#staffstories

[cafelutaluipopica]

Sometimes I hate you, sometimes I call you home. 2 years ago, I walked through the doors of this beautiful place, and yes I still maintain this opinion today. It definitely changed my life, and I've met so many beautiful and unforgettable people. To many more beautiful moments. #hotellife #hotels #pictureoftheday #thatchers #surrey #easthorsley #uk #staffstories (at Thatcher's Hotel)

[waterfire]

Staff Story w. Jean Giorgio! ⁠Watch Jean's #StaffStory video on our blog ⁠ ⁠ What do you do at #WaterFire?⁠ ⁠ Hi! I am a retail associate at the store @waterfireartscenter. My WaterFire story started in 2010 when my husband & I moved to #Providence from NY.⁠ ⁠ I started as a @waterfirevolunteer, mainly working on the ‘Morning Build’ where volunteers & staff come together on & around the river to get an event up & running. I was learning everything from scratch & was amazed at how much thought & planning went into every detail of the day & night. I learned to prepare torches, build fires in braziers, lay electric cable, set up tents & hospitality areas & work the woodpile among other things. ⁠ ⁠ I found the people associated w/WaterFire, volunteers & staff, to be an extraordinary group. They are very welcoming & truly act as a team despite the diversity in age, experience & background. ⁠ ⁠ Once the @waterfireartscenter opened I started volunteering in the store, becoming a Visitor Support Assistant. I became a staff member in 2019.⁠ ⁠ What is something you want people to know about WaterFire?⁠ ⁠ What makes WaterFire so special? Aside from the uniqueness of its very existence, I have to come back around to the people. Staff members & volunteers are the most dedicated & creative group of people I ever met. They truly want to make every event unique & special for every visitor & they always find a way! Even this year w/o the traditional events on the river the org has banded together to give the community what they need, a sense of togetherness & continuity. It is mind boggling all the creative ways they have come up with to keep the art flowing. ⁠ ⁠ What's one of your fav parts of #RI?⁠ ⁠ I am so grateful for all the beautiful spots we have to be outside enjoying the water views which always help me regain a sense of peace in this crazy time.⁠ ⁠ What hidden gem in our community do you think people should know about?⁠ ⁠ A tough call. Other than my favorite local restaurant, @avenuenamericankitchen, I’d have to say the store @waterfireartscenter. I can always find a gift there & I love knowing that the merchandise is locally sourced! https://instagr.am/p/CG2UVvlLJNu/

[amberhickey100-blog]

Logo Dev 1/2

Early stages of my logo. Concept of ‘It’s the little things’ and ‘My Second Family’. These were discarded because they don’t clearly communicate my idea enough. Moving onto ‘Staff Stories’ which is a much clearer approach and sums up completely what I want the audience to know. The sibilance works well, double ‘S’ rolls off the tongue nicely and feels catchy and memorable. It also works really well as a hashtag #StaffStories.

[fajar78]

Crown Coloring Page

Heir-apparent Prince Eins allotment to the palace.

Crown Coloring Page – GetColoringPages.com | Crown Coloring Page

Image Source: getcoloringpages.com

Creative StaffStory/Art: Higasa AkaiTranslation/Adaptation: Amanda Haley

What They SayPrinces Kai, Bruno, Leonhard, and Licht accept been authoritative abundant strides acknowledgment to an accomplished apprenticeship from Heine, the aristocratic…

[bizvideoau-blog]

Hovering over Marty's head like a seagull this morning @xbcbusinesstechnology #staffstories #paintapicture #branding #videoproduction

[lcclibrary]

Can't find it? MeLCat it!

Recently, I had an unusual request for library materials. I needed to find both a specific documentary about professional wrestling and compact disc recordings of Sacred Steel, gospel music played on lap steel guitars. How would I find such an unlikely combination of materials?

I started with a search in our Library’s catalog but found neither item. I didn’t want to give up and leave the patron without any of the materials he desired. What else could I do?

Luckily, I tried MeLCat. MelCat is the Michigan e-Library’s catalog of library materials throughout the state. From all corners of Michigan, public, academic and school libraries (including LCC) participate and share access to their materials. With the help of one library, I first found the wrestling documentary. Then in another library’s collection I found numerous CDs of Sacred Steel. The ability to use hundreds of participating libraries’ materials, helped me find the items the patron required.

As a user of the LCC Library, the patron had the materials sent directly to LCC and was contacted when they arrived. The whole process only took about five days.

The Library patron appreciated the easy access to these rather rare and oddly diverse library materials. He enjoyed them both. How I do I know this? Because I am the library patron who made these requests!

