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 is a Wilderness First Aid Instructor with SOLO, and 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, China, Climbing Mt. Fuji, Japan, and other countries.  Aside from club activity, Matt serves as Board Member for Rivanna Trails Foundation and Treasurer for Earth Week Charlottesville.

(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, Wilderness First Aid and Adult/Child CPR & AED..

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 Community First Aid and Safety and 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.)

Josh has claimed the Charlottesville area as home since 1999. He loves being outdoors and exploring everything nature has to offer. Favorite club activities include hiking, tennis, wallyball, dinner and music socials, and greeting smiling new faces at the OASC open houses. An avid musician, he teaches guitar and music theory and is always interested in learning new musical styles.

First Aid:  Josh is certified in First Aid Basics, and Adult CPR.

Other tidbits:  Josh works in the Web Sales division of Crutchfield. He also enjoys live bluegrass, snowy winters, and environmental conservation.

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

Kate was born and raised in Charlottesville and Richmond. Her love of the outdoors came from time spent with her family hiking, tubing, and fishing around Charlottesville. She went to Colorado State University for four years and then returned to Charlottesville. In Colorado she spent time fly-fishing, cliff diving, tubing, and backpacking. Since she has been back you can often find her hiking on the weekends with her dog Bear or attending local concerts. 

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

Other tidbits:  Kate completed EMT-B training through the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad. She is also a licensed bartender. Kate received a Masters in Education and teaching license at UVA. She currently teaches fifth grade in Albemarle County. Her main goal is to instill a love of the outdoors and the environment in her students. Summer is of course her favorite time of the year when she can get plenty of time to play outdoors.

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

Ari has lived in Charlottesville for over a decade now, and considers it the best of Virginia in every way. Dan enjoys hiking and biking the trails in the area, 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.

First Aid:  Ari is certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR. Ari also notes, "I have a Jewish mother, so I know to PUT ICE ON IT!"

Other tidbits:  Ari is a continuing student, mechanical engineering, physics, massage therapy, nutrition, alternative/complimentary healing modalities, etc. He has been known to do R&D and design work while 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 / motorcycles (he has a truck that runs on vegetable oil), 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 certified in Basic Life Support and 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.

Kim grew up in Los Angeles as a city girl comfortable with freeways and skyscrapers. In the rainforests of Costa Rica is where Kim discovered her love of nature. She plans on sharing this love of nature with her son, Ian Sebastian. At 4 months pregnant, Kim climbed to the highest peak in the Shenandoah National Park. At 7 months pregnant, Kim led club members on short hikes. Kim stays active by hiking with Ian in a child carrier and taking Ian swimming.

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

Other tidbits:  After teaching high school English and special education for eight years, Kim came to Charlottesville to earn a doctorate in special education.

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

Sergei is originally from Russia; he has been traveling and working abroad after graduating from St. Petersburg University. Before settling in the US, he lived and worked in England and in France. Sergei's favorite outdoors activities are hiking, backpacking, skiing, and tennis. He also enjoys classical music and good food.

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

Other tidbits:  Sergei works for the University of Virginia.

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

Fred waited 18 years to live in Virginia and finally made it when he began studying in Blacksburg. While there, he took advantage of exploring the mountains of southwest Virginia. His walkabouts continue to lead him to waterfalls and panoramic views allowing him to continually refine his photographic skills. Fred enjoys day hiking in Shenandoah and along the Blue Ridge Parkway and has hiked in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wyoming, Hawaii, and parts of Europe. He enjoys leading photography hiking adventures, tours to local battlefields and historic sites, and various cultural activities to D.C., the Middle Peninsula, Richmond, and Southwest Virginia.

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

Other tidbits:  Fred has a B.Arch. from Virginia Tech and, as of summer 2007, is in the final months of his architecture internship before taking his licensing exams. He is "always willing to talk about architecture, even if you are not." He also has done extensive travel – having visited 33 states (with hopefully 3 more to add in the fall of 2007) along with over 60 sites within the National Park Service and 10 countries including Canada and Liechtenstein.

