Camp High Rocks Staff Biographies

Here are our Summer Staff for 2010 so far...

* Indicates a returning staff member or former camper

	* Happi Adams - Returning for her fourth summer at camp, Happi comes from Boone, NC where she is a senior at Appalachian State University. Her background in competitive swimming, and coaching will be put to good use as she joins the swimming staff. She will also be instructing pottery this summer. Happi first experienced High Rocks on a school trip her junior year of high school.
	* Josh Baggett - Josh is back at High Rocks for his fourth year. A graduate of the Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education program at Brevard College, Josh is an American Mountain Guide Association certified climbing guide and brings years of experience in climbing and leading youth groups on wilderness trips. We are excited to have him on staff again this year.
	*Kirstin Bergeson - She is returning to High Rocks for her second year on staff. Kirstin comes to us from East Carolina University where she is a rising senior and education major. She will be working as an Arts and Crafts Instructor and helping take care of the youngest at High Rocks, Grace and Izzie, this summer.
	*Kimberly Best - Kimberly is working in the Program Office again this summer, handling camper mail and the camp store among her many duties. Her friendly face and willingness to chat with campers who come through her office will make her a popular addition to camp. Before coming to High Rocks, Kimberly taught at Brevard Academy.
	* Benjamin Birdsong - Benjamin has been at High Rocks his entire life, starting in the baby backpack on his dad's back. Again this summer Benjamin will be assisting in the maintenance department, keeping the grass mowed and everything working smoothly. Benjamin brings experience from his High Rocks camper years, Boy Scout camps, and Camp Gwynn Valley. Recently awarded the Eagle Rank in scouts, Benjamin is also very active in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society.
	* Hank Birdsong - With over twenty-five years of experience working with children in camps and with outdoor programs such as Outward Bound and Discovery, Hank provides camp with a rich background of knowledge and technical skill. Hank has served on the National Accreditation Council for the Association for Experiential Education and is an Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 701. Hank is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Recreation Management. He enjoys soccer and rock climbing when he can find the time.
	* Townsend Birdsong - Born and raised at camp (her parents built and ran High Rocks for the first 30 years), Townsend has camping in her blood. A graduate of UNC- Greensboro in Nursing, she has chosen horseback riding as her specialty. The year 2010 marks the twenty-third summer that the Birdsongs have directed High Rocks.
	* Betsy Blackburn - Betsy is back for her third year at camp and will be working with our kitchen staff again. Along with her culinary skills, Betsy brings an interest in our new herb garden and the combination has been rewarding to say the least. We are happy to welcome her for the summer.
	* Stewart W. Boss- Stewart is returning to HIgh Rocks after a year as a Counselor Trainee and nine years of being a High Rocks camper. Stewart will be a cabin counselor as well as instructing hiking. Stewart currently is a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
	* Will Brechter - Will is returning for his second summer at High Rocks and will be a cabin counselor as well as a sailing and soccer instructor. He graduated with a degree in Archetectural Studies from Tufts University. Will has several years experience as a camper and has played sports and been active in a number of outdoor activities all his life. We look forward to his continued enthusiasm for his activities.
	* Bridda- Returning as the barn dog, Bridda has never met a stranger and loves the cool floor of the tack room.
	* Blaire Cannon – Blaire returns for her fifth summer here at High Rocks. Blaire hails from Greenville, North Carolina where she has graduated with a degree in Art at Eastern Carolina University. She was a camper at Rockbrook Camp for Girls just down the road from High Rocks. Blaire will be returning to the equestrian staff for the summer, again accompanied by her friend, and steed, Robert Redford. In addition to helping with horseback riding Blaire also uses her skills as a photographer here at camp and often her pictures are featured on our website. We are looking forward to having Blaire in the area for more than just the summer as she plans to make Brevard her home!
	* Alice Chalmers - Instead of canoeing, she is working in the office, putting her superior computer skills and extensive knowledge of almost everything to good use. She was a camper way back in 1958 when camp first opened with a boys session followed by a girls session. After several years as a camper, she worked on the canoe staff for 4 or 5 years, and then took time out from camp to get a PhD in Ecology and to conduct research on coastal ecosystems. She came back briefly to run the canoeing program again in the early 1990s. Now--she's baaaaack.
	* Crystal Clusiau – Crystal is from Gastonia, North Carolina and is a graduate of Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. Crystal joined our year round staff and will be spending her sixth summer at High Rocks.. In the past Crystal has taught rock climbing, facilitated the high ropes course, and been head of swimming. This summer, she will again be our Assistant Program Director and Head of swimming. We couldn't ask for a better person to keep everyone and everything on track.
