Jess Myer

Jess hails from Weaverville, NC, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She grew up backpacking and kayaking and became a trip leader with Emory & Henry College’s Outdoor Program, where she began her path in outdoor education. Jess has led backpacking, whitewater kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sea kayaking, canoeing, and rock climbing expeditions for teens and adults. She has worked on photo and video production for the non-profit organization Appalachian Sustainable Development, and she spent a few winter seasons as a ski instructor at Steamboat Resort in Colorado. As our year-round logistics director, Jess will help manage the North Carolina office this summer.

• Education: Emory & Henry College; bachelor’s degree in sociology and mass communications
• Certifications: Wilderness first responder, mental health first aid, behavioral first responder, PSIA alpine level 1 instructor
• Favorite outdoor memory: Snow school (aka “penguin practice”) on Mt. Shasta with a goofy group of Adventure Treks students who learned a lot about safety and also spent a lot of time laughing at and with each other.
• Favorite outdoor achievement: One of my biggest highlights was spending a week sea kayaking between Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge of Florida. I’ve never been so grimy, sandy, or happy! I baked a peach pie over a pit fire in the sand for my group, and the next morning we got in boats an hour before sunrise to stargaze as we floated.
• Favorite place you’ve traveled: Fiesole, Italy. A little town overlooking Florence with the best food and countryside views.
• Favorite hobbies: I am passionate about swimming as often as possible. The best swims are while backpacking, my other favorite outdoor hobby. I also enjoy reading, running, letter-writing, experimenting with watercolors, practicing my French, and learning to spin in circles on my inline skates.
• What are you most excited for this summer? Sushi bowls, of course.
• Previous Adventure Treks trips include California Challenge, California Adventure, Blue Ridge Discovery, Blue Ridge Leadership, British Columbia Adventure