We are so excited to announce our leadership for summer 2018! On June 3, our directors, regional directors, and trip leaders will gather for a five-day retreat near Mt. Hood in Oregon. Here, we’ll start bonding as a leadership team; pore over trip itineraries; share our collective expertise as review safety, policies, and procedures; and apply child psychology and adolescent brain development theory to Adventure Treks. This time together reinforces our “AT culture” as we prepare to greet new and returning instructors for our two-week orientation starting June 9.

This year, our 14 trip leaders and directors:

• Have a combined 90 seasons of Adventure Treks experience. At minimum, our trip leaders have three seasons of previous Adventure Treks experiences, and some have as many as 13 seasons!
• Include 5 (!!) former Adventure Treks students.
• Comprise a wonderful group of outdoor educators like ski patrol, school teachers, outdoor program course directors, ski instructors, and more!

Below, meet our leadership team!

Dave McGlashan, Regional Director

Dave (or Dmac, as our students and parents know him) is our director and 11th-year regional director. He has a master’s degree in recreation from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) instructor course. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and American Canoe Association Level 4 Whitewater Instructor. In his spare time, Dmac can be found mountain biking all over the southeastern U.S.

Erica Van Steenis, Regional Director

Erica’s is our staffing director and this will be her eighth season as a regional director. Originally from Southern California, she has a master’s degree in community development from the University of California, Davis, and is currently working on a PhD in education at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is an experienced sea kayaking and backpacking guide, a Wilderness First Responder, and holds her Avalanche Level 1 certification.

Jack Hoiland, Regional Director

Jack, originally from Portland, OR, joins Adventure Treks for his seventh season as a Regional Director. He has a master’s degree in outdoor education from Prescott College, and after he finished college, he completed a year-long apprenticeship at a primitive skills school. He currently works as the outdoor education director for the Portland Waldorf School. Jack is a Wilderness First Responder.

Austin Coolidge, Yellowstone Teton Adventure 1, 2, 3

Austin is joining Adventure Treks for his third season as an trip leader. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and while in school, he helped start the Outdoor Leadership program and led backpacking trips in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Austin is an avid outdoorsman, spending his time backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, and kayaking. Austin is a Wilderness First Responder.

Sam Haines, Pacific Northwest Adventure 1 & Ultimate Northwest 2

Sam is returning to Adventure Treks for his seventh season as a trip leader. Sam graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a bachelor’s degree in jewelry and metalsmithing. He is a graduate of the NOLS Pacific Northwest Semester and spent three summers leading backpacking trips for Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm. He spent his winter in Boston working as a climbing instructor and youth climbing coach. He holds certifications as an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.

Sean Doyle, Ultimate Northwest 1 & Pacific Northwest Adventure 2

Sean grew up in Michigan, and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grand Valley State University. He has led trail crews in Wyoming, and canoe and backpacking trips in Wisconsin for Camp North Star. Sean has traveled and adventured all over the world and has taught English overseas for the past six years. He is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and a lifeguard. Sean is joining Adventure Treks as a Trip Leader in his third season.

Hannah McKinley, Colorado Explorer 1, 2, 3

Hannah is a former Adventure Treks student, having spent four summer with us as a teenager. This year, she’s joining us for her third season as an trip leader. She recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in political science and global studies. Originally from western North Carolina, Hannah has spent the past four summers leading backpacking and canoeing trips at Camp Pinnacle. She is a Wilderness First Responder.

Wells Jones, British Columbia Adventure 1 & 2

Wells is from Atlanta and spent four summers as an Adventure Treks student. He holds a bachelor’s degree in outdoor education and leadership from Central Wyoming College. Wells spent three summers leading trips for Camp Pinnacle and worked at a ski resort this past winter. Wells is a Wilderness First Responder and is returning for his sixth season as a trip leader.

Laura Horowitz, California Challenge 1 & Pacific Northwest Explorer

A former Adventure Treks student, Laura is joining us for her fifth season as an trip leader. Laura received a bachelor’s degree in political science and social policy practice from Tulane University, and she will being law school at Duke University in the fall. At Tulane, Laura led backpacking and canoeing trips for the outdoor program, and after graduation, she continued to work for TU Outdoors as a program coordinator. Laura spent three summers leading backpacking and canoeing trips for Camp Pinnacle before she came to Adventure Treks. She is a Wilderness First Responder.

Alex Rhue, California Adventure & California Challenge 3

Originally from Southeastern Ohio, Alex is returning for her fourth season as a trip leader. Alex holds Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Outdoor Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Recreation Studies from Ohio University. She has worked as an outdoor instructor, trip-leader, and expedition director for camps, universities, and guiding companies in Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, British Columbia, and North Carolina. Alex will be starting her Ph.D. in Higher Education this fall. In her spare time, she loves rock climbing, rafting, canyoneering, and backpacking. She is a Climbing Wall Instructor, Lifeguard and CPR Instructor, and a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician.