	* Nate Colston - Nate returns for his fourth year at camp from Uniontown, Ohio. He is currently a student at Stark State College and is majoring in Emergency Medical/ Fire Services. Nate is also studying Psychology at the University of Akron. Nate will be the head of the hiking and backpacking program this summer.
	*Ben Colston - Ben is returning this summer for his second year and following in the footsteps of his older brother Nate.. He is a student at Walsh University majoring in Early Childhood Education, and has several years experience at youth camps to prepare him for work as a cabin counselor and mountain biking instructor. We welcome him back to High Rocks.
	* Crescent - This will be Crescent's twelth year at High Rocks and her third as Head Camp Dog. She continues to enjoy the privileged life of a camp animal, hundreds of willing petting hands and a soft-hearted kitchen manager that keeps her well-fed. Crescent continues to guide her friend River through the summer's bustle and to all of the warmest napping spots. Crescent continures to face one of her biggest challenges this summer teaching Tsali to be a well-behaved member of the camp community.
	*Joseph Crowley - Joe joins us again for his second summer at High Rocks. Joe graduated from Loyola College with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology as well as extensive experience organizing, leading and participating in outdoor adventures in the US and foreign countries. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Joe will be a cabin counselor, trip leader and canoeing and kayaking instructor this summer.
	*Julianna Day - Julianna returns to High Rocks for her second year from Hollins University where she is on the Equestrian Team and is majoring in Environmental Studies/Biology/Pre-med. She has been active in 4H and instructed beginners in riding and horse management for several years. In addition to riding she brings her love of the outdoors.
	* Debbie DeVore - "Miss Debbie" is a native of Brevard and is returning for her seventh year at High Rocks. This summer she will be continuing the role of Kitchen Manager. She's a big NASCAR fan, so can keep you up to date on your favorite driver. We are so excited to have her back in the kitchen! Her hard work and ability to work with people are important as important as her knowledge of nutrition and cooking in keeping the kitchen running smoothly.
	* Joey DiGregorio- Joey is joining us for his fourth summer on our kitchen and maintenance staffs. From nearby Brevard, Joey is an Eagle Scout and is very active in the Order of the Arrow, a Boy Scout service organization. Joey is a student at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC.
Picture to come	* Nate Dixon- Nate comes to us from Cary, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he studied journalism. Nate has previously worked for the Carolina Adventures program as a climbing instructor. He is working in our climbing area again this summer. Nate brings with him a great sense of humor and a love of the outdoors. He has spent a great deal of time recently climbing throughout the south western United States and is pumped to be back at High Rocks.
	* Ryan Donovan – Ryan returns for his fourth summer from Brevard College where he works with the Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education program. Ryan will be the Head of Mountain Biking at camp this summer and brings a great local knowledge of the area's trails. He grew up in Pensacola, FL, enjoying all the outdoor activities available in that coastal area, but seems to have made a home for himself in the mountains.
	* Chris Dorrity- Chris is an Asheville native and is returning to High Rocks for his sixth summer directing our Rock Climbing program. He graduated from Appalachian State with a degree in Recreation Management and a concentration in Experiential Education. Chris has extensive climbing experience locally, has climbed outside the country, and has climbed El Capitan twice in Yosemite Valley. He has also recently published a local climbing guide and is excited to share his expertise with staff and campers alike. On top of all that he is a Wilderness First Responder
	*John DuBois - John returns to High Rocks for his second year from the University of Alabama. Like several others on staff, he has extensive experience with Boy Scouts, reaching Eagle Scout at the age of 14. He will be a cabin counselor and work in Hiking and Backpacking as well as Canoeing and Kayaking.
	* Sara Dunham – Sara will be joining us at the barn for her sixth summer on the equestrian staff. A graduate of Eastern Carolina University, Sarah has just finished her third year as a Spanish teacher at J.H. Rose High School. Her horse Dancer is again accompanying her to camp and both are excited for the summer to start.
	* Jacquie Farley- With years of camp experience under her belt, Jacquie will return to us as the camp nurse for the four week session. With her son Ben in cleats and in tow, Jacquie's accented humor and warmth with both staff and campers will be a huge addition. We are always lucky to have her around.
	* Chase Ferree - Chase is returning to High Rocks for his second summer at a staff member after 5 years as a camper. Chase is an Eagle Scout, and has been playing violin, viola and guitar for several years. He is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis. He will be a cabin counselor and working in the Hiking and Backpacking program.
