Having joined OASC as a member in September 2004, Angela has found herself to be a very active participant in the club. It was this involvement that inspired her to become a Leader and share some of her interests and talents with other OASC’ers.  As a born and raised Virginian, Angela enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, fishing, and biking. After having spent four years serving in the United States Marine Corps where backpacking was less enticing, she saw the club as an opportunity to discover the beauty behind backpacking and hiking. Angela is always looking for new adventures and so far through the club she has discovered a love of backpacking, climbing, and cross-country skiing.  Most importantly, Angela loves to be social; her move to Charlottesville last summer left her searching for friends and after only a few weeks in the club she was overjoyed to find so many new ones. Her favorite social activities include dinners out, ice-skating, cooking clubs, happy hours, and all types of arts and crafts.

First Aid:  Angela is certified in Standard First Aid, First Aid When Help Is Delayed, and Adult / Child CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Angela received her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at James Madison University. She currently works as a Research and Laboratory Specialist in the Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Virginia. She hopes that her efforts will help fight heart disease and diabetes.  Angela also loves international travel, especially to her favorite city (other than Charlottesville!) Edinburgh, Scotland. While serving in the USMC, Angela was able to travel to several places, including Okinawa and Norway. She hopes to find some new favorite cities around the world.

Matthew Rosefsky, General Manager,

Peak Councilor, and Leader

 cellphone:  

Since his arrival in Charlottesville in the fall of 2000, Matt has spent nearly every weekend exploring and discovering little-known areas of spectacular natural scenery in Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Virginia Beach, and other beautiful regions in Virginia and West Virginia.  He has been leading / facilitating numerous adventures including hiking, backpacking, caving, white water rafting, horseback trail riding, high ropes course, hot air ballooning, volunteer trail building and tree planting, skiing / snowboarding, snow tubing, frozen waterfall hiking, backpacking, and social activities.  In addition, he is a certified Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics Instructor.  Matt is excited to teach you the basics as well as advanced tips for all of the activities above, to show you what he has discovered (he took many of the pictures on this website), and to explore new areas and activities. 

First Aid:  Matt is certified as a Wilderness EMT (NREMT-B) and in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED).  He also is an *Instructor* in Advanced Wilderness First Aid with SOLO.  In addition, he completed a 21-hour Cave Rescue orientation course.

Other tidbits:  Matt loves to learn; he has the following degrees:

     > MBA (UVa Darden),

     > Master of Arts in East Asian Studies (UVa)

     > Master of Mechanical Engineering (Cornell)

     > Bachelor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (Cornell)

Matt also has a great passion for traveling and exploring foreign cultures.  He has traveled throughout Western Europe, backpacked through many East Asian countries, and lived in Paris for 4 months and Tokyo for 5 months.  He would love to share with you his pictures and travelogues from Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Climbing Mt. Fuji, Japan, Peru, Egypt and other countries.  Aside from club activity, Matt serves as volunteer Board Member for Rivanna Trails Foundation and volunteer Treasurer for Earth Week Charlottesville.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Growing up between the beaches and the mountains of Southern California, Adam has spent his life enjoying all kinds of outdoor activities. His latest favorites are kite-boarding, backpacking, caving, and skiing. He loves to explore new areas, especially through weekend warrior trips where he gets to get away from the city. Other interests include – SCUBA diving, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, rock climbing, mountain biking, rockhounding, snowshoeing, snowboarding, spear fishing, ultralight backpacking, wild edible plant identification, wilderness survival, and cooking.

     During a recent road trip from Southern California to Charlottesville, Adam spent five weeks backpacking, hiking, camping, canoeing, and canyoneering across the U.S. He is excited to take OASC members out for similar local activities.

First Aid:  Adam is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.  In addition, he completed a 21-hour Cave Rescue orientation course.

Other tidbits:  Adam enjoys international travel and working with small to mid sized companies on sales and marketing strategies.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

In the fall of 2006, Jere completed a long-term goal of hiking the entire VA section of the Appalachian Trail (a total of 550 miles). He has also backpacked across the Grand Canyon from North to South Rim and spent 10 days backpacking at elevations ranging from 9000’ to 12000’ in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range just north of Mt Whitney. Jere also enjoys attending music festivals, such as MerleFest, Floyd Fest, and Rhythm & Roots. In Sept ‘82, he attended his 1st Grateful Dead show at University Hall in Ch’ville, seeing this band perform about 25 times. On a cultural note, Jere looks forward to the Charlottesville Festival of the Book, enjoys catching the summer-time Shakespeare play at the Barboursville Ruins, and will on occasion travel to D.C. for art exhibits/shows at the Smithsonian.

