The effectiveness of OA and its high academic standards are a testament to our faculty. Our teachers are some of the most passionate and well-versed educators you will find anywhere. They are experts in fields ranging from ethnomusicology to political economics and mass media. Our leaders have received degrees from Wesleyan University, the University of Virginia, New York University, North Carolina School of the Arts and other highly respected colleges and universities.
They are all dedicated professionals who enjoy the outdoors, and love working closely with students in a small classroom setting, where students are actively engaged in discussions and the learning process as a whole.
Academic Advisers
OA teachers oversee three or four advisees, allowing them to be fully aware of the progress and needs of each student. Advisers schedule weekly meetings and engage in informal discussions with students to help with academic and social development, as well as monitor progress on the student’s Independent Appalachian Study Project.
Meet the staff at The Outdoor Academy:
Christopher Arbor
English and Math Teacher - Outdoor Leader
Education
The Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, M.A. Candidate English
University of North Carolina in Asheville, B.A. in English
Warren Wilson College
The Outdoor Academy (Spring 1996)
Experience
Enrichment Specialist and Tutor, AmeriCorps
Substitute Teacher, Asheville Buncombe School System
Cabin Counselor, Eagle’s Nest Camp
Returning to The Outdoor Academy, where he was once a student, Christopher is back in the mountains that he holds so dear. As a Native North Carolinian, he carries with him a deep-seated sense of place that informs his teaching in our English course: Writing the Landscape. Eager to engage the other hemisphere of his brain, Christopher will also teach math courses this year. When not in the classroom, Christopher may be found working with his hands, venturing into the wilderness, or quietly writing in his journal. Christopher is currently spending his summers pursuing his M.A. at The Bread Loaf School of English.
Susan Tinsley Daily
Dean of Students - Environmental Seminar
Education
Tufts University, Masters in Teaching
Swarthmore College B.A. in English & Environmental Studies
Experience
Education Director and Instructor, NC Outward Bound School
Adjunct Professor, Warren Wilson College and the Prison University Project
Middle and High School Teacher: English, History, Environmental Seminar and OutdoorLeadership
Trip Leader, Where There Be Dragons
Tinsley is thrilled to be back at OA as the Dean of Students, after teaching for many years around the country and leading trips for teenagers in Tibet and Thailand. She has worked extensively with teachers and students to bring experiential education into the traditional classroom, and has facilitated diversity workshops in schools and conferences around the area. When not at work, Tinsley can often be found walking the trails on campus with her husband Michael and baby Noah.
Linda Klein
French Teacher
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.
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 is glad to be back as a part of The Outdoor Academy faculty. She is 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, knitting and exploring the woods and all of its wonders.
Kaitlin Tripi
Program Director & Hante Director
Education
Warren Wilson Collge, B.A. in Outdoor Leadership
North Carolina Outward Bound School, Instructor Development Practicum
MonroeCommunity College, A.S. in Communications and Media Arts
Experience
Resident Director, Warren Wilson College 2008-2009
Field Supervisor, Wellspring Adventure Camp 2008
Afterschool Teacher, ArtSpace Charter School 2007-2008
Toddler and Pre-School Teacher, Mendon Child Care 2006-2007
Kaitlin was introduced to the world of experiential education while studying at WarrenWilsonCollege in Asheville, NC. She has since planned and facilitated outdoor programming for many schools and organizations in Western North Carolina and Upstate New York. Kaitlin enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, swimming, taking photographs, biking, climbing, and teaching children and teens. She began working for Eagle's Nest in April 2009 and is excited to be part of the community!
Sara Hirsch
Wilderness Educator Intern
Education
WesleyanUniversity, B.A. in Psychology
Experience
Head Counselor, HawthorneValley Farm Camp (Ghent, NY)
After hearing about OA from many fond alumni at WesleyanUniversity, Sara is thrilled to join the OA community. In her hometown of Durham, NC and beyond, Sara has spent the past few summers working at outdoor camps, teaching environmental education, exploration, and athletics. Sara has also worked at a number of community gardens and farms, and can’t wait to get her hands into the dirt at OA.
William Lillard
Wilderness Educator Intern
Education
KeanUniversity, B.A. Political Science
Experience
Trip Leader/Trip Director Wilderness Ventures
Naturalist/Trip Leader; Ventura, CA
Will is looking forward to returning to the east coast, after three years of leading adolescent backpacking and fly fishing trips in Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. Will spent his summers growing up in the mountains of North Carolina and is eager to share his love of the outdoors this fall with the OutdoorAcademy students.
Hannah Levin
Art Teacher Wilderness Leader
Education
WesternCarolinaUniversity, M.A.T in Art
KenyonCollege, B.A. in Studio Art
PenlandSchool of Crafts
Experience
Visual Arts, Language Arts, and Outdoor Leader,ArthurMorganSchool (Burnsville, NC)
Ceramics Instr., Southwest. Comm. Coll. (Bryson City, NC)
Art Teacher, Mountain Discovery Charter (Bryson City, NC)
Teaching Assistant and Art Teacher, Duke TIP (Abiquiu, NM)
Director of Junior Appalachian Musicians (Bryson City, NC)
Hannah is excited to join the OA faculty this fall. The daughter of Yancey County artists, she grew up exploring the Blue Ridge and Black mountains, singing songs, and creating artwork. Hannah has taught art in a variety of settings and led wilderness trips throughout Southern Appalachia. An avid photographer and potter, Hannah is also a singer/songwriter. Additionally, she loves to travel, cook, and do yoga. Hannah enjoys helping all her students discover the artist inside them and she embraces the creative process of working with teenagers.
