Meet Our Team

Adventuring for 32 Years!

Adventure Treks was established in 1993 and grew out of the summer camp industry in western North Carolina, which is where we put down roots. Our first year, we welcomed 14 students on one adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Since then, we’ve been honored to serve tens of thousands of families, with whom we’ve worked hard to build long-term relationships.

Now, in our 32nd year, we will host hundreds more participants on more than 30 trips across the globe. We also operate spring and fall educational programs for schools across the United States, from the oak forests of western North Carolina to the red cedar and fir woodlands of Washington.

In 2024, we launched our new adult programs and family camp—now the entire family can enjoy the magic of Adventure Treks. Click here to learn more about our adult and family trips.

We work hard to make every summer even greater than the last. Meet the owners and directors of Adventure Treks below!

David “Dmac” McGlashan & Amanda Fox-McGlashan

As the owners and executive directors of Adventure Treks, we are dedicated to creating transformative outdoor experiences for teenagers. Our shared love for adventure, outdoor education, and community-building has shaped our careers and our commitment to helping young people grow.

David, or “Dmac” as most of our students know him, has been with Adventure Treks since 2006. A North Carolina native, he grew up attending summer camps in the Blue Ridge Mountains before earning a bachelor’s degree in human ecology from the University of Tennessee, followed by a master’s in recreation and leisure studies. His career in outdoor leadership has spanned roles in North Carolina, Oregon, and Maine, working in summer camps, outdoor education, and youth development. He currently serves as the president of the board for the America Outdoors Association and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Amanda, also a North Carolina native, attended Appalachian State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in communication and journalism. Her career began in Boulder, CO, as an editor for Climbing, SNEWS, and Outdoor Retailer Daily magazines (the latter being the outdoor industry’s largest trade show). She later transitioned into marketing and became a yoga instructor before her passion for the outdoors and education led her to Adventure Treks in 2014. A wilderness first responder, she serves as the vice president and communications chair on the non-profit board for the Friends of DuPont Forest, and the marketing and education task forces for America Outdoors.

Dmac and Amanda are constantly looking for incredible new Adventure Treks locations, and their travels have taken them across the globe, including Italy, Norway, Scotland, Costa Rica, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, France, Germany, and beyond. In their free time, they can be found trail running, mountain biking, and cycling in the beautiful western North Carolina mountains.

Together, we believe in the power of adventure to inspire confidence, resilience, and lifelong friendships!

Who are Adventure Treks instructors?

The Adventure Treks instructor team is the heart and soul of what we do. They’re more than just instructors—they’re role models, mentors, and friends to our students. Because we don’t take this responsibility lightly, we have a rigorous and selective hiring process. All new instructors have prior experience working with youth in the outdoors, and they participate annually in a minimum two-week training (senior staff attend three weeks of orientation).

Unlike comparable programs, we don’t recruit only at colleges to find staff looking for a fun summer diversion (younger college students are better suited to gain experience as traditional camp counselors). This is also why we don’t refer to our staff as “counselors”; we hire professional outdoor educators who truly care about our students’ personal growth and development.

2025 instructors at a glance:

Average age: 26

Average tenure of leadership team is 10 years

Average tenure of senior instructors (trip leaders) is 4 years

Current instructor return rate: 65%

11 staff are former Adventure Treks students

All are, at minimum, certified as wilderness first responders; many have higher medical or outdoor skill certifications

Our hiring process includes at minimum 3 interviews, 4 reference checks, and complete background checks

Each staff team will include both new and returning instructors

Below, read more about each of our instructors! (We’ll keep adding 2025 staff throughout the spring.)

Logistics director & trip leader

Adventuring for 32 Years!

David “Dmac” McGlashan & Amanda Fox-McGlashan

Who are Adventure Treks instructors?

2025 instructors at a glance:

Dave Dennis

Dr. Josh Dubansky

Lauren

Dushyant

Kyle

Wells

Roisin

Hannah

Abby

Kate

Quinn

Cate

Claire

Ethan

Hailey

Chloe

Henry

Madison

Hali

Arissa

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