First Aid:  Jere is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Jere is a long-time resident of Charlottesville, VA. He is a 1981 graduate of The Tandem School (now called Tandem Friends School). After high school, Jere attended Emory & Henry College where he attained a B.A. degree with an emphasis in Accounting in 1985. While attending E&H, Jere was introduced to the magnificent Mount Rogers High Country. Ever since his graduation, he has made every effort to spend at least one to two weekends per year camping and hiking in this spectacular region of VA. Currently, Jere is working 4-days/week as a bookkeeper for the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit organization that has a Resettlement Office in Charlottesville, and whose main objective is to provide immediate support for refugees who are resettled in Charlottesville. On a part-time basis, you will also find Jere working as a sales associate at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Brian grew up in the sticks of northeast Ohio. In college he spent a few summers as an outdoor trip leader for a summer camp in Maine. While leading backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and day hike trips he developed a passion for the outdoor activities and a love for the Appalachian mountains. After spending two years in Florida, Brian relocated to Charlottesville in the spring of 2009 brining him back to the mountains, streams, and pine trees.

First Aid:  Brian is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  To put food on the table (and in the cat bowl) Brian works as a software engineer for a company in Charlottesville. He spends he free time watching/participating in sporting events as well as enjoying live local music.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Originally from Maryland, Steph grew up on the Severn River and enjoys swimming, sailing and rowing, and now that she lives on a different kind of river, is learning about canoeing and kayaking. Steph spent 1994-1995 as an AmeriCorps participant in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she worked with domestic violence survivors. In her free time there, she snorkeled, explored the island, swam in the Caribbean Sea and played in a regular poker game. Steph loves to cook and to scour the internet for new recipes to try with the cooking club. A self-described music addict, Steph is always looking to see what concerts are coming to Charlottesville or to where she will road trip next in order to see her favorite bands. A lifelong Baltimore Orioles fan, she likes to attend baseball games at all levels of play. Steph enjoys community service and she has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, community radio and domestic violence prevention groups.

First Aid:  Steph is certified in Standard First Aid, First Aid When Help Is Delayed, and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Steph has an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice/Sociology from the University of Delaware and a law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary. Additionally she studied at the University of Exeter in England. Steph is conversational in American Sign Language and loves to play volleyball.  Steph moved to Charlottesville in the spring of 2004 when she accepted a job transfer from southwestern Virginia.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Dave grew up beside a river just north of the Adirondack State Park in northern NY. Though he always loved playing in the water, around the trees and on rocks while growing up, he didn’t get involved in outdoor recreational activities until he moved to Virginia. Over the past four years he has become an avid runner, mountain biker, white water kayaker, snowboarder, and also enjoys hiking/backpacking and rock climbing. Dave is a member of the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club (CAMBC), Coastal Canoeists, and the Outdoors Club at UVA where he has served as a volunteer kayak instructor for the past 2 years.

First Aid:  Dave is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult, Child and Infant CPR.

Other tidbits:  In his “spare time,” Dave works in a biomedical research laboratory at the University of Virginia as a research technician trying to find a cure for breast and prostate cancer. He also likes to read, watch movies, play games, eat ice cream, and meet new people.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Ari, a Leader since January, 2007, has lived in Charlottesville since
August of 1996, and considers it the best of Virginia in every way.
He enjoys motorcycle riding, hiking the trails in the area, rock
climbing, trying all the fabulous cuisines, soaking up the sights,
sunsets, and stars, people-watching, and above all, laughing and
making others laugh. He enjoys meeting a great range of different
personalities in the club, while delving into the outdoor activities
he used to enjoy while in the Boy Scouts. Remember, "Be prepared,"
and "Do a good turn, daily."

First Aid:  Ari is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR & AED. He's thankful he's never had to use either of these while leading any
adventures!. Ari also notes, "I have a Jewish mother, so I know to
PUT ICE ON IT!"

Other tidbits:  Ari's interests are many and various, and include
mechanical engineering, physics, massage therapy (professional),
nutrition, alternative/complimentary healing modalities, etc. Not
quite MacGyver, but close, he has been known to do R&D work dreaming up inventions to save the world, or just save himself a headache! He enjoys sharing his knowledge and ideas with any and all, and truly enjoys teaching. Among Ari's primary interests and hobbies are health and the healing arts, humor, music, movies, autos (he has a
truck that runs on vegetable oil) / motorcycles (ATGATT - "All the
gear, all the time"), amateur photography, alternative energy,
alternative thinking, alliterative assonance, and problem solving.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Margie likes adventure, loves seeing new places, and enjoys meeting people of all ages.  She enjoys hiking, and cooking has been an interest of hers since childhood.  She says she's not a gourmet chef, but the cuisine in her OASC cooking classes has been delicious, and she enjoys trying new recipes & cooking styles.  Dancing is another one of Margie's passions, and she has found that Charlottesville to have some great dancing groups. 

First Aid:  Margie is a Registered Nurse and is certified in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED).