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

Rachel vows to live/work outside as much possible, and is happy to call Charlottesville her new home. She spent the majority of her childhood exploring, camping, and riding her horses in the woods and fields that surrounded her family’s dairy farm in Western New York State. Later she experienced an urban lifestyle in a few different southern cities before moving to Winter Park, FL where she completed her undergraduate work at Rollins College in 2005. In the fall of 2005 she made a temporary move to Charlottesville to work with some Virginia horses. She loved being a country girl again, and decided to stay. She’s recently begun her work toward a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences at UVA, although she’s still riding and teaching part-time. She says, “It’s so exciting to live in a progressive town with so many different venues for spending time outdoors!” She decided to become a leader in the club because she wanted to invite people to join her for horse-related activities like watching polo matches, going to see some top show-jumping competitions, and of course, riding. Also she wants to share the farm, where she now lives, with club members for a variety of activities including local/stress-free camping, trail walks/runs, and bonfires.

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

Other tidbits:  Rachel taught riding lessons at a top show barn in Jacksonville, FL for four years after riding competitively at a boarding school in MD and with the Inter-Collegiate team at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg. Besides equestrian interests, she wants to spend her life promoting a global balance of environmental health, social justice, and economic equality.

Karin-Anne , Leader

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

Karin-Anne is a Richmond native. Born and raised in the capitol city, her parents traveled east to the beaches, but never west to the mountains. It was love at first sight when Karin-Anne crossed Afton mountain for the first time during her freshman year of college. She can be found on the Parkway driving, hiking, picnicking, and camping. All those years at the beaches brought about a love for the water and swimming. She also has a passion for animals and can be found hanging out with man's best friend or grooming and riding horses for pleasure. Around town, Karin-Anne's favorite activities include listening to live music, shopping, dining out, going to movies, and laughing with friends.

First Aid:  Karin-Anne is certified in First Aid Basics and Adult and Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Karin-Anne graduated Longwood College with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation and now works as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She has volunteered as well as developed and implemented therapeutic horseback riding programs. Her dream is to one day have a therapeutic farm for people of all ages and abilities. Also, two summers during college were spent as a camp counselor in Deep Creek, Maryland, at an adventure camp where she was first exposed to white water rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, water skiing, and mountain biking.

Kevin , Leader

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

An admitted adrenaline junkie, Kevin loves jumping off a mountain with skis or diving beneath it with his spelunking (caving) gear. He’s been in Charlottesville since 2004 and has as taken advantage of the area for hunting, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and white water rafting among other things

First Aid:  Kevin is certified in Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR, and completed a 21-hour Cave Rescue orientation course.

Other tidbits:  Kevin grew up on a farm in Wisconsin and graduated with a Business Administration degree from University of South Florida. Kevin works as a financial analyst playing with the stock market and is active with his church.

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

Chance grew up on a dairy farm in Louisa County, VA. He played as many sports as possible throughout high school and even wrestled for a semester in college at Virginia Tech. A rabid VT fan, Chance never misses a football game or the opportunity to go mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking or any other outdoor activity.

First Aid:  Chance is an Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) and is certified in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED).

Other tidbits:  Chance has been a firefighter for many years, and has taken numerous technical rescue courses and thus is skilled in "getting people out of crazy situations."

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 CPR / AED.

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.

(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 and Adult CPR.

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.

Virginia , Leader

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

Born and bred in Virginia, Virginia has been hiking in the Shenandoah National Park since she was a kid. From her earliest memories, she has been interested in the outdoors, hiking and sports (see picture). After a childhood full of group experiences in scouting and camping, she started leading adventures about 20 years ago. As a teacher, she has organized numerous camp-outs, hikes, and trips for young people. She arranged with a river guide to take fifteen 8th graders on a nine day canoeing trip down the Suwannee River (see picture: early morning on the river was magical). She has a tremendous love of the nature and people and likes to hike, bike, camp, horseback ride, and be on the water (swimming, canoeing, and kayaking). She also enjoys tennis and social activities.

First Aid:  Virginia is certified in Adult First Aid, Environmental Emergencies and Adult / Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  In addition to many parts of the U.S., Virginia has lived in Scotland, England, Wales and Sweden. During her 10-year stay in Wales, she ran her own hand-weaving business, Black Sheep Weavers, and loved getting to know many wonderful craftspeople in Wales. She has sung in numerous choirs. She loves drama and has directed and acted in a variety of plays. She is a teacher at the Charlottesville Waldorf School where she gets to hike, camp, sing and direct plays with children.