Visit the Library website to learn how to make your own MelCat requests.

Sincerely,

John Szilagyi Reference & Instruction Librarian Pro-wrestling Fan Music Appreciator MeLCat Enthusiast 

[dukeoa-blog]

Staff Stories: Winter Break at Horse Pens 40

At six pm on Sunday, December 14, 2014, merely an hour after finals finished, Duke Outdoor Adventure staffers Henry Camp, George Smith and Jeremy Fox loaded their car with crash pads and drove west. Their destination: Horse Pens 40, Steele, Alabama.

Horse Pens, a boulder field located on a small piece of private property, was popularized in the 70's and has since become the heart of bouldering in the South, and it is indeed Southern. Dodging the official Horse Pens truck (which bore a Confederate license plate) and wincing as they read the historical description (which detailed the role Horse Pens played in the War of Northern Aggression), these brave staffers strolled through the gate, crash pads on their backs, to enter the gamed Horse Pens.

Once there, they enjoyed the superb bouldering for which HP40 is famous: rocks adorned with gritty slopers and supremely difficult topouts that slope away like the shore into the ocean. Most of the rocks at Horse Pens look like someone glued a bunch of grapes together, and this makes for quite the unique bouldering experience. After climbing almost the entire problem, one is faced with the difficulty of trying to top out while not looking like a beached whale (near impossible). Although these staffers did send a few problems, the real value was in the ones on which they failed. Horse Pens is known to humble even the best of climbers, and these staffers were no exception. Hopefully one day they will learn to hang on those slopers, and return to Horse Pens to attempt to climb in the true Southern Way.

Above, Duke OA staffers Jeremy Fox, George Smith and Henry Camp work some difficult problems at Horse Shoe 40 in Alabama.

(Photo Credit: Sanford Morton)

(PS: Aren't these photos super neat?? Experience some more of Sanford's awesome work here)

[canoeimports-blog]

My First Kayaking Adventure by Samantha*

Last Tuesday was my first time sitting in a kayak, and boy, was it a great experience! At Paddle Sport University, the Canoe Imports staff gathered together to learn and test-paddle boats produced by the manufacturers we carry. When it was time to test the first round of boats, I was extremely nervous, as I had no previous kayaking knowledge. After having a quick how-to lesson from another staff member, I brought my first kayak, an Elie Sound 120x, to the water. I knew leaving the stern on land was the proper way to get into a kayak, as my father told me a story of his first time where he brought his kayak out into the water to enter it and ended up flipping himself and the boat into the water. So after placing the boat in the water, I was told to lay my paddle across the back of the kayak behind the seat, perpendicular to the body of the kayak, so when I tilted the boat to sit down, the paddle supported the boat from flipping over, acting like a kickstand on a bicycle. (This is also the same way I was told to get out of the kayak). I learned the easiest way for me to get in the boat was to plop my butt down on the seat first, then swing my legs into the cockpit. I was advised how to push off from shore, how to hold the paddle, and how to use the paddle effectively.

Sitting on top of the water paddling felt so exhilarating! Although the boat and I were in the water, I felt as though I were gliding on top of it, and it was so freeing. As a petite woman being about five feet tall, I found this boat comfortable. I also liked kayaking in an Old Town Heron Jr. My favorite kayak of the day was a Necky Venus 11 sit-on-top kayak. In the sit-on-top kayak, the gliding feeling was heightened. I also was not used to the confinement of a cockpit, and the sit-on-top was less constricting. In addition, the tandem kayak by Wilderness Systems  was a pleasure to paddle. I was told tandem kayaks are nicknamed “divorce kayaks” because the two people need to be in sync, which I understood, but it was still fun! I did not know how much I liked the feeling of these boats until I came across a boat that I didn’t enjoy.  There was one kayak that I tried that felt too small and cramped for me. The cockpit was difficult for me to get into, and I was very close to the bow of the kayak, which I didn’t like. It also didn’t glide as far or as smoothly as the previous boats.