Other tidbits:  After raising a family and spending 29 years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Margie decided to fulfill her dream of exploring the Eastern U.S.  She moved to Charlottesville in November 2003 to start a new phase of her life, while continuing to be an avid Parrot Head.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

A native Californian, James spent a lot of time in California's beautiful national and state parks. Some of James' fondest memories are of living in Yosemite National Park, hiking and climbing many of its beautiful granite monoliths and spending time among the huge sequoias. He was active in swimming and water polo in high school and college and loves watersports of all kinds. James recently found the new sport of geocaching which adds a new dimension to his hikes.

First Aid:  James is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult & Child CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  James has lived in Charlottesville since 2006. He has been a software engineer for 15 years and is currently with SNL Financial in Charlottesville. He is an avid videogamer and high definition theater enthusiast. He has enjoyed many "alternative" sports such as paintball, go-kart racing, and underwater hockey. He has a 3 year old son, CJ, who loves to hike and is often seen with CJ in his toddler-carry backpack while geocaching.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Summers spent outdoors in the NC mountains instilled in Jenny a love of the outdoors, and she can’t imagine a better outlet than OASC for enjoying this area’s natural beauty. Particular favorites include any of the rafting or water-based adventures (she’s paddled the Lower New at least 10 times, and hasn’t tired of it yet!), night hikes, and stargazing. 

     Jenny adores films and all their associated trivia, and will discuss movies at length with any takers. She also likes working with her hands on all sorts of crafts projects and cooking, and is always open to trying new things (including Mopane worms in Zimbabwe). She also likes the spicy, so bring it! Last but not least, Jenny likes to laugh and be comfortable with people, so she looks forward to some raucous good times ahead!

First Aid:  Jenny is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult, Child and Infant CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Although she was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, Jenny considers herself a true Southern girl – she grew up all over North Carolina, bookended by stints in Durham. Moving here in September of 2006 was intended to establish VA residency for (eventual) grad school, and it’s the best move she ever made! Jenny absolutely loves it here, whether she’s hanging out with some of her local family, having fun with the club in the wilderness or Downtown, or informing people about the wonders of Virginia wine at work in beautiful Oakencroft Vineyard and Winery.
     An anthropologist by training, Jenny earned her bachelor of arts from Duke University, and is now a rabid college hoops fan. She’ll cheer for UVa though, as long as her alma mater’s not involved! History has always been her first love, particularly the hands-on aspects of archaeology. She’s participated in digs in South Africa, China, and Western NC, and looks forward to continuing her passion in further studies. She loves to learn and travel, and she’s always up for a Jeopardy!-watching session or a game of Trivial Pursuit. Jenny is also an occasional adrenaline junkie: her travels to Costa Rica, Australia, France, New Zealand, China, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, as well as Stateside, have privileged her to sample some truly spectacular outdoor ventures. Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef and abseiling in Australia’s Blue Mountains have come near the top of the list, but jumping the Nevis Bungy in New Zealand pretty much takes the cake so far.
    Jenny has family and friends all over the country, so if she’s ever out of town and not leading adventures, she’s probably visiting kin somewhere.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Cara made the move to Charlottesville in 2007. She grew up playing in the Catskills and Shawangunk mountains of upstate NY, then spent several years in the Green Mountain state (Vermont) so living somewhere pretty with lots of things to climb is very important to her! She also loves being on the water, whether in a crew shell, canoe or kayak, and in a previous life was a marine science instructor in the Florida Keys. The best thing about moving to the South (besides the excuse to use "ya'll" in conversation) has been the ability to go hiking, rock climbing, and camping all year long. 

First Aid:  Cara has a License to Practice as an Intern / Resident Physician in Pediatrics, and is certified in Basic and Pediatric Advanced Life Support for Health Care Providers (including CPR).

Other tidbits:  Cara has a BS in Biology from Cornell University and got her MD at Dartmouth Medical School. She is currently a pediatric resident at UVA and has a special interest in empowering young people with chronic illness or disability. During the 3.4 hours a week she is not actually in the hospital, she can be found playing guitar, singing for anyone who will listen, practicing yoga, climbing things, cooking things, and planning her next big adventure.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Will grew up in Virginia and discovered his passion for outdoor adventure pursuits at a young age. Will started commercial raft guiding and kayak instruction as a teenager and worked as a commercial guide through college. After his graduation, Will went to work for Outward Bound in its Southwest Wilderness program. In his three years with Outward Bound, Will was introduced to climbing and canyoneering and misses few opportunities to get back out to the desert to drop into the canyons of the Southwest. In his free time you can find Will kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, skiing, or riding his fixie around town.

First Aid:  Will is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and in CPR / AED for the Healthcare Provider.  In addition, Will is an ACA-certified Level 3 River Kayaking Instructor, and is an Outward Bound-endorsed Top Rope Climbing Site Manager.

