Before joining Blue Ridge over in September of 2021, James found his passion for facilitating growth within young people while teaching toddlers to swim. He quickly picked many of the foundational elements of learning and teaching during this two year stint. In the switch to Wilderness Therapy, James applied many of these concepts into his work as Field Guide. He took on the role of Senior Guide for the Transitions program in May of 2024.

In the woods, James spent two and a half years in the adolescent and young adult groups, emphasizing role modeling, empathy and transparency in his work, as well as coaching newer Field Guides to success. Upon the shift into the Transitions program, James has facilitated the reunification of families at the end of students’ stays.

In his free time, James can be found trail running, playing soccer, or reading/writing. James’ passion for this work has led him to begin the process of writing a book on Wilderness Therapy. He was born in Alabama, grew up in Houston, and currently lives in Asheville, NC.

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