Kiko Sweeney, Alaska Expedition 1a

A former Adventure Treks student, Kiko graduated from Colorado College with a double major in film and new media studies and classics. She has led backpacking trips in Alaska and Colorado, and spent her winter skiing and working full time for Patagonia in Salt Lake City, Utah. She competed in the Junior Nationals as a ski racer and is joining us for her sixth season as a trip leader. She is a Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace Trainer, and has an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 certification.

Tess Sneeringer, Alaska Expedition 1b

Tess joins us for her fifth season as a trip leader. Tess holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Middlebury College in Vermont. She has led backpacking and canoe trips in the greater New England area and enjoys bringing her knowledge of wildlife ecology and forestry into the field. Tess is a graduate of a NOLS Alaska backpacking course, Wilderness First Responder, and Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Nico Grin, Alaska Expedition 2

Originally from the Bay Area in California, Nico has a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation leadership from Feather River College. She has traveled through 13 different countries, rock climbed in Thailand, swam in the Mekong, and volunteered on farms across New Zealand. Nico has worked as a rock climbing instructor, taught at a preschool, and facilitated high ropes challenge courses. She is a Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue Technician, and she is returning for her fifth season as a trip leader.

Alex Coffin, California Challenge 2

Alex is returning for her fourth summer as a trip leader. She graduated from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics. Alex has led backpacking and sea kayaking trips all over New England and currently works as a high school math teacher in Boston. She is a Wilderness First Responder.

Nate Humphreys, Leadership  Summit

Nate was a five-year Adventure Treks student before transitioning into his thirteenth season as a trip leader. Nate graduated from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. He has led backpacking trips in Utah and Oregon, and thru-hiked the Long Trail. Nate currently lives in Asheville, NC, where he performs as a musician, and is a Wilderness First Responder.

 

Being an Adventure Treks instructor for the last seven years has taught me many things. I’ve learned to be more confident, believe in myself, and how to make any situation fun. I’ve also learned that it’s OK to show some vulnerability, that conflict is a healthy thing, and that giving a genuine compliment feels better than receiving one. Adventure Treks has helped me become more of the person I want to be, but there’s one thing I’m really thankful for: how to make friends.

Growing up, “go make friends” was a fairly common phrase I heard at any social gathering where parents and children were present. As a young person, I clung to my parents and did not look forward to mingling. “Go make friends” makes it sound so easy. As if all I had to do was introduce myself to a stranger and we magically became friends. As it turns out, it doesn’t get any easier as an adult. Trying to make friends can be pretty daunting, and it can leave one open to rejection. I am fairly certain that word (rejection) sets off alarm bells for most of us.

So what can we do? How does one make friends, as a child, as a teenager, as an adult? Below are some tips for making friends that I have acquired while working at Adventure Treks.

Introduce yourself

This one is the simplest, yet may be the hardest skill to execute. Adventure Treks instructor orientation is an intimidating social scene at first. You walk into a group of roughly 60 people and often do not know more than one other person there. For years, I had to put myself out there. I introduced myself to everyone. I said “Hi, I’m Joe” too many times to count. Fast forward: I have now introduced myself to literally hundreds of AT instructors. It actually does feel simple now. Like anything else, it takes practice, but you cannot make a friend until you know his or her name. Adventure Treks has helped me build the confidence to introduce myself to anyone, and now I take pride in making the first move.

Find something in common

Most of us are pre-programmed to make small talk once introductions have been made, and it is a good way to avoid the awkward silence. The next step, I believe, is to begin finding things you have in common. We do this at Adventure Treks on our day hikes and first backpack. We have students find three things they have in common. This is a great way to begin to build a connection while also driving conversation. Take those three things and match them up with two other people. Continue this process until the entire group has one thing in common. That small thing does a lot of work in bringing people together, and I have used that strategy to make friends in my personal life. Our commonalities get us speaking, and the awkward factor drops to acceptable levels. Which brings us to our next tip.

Ask questions about your new acquaintance

Someone once said “everyone’s favorite topic of conversation is themselves.” I won’t take credit for it, but it has been an invaluable lesson in building relationships. While working for Adventure Treks, a huge part of the job (and probably the most important next to maintaining safety) is building relationships. So after I introduce myself to students and find a few things we have in common, I try to learn about the new person in my life. I try to cover all the bases, like favorites of all categories: food, movies, books, video games, sports, classes in school, music, and television shows. Then I ask about their families and siblings: what their parents do, if they have pets, how they spend time together, etc. As we build our relationship, I may ask what they want their future to look like, or who are people who have really impacted their lives, or what their greatest fear is. The key to all of this is listen and remember. If you spend all of your time asking questions but cannot recall any of the answers, you have no credibility as a new friend.