Other tidbits:  Will lives in Harrisonburg, where he works for Child and Family Services.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Brian discovered the outdoors through scouts, where he earned the rank of Eagle in 1989. His Eagle project is still in use today in Charlottesville. In pursuit for his love for the outdoors Brian earned his B.S. in Forestry and Ecosystem since and management from Northern Arizona University in 2000. Brian enjoys relaxing outdoors while hiking, camping, canoeing or just being with friends. His mother taught him that it was important to play outside to appreciate all the creatures and plants that life has to offer.

First Aid:  Brian is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Brian was born in the city of Charlottesville. Spent eight years of his childhood in the suburbs of Chicago. Returned to C’ville in ‘84.  Brian is an avid weight trainer. Enjoys distant running with a goal of completing a marathon and progressing to a triathlon. He is a novice astronomer and photographer with an interest in combining the two.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Growing up on Afton Mountain, Putnam had the pleasure of living within walking distance of the Appalachian Trail and the Shenandoah National Park. Like many young Virginian girls, she grew up riding and was even the owner of a mule and a donkey at one point. However, her main exposure to outdoor activities was through yearly school trips where she hiked, camped, cooked over a camp fire, and even went white water rafting, snorkeling, and rock climbing with her classmates. As an adult, Putnam has enjoyed exploring nature through walking, hiking, camping, white water rafting, and snorkeling. She has recently spent time living in Costa Rica where she lazed in hammocks on the beach, rode horses through the jungle, forded rivers when the bus could go no further, and learned to make tamales and chocolate from scratch. While she normally does not cook for herself, Putnam loves eating tasty foods, cooking meals with friends, tasting wine, listening to local music, and enjoying pretty much any social activity out there. 

First Aid:  Putnam is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR / AED.

Other tidbits:  An area native, Putnam has lived near Charlottesville for most of her life. She graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina with a degree in Political Science but has somehow translated that into a career in construction management. Putnam tries to travel as much as possible. She studied abroad in Mexico, India, and New Zealand for a semester and learned about indigenous methods of environmental stewardship and governance. In 2008, she moved to Costa Rica for a year and a half where she helped a friend build a house in the jungle, taught English classes to students of all ages, and traveled to neighboring countries. While she mightily enjoyed her adventures in Central America and the laid back “tico” lifestyle, she is happy to be back adventuring in Charlottesville!

Ashley , Peak Councilor, Leader, and

Kudos & Complaints Catcher

Having grown up around the Northeast, Ashley moved to Charlottesville from Vermont in August 2006 to begin studying for a PhD in Spanish Literature at the University of Virginia. When she’s not trapped inside reading, Ashley tries to spend as much time as possible outside. She enjoys tennis, volleyball, hiking, biking, camping, skiing, and pretty much any other activity that allows her to be outside, learning something new, or meeting people. When forced indoors, Ashley also enjoys pretending to be fully domesticated – cooking, baking, sewing and crafting. There’s a reason she’s been called Martha Stewart II!

First Aid:  Ashley is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Ashley has spent almost two years living in South America: first, over a year in the port of Valparaiso, Chile and later another 8 months in a very small, very windy town in Argentine Patagonia.  She loves to travel and has already covered Western Europe and much of South America, all the way from Ushuaia, the southernmost town in the world, to the waterfalls of Iguazú and the Atacama Desert.  One of the greatest challenges has been figuring out how to be a vegetarian in places where the whole town smells like barbecue on weekends and most people consider chicken to be vegetarian-friendly!  She considers her greatest achievement so far to be having needed more pages added to her passport and can usually be found planning her next trip or talking about the last one.

Peter , Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Peter grew up Birmingham England, the second largest city in the United Kingdom. Throughout his early years he spent most weekends with his family fishing and hiking in the Welsh Mountains. During his years at Aston University in Birmingham (UK) he became an even more avid outdoors person and became a leader in several university clubs, scuba diving (instructor), kayaking (slalom and down river racing). He was also an active member of the climbing, backpacking and sailing clubs. He organized and led trips for the kayak club to Switzerland and Austria to enjoy the spectacular whitewater those countries offer. He came to the USA in 1978 and his first stop was Charlottesville where he learned downhill skiing in addition to the many outdoor activities that the Blue Ridge Mountains offer. After moving up and down the East Coast Peter and his family (wife Susan and two daughters) came back to Charlottesville in 1993. He worked with the Henley Middle school’s outdoor club as a parent chaperone and helped supervise canoeing, hiking, backpacking and cross country skiing trips (2000-2002). Peter and his family left Charlottesville in 2002 for Connecticut only to return in 2005. Peter has been a club member since February 2006.

First Aid:  Peter is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  In his “spare time,” Peter works in a small pharmaceutical instrument manufacturing company as Engineer Manager. He also likes to work with his hands, read, watch movies, play games, and meet new people.

Chad , Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

After growing up playing hockey and broomball in the Twin Cities, Chad moved to Charlottesville in 2004 and since then, has been drawn to the mountains and the beach. Finally joining OASC in 2010, he likes that he has been shown even more mountain trails and enjoys the wonderful company while out there. Chad can be found hiking, playing broomball, ultimate frisbee, kickball, putt-putt, or any of the other fun games that members organize.

