Rich (a.k.a. "Fife") grew up in Forest City, PA. Although he mostly played ice hockey as a kid, biking was his real passion, especially going on long bike tours. He has completed bike tours through the New England states and during the summer of 2005 he led a 688-mile-long OASC bike tour from Charlottesville to Burlington, Vermont. Before his move to Charlottesville in 2002, Rich was co-founder and vice president of the Tri-County Mountain Bike Club in Waymart, PA.

Rich loves mountain/road biking, camping, hiking, rock climbing and the spirituality of being outside.

First Aid:  Rich is certified in Adult CPR, and he is working on renewing his first aid certification.

Other tidbits:  9 months a year Rich is a high school history teacher. Being a teacher allows him to perfect his hacky-sack skills, be a phish-head, and pursue his love of bike touring full-time during the summer months. He has an Associates from Keystone College, B.A. in history from Penn State and a M.A. in museum studies from the University of the Arts & teaching license from West Chester University. Before becoming a teacher Rich worked for the National Park Service and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology, both in Philadelphia.

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Ginger (whose real name is Virginia) grew up in Warrenton, Va. She has always loved being outdoors, unless it’s really cold. She used to play a lot of basketball, and was her high school badminton champion. Rock climbing is her favorite sport. During her travels she has climbed in Canada, Niagara Falls, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Cleveland OH, Richmond, and a few other places.  She has done a lot of hiking on the Skyline Drive trails, and in recent years has tackled Humpback Rocks and Old Rag. She also likes horseback riding and biking, and has lately taken up carriage driving. The four Belgian draft horses she works with are really big but they’re also very gentle, and a lot of fun to drive. Working with slightly smaller critters, she has helped to show Shetland and Welsh ponies at the Maryland State Fair. She studied fencing briefly when living in New Orleans and would love to take it up again. She rock climbs or works out at Rocky Top REC almost every day.

First Aid:  Ginger is certified in First Aid Basics and Adult CPR.

Other tidbits:  Ginger has chemistry degrees from Sweet Briar and Tulane, and a PhD in chemistry from UVa. She was a research chemist for the FBI Laboratory in DC for a good many years; she gave that up to marry UVa faculty member Art Greene in 1977, and subsequently worked here as an Intelligence Analyst with the National Ground Intelligence Center for quite a while before retiring. She now passes the time by doing Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, and helping care for the Siamese cats at a rescue shelter in Madison County. Her two Siamese cats brighten up her life wonderfully.

     From July 2007 through September 2009, as a member of Peace Corps Ginger assisting South African village school primary-grade teachers in their classrooms.  We look forward to Ginger's return in October 2009.

Dorie , Leader

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The rolling hills and beautiful farmlands of northern Bucks Co. Pennsylvania, along with large tracts of state game lands and very few no trespassing signs allowed Dorie to grow up spending a great deal of time exploring the beauty of our natural world. Her love of the outdoors has remained a constant source of adventure, education and peace in her life. Dorie has been living west of Charlottesville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains these past years.  This lovely setting has allowed her to continue her exploration of nature and indulge her passion for all things outdoors. Dorie has spent time assisting young explorers here and out west hiking and backing. She also mountain bikes and still climbs occasionally.  Dorie considers living in this beautiful place a gift and is aware that having people spend time outside leads to an awareness of the importance of preserving this place we call home.

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

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

Massey is an avid rock climber, and is one of Virginia's few certified Top Rope Site Managers (with the American Mountain Guide Association).  He has climbed in all of the great locations in Virginia and West Virginia.  He occupies himself between climbing trips with hiking and mountain biking.  During the winter Massey works for the Wintergreen Adaptive Program where he is the staff development director and an adaptive instructor specializing in sit skis and students with autism.  Massey's favorite pastime is hanging out at the cliffs for the day.

First Aid:  Massey is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and in Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and AED.

Other tidbits:  Massey majored in therapeutic recreation at VCU.

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Michelle was born and grew up in Richmond, Virginia while spending most of her summers at her grandparents’ river house on the York River. There she learned horseback riding, shooting, swimming, and waterskiing. She also spent much time crabbing with string off the end of a pier; net casting on shore; catching bait to fish with and to fish; and hiking in the woods to go berry picking. Adventures that she has enjoyed with OASC are Frisbee golf, hiking, whitewater rafting, skiing, rock climbing, bowling and many social outings.

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

Other tidbits:  After obtaining her Masters Degree in Biology, Michelle taught high school biology for two years in Richmond before deciding to move to Charlottesville to pursue a career in Medical Research at UVA. Since moving to Charlottesville, she has fallen in love with the local music scene.