Shaver’s Creek grounded me in my ability to create community with humans and nonhumans alike. It spurred my passion for birding, added to my teambuilding and adventure guiding toolkit, and every day inspired me to be a better human.
Years at Shaver’s Creek: 2016
Positions Held: Intern, spring 2016; RockNRiver Leader, summer 2016; Team Development Facilitator and Adventure Program Coordinator, fall 2016
Current Company/Organization: Appalachian State University
I was an intern at Shaver’s Creek ten (!) years ago, during a most transformative year of my life. I transitioned from being an intern to a RockNRiver leader, working closely with Will Wise not only to lead adventure and teambuilding programming, but also to help him publish his book, Ask Powerful Questions. That fall, I worked for the Team Development Center and coordinated adventure programming for school groups. After my time at Shaver’s Creek, buoyed by my newfound experiences and the strong community there, I went to graduate school to study environmental philosophy and worked for other outdoor adventure nonprofits. I currently teach academic field courses for Wild Rockies Field Institute, based in Missoula, and am faculty in philosophy at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. My time at Shaver’s Creek is a cornerstone of my skills in natural history, swiftwater canoeing, group cultivation, and sense of place. I deeply cherish my year among the Shaver’s Creek crew and in the lush woods around Lake Perez.