First Aid:  Chad is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Chad is the producer, programmer and on air announcer of his own low power radio station. He is also a musician playing a 6pc drum set at a local church and likes playing progressive rock on his 8pc drum kit at home. These are indoor activities, so Chad joined OASC in an effort to get outside amongst other folks.

Michael , Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Michael was born in France and went to the University of Nancy. He moved in Charlottesville in 2008 to do an internship and now works for the same company.  He really enjoys rock climbing, skiing, canoeing, white water rafting, hiking, playing wallyball and French cooking.  He already has traveled quite a bit in the U.S.: Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Navajo Reserve, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Florida, New-York ... Michael likes to be outside, meet new people and spend good times with them.

First Aid:  Michael is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult and Child CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Michael graduated with a French Masters Degree in Mathematics and Computer Sciences, and specialized in Network Applications.  He works for National Optronics and designs software for precision lens processing equipment used in the optical industry.

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

While Virginia is home for Vinnie right now, he grew up as a Jersey boy, headed for the shore and boating every summer when younger, then off to the “deep south” to UVa for college. He loved all types of sports in high school having captained and achieved all-state in both soccer and fencing. He wound up coaching the men’s varsity team here in Charlottesville while an undergraduate student (All-ACC in sabre). More recently, Vinnie was called back onto the football field during a half time program honoring UVa’s best athletes of 50 years. He also did some traveling early on as a D.C United’s soccer team field dentist, trying to patch them back together during half-time melees.

     Vinnie enjoys horsing around, boating, advanced scuba diving, wine and dining experiences while sharing travel experiences (32 countries!) and is always looking to find new adventures both for himself and for the club. His favorite trip to date has been a month in Kenya horseback riding while living in tents under the watchful eye of the Masai. In England as an MBA student, Vinnie formed a film company to create feature films -- so theater and movies are always some of his favorite adventures.

First Aid:  Vinnie is certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Other tidbits:  Somewhat of a school junkie, Vinnie has the equivalent of a DDS and three masters (orthodontics, MBA, MPH) and enjoys teaching at Columbia University. Healthcare policy had him in Washington helping to create new bills for improving healthcare access for the underserved, and he enjoys staying grounded with third world charity trips to places like Haiti, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

Kiara , Peak Councilor and Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Kiara (pronounced "kee-uh-ruh") is an artist, teacher, and translator. She loves developing her senses and leadership skills in Nature, helping prepare her to direct her own theatre company someday. She is a proud Snail of an Adventurer, preferring a leisurely meander through life. She is a devotee of Community. In addition to slow hikes away from the sights and sounds of the Industrial Revolution, she can't resist ice skating, countryside bike rides, dance of any structured kind, music that gets you on your feet or singing along, theatre that rocks the world, potlucks, picnics, campfire storytelling, stargazing, mountain horseback riding, and uniquely local attractions & festivals. Her Canine Co-Leaders, Honey & Seamus Michael, are avid hunters of deer, squirrels, birdies, and delivery-persons, though sadly the last hide REALLY well in the woods! All three love lake-effect snow storms.

First Aid:  Kiara is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Kiara is a true Jill-of-All-Trades, having been a theatre Director and Performer, Nanny, comparative Literature-ist, cultural Anthropologist, university language Instructor, theatre box office- and development department-Serf, house- and stage-Manager, SPCA Dog Trainer & retail shop Salesperson, and overnight-shift Baker, not to mention enrichment program Teacher of preschoolers - high schoolers in performing arts, creative writing, and cultural geography! She lived in Ireland and Northern India, and loves Canada deeply. She has yet to see the Atlantic or Pacific from the Americas, though she has been to the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean and behind the mighty Niagara Falls.

     Her dance studies include folk and/or classical of the US, Ireland, Ghana, India, Spain, South America, and the Afro-Caribbean. Physical theatre training includes Stage Combat, Commedia dell' Arte, Clowning, Viewpoints, Contact Improv, and Chekov-, Alexander-, & Skinner Releasing-Techniques. She runs Honey Pie Pet Care listed on OASC discount page, is becoming certified for animal-assisted therapy with her "firstborn" Chicago mutt Honey, teaching Virginian countryboy Seamus a few city manners, enjoying new kitties Wyn and Izzy, and apprenticing in animal communication.

     Kiara shares this quote:  "But you can't/ And you won't/ Ever find your place/ Even in a hundred days/ Until you know/ Why you left home/ In the first place."

Amy , Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Amy grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta. In college, she worked at a camp as a Ropes Course Instructor living entire summers outside in a platform tent. She has fought to stay outside as much as possible ever since. To her, the Club has been an adult camp. It was her love of being active in the outdoors that led her to cycling and riding in several long distance bike tours. In addition to cycling, she hopes to continue hiking, backpacking, scuba diving, downhill skiing and exploring new areas for the rest of her life. She often is seen with her loyal dog, Ree.

