Education

• Warren Wilson College, B.A. in Outdoor Leadership
• NC Outward Bound School

Experience

• Teacher, Good Hope Summer Enrichment Program, St. Croix, USVI
• Adjunct Professor, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC
• Director, Shenandoah Summer Adventure Camp at Sheridan School, Luray, VA
• Assistant Director, Sheridan School Mountain Campus, Luray, VA

Christie has been leading & teaching outdoor programming and team-building for 12 years, starting as a raft guide. She enjoys traveling, and has had several years of experience as a professional dog groomer and trainer. She grew up in Maryland and the panhandle of West Virginia. Her favorite outdoor activities are hiking with her dog, gardening, sailing, and napping in a hammock.

Katie Flanagan

Head Resident
Outdoor Leader

Education

• Warren Wilson College, B.S. in Environmental Studies
• Asarun Botanicals, Certificate program in Herbal Medicine

Experience

• Education Coordinator, Virgin Islands Env. Resource Station
• Environmental Educator, Pickering Creek Audubon Center
• Farm Hand, Coonridge Organic Goat Farm

Katie joins The Outdoor Academy faculty this year as a seasoned environmental educator and knowledgeable naturalist. Her leadership experiences are diverse and have taken her to near and distant places of natural wonder. Throughout her work, her personal mission is clearly to engage young people in a relationship with and understanding of natural processes.  In her free time, she enjoys working in the garden and exploring the woods and all of its wonders.

Linda Klein

French

Education

• UNC-Chapel Hill, M.A. in French
• University of Delaware, B.A. in Teacher Education
• Wake Forest University, B.A. in French
• Experience
• French & German Instructor, Brevard College
• French & German Teacher, West Henderson High School
• French Instructor, Blue Ridge Community College
• Two-year Residence in Paris, France
• Foreign Exchange Student, Belgium

A native of Western North Carolina, Linda brings to our faculty a love of Appalachian culture and many years of experience teaching French and German. She is delighted to help OA students expand their knowledge and appreciation of the French language and Francophone cultures in our special setting. She enjoys family activities with husband B.J. and two children and their families, including three grandchildren. Other interests include reading, hiking and the study of Okinawan karate.

Kevin MacDonald

Visual Arts Teacher
Outdoor Leader

Education

• Houghton College, B.A. in Art
• Tom Brown’s School of Tracking

Experience

• Resident and Outdoor Leader, The Outdoor Academy River Guide, Big Bend River Tours
• Environmental Educator, Ashland Nature Center
• Trip Leader, Youth Outdoor Adventure Program
• Program Director, Northern Frontier Camp

Kevin has enjoyed working with his hands for as long as he can remember.  Whether he’s throwing a clay bowl on the potter’s wheel, carving a canoe paddle from a piece of birch, baking cookies to satisfy his sweet tooth, or chipping an arrowhead from an old piece of glass, he relishes the creative process.  Kevin is very excited to be working at OA, sharing his experience and enthusiasm with the rest of the community while continuing his own educational journey.

Chris Ream

Admissions Officer

Education

• UNC-Asheville, Graduate Coursework in Education
• Texas Christian University, B.A. in History
• Semester Abroad in England

Experience

• Northwestern Mutual Financial, Financial Representative
• Pearson Education Management, Testing Analyst
• Three Rivers White Water, Tour Organizer

Chris brings a wide range of experiences to The Outdoor Academy’s Admissions Officer position, including experiences in education, advertising, finance and whitewater river guiding.  He looks forward to developing relationships with the many constituents of Eagle’s Nest and is excited to share his belief in the Outdoor Academy’s mission on the road.  Chris he knows the educational significance of adventure; he spent a college semester abroad in London and has traveled to numerous countries including Australia, New Zealand, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.  Chris and his wife Jillian enjoy spending time in the wilderness of Western North Carolina; he looks forward to joining students during their many adventures in the area.

Danny Schiff

Math Teacher

Education

• University of Florida, B.A. in Education and Business Administration

Experience

• Math Instructor, Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Boca Raton, FL
• English Instructor, NOVA Group, Tokyo, Japan
• Trip Director, Westcoast Connection Outdoor Adventure

Danny is excited to join OA this year, coming from the ocean of South Florida to the simplicity and natural setting of the southern Appalachians. Danny has taught and led trips in a variety of settings, including trips to Canada and the western U.S. He loves to travel and participate in outdoor activities, particularly surfing, biking and running. Danny enjoys teaching logical problem solving skills associated with math, and is excited to join the cooperative learning environment here on campus.

