freshmen in western NC before being promoted to the outdoor center’s student director. She also taught a course on outdoor education and experiential learning. At Duke, Helen was also the swing dance club coordinator! This fall, Helen will begin graduate school at the University of Chicago.
Duke University, bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science
Wilderness first responder, lifeguard
My main hobby outside of spending time outside is dancing! I love to swing dance and recently had my final swing dance showcase at Duke. Throughout my time at Duke, I’ve had lots of opportunities to perform and work with really cool choreographers and dancers. I’ve also been involved in a bunch of social choreography projects, which means exploring the way people interact/exist in the world and also exploring new possibilities of relating to each other through movement. I find social choreography super interesting because anyone can participate and bring their own movement into the room, without necessarily needing experience or formal dance training. Most recently, I’ve been taking a class in somatics, which involves connecting the body and mind, and I’m excited to bring the embodiment practices I’ve learned to Adventure Treks!
Solo day hiking and beach-hopping on Spetses in Greece.
Bodysurfing at sunrise!
Bald Head Island in North Carolina—my extended family has been going there for about 50 years, and I love how the island continues to bring us together
Meeting lots of new cool people!
Hannah