Be open and honest

Making friends is a two-way street, and while our tips thus far have us taking charge of the situation, we have to be prepared to answer questions as well. I have always been surprised by the questions that my students ask me throughout the trip. Many are insightful and thoughtful, and are honestly better than questions most of my adult friends have asked while getting to know me (sorry, everyone). Being at AT has taught me that it is acceptable to be myself all the time. That’s been one of the most liberating lessons Adventure Treks has taught me, and it has translated to my new friendships. When folks ask me questions, I am now able to simply tell the truth. Yes, I am a grown man, and yes, I own a gameboy. Yes, I enjoy comic books. You wouldn’t know it from looking, but one of my favorite artists is Lady Gaga. My students have always shown me their true selves, and as a true friend, I reciprocate.

It takes time and effort… do not give up

Friends are not made instantly. What I would give to have the instant friendship of every student and co-instructor! A few years ago, I moved to a new town to work at a ski resort. I didn’t know anyone in town, and the thought of making new friends felt pretty overwhelming. I tried to think about my new job as one of my AT trips. I made sure to introduce myself to everyone I met, and that helped me feel a little more at ease. It’s a bit like ripping off a Band-Aid—if you just get on with it, it feels better. I found my commonalities (we all liked to ski), I did my best to learn about everyone, and then came the scary part: I was myself around everyone. I’ll admit that I may have scared some prospects off with that last part, but it felt right to be myself. Then I moved into step 5: I asked folks to hang out… All the time. I did not let “I can’t that day” or the “I’d love to, but I have plans” slow me down. I went back to that mountain for my fourth winter, and I truly felt like a part of the community. Our communities on our AT trips do not happen overnight, but by the end they are strong, healthy, and meaningful. AT time is kind of like dog years: One AT summer counts for seven years of regular friendship. So if you’re looking to make a new friend, stick with it, and let it play out, and I bet it will all work out in the end.

Making friends can be daunting, but hopefully these tips will help you out anytime you’re in a new social situation, whether it’s joining a new soccer team, moving to a new school, or coming to Adventure Treks for the first time.

Before heading out on an outdoor adventure with friends or family, it’s important to obtain a good first aid kit (FAK)—and know how to use it! When it comes to finding the perfect FAK, there are two ways to go about it: purchase a pre-designed kit available at most outdoor stores, or create one from scratch.

Either way, there are some important questions to ask. Be sure to consider the following:

• How many people are going on your adventure? Small first aid kits are usually designed for only one to three people. For groups larger than that, simply add more supplies to account for the increase in numbers. Most companies who offer pre-designed kits will have options for small-, medium-, or large-sized groups, with an adequate number of items in each respective kit.
• How long is your adventure? The same concept above applies here. Most small first aid kits are intended for just a day or two outing; be sure to think through the length of the trip, and how far away from the nearest medical facility the trailhead is, and have enough supplies to cover that length of time, plus a little extra.
• What activities are included? Different activities have different needs, so it’s important to consider what the trip entails. For instance, if the trip is mostly on the water, a waterproof kit is a necessity. If the trip is a mountain biking excursion, more supplies to treat cuts and scrapes, as well as triangle bandages to immobilize potential shoulder injuries, are a good investment.
• What is the leader’s highest level of first aid training? There should be someone on the trip who knows how to use each item in the first aid kit. A comprehensive kit is good to have, but if no one knows how to use something, it won’t be of much use.

Now that the above questions have been considered, it’s time to begin the hunt for the perfect first aid kit. Regardless of whether purchasing a pre-designed kit or creating one from scratch, here are some essential items to include:

• Waterproof container to hold everything (stuff sacks work great for this)
• Several pairs of gloves (made from Nitrile, as many people are allergic to latex)
• CPR mask/breathing barrier
• Blunt-tip scissors
• Tweezers
• Pen/pencil and paper
• 30 cc syringe for wound-cleaning
• Triangle/cravat bandages and safety pins
• Variety of sizes of adhesive bandages
• Variety of sizes of gauze pads/dressings
• Athletic tape
• Adherent gauze or vet wrap
• Compression wrap or Ace elastic bandage
• Moleskin or another blister treatment
• Alcohol/antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic ointment (small individual packets, not a giant tube), ex: Bacitracin or triple antibiotic ointment
• Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory)
• Acetaminophen (pain reliever and fever reducer)
• Diphenhydramine (antihistamine)
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antacids
• Loperamide (anti-diarrheal)
• Glucose tablets