First Aid:  Amy is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Amy has a BA in Romances Languages from the University of Georgia and lived in Europe for two years studying languages. While she was a flight attendant for four years, she had the opportunity to explore much of Europe and North and South America.

Jon , Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Jon’s worst fear is leading an ordinary life. He’s always looking for new adventures and to meet new people. He has traveled, backpacked, hiked and generally adventured his way across Sub-Sahara Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Central America and most of Europe. Along the way he's done everything from tracking gorillas in Rwanda and ascending several of Africa's highest peaks to scuba diving in Thailand and skydiving in New Zealand. His love affair with the outdoors started when he was young and it keeps on growing. He’s a Virginia native, having grown up in “NOVA,” and has spent countless days camping, backpacking, white water canoeing, skiing, and hiking throughout the Virginias. In fact, he has more than 15 years of outdoor leadership experience leading hiking, camping and backpacking trips for diverse groups of people. Jon is also an avid runner and biker and competes in triathlons and road races in his spare time.

First Aid:  Jon is certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.

Other tidbits:  Jon's passion is to help the rapidly developing parts of the world develop in an environmentally sustainable manner. As part of that goal, he is back in the US working on a PhD in Environmental Engineering at UVA focusing on the remediation of groundwater pollution using bacteria.  During his most recent period abroad he served for two years in the Peace Corps working as a water and sanitation engineer in a rural area of Uganda. Check out his website and travelogue, where he’s got thousands of photos and stories from his travels abroad and his work in the Peace Corps.

Helen-Marie , Peak Councilor and Leader

Having grown up in northern Virginia (Vienna), Helen-Marie much prefers the serenity of country roads and mountain views! She enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, and horseback riding. Her favorite local hike is Old Rag, but her most favorite hiking/backpacking by far was done in Glacier National Park, as she discovered on a club backpacking trip with OASC a couple years ago! Other favorite parks include Redwood National Forest in northern California and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. In addition to outdoor activities, she enjoys dancing, music, photography, traveling, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

First Aid:  Helen-Marie is a Registered Nurse, an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider, and is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED).

Other tidbits:  Helen-Marie is a double Wahoo, having earned her Bachelors and Masters from UVA. While working as a registered nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, she finished her Masters and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degrees and now practices in Interventional Cardiology at UVA Hospital. She has decided that one nurse practitioner degree is not enough (yes, she's nuts!), and is taking post-Master's classes part time to be able to also practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is an active member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church community in Charlottesville. She has been playing the flute since 4th grade and still plays at church or for weddings. She also loves to travel and has traveled through 7 countries in Europe, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Her favorite places so far are Alaska and the Swiss and Austrian Alps.

Jason , Leader

(OASC Members:  see Member Directory for contact info.)

Jason grew up on a dairy farm in Midwest Ohio. After living in the DC metro area for a few years, he is excited about the seemingly endless outdoor activities Charlottesville, the surrounding areas, and the club have to offer. He enjoys many team sports such as softball, volleyball, walleyball, tennis, basketball, tennis, and football as well as numerous wilderness and nature activities such as camping, kayaking, canoeing and hiking. In addition to all of the previous activities, Jason is always excited to try out new activities while making new friends.

First Aid:  Jason is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Jason’s “daily grind” is as a programmer/analyst for a start-up hedge fund. He loves the investing world. Jason moved to Charlottesville by chance, finding out during the first interview that the position was located in Charlottesville. Cville is growing on him more and more as time goes on.

Gillian , Peak Councilor and Leader

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Gillian’s favorite outdoor activity is hiking. Hands down. She has been an avid hiker since she was a tot with her all-time favorite hikes in the Sierras and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. She has been delighted to find so many hiking opportunities here in Charlottesville and especially wants to explore Shenandoah National Park. Apart from hiking Gillian enjoys running, swimming, water polo, soccer, kayaking, camping, dancing, and yoga. She also likes live music, wine and beer tastings, cooking (especially ethnic food), watching movies (especially foreign films), learning languages, and trying new things.

First Aid:  Gillian is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR.

Other tidbits:  Gillian moved to Charlottesville in August 2008 after graduating from tiny Carleton College in Northfield Minnesota. She is thrilled to be in the south where she doesn’t have to endure negative temperatures and can shamelessly slip into her former southern accent. Gillian is now a graduate student in the Spanish department at UVA and also teaches Spanish to undergraduates.

Dan , Leader

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     Dan enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, and international trekking, backpacking and hiking the local mountains, snowshoeing, motorcycle riding, 4-wheeling, disc golf, etc, etc; if it happens outdoors he has probably done it or wants too. Some of Dan’s favorite trips include hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, trekking Kilimanjaro, rock climbing in the Tetons and his winter summit attempt of Mt. Rainier. Dan spends as much time outdoors as possible. He is also an active member of the local Blue Ridge Mountain Search and Rescue Group.