	* William Foreman- William is returning for his third summer and will again be a cabin counselor and instruct in both tennis and hiking. He is a senior at the University of Mississippi where he is majoring in International Studies along with a concentration in French. William has previous experience as an Eagle Scout, instructing in tennis programs, and leading Scout trips to Philmont and Seabase.
	* Terrell Garrard - Terrell has been at High Rocks since it opened in 1958. Many, many years ago she and Alice Chalmers were singled out as "perfect campers" at High Rocks, and in the years since that time Terrell has often remarked on the benefits to be gained from going to camp as a child. She has worked to make those same benefits available to present-day campers. We all enjoy her humor, her love of working with kids and her relaxed nature. Although Terrell used to be a pretty good canoeist, she now puts her many years of experience to good use in the horseback riding program.
	* Don Gentle - Now in his 18th year at High Rocks, Don serves as an Associate Director and father of two daughters. In addition to his summer duties, Don directs the LEAP program that runs during the Spring and Fall at High Rocks, and teaches paddling classes for Brevard College. His background includes years of whitewater paddling experience and a master's degree from Ohio University in Physical Education.
	* Elizabeth "Zoob" Gentle - Zoob is now in her 19th year at High Rocks. She is an Associate Director who serves as the Program Director in the Summer. During the winter months, she coordinates staff recruiting . Zoob is a longtime High Rocks family member with years of experience working on the waterfront and with children and staff. Don and Zoob have been spending their free time playing with their five-year-old daughter Grace and their youngest camp piglet, Isabelle.
	* Andy Glas- A returning High Rocks staff member, Andy is a senior at Georgia Southern University where he is majoring in outdoor recreation and is a trip leader for Southern Adventures, the school's outdoor program. He will be a cabin counselor and a member of the climbing staff. His recent certifications include Wilderness First Aid, CPR, a USA Climbing Setter Certification, and a Leave No Trace trainer.
	*Magda Gluszek - Magda is returning for her second summer as our ceramics activity head. She has a BA in ceramics and a BFA in painting from SUNY Fredonia, and a MFA in ceramics from the University of Florida. She has been working the last 2 years as the resident artist at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN where she has taught child and adult community ceramics classes. She has had several exhibitions of her work around the US. We are excited to have her share her talents and skills again with us this summer at High Rocks.
	* Jonathan Gotterer - Jonathan is a graduate of Georgetown University where he is majored in History, with minors in Environmental Studies and Spanish. Jonathan is joining us as a fifth year staff member. He was a camper here for two years and has since participated in a NOLS expedition and a wilderness survival course that denies its participants any access to manufactured tools or supplies. Jonathan will be the assistant head of the hiking staff again this summer.
	*Jeff Guilford - Jeff is returning to High Rocks for his second year. Jeff learned of the camp when he came here as a student at Ravenscroft. He is a senior at NC State University, majoring in Philosophy. Jeff will be working in Arts and Crafts and in Mountain Biking as well as being a cabin counselor.
	* Chris Hampson- Hailing from Morganton, NC, Chris is a senior at UNC-Asheville where he is majoring in History and Environmental Studies. At school, Chris is a trip supervisor for UNCA Outdoors where he is the head kayak instructor. For his third summer on staff, we will have him putting his instructional skills to use on the paddling staff as a trip leader.
	* Kay Hunter - Kay has been directing our horseback riding program for the last eight years. Kay has been teaching in private schools for over 30 years and has been teaching on and off at High Rocks since the 1980's. Since moving to the area a few years ago, Kay has used spent her time when camp is not in session working at various jobs where she can put her knowledge of plants and gardening to use. She also takes long walks with her dogs, Bridda and Aria, and plays dominoes regularly with camp founder Jane Williams. We are glad to have her experience and talents at the barn.
	* Will Johnson – After five years as a camper and a year as a counselor trainee, Will returns to High Rocks. During the year, Will likes to backpack, climb, but especially to canoe and kayak at the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Will is excited about joining the paddling staff this summer as hiscabin role. Will is a sophomore at UNC -Chapel Hill.
	*Peter Kleinenz - Peter returns to us for his second summer from Miami University in Ohio, where he is a sophomore studying zoology and journalism. Caving is one of his big interests and he has extensive knowledge of caves in and around his home state of Ohio. Peter will be a cabin counselor and will work in Hiking and Backpacking and Fishing this summer.
	* Ashley Luster – Ashley is returning again to head up the arts and crafts program for her fifth summer. She has a love for the arts, particularly painting and has several years of experience working with children. Ashley is also experienced with outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, tubing and canoeing, so she is able to fill in if necessary in some of the outdoor programs.