This day was also my first time on a stand up paddleboard. Although kayaking was extremely enjoyable, I loved stand up paddleboarding more. The first board I tried was a BIC 12'6 Wing ACE-TEC SUP. This was a touring board, so it had a displacement hull rather than a planing hull. A displacement hull makes the board cut through the water where as a planing hull glides over the water. I found this board very stable to stand on, but slightly hard for me to paddle because it was so large. Larger boards feel more stable, so as a first board, this was helpful. I then tried the BIC 11'0" Wing ACE-TEC SUP, which had the same hull and was smaller. This board was also very stable, but was easier for me to maneuver through the water. I liked these touring boards more than the third board I tried, which was the BIC 10'6" ACE-TEC SUP Wahine. This board is made for “all around” paddling and has a planing hull. This board was smaller, which made it less stable for me to stand on after I had tried the two larger boards. After this day of firsts, I would like to purchase a stand up paddleboard, the BIC 11'0" Wing ACE-TEC SUP, soon and use one of my father’s kayaks as much as possible this summer. If you have not paddled a kayak or a stand up paddleboard, I advise you to! This new outdoor sport is becoming a regular summer activity of mine. 

*I am Canoe Imports’ 2013 Summer Marketing Intern. I’m a rising senior at Smith College with a studio art major and a digital media concentration. After college, I plan to attend graduate school and obtain my Master’s degree in graphic design. I aspire to be a designer of any kind, but I’d really love to be a packaging designer someday.

[waterfire]

Staff Story w. Kim Zoppo! ⁠Read + Watch Kim's #StaffStory on our blog. ⁠ ⁠ What do you do at #WaterFire? Hi :) My name is Kim Zoppo and I've been working at WaterFire since May of 2019. I currently work on the Development Team and manage the @waterfireartscenter. I transitioned into this role when COVID hit, and when our beloved WaterFire events downtown were not going to be possible. We had to pivot our responsibilities and focus our energy on our Art Center and try to keep our organization going. I’m very proud to be working at WaterFire and I’m very excited to be part of this team and take on this new venture! Prior to this role, I was the Volunteer Coordinator. What is something that people might not know about WaterFire that you think they should? 1st!, we have the most incredible heartfelt dedicated volunteers around! It takes a village to put on a WaterFire downtown, and we couldn’t get this done without their help. Even now under the current COVID conditions, we can count on their sense of community and help us by volunteering at our beautiful Arts Center and outdoor events. 2nd!, I would love for you to know how our @waterfireartscenter evolved. In 1929, it was built for the US Rubber Company, a multipurpose manufacturing company, and rebuilt to the beautiful building that it is today. We have a video series that you can watch that walks you through the entire process. You can take a look on our Vimeo channel: Building our Future: The Story of the WaterFire Arts Center < It is really fascinating! What was the first place you visited after the RI economy began to reopen? I went to @charlestown_rathskeller. They have amazing food and drinks as well as an incredible outdoor space with a huge fire pit and stage to hear live music. It is literally located in the middle of nowhere but it doesn’t disappoint! What hidden gem in our community do you think people should know about? It may sound redundant – hands-down the WFAC. Contact me if you would like to earn more on how you can have the event of your dreams in our amazing unique space! Big or small, we will find the right fit for you! https://instagr.am/p/CGlSeOQlZW-/

[waterfire]

Staff Story w. Jerry Suggs! ⁠Read + Watch Mr. Suggs's #StaffStory on our blog. What do you do at WaterFire? I am the Manager of Education Programming and Partnerships here at #WaterFire. That includes working to create programs and partnerships between WaterFire and colleges, high schools and community programs. It also includes managing our internship program that has had as many as 26 interns working with WaterFire to produce our lightings and other events. Since when? I initially became a @waterfirevolunteer in 2012 when I decided that WaterFire might be a helpful way to work through a difficult period in my life. I had been a long-time visitor to the lightings and decided to sign up to see if I could become a part of the magic. I attended an orientation session for volunteers, met and had a long conversation with @barnabyevans and then signed up for every available volunteer activity. Finally, at the end of 2017, I retired after 46 years in secondary, post-secondary and correctional education and joined #WaterFireStaff 2 things that are pretty important + fascinating! #1 is that the downtown WaterFire lighting event is equal to a music concert except it is produced by a small staff with interns and volunteers. We literally have to build the various stages and sets in the middle of the city while the normal daily activities are still taking place. WaterFire is created from the ground, or river, up and then 18 hours later it has to be deconstructed to restore Providence into a weekend capital city. #2 is that WaterFire is more than the downtown event. The @waterfireartscenter is a host site for many different types of events that are open to the public. We have hosted symposiums, art shows, flea markets, award ceremonies, fund raising galas and even weddings! What was the 1st place you visited as RI started it's ReOpening? I went out for dinner @besoskitchenandcocktails in East Greenwich + was able to sit at a table outside on the deck. It was a great time. I also recommend the @hopestreetmarket on Saturdays + the @providenceflea on Sundays this Fall. Name a small biz that you recommend! I frequently stop in for pastries + tea @sevenstarsbakery. https://instagr.am/p/CGDH5DmDCSk/