Matthew Sevilla

Assistant Program Director, ENF
Physical Education
Outdoor Leader

Education

• Outward Bound, Outdoor Leader Course
• Colorado Christian University, B.A. in Liberal Arts

Experience

• Resident and Outdoor Leader, The Outdoor Academy Instructor, Outward Bound Instructor, Hante Adventures (Eagle’s Nest Foundation)
• AmeriCorps NCCC Team

Matthew has been working with Eagle's Nest Camp and OA in many capacities for several years. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including surfing, rock climbing, and white water canoeing. His extensive wilderness leadership experience is a great asset to The Outdoor Academy program. Between trips into the field, Matthew applies his skills as a craftsman in innovative and inspiring projects.

Rodrigo Vargas

Spanish

Education

• University of Costa Rica, B.S. in Chemical Engineering
• Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism, Natural History Guide Certification

Experience

• Assistant Program Director, Eagle’s Nest Camp
• Naturalist Guide, Costa Rican Sun Tours

Rodrigo joined us from the YMCA Multinational Leadership Training Program.  In his homeland of Costa Rica, he is a proven leader as a naturalist guide.  Rodrigo has served as a strong and enthusiastic youth leader at Eagle’s Nest Camp for years.  In his teaching, Rodrigo actively shares with us the diversity of Latin American culture, and his personal love for working with stained glass sculpture.

Keats Webb

Resident
Outdoor Leader

Education

• UNC-Chapel Hill, B.F.A. in Photography
• School of International Training, Dakar, Senegal
• Maine Coast Semester, Wiscasset, Maine

Experience

• Student Advisory Board Member, Operation Smile
• Farm Intern, Chewonki Foundation and The Mountain School
• Disaster Relief Work, Katrina Disaster

As a high school student, Keates was bold enough to attend Maine Coast Semester—a program similar in many regards to The Outdoor Academy. She is a recent graduate of UNC, with a concentration in Photography and a minor in French. Her affinity for language and culture inspired travels to Italy, Madrid, Senegal, Paris, Ecuador, Quebec, and Switzerland. Among her many experiences, the most inspirational have been her volunteer work and leadership for Operation Smile.

Ted Wesemann

Natural Science
Appalachian History

Education

• Appalachian State University, M.S. in Biology
• Appalachian State University, B.S. in Biology 

Experience

• Board Member, The Transylvania Historical Society
• Head of School, The Outdoor Academy
• Director, Wilderness Southeast

Ted was the founding Head of School of The Outdoor Academy.  After years of service, he stepped down from his administrative post in order to devote himself to teaching and mentoring students.  His knowledge of the land, history, and culture of the Southern Appalachians brings depth and quality to our academic and extracurricular program.  Ted’s personal demeanor gives students and faculty alike a sense of what it means to ‘belong’ to, and care for, a place.  Many students appreciate most the way Ted shares his passion for woodworking and other historic Appalachian crafts.

FOUNDATION ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT STAFF

Bonnie Jean Bates

Office Manager/Registrar

Education

• North Georgia College & State University
• East Georgia College

Experience

• Administrative Assistant, Eagle’s Nest Foundation
• Mortgage Consultant, First Citizens Bank
• Administrative Assistant, General Motors Acceptance Corporation

Her love of the mountains, people, organizational skills, and attention to detail brought Bonnie to command central on the campus of Eagle’s Nest and The Outdoor Academy.  All roads lead to her desk in the Salt Mines.  Raised mostly in a small town in Georgia, summers found her and her family in the mountains of North Carolina or at her grandparent’s cabin in the near-by woods of Transylvania County, North Carolina.

Michael Moore

Kitchen Manager

Education

• California Culinary Academy, Associates of Occupational Studies in Culinary Arts and Food Science, San Francisco, CA
• NC Justice Academy, Raleigh, NC, Criminal Justice and Police Sciences, NC State Certification University of Northern Florida
• Nash Community College, Horticultural Studies

Experience

• Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisions, The Lomo Grill, Asheville
• Line Cook, Pastry Chef, Plated Design and Concept, The Marketplace, Asheville

Michael began working at OA in January of 2007. He brings a great deal of talent and diverse skills to his position. A native of North Carolina, Michael recently returned to the state after studying culinary arts in San Francisco. Prior to his time there, Michael worked in law enforcement in NC. Michael is excited to share his passion for cooking local foods, educate through food preparation, and be of service to others.