	* Scott Martin – Scott will be joining Camp High Rocks for his fifth year on staff. We are looking forward to having him as the Head of Archery and Riflery this summer. He will also be helping out in ropes course and helping lead caving trips. Scott is a sophomore at Appalachian State University. Scott has received the Eagle Rank in scouts, Scott is also very active in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society.
	* Bet Matthews - For two decades now Bet has been working at High Rocks during the summer in the craft shop, kitchen, and office. Bet developed a great tolerance for active children while growing up with her brother, Hank Birdsong, now the camp director. She didn't let that experience destroy her sense of humor or her ability to work with children. When not at camp, Bet teaches first grade in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
	* David Matthews – David has been an integral part of the crafts program for years, drives many trips, and helps keep the place in working order. David recently retired from a teaching career, but still coaches basketball and softball. We're lucky to have David at camp whenever we can get him.
	* William McCormick - William returns to High Rocks this summer from the Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education program at Brevard College. He has been active in Boy Scouts for many years and is presently an assistant sout master in his hometown of Orangeburg, SC. He has worked at Scout camps for several years. He will be working during the two week session as a cabin counselor as well as instructing in the swimming and the backpacking and hiking programs.
	* Will McDonough – Will has been a camper for nine summers and this will be his third summer on the staff. Will is going to be on the Hiking and Backpacking staff and archery and riflerly staff this summer and looks forward to offering campers the same chances and experiences he so enjoyed. We are excited to have such great camp history and knowledge on staff. Will is a sophmore this year at Wabash College.
	* Luke McMahon - Luke is returning to High Rocks for his second summer on staff. Luke is from Raleigh, NC but attends school at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he is concentrating on filmmaking and photography. He has made films about energy awareness, social justice and nature. He is also an avid hiker and backpacker, having climbed New Hampshire's Mt. Washington, Maine's Mt. Katahdin and backpacked in several states. He will be working as a cabin counselor, a rock climbing instructor.
	* Lorraine McNamara - We are excited to have Lorraine returning to High Rocks again this summer for the two week session. This will be Lorraine's twenty-second summer as a camp nurse here at High Rocks. When she first came to camp as one of our nurses, her boys, Patrick and Conner were 6 and 4 years old and now have grown into young men. Lorraine loves working with the campers and her warm personality and extensive medical knowledge are welcomed here. She is a Registered Nurse and works in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
	* Donni Milsap - Donni is returning to the kitchen staff for her second summer, following in her mother Billi's footsteps. She grew up in the area and has worked in various kitchen and personal assistance jobs.
	* Zach Nichols - With years of experience at scout camps, Zach joins us from the University of Alabama for his fourth summer at High Rocks. Zach will be a member of the paddling staff as well as a cabin counselor and is excited about returning to camp. He is an enthusiastic kayaker and likes to paddle difficult runs, but has been introduced to and improved his skills in open boats while working at High Rocks.
	* Dan Noland - A Ph.D. teaching English and Linguistics at UNC-Wilmington, Dan is spending his 37th summer at High Rocks. A brother-in-law to Townsend, Dan has been an integral part of shaping camp's philosophy and activities over the years. Campers and staff alike appreciate his warmth, humor, and wonderful campfire stories. He knows the woods around us, so campers and staff alike should get him to share his knowledge of the flora and fauna they encounter on hikes and walks around camp. And he is an avid gardener. Ask him about his heirloom plants.
	* Woody Noland - Woody is the head counselor of our program this summer. A graduate of William and Mary, he has spent the last several years living in the Brevard area working full-time at High Rocks. A grandson of the camp founders, Jane & Sumner Williams, Woody has been at High Rocks a majority of his summers, beginning as a toddler. As a camper, he enjoyed most of the activities, but was an avid paddler. Woody is looking forward to seeing all the faces from the road arrive for the summer.
	*Elliott Opel - Elliot is a Assistant Counselor this summer after 6 years as a camper and a year as a Counselor Trainee. He is a senior at Frederica Academy in St. Simons Island, GA, where he is on the basketball team and is active in community service. Elliot loves hiking and other camp activities and will be instructing in Archery and Riflery.
	* Fritz Orr- Fritz comes to camp this summer for his fourth year on the High Rocks staff, where he also spent three years as a camper many years ago. Fritz has grown up in the camp environment his whole life and has stepped right into the swing of things around here. Fritz will be our Head of paddling again and we couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable and experienced person for the role. He is an American Canoeing Association instructor/trainer, has helped design many of the popular boats in use today. He applied his skills to a few camp boats this winter as he re-conditioned our antique Old Town canoes. Fritz was also a member of the US paddling team from 1990-96. We are lucky to have him at High Rocks and welcome him back.