Arrington McCoy
Wilderness Educator Intern
Education
KenyonCollege, B.A. International Studies
International Honors Program-Rethinking Globalization
Tanzania, India, New Zealand, Mexico
National Outdoor LeadershipSchool, TetonValley Semester
Where There Be Dragons, India Semester
Experience
Cabin Counselor, CampGwynnValley
Residential Advisor, KenyonCollege
Originally from Charlotte, Arrington is glad to be calling North Carolina mountains home now. Arrington’s college years were defined by her study abroad experience with the International Honors Program and her time spent volunteering on a farm near Kenyon pursuing her interest in the local food movement. Her love of the outdoors began with family trips up Mt.LeConte, and she has continued to follow this passion working summers in the adventure program at CampGwynnValley. Arrington is very excited to join OA as a Resident/Wilderness Intern this fall.
Colleen McKown
Admissions Officer
Education
Davidson College, BA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Experience
Prologue Communications, Documentary Film Intern
Rockbrook Camp, Counselor and Activity Instructor
Rockbrook Camp, Office Assistant
Colleen graduated in 2008 from Davidson College with a self-designed major in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. She grew up in Transylvania County, and is excited to be back in the beautiful mountains of Western NC. She enjoys being in a camp environment; she was at Rockbrook Camp for eight years in several roles. Colleen loves the mission of The Outdoor Academy and is thrilled to join the Eagle’s Nest community. She has traveled widely, visiting England, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and China. Colleen also enjoys running, reading, and hiking.
Michael Moore
Kitchen Manager
Education
California Culinary Academy, A.A. Associates of Occupational Studies in Culinary Arts and Food Science
NC Justice Academy, Raleigh, NC, B.S. Criminal Justice and Police Sciences, NC State general certification
University of NorthFlorida, Four Semester CIT
NashCommunity College, Horticultural Studies
Experience
Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine, The Lomo Grill
Line Cook, Pastry Chef, Plated Design and Concept, The Marketplace Restaurant
Michael began working as our Kitchen Manager in January of this year. Michael 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 at the CaliforniaCulinaryAcademy in San Francisco. Prior to his time there, Michael worked with law enforcement in North Carolina. Michael is excited to share his passion for cooking local food, educate through food preparation, and be of service to others.
Lydia Odell
Admissions Director
Education
WidenerUniversity, M.Ed Educational Psychology
University of Utah, B.A. History
Experience
Director of the Center for Career, Service and Learning, BrevardCollege
Director of Experiential Learning, FerrumCollege, Ferrum, VA
Lydia has over 15 years experience working with students of all ages and has loved every minute. She believes in the power of hands-on learning and is extremely glad to promote our mission. Some of Lydia’s favorite activities include dancing with her three 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.
Josh Rosenstein Communications & Music Class Intern
Josh has been around Eagle’s Nest Foundation for the past 10 years, starting as a summer camper. Through the years, Josh has been a Junior Counselor, an OutdoorAcademy student, a camp counselor and Coordinator of the Junior Counselor Program. He is very excited to return to the OutdoorAcademy to help out with music class and OA’s internet presence. A native of Atlanta, Josh loves to write and perform original songs and released an album in 2007. In January he will resume studying Anthropology and Education at the University of Georgia.
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
Danny is excited to return to his Appalachian Mountain "beach math" classroom at the OutdoorAcademy this year. When Danny isn't deriving the quadratic formula on a portable whiteboard around campus, he loves leading students on rock climbing and backpacking treks in PisgahForest. Danny can also be found climbing hills on his road bicycle, composing raps about mathematics, playing the harmonica, or daydreaming about his summers surfing in Hawaii, Costa Rica, California, and Florida.
Rodrigo Vargas Spanish Teacher
Education
University of Costa Rica, B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Costa Rican Bureau of Tourism, Natural History Guide Certification
Highlander Research and Education Center – Civil Rights
Experience
Assistant Program Director, Eagle’s Nest Camp
Naturalist Guide, Costa Rican Sun Tours
International Hante Leader, Eagle’s Nest Foundation
Executive Director, El Centro Comunitario Hispano-Americano of Brevard
Rodrigo has served as a strong and enthusiastic leader at Eagle’s Nest Camp since 1996. At the OutdoorAcademy, Rodrigo has served as Spanish Teacher and in various leadership capacities for many years. In his teaching, Rodrigo actively shares with us the diversity of Latin American culture, his personal love for working with stained glass, and as a Latin-American leader in our local community.
Susan Gies Conley Director of Development
Education
UNC-Greensboro, M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration
WellesleyCollege, B.A. in Political Science
The University of the South, Certificate in Education for Ministry
Experience
Director of Development, Eagle’s Nest Foundation 2000-2003
Database Manager and Development Associate, Eagle’s Nest Foundation, 2003-2009
Director of Annual Giving, Salem Academy and College
Susan has been with Eagle’s Nest since 2000, as our Director of Development during the Roots and Wings Campaign, and then as our Database Manager while her children were small. She is excited by the energy she encounters when meeting OA and Camp alumni and families. She has a special love of the craft of writing, and looks forward to being involved in English and Environmental Seminar classes at OA.
Susan was a longtime Girl Scout and volunteer outdoor trainer. She identifies with the world of the trek through her experiences on bicycling travel adventures during high school, and a continuing love of finding her way in new places. A choral singer for most of her life, Susan also enjoys the practice of yoga. She grew up in Michigan. Susan and her husband have lived in Winston-Salem since 1994 and enjoy the Southern way of life.
Christopher Arbor
Susan Tinsley Daily 
Linda Klein 
Susan Gies Conley 