Lydia Odell

Admissions Director

Education

• Widener University, M.Ed Educational Psychology
• University of Utah, B.A. History

Experience

• Director of the Center for Career, Service and Learning, Brevard College
• Director of Experiential Learning, Ferrum College, Ferrum, VA
• Waterfall Touring Guide, CreekSide Adult Education, Brevard College

Lydia happily joins The Outdoor Academy this year as Admissions Director.  She has 15 years experience working with students of all ages and has loved every minute.  Lydia believes in the power of hands-on learning and is extremely glad to promote our mission.  Some of her favorite activities include dancing with her one year old, trail running with her husband and friends, knitting, searching for new, hard to find waterfalls, reading about sharks and of course eating ice cream.

Kim Skeen

Medical Coordinator

Education

• Appalachian State University, B.S. in Recreation Management
• Wilderness Medical Associates, Wilderness First Responder

Experience

• Wilderness Leader, Touch of Nature Environmental Center
• Instructor, Camp Woodson
• Assistant Teacher, Carolina Day School
• Administrative Assistant, Eagle’s Nest Foundation
• Arts Arena Director, Eagle’s Nest Camp

Kim has shared her talents with Eagle’s Nesters over the years and is passionate about connecting with students. She is a seasoned leader in the wilderness and the arts, as well as in our medical world.  Kim has led backpacking and caving trips, taught stained glass and batik, and instructed soccer and ultimate Frisbee classes.  Now a mom to Cedar Ann and Lillian, Kim and husband Rob call the NC mountains home.

Elizabeth Updike Smith

Business Manager

Education

• Auburn University, B.A. in Spanish with Business Minor

Experience

• Business Manager, Eagle's Nest Foundation
• Bookkeeper, Coldwell Banker
• Human Resources Assistant, Hunton & Williams

Liz came to ENF in 1995 from a 40th floor office of a high-rise in Atlanta.  She moved to Western North Carolina to “escape the ‘rat race’ and obtain a meaningful life close to nature and her family.”  She brings with her a great interest in photography, music, and gardening.  Liz has become a cornerstone for Eagle’s Nest by providing constant inspiration and motivation for her co-workers.

Nina Snoddy

Nurse Consultant

Education

• University of North Carolina, B.S. in Nursing
• Wesleyan College

Experience

• Nurse, Memorial Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC
• Nurse, New Hanover Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, NC
• Physical Therapy Tech, Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta, GA

Nina's formal nursing career took sabbatical as she made time to raise three boys and become active in land conservation in Western North Carolina.  Meanwhile, she continued to work in health care by volunteering her services in various school and county health clinics in the Asheville area.  Her involvement with teenagers in high schools and churches, along with her collaboration with her husband, physician Bill Snoddy, are major assets that Nina brings to her new position.  For personal enrichment, Nina enjoys painting and playing competitive tennis.

Julie Holt Williams

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Accreditation Facilitator,
Human Resources Manager

Education

• College of Charleston, B.S. in Sociology
• American Montessori Society, Montessori Primary Teacher Training
• Experience
• Executive Director, Common Cause of Virginia
• State Director, Virginia Citizen Action
• Primary Teacher, Anderson Montessori School

Julie came to Eagle’s Nest with extensive experience and a genuine commitment to experiential education and non-profit organizations.  She has been with Eagle's Nest since 1998, sharing her interests in photography, quiet waters, and the Blue Ridge landscape.  After having moved frequently throughout the country, Julie, her husband Tom, and son Skyler are now fulfilling their dream of settling in a small mountain community.

Noni Waite-Kucera

Executive Director, ENF

Education

• Wake Forest University, B.A. in Anthropology
• Wake Forest in London Program

Experience

• Camp Director, ENF 1993-2003
• Business Manager, ENF, 1989-1999
• Assistant Camp Director, ENC 1984-1986
• Developed Eagle’s Nest Whitewater Canoeing and Hante Bicycling Program

Noni was literally raised within the caring community of Eagle’s Nest and she now brings that experience and spirit to the entire foundation as Executive Director.  Whether at camp, The Outdoor Academy, or in the Winston Salem Foundation office, Noni continues to build on the rich tradition of Eagle's Nest Foundation as a leading educational institution for outdoor and experiential learning.

Kyle Young

Property Manager

Education

• Blue Ridge Community College

Experience

• Building and Property Maintenance, ENF Horse Wrangler, Cliff Properties and Columbia Pictures
• Service Technician, Carolina Energy

A native of Transylvania County and Little River Valley, Kyle has worked at Eagle's Nest off and on since 1983.  With this extended record of service, Kyle usually has insight into whatever event or issue is pressing, whether it involves buildings, people, politics or the land.  He is equally adept at the wheel of a vehicle or reins of a horse, and knows our facility like no one else.