	* Scott Richardson- Scott will be at camp for his third summer on staff. Scott has spent 5 camper years and a year as a CT, so he brings a wealth of knowledge of the program and surrounding area. Hailing from Richmond, VA, Scott brings a keen interest in hiking, maps, and spending time in the backcountry. Scott is a Freshman at Wake Forest. He has spent many days with the basketball team traveling as one of the team managers. We look forward to having him back and on staff.
	* River - This will be River's eighth summer as a camp dog at High Rocks. He has become very laidback and a sunny nap spot is only worth giving up for cookout night at the dining hall. It has been a long winter season and he is really looking forward to playing with new and old friends this coming summer.
	*Rob Skeen - Rob has been a part of the maintenance staff since last summer, but in addition to his carpentry skills he has extensive experience at various camps and schools with outdoor programs. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a BS in Recreation Management. When not working at High Rocks he is a carpenter working in all aspects of residential and commercial construction. With his wide and varied background, Rob is a welcome addition to the staff.
	* Danny Stewart- With his wealth of carpentry knowledge and 17 years of experience working in a camp environment, Danny keeps our facility running smoothly. During the spring, Danny has helped rebuild sections of cabins, install a new maintenance shop, added bathrooms, and placed a deliciously cold water fountain near the climbing tower. When he isn't busy on a camp project he is an active Boy Scout leader with Troop 701 in Brevard.
	* Billi Stoner - Billi is back to work in the kitchen as a cook, bringing her friendly smile and yummy recipes. Billi is from Brevard and has worked in camp and for camp founders Jane and Sumner Williams for several years.
	*Scott Sullivan - He is returning on staff for his second year at High Rocks. Scott hails from Mississippi, where he earned a degree in marketing from Mississippi State University. After a brief stint in advertising, Scott has gone back to school at East Carolina University where he studied for a Masters degree in Fine Arts. In addition to painting and drawing, Scott enjoys mountain biking, climbing, and kayaking. He will be a cabin counselor and a mountain biking instructor this summer at High Rocks.
	* Joey Thomas - Returning for his third sumemr from Morganton, North Carolina, Joey attends UNC-Asheville where he is a junior majoring in Math. During his high school years he participated in a program that was founded by a long time friend of mine, Mike Fischesser. In the program, The American Adventure Service Corps, Joey taught his peers and younger children how to kayak, climb, and hike. He is looking forward to sharing his knowledge again this summer at High Rocks as a climbing instructor.
	*Taylor Timmerman - Taylor is returning tothe riding staff at High Rocks this summer for her second year after being a camper and counselor at several camps, including Illahee. She is a student at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she is majoring in Political Science/Environmental Studies. In her previous experience teaching riding, she has enjoyed watching her students progress in their skills and knowledge of horse care, which will make her a good fit for our riding program. Her previous experience has also made her aware of the hard work required to maintain a safe, effective program which will also make her a valuable staff member.
	*Elizabeth Thompson- Elizabeth will be joining High Rocks for her second summer on staff. She lives in Brevard, NC and will be instructing rock climbing and facilitating ropes course as well as helping the logistical side of our tripping program. We know she will be super busy and are looking forward to having her back for the summer.
	Tsali- Tsali is our youngest staff member, less than a year old. Tsali is our apprentice camp dog, learning the responsibilities of the Camp Dog from her mentor, Crescent. Lots of folks have asked about the Cherokee name "Tsali". A brief accounting of the life of Tsali can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsali*
	*Liz Walker - She is returning for her second year on staff. Liz will be the assistant head of our mountain biking program this summer. She comes to us from Brevard College where she is majoring in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education and Religious Studies. She has taught Mountain Biking and rock climbing at college, at summer camps and in rock gyms where she worked, and also at Camp Illahee. So Liz comes to us with a good background to add to the strength of our staff.
	* Lawson Yow- Lawson joins the High Rocks staff for his third year as a counselor after five years as a camper. He recently graduated from Colorado College where he majored in wildlife biology and conservation. At camp, he will be working on the hiking and backpacking staff and will be a tennis instructor. He is on the varsity tennis team at college and also has taken advantage of the opportunities for adventure that living in the Mountain West offers. He has backpacked in Yellowstone and spent time as a rafting guide on the Gallatin River in Big Sky, MT. He also worked on a project to search for Ivory-billed woodpeckers, living in a tent on a bit of dry land in the midst of a swamp.