Hante Adventures Leadership
Hante Adventures takes pride in its quality of camp counselors and instructors. We maintain a strict selection process in hiring highly skilled and educated counselors and teachers. We carefully choose counselors who are creative, mature, engaging and fun-loving. Campers are surrounded with positive role models. Our Hante instructors are experienced in challenging outdoor adventures and international travel. We have two or three instructors per group, which are limited to 14 campers, and all staff members must be at least 18 years old. Head instructors are at least 21 years old.
Jeremy Campbell
Hometown: Brevard, NC
Age:
"You'd Like To Know "
Jeremy is our our Director of Hante Adventures and has successfully made it through his first summer at Eagle's Nest. Jeremy is a passionate whitewater kayaker and rock climber who came to us from a world of carpentry. Jeremy, a.k.a. Soup, graduated from Brevard College with a BA in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education. He has worked as a Wilderness Program Co-Instructor for Brevard College developing and leading 21-day expeditions, been the Director of Experiential Education at the Flint Hill School in Virginia, been a lead educator and taught Spanish at the Shackleton School in Massachusetts, coached soccer at Carolina Day School in Asheville, and been the whitewater head of at Camp Illahee in Brevard. Throughout his time he has also led several international trips to Costa Rica, Botswana and Zambia, and “stateside” expeditions to the Wind River Range in Wyoming, every state in the southeast, and to the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Katie Long
Age: 21
Current Residence: Atlanta, GA
Katie has been a member of the Eagle's Nest community for a long time, as a camper, Hante participant, junior counselor, and counselor. Last summer Katie worked at Eagle’s Nest on rock climbing and campcraft staff. This year she is joining the Hante staff and leading the W.I.L.D. Hante during second session. She is currently a student at Emory University where she is studying Psychology and Spanish, and is also an Outward Bound graduate. Katie is excited to lead W.I.L.D. and is looking forward to a great trip!
Flannery Mikusa
Hometown: Morganton, NC
Age: 19
Current Residence: Asheville
Upcoming Hante: Boats and Boulders
Flannery is new to the Eagle's Nest community, but is excited to be on Hante Staff leading the Boats and Boulders Hante. Flannery currently attends UNC-Asheville studying Literature and Education. Flannery endeavors to spend as much time as she can outside, both working for UNCA's outdoor program as a trip leader and rock climbing with friends in the Appalachian Mountains she has always called home. She is looking forward to once again head out for several weeks of awesome climbing and paddling in Western North Carolina.
Kaitlin Friedman
Hometown: Durham, NC
Age: 21
Current Residence: Somewhere in the South Pacific
Kaitlin has been a member of the Eagle's Nest community for a long time, as a camper, Hante participant, Outdoor Academy student, junior counselor, counselor, Hante instructor, and as a member of the Whole Kitchen staff. She led the Wild West Virginia Hante in 2005 and is excited to be back on Hante staff. Kaitlin graduated from Bryn Mawr College in May and is currently traveling in Australia and New Zealand with other Eagle's Nesters. She is very excited about exploring the world with all of her possessions in her backpack on this "extended Hante" of her own!
Anne Hardy
Hometown: Shickshinny, PA
Age: 28
Currently Residing: Asheville, NC
Upcoming Hantes: New Zealand
Anne has achieved legendary status within the Eagle’s Nest Community. Not only has she served as the Dean of Students and Head Resident at the Outdoor Academy, she has also worked as the Assistant Head Counselor, a counselor and the Baker at Eagle’s Nest Camp She is currently working as a kindergarten teacher in Asheville. When not in school she can be found exploring the mountains with her best friend – her dog Zora.
Andy Lester-Niles
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Age: 40
Currently residing: Winston-Salem, NC
Upcoming Hantes: Mexico
Andy is a veteran Eagle’s Nest instructor. He’s lead a total of eight additional Hantes which 2 were international. He’s been working with Eagle’ Nest for nearly 15 years. In addition, Andy has traveled extensively throughout the world. Andy is an assistant elementary school principal in Winston-Salem. When not busy with school he can be found with his two children – Finn and Posey and his wife Paige the Eagle’s Nest Camp Director.
Kevin MacDonald
Hometown: Albany, New York
Age: 28
Current Residence: Pisgah Forest and The Outdoor Academy
Upcoming Hantes: Montana
Kevin became part of the Eagle’s Nest family first as a resident for The Outdoor Academy two years ago. With him, he brought an incredible skill set in just about – everything. He’s formal training is in the fine arts, but in his spare time he pursues many artistic and outdoors endeavors. Last summer he led two Hantes, Rivers to Sea and Alaska, and we were so excited to have him back. Besides hand-making his own paddles, he’s quite the swing and salsa dancer!!! Kevin is currently on the faculty of The Outdoor Academy.
McNeill Mann
Hometown: Key West, FL
Age: 24
Currently studying education at Prescott College in Arizona, McNeill is one of our veteran Hante Staff. Already, McNeill has lead Hante Skills, Rivers and Rocks, and Rivers to Sea. She has been associated with the ENC paddling program as a camper, JC, staff member, and paddling head. In addition she is a highly experienced sailor, a wonderful teacher, and a great contra dancing partner!
Nate Sutton
Hometown: Lafayette, IN
Age: 20
Current Residence: Poughkeepsie, NY
Upcoming Hante: Appalachian Adventure
Nate grew up coming to the Eagles Nest Camp and is on his journey to coming full circle within the community with his Appalachian Adventure Hante. Nate has finished a quarter of the Appalachian Trail and plans on completing the rest after college. Last summer Nate was part of wilderness staff when he wasn’t busy with Cabin 9. Nate is an Environmental Studies major at Vassar College and plans to spend the next year abroad in both Costa Rica and Australia. When not in school Nate prefers to be bouldering at the Gunks and taking pictures throughout the scenic Hudson Valley.
Rodrigo Vargas
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
Age: He’ll never tell you the truth!
Currently residing: Pisgah Forest, NC
Upcoming Hantes: New Zealand
Legend has it that Rodrigo was discovered in the Costa Rican rainforest… Regardless, Rodrigo came to be a part of Eagle’s Nest in 1994, and hasn’t left since. Besides being the Spanish Teacher for the Outdoor Academy for last seven years, he’s lead amazing Hantes throughout Central America including Mexico and Costa Rica. Rodrigo teaches with passion, leads with intent, and can be a kid with best of us! Being a part of a Hante to his home country is a true pleasure.