Kiara , 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, Child & Infant 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 Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR.

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.

Helen-Marie , Leader

Having grown up in northern Virginia (Vienna), Helen-Marie much prefers the serenity of country roads and mountain views!  She enjoys hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, and horseback riding.  Her favorite local hike is Old Rag, but she is dying to go hiking again through the Redwoods in Northern California and exploring other state and national parks out West.  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 Cardiovascular Life Support Provider, and is certified in Wilderness First Aid.

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 Nurse Practitioner degrees and now practices in Interventional Cardiology at UVA Hospital. She is a leader in the Young Professional & Graduate Student group at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. She has been playing the flute since 4th grade and still plays occasionally 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 the Swiss and Austrian Alps and Alaska.

Michelle , Leader

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

Michelle hails from North Carolina. She is a science and nature geek who enjoys hiking, backpacking, running, snowshoeing, and travel. Before moving to Virginia in 2005, she spent a number of years working at an environmental education center inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As the Citizen Science director, she led youth and adults in activities ranging from snorkeling in search of giant hellbender salamanders to hiking to remote areas of the park to find slime molds. She loves urban trails and gets out at least once a year to day-hike the whole 20-mile Rivanna Trail. She's a doting dog owner and enjoys leading some dog-friendly hikes.

First Aid:  Michelle is a Wilderness First Responder and certified in CPR and AED for the Professional Rescuer.

Other tidbits:  Michelle is a faculty member in the Virginia Tech Department of Forestry and is the state coordinator for the Virginia Master Naturalist program, a program that trains and involves volunteers in natural resource conservation and management. She's learning to play the fiddle, and she is a fan of old-time Appalachian music.

Pete , Leader

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

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 Basic First Aid and Adult and Child CPR.

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.

Trevor , Leader

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Trevor is a North Dakota native and moved to Virginia in June 2004 "to escape all the hustle and bustle of life on the plains." He was raised in a small town in central ND; right in the middle of some of the best hunting and fishing the Midwest has to offer. Introduced at a young age to the great North Dakota outdoors; he learned all there is to know from one of Underwood’s old pros….his dad. Before Trevor decided to relocate to Virginia he discovered his talent and passion for mountain biking and has been riding/racing for the Bike Stop in Culpeper for the past 3 years. When he’s not riding, Trevor has also been spotted climbing, hiking, skiing, camping, telling war stories, road biking, cooking, playing football, living with the animals, playing in mud puddles…..and well, he’ll try anything at least once!

First Aid:  Trevor is certified in Heartsaver First Aid and Adult CPR & AED.

Other tidbits:  Trevor has an Associates in Power/Nuclear Plant Operations and currently works for Universal Forest Products, Inc. as a CAD designer (Computer Aided Drafting). He was also the 2001 Regional Mechanical Bull Riding Champion (well, maybe not but he could have been), but he still likes breaking out the cowboy boots time to time. Trevor enjoys sharing his knowledge of biking and the outdoors with the club.

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

Jan grew up in Northern New Jersey but has made her home in Virginia since 1967. New adventures and travel inspire her. Being immersed in different cultures provides continual learning experiences which she relishes. Jan's favorite exotic place is Africa where she went on a photographic safari throughout the bush in Kenya. Originally, she went for her love of wildlife but wound up enjoying the different tribal cultures even more. This past summer she traced her roots by taking a Mediterranean cruise and visiting Rome, Sicily, and the birthplaces of her grandparents in Florence and Naples. She also spent time in France, Spain, and returned to Africa. On her last birthday, Jan treated herself to a week in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert where daypacking took her and other adventurous women to the Huachuca, Chiricahua, Santa Rita, and Santa Catalina Mountains.

Jan loves to hike, bike, swim, ride, run, and play tennis. However, the mountains reach out to her, so Jan and her husband moved to a community owned farm on Parker Mt. just outside Shenandoah National Park the summer of 2005. Her favorite job is volunteering for the National Park Service where she assists visitors at the Byrd Visitor Center and on the trails at SNP. Favorite mountains to hike are the Chiricahuas, Tetons, Rockies, and, of course, Shenandoah.