     Dan’s other principal interests and hobbies are health and fitness. He is a self proclaimed gym rat and an avid indoor wall climber.

     Now on the top of Dan’s list of things to do is a trek to Everest Base Camp and to climb some of the lower Himalayan peaks; however he is not saying no to an Everest climb someday.

First Aid:  Dan is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.  In addition he is an AMGA-certified Climbing Wall Instructor (Lead), and he completed the AMI Anchoring Clinic.

Other tidbits:  Originally from the Shenandoah Valley, Dan moved to Charlottesville in 1981. Dan’s moment of fame came in 2009 when he made an internet commercial for Subway’s ‘Fit To Boom’ series, a series depicting how Baby Boomers stay fit. One of his daughters, several of his OASC friends and Dan were filmed as he led a hike up to the Hawksbill summit. He even had a Subway sandwich named after him- although no one has ever heard of it.

     Dan's self-proclaimed most irritating trail trait might be his ‘willingness to share’ his Leave No Trace philosophy. He has been a Leave No Trace instructor for several years and has lived the philosophy all his life.

     Dan says that his greatest outdoor accomplishment “has been the friendships that he has made on the trails and the places that he has explored…”

Pete , Leader

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Pete loves being outside.  Born and raised in Charlottesville, he has been on countless trails and rivers in the area.  For the past 10 years, he has organized canoe trips as the District Director for the Virginia Canals & Navigations Society.  Pete's favorite adventures include canoeing, kayaking, running competitively, participating in Batteau reenactments, rafting, skiing, hiking, camping, and swimming.  He also enjoys traveling, especially to the ocean and to the canyon lands out West.  Pete has hiked in Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, and Bryce.

First Aid:  Pete is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult, Child and Infant CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Pete graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from PVCC & Longwood College, and he currently works as an accountant for a small business.  He loves history (thanks to his parents being historians at UVa), and has found and documented dozens of historic sites related to our river history.  Pete has written several published articles and a map on these subjects.

Bill , Leader

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Bill enjoys a number of outdoor activities including long distance cycling tours on his recumbent bicycle and hiking. Other favorite activities include nature photography, astronomy, cooking, Frisbee sports, kite building and flying and traveling.

First Aid:  Bill is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Bill grew up in the hills of Western Pennsylvania where he spent a lot of time outdoors hiking, fishing, and cycling in the Laurel Mountains. After college he and his wife, Mary Beth, moved to Columbus, OH and raised a family. Bill, Mary Beth and their three children moved to Greene County, VA in 1998.

     Bill earned his BS in Electrical Engineering and works as an automation engineer for GE Fanuc. He has traveled to many countries including Korea, Switzerland, and Sweden but his favorite so far was Adelaide, Australia where he spent 8 weeks in 2005.

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Mary Beth grew up in Western PA where with her brothers and father, she hunted, fished, grew a garden and sorted metals to survive. Mary Beth arrived in Charlottesville, from Columbus, OH, in 1998 with her husband Bill, three children, and two cats. She loves dancing especially folk dancing and leads adventures in folk dancing. Mary Beth is an “ambler” and loves to “stop and smell the flowers while bringing up the rear” in any adventure. She ambles along after her husband and son in road biking. World travel is another love. While leading trips to Europe and traveling with her husband, she has encountered a diverse range of people, seen amazing sites, and eaten great food. Mary Beth especially loves sweets and looks at the dessert menu before ordering the main course. An avid “Doctor Who” fan, Mary Beth enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy novels.

First Aid:  Mary Beth is a Registered Nurse, and a Certified Instructor of First Aid and Adult, Child & Infant CPR.

Other tidbits:  Mary Beth previously danced with a professional folk dance company and teaches folk dance dressed in “Gypsy” garb. She is a RN and Therapeutic Touch practitioner. She currently teaches Spanish in Stanardsville, VA. Hanging clothes out to dry is another favorite activity. She is addicted to her pedometer and obsessed with walking 10,000 steps in a day.

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Wandering the woods of Albemarle and Greene county since a child, Jim has a special love for the Piedmont and mountain terrain of Virginia. Always fascinated with the idea of complete self dependence in nature, Jim started a long quest for survival and native skills in 1982, mainly under the tutelage of Tom Brown, Jr and the Tracker School. Jim views nature as the ultimate sanctuary and feels that true knowledge of nature includes not only survival skills, knowledge of animals and plants, but also about the great depths of perception and awareness that are possible when away from modern civilization, which is often more a matter of mental distance from modern culture than of physical distance from the nearest road. He feels that native skills are not just about physical facts and techniques, but also about mental, emotional and, for some people, spiritual principles. Jim has given various short lectures on native skills over the years, but most of his experience teaching was from giving a course at LSU while living in Baton Rouge. After chasing a career around the county for 15 years, homesick the entire time, he returned to his old stomping ground of Earlysville in 2002.

