I moved from Nova Scotia to the South when I was young. Though the transition wasn’t easy, I made friends in a Boy Scouts Venture Crew which kept me outside— camping, backpacking, canoeing, rappelling, and laughing. The connections I made led to a deep love and respect for the environment and for the relationships developed during outdoor pursuits. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 2013 with my dog, Gaia (who was rescued from the Blue Ridge field area) and earned the trail name Wooden Spoon (a craft I learned as a Field Instructor).

I began as a Field Instructor in 2009, and I've held many other roles at Blue Ridge since then: Mentor Field Instructor, Parent Coordinator, Field Coordinator, Emerald Arrow Coordinator, Field Director, and now Family Case Manager.

As the Student Care Coordinator, I work with Primary and Family Therapists to support and oversee families from their enrollment at Blue Ridge through to their transition. I visit the field and connect with each student to provide families with a clear window into their child's experience through photos, videos, stories, academics, goals, and more. I also manage the organizational and case management needs of the therapists I work with. My goal is to support and provide information, expectations, and care to parents to set them up for success in our program.

I spend my time hiking in Western North Carolina with my husband, our dog, and brand new baby. I also enjoy pottery, knitting, quilting, and cooking delicious vegetarian meals.

• Outdoor Educator Certificate, National Outdoor Leadership School, 2004
• Bachelors in Environmental Science, University of Alabama, 2004
• Masters of Science in Sustainable Systems, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, 2007

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