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

Other tidbits:  Jan is married to Mike and has three grown children. She has been an English educator all her life. After many years in the secondary classroom, Jan took early retirement and soon succumbed to boredom. She now calls herself a “retread” and continues her teaching by sometimes working as an adjunct instructor for different universities, an endorsed consultant for the Southern Region of the College Board, and assisting various school systems with training, test development, and special projects.

Jan has an undergraduate BS degree from Bowling Green State University, an MA from Virginia Tech and a CAGS. Having worked most of her life, Jan now wants to do everything and go everywhere. Her motto is: “I’ll try anything once, within reason.”

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

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.

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

Born and raised in southeast Pennsylvania, Lisa spent most of her childhood exploring the east coast wilderness with her parents and two younger brothers. She has been camping, hiking, road biking, and skiing with her family since before she can remember, and recently added backpacking to her list of favorite pastimes. She came to Virginia in 2000 to attend school at UVA and quickly discovered the Blue Ridge mountains as a favorite destination for weekend adventures. Among her favorite Virginia experiences is Bike Virginia, a 5-day adventure cycling and camping across Virginia with 1500 other cyclists. Although Lisa enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities, her true passion is long-distance running. She fell in love with running as a member of her high school’s cross-country team and since then has completed three marathons (Charlottesville, Marine Corps, and Richmond). Her lifelong goal is to qualify for and complete the Boston Marathon. In addition to her outdoor pursuits, Lisa also enjoys walking, good food and wine, cooking, reading, and the beach. She loves being around people and hearing other’s stories (adventures, experiences, travels, anything!) and is always ready for a good chat.

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

Other tidbits:  Lisa has a BS in biochemistry from the University of Virginia and works at PRA International, a pharmaceutical research company just north of C’ville. She loves traveling and learning about other cultures and hopes to live abroad someday.

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

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 in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR.

Other tidbits:  Roland works for the University of Virginia.

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, Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR.

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.

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

Andrew grew up in Virginia Beach, spending much of his time basking in the sun and taking weekend trips up to the Appalachians. After college and some time living a semi-nomadic lifestyle, he came back to Virginia and in June 2006 found his way to Charlottesville. Andrew spends his free time exploring the myriad of fun opportunities the area has to offer. He loves cooking, backpacking, running, and coffee- coffee is crucial to Andrew's life. In addition, he has traveled through Asia, Europe, and Central America. Andrew spends most of his time working on commercial development projects throughout Virginia.

First Aid:  Andrew is certified in Adult First Aid, Environmental Emergenices, and Adult / Child CPR.

Other tidbits:  Andrew has a Bachelor's degree from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is currently helping to design his first L.E.E.D.-certified green building, which has always been an area of great interest to him.

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

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 working on getting her first aid and CPR certifications to lead outdoor adventures; in the mean time her activities are of a social nature.

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 – especially dogs. She has a cat, a horse (retired) and is the “2nd mom” to a beautiful English Bulldog, Dominic.

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

Jay strives to take a weeklong trip out West to snowboard once a year, and hopes to visit more national parks he has yet to explore. Between injuries, he enjoys hiking, mountain biking, climbing, running, backpacking, sea kayaking and taking photographs of the scenery.

First Aid:  Jay is a Board-certified Family Physician; and he's certified in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED).

Other tidbits:  Jay grew up in flat suburban Michigan, where it was grey skies from October to April. He came to truly appreciate the outdoors in college when he worked for a summer camp and traveled to wild areas in Michigan and Northern Ontario. From there, Jay went with friends to the Mid-east before taking campers out West and to Alaska, camping and hiking throughout those phenomenal areas. he collected great memories, photographs and of course, outdoor gear!

When it was time to move on, Jay looked for another great small city like Ann Arbor, but he wanted someplace a little sunnier and maybe warmer in the winter, and it had to be green with mountains. Despite his travels out West, C-ville was his first choice. It will definitely take a lot to separate Jay from a town where he can play soccer, hike in the mountains with his dog Bristol, drink sweet tea and hear “y’all”. “What more could I ask for?” says he!