First Aid:  Jim is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult and Child CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Jim has degrees in Sociology and Scientific Glass Technology, and good but unaccredited knowledge of real world physics, mechanics and chemistry. He has 3 years experience as a blacksmith and welder, as well as 15 years as a scientific glassblower. He currently owns DFIRM, LLC , a small contractor and handyman business. Some of his many interests include cooking, pool and billiards, playing harmonica, guitar and drums, and listening to blues, progressive rock, fusion, funk and jazz.

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Originally from North Carolina, Crystal grew up in Durham, and went to Appalachian State University, in Boone, NC.  She enjoys outdoor adventures such as hiking, running, dancing, camping, backpacking, white water rafting, canoeing, and exploring, which she has a soft spot for as she was a Girl Scout for many years. She enjoys social adventures such as dinners, wine tastings, bowling, movie and game nights, swimming, concerts, and arts and crafts, she loves being creative.  Crystal loves to travel, cook, and discover new recipes. If you can think of a great adventure, she wants to be a part of it. She loves meeting new people and doing things she's never tried before.

First Aid:  Crystal is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Crystal has an undergraduate degree in Finance and Banking from Appalachian State University (in the Appalachian Mountains) with a certificate in Financial Planning, and a minor in Accounting.  Crystal moved to Charlottesville in January of 2009 when she accepted a job here. Since she does lots of serious stuff at work, she wants to have as much fun as possible outside of work.  She is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Charlottesville.

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Maritza was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to New York City in 2004; since September 2008 she is living between Charlottesville and the Big Apple. She is a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher with experience of six years as a practitioner.
     Maritza is also a US Coast Guard Captain and a certified American Sailing Association Professional Sailing Instructor; she is the Head Instructor of the Optimist Sailing Program at the Manhattan Sailing School in New York City.

First Aid:  Maritza is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR.

Other tidbits: 

     Maritza teaches yoga in a playful and yet profound way. Her practice is non judgmental, full of compassion, respect, knowledge and understanding of her students’ sacred space and needs. She teaches a class that generates clarity, calmness, alertness, self awareness and inquiry as well as the appropriate balance of energies, through conscious breathing. She guides Gentle, Moderate and Vigorous Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Yoga Dance practice.
     In Colombia, Maritza co-founded and directed the first sailing school in the country. She was Coach for the Colombian Optimist National Sailing Team and in 2001 was awarded with the "Coach of the Year Prize" given by the Government Sports Authority. Maritza has degrees in graphic design and music. She speaks Spanish, English and German. A big traveler she has lived in Germany, Hungary and France and has sailed the Straits of Malaysia, the South Atlantic in Argentina, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
     She loves blues, jazz and classical music.

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Roland has studied edible plants with several wilderness survival instructors, and herbal medicine with herbalist Rosemary Gladstar at Sage Mountain School in Vermont. In addition, he has studied other wilderness survival skills such as shelter-making, tracking animals, and
fire by friction.  Roland enjoys hiking, camping, running, biking, music, good stories and jokes.

First Aid:  Roland is certified Adult and Child CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Roland works for the University of Virginia.

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Jessica was born in San Diego, California, and has lived and traveled all over the world, courtesy of the US Air Force. She is a self-proclaimed “survival junkie” and loves anything that involves adrenaline and/or the outdoors. She enjoys flying, target shooting, running, mountain biking, caving, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, broomball, hiking and taking her dog, Scooby, to the dog park..

First Aid:  Jess is certified Wildernes First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Jess has a BS from the University of New Hampshire and is working towards her MS via the University of Maryland. She is a social butterfly and loves meeting new people and traveling to new places. She is firm believer that you should never be afraid to try new things!

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CJ grew up in Richmond, Virginia but Charlottesville has been home for almost 20 years. Most of her outdoor activities as a child centered on boating (motor), water skiing, fishing (she got her first fishing pole at age 4!) and swimming on the James River and the occasional Girl Scout camping trip.

     CJ enjoys cooking, wine tastings, festivals, theatre, concerts, gardening, hiking, and travel. CJ has been very fortunate to have traveled to Europe, Asia, Australia and South America as part of her job (and for fun too). She enjoys any kind of water activity such as swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and snorkeling. She is PADI open water SCUBA certified. She is looking forward to gaining more experience in this area.

First Aid:  CJ is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult, Child and Infant CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  CJ has a BS in Early Childhood Education/Child Development from James Madison University and taught kindergarten and preschool for 4 years. She now works for a biotech company developing drugs for people with unmet medical needs. If you are wondering how she got from ankle biters to drug research and development, just ask her. It is a pretty cool story.

     CJ loves animals. Currently she has a cat and a horse (retired).