Hante Spain is still 7 months away, but I have been fastidiously planning our upcoming journey on to the Iberian Peninsula.  Paige and I have put a lot of time and effort into finding a strong set of leaders for this international trip, and I am excited to announce that Rodrigo Vargas and Claire Wofford will be two of the leaders for Hante Spain! 

Rodrigo has been working with Eagle’s Nest Foundation in various capacities since his emigration to the United States from Costa Rica in 1996. He currently works as the Spanish teacher at The Outdoor Academy.  In addition to his work during the school year, Rodrigo has led five international Hantes in places such as New Zealand, Mexico, and his native Costa Rica.  Rodrigo is a talented stained glass artist, and in his spare time he works to strengthen and develop the burgeoning Latin American community through El Centro Comunitario de Hispano Americano in Transylvania County.  

Claire has been attending Eagle's Nest Camp since age 12, first as a camper and junior counselor and will be in her sixth summer as a counselor this summer. In 2011, she ventured out into the wilderness with camp's Added Adventure "Huck Finn" on a seven-day river trip on a wooden raft. This year she looks forward to continued exploration of her second home on Hante Spain. Claire has been living in Spain for the last two years as an English teacher and now is in her third year as a teacher in the Basque region. Having studied Spanish history, literature, and language at Wake Forest University, she will be well-informed cultural guide for this trip. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Europe, speaking as much Spanish as possible, and getting lost in the casco viejo of Bilbao. In the fall Claire will be starting a bilingual education Master’s program at Columbia University.

I know Rodrigo and Claire cannot wait for their adventure on El Camino de Santiago and elsewhere, so hurry and apply by November 15th to join them for Hante Spain in 2012!