Hante Adventures Leadership
Hante Adventures takes pride in its quality of camp counselors and instructors. We maintain a strict selection process in hiring highly skilled and educated counselors and teachers. We carefully choose counselors who are creative, mature, engaging and fun-loving. Campers are surrounded with positive role models. Our Hante instructors are experienced in challenging outdoor adventures and international travel. We have two or three instructors per group, which are limited to 14 campers, and all staff members must be at least 18 years old. Head instructors are at least 21 years old.
Jeremy Campbell
Hometown: Brevard, NC
Age:
"You'd Like To Know "
Jeremy is our new Director of Hante Adventures and has successfully made it through his first summer at Eagle's Nest. Jeremy is a passionate whitewater kayaker and rock climber who came to us from a world of carpentry. Jeremy, a.k.a. Soup, graduated from Brevard College with a BA in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. He has worked as a Wilderness Program Co-Instructor for Brevard College developing and leading 21-day expeditions, been the Director of Experiential Education at the Flint Hill School in Virginia, been a lead educator and taught Spanish at the Shackleton School in Massachusetts, coached soccer at Carolina Day School in Asheville, and been the whitewater head of at Camp Illahee in Brevard. Throughout his time he has also led several international trips to Costa Rica, Botswana and Zambia, and “stateside” expeditions to the Wind River Range in Wyoming, every state in the southeast, and to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Kaitlin Friedman
Hometown: Durham, NC
Age: 21
Current Residence: Somewhere in the South Pacific
Kaitlin has been a member of the Eagle's Nest community for a long time, as a camper, Hante participant, Outdoor Academy student, junior counselor, counselor, Hante instructor, and as a member of the Whole Kitchen staff. She led the Wild West Virginia Hante in 2005 and is excited to be back on Hante staff. Kaitlin graduated from Bryn Mawr College in May and is currently traveling in Australia and New Zealand with other Eagle's Nesters. She is very excited about exploring the world with all of her possessions in her backpack on this "extended Hante" of her own!
Jonathan Gibson
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Age: 28
Current Residence: It just keeps changing…
Upcoming Hante: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn
This upcoming summer will be John’s fourth summer with Eagle’s Nest. He came to us with friends from Duke University with, and we haven’t let him go since. John has led two Hantes prior to this summer, and many trips for Duke University. He is also a graduate of N.O.L.S. He’s wild, he’s wacky, and he brings fun to every trip he leads. John will serve as the Assistant Program Director while not leading Hante this summer.
Anne Hardy
Hometown: Shickshinny, PA
Age: 28
Currently Residing: Asheville, NC
Upcoming Hantes: Iceland
Anne has achieved legendary status within the Eagle’s Nest Community. Not only has she served as the Dean of Students and Head Resident at the Outdoor Academy, she has also worked as the Assistant Head Counselor, a counselor and the Baker at Eagle’s Nest Camp She is currently working as a kindergarten teacher in Asheville. When not in school she can be found exploring the mountains with her best friend – her dog Zora.
Andy Lester-Niles
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Age: 40
Currently residing: Winston-Salem, NC
Upcoming Hantes: Iceland
Andy is a veteran Eagle’s Nest instructor. He’s lead a total of six Hantes: 2 biking Hantes, 3 AT Treks, and 1 Skills Hante. He’s been working with Eagle’ Nest for nearly 15 years. In addition, Andy has traveled extensively throughout the world. Andy is an assistant elementary school principal in Winston-Salem. When not busy with school he can be found with his two children – Finn and Posey and his wife Paige the Eagle’s Nest Camp Director.
Kevin MacDonald
Hometown: Albany, New York
Age: 29
Current Residence: Pisgah Forest and The Outdoor Academy
Upcoming Hantes: Southeast Rivers
Kevin became part of the Eagle’s Nest family first as a resident for The Outdoor Academy two years ago. With him, he brought an incredible skill set in just about – everything. He’s formal training is in the fine arts, but in his spare time he pursues many artistic and outdoors endeavors. Last summer he led two Hantes, Rivers to Sea and Alaska, and we were so excited to have him back. Besides hand-making his own paddles, he’s quite the swing and salsa dancer!!! Kevin is currently on the faculty of The Outdoor Academy.
McNeill Mann
Hometown: Key West, FL
Age: 24
Currently studying education at Prescott College in Arizona, McNeill is one of our veteran Hante Staff. Already, McNeill has lead Hante Skills, Rivers and Rocks, and Rivers to Sea. She has been associated with the ENC paddling program as a camper, JC, staff member, and paddling head. In addition she is a highly experienced sailor, a wonderful teacher, and a great contra dancing partner!
Matthew Sevilla
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Age: 34
Currently Residing: Pisgah Forest – Resident: The Outdoor Academy
Upcoming Hantes: New Mexico, W.I.L.D., Iceland
With four Hantes under his hat, AT Trek, Southwest Climbs, Rivers to Sea, and Adirondacks, and several years as instructor for the North Carolina Outward Bound School, Matthew has a multitude of experience. In his off time, Matthew does a bit of everything, but mainly lives life fully and intentionally. He has recently returned from a two-month stint working for the Red Cross along the Gulf Coast.
Rodrigo Vargas
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
Age: He’ll never tell you the truth!
Currently residing: Pisgah Forest, NC
Upcoming Hantes: Costa Rica
Legend has it that Rodrigo was discovered in the Costa Rican rainforest… Regardless, Rodrigo came to be a part of Eagle’s Nest in 1994, and hasn’t left since. Besides being the Spanish Teacher for the Outdoor Academy for last seven years, he’s lead amazing Hantes throughout Central America including Mexico and Costa Rica. Rodrigo teaches with passion, leads with intent, and can be a kid with best of us! Being a part of a Hante to his home country is a true pleasure.
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Caroline Toy
Hometown: Norcross, GA
Age: 23
Current Residence: Milledgeville, GA
Caroline has spent four summers working at Eagle's Nest, where she has done every job she can think of--from climbing instructor to photography counselor to cabin inspector. A veteran leader of Hante Skills 2004 and Hante WILD 2007, she loves to spend time with young people in the wilderness! Caroline graduated in 2006 from Williams College, where she studied literature and comparative religion and taught numerous outdoor skills classes from gym climbing to winter camping. Nowadays, when she is not at camp, Caroline is a student in the Masters of Education in Outdoor Education Administration program at Georgia College and State University.