[waterfire]

Staff Story w. Peter Mello! ⁠Read + Watch @petermello's #StaffStory on our blog. ⁠ What appeals to you about working for @waterfireprov? I have been working at WaterFire for nearly a decade & what really excites me is how we create & present #Art4Impact that is accessible & approachable for people who might not otherwise experience it because they might not feel comfortable in a traditional arts venue like a museum, gallery or concert hall or might not be able to afford a ticket to the opera, ballet or philharmonic. What is something that most people might not know about WaterFire that you think is important? WaterFire is a powerful art that is also a significant contributor to the RI economy. During a typical year, nearly 1,000,000 visitors will come to #DowntownPVD to experience #WaterFire & their economic activity & spending creates approximately $114,000,000 in economic impact which generates more than $9,000,000 in direct-tax revenue for the State of Rhode Island & supports 1,294 jobs for community residents. WaterFire is art that means business. What was the 1st place you visited after #RI began to reopen? My 1st reopening experience was outdoor dining @trooppvd & my 2nd was taking in #DecameronPVD @waterfireartscenter & on the adjacent ALCO campus. I’m very proud of our #WaterFire + @thewilburygroup teams for leading the way as one of the 1st live in-person theater experiences in the US during the coronavirus pandemic & securing great national media in @nytimes for it. What's a hidden gem in our community? @pvdath is one of the most amazing libraries in the world & too few even know it exists. It’s a magical place & their programming is always incredibly thought-provoking. Name a restaurant/bar/park/place that you support that has inspired you with its coronavirus response. Troop is located in + has been supporting community activities in the #ValleyNeighborhood since it 1st opened. They were a great partner w. @thewilburygroup + @waterfireprov in making #DecameronPVD a successful experience for theatergoers & their Front Porch performances as part of @fringepvd brought great art experiences to people’s homes & neighborhoods. https://instagr.am/p/CFkW5VWBr55/

[waterfire]

Staff Story w. Laura Duclos! ⁠Read @laduclos's #staffstory on our blog +⁠ watch her video. <>⁠ ⁠ Laura's recommendations!⁠ ⁠ Q: What is a hidden gem in our community that you think people should know about?⁠ ⁠ A: There’s so many! @farmfreshRI + @pvdvad⁠ ⁠ Q: What was the first place you visited after RI began to reopen? ⁠ ⁠ A: I never really stopped getting take-out from local restaurants, at least once a week, since the pandemic began. Some of my favorites: @rasoirestaurantri, @chilangosri, @julianspvd, Caliente Mexican Grill, Jade Tree Asian Bistro, Taste of India, @trooppvd, and @pizzajpvd. I love local restaurants. Also, I’ve been taking full advantage of take-out handcrafted cocktails. I love stopping by the @courtlandclub to get to go cocktails and ice cream – a win, win. ⁠ ⁠ I made a couple of trips to @rhodycraft and @craftland to get locally made gifts for a couple drive-by showers. I chose to order online and do in-store pick-ups. And of course I shop the store at the @waterfireartscenter too! I’ve gotten quite a few books thanks to our curated collection by @symposiumbooks. https://instagr.am/p/CE-US83oSb0/

[amberhickey100-blog]

Evaluation: 

This unit focused on celebrating a community through a typographic campaign. D&AD offers realistic yet very thought provoking challenges and I think all the briefs were testing. I found this unit a struggle right from the start! I went into it with a really open mind but over the weeks became more confused by the brief. Coming up with a concrete idea is always a struggle. I have so many ideas which often clouds my judgement of which to actually choose to drive forward. I flick between ideas rather than choosing one specific one and driving it into a developed project. Saying this, pretty early on in the process I had the concept of my community being the hotel I work at and this never changed. The fact I work there is very personal and allows me to have a different perspective on the community rather than an outsider looking in. This led me to focus on celebrating the hotel community from a staff point of view because this is very often overlooked in hospitality. 

The design style of my project was one area I found particularly hard to steer. It went through so many changes, mainly because I didn’t settle on one focused idea. However, I knew I wanted to use type to communicate my idea throughout. My design choices were influenced by a range of typographic designers but one main one is Alan Kitching mainly. His type based projects are very similar to the contemporary style I developed my project into. I decided upon celebrating the hospitality environment through a campaign called StaffStories. Through a series of quotes from interviewees who work in hospitality this unique family can be celebrated. 

Overall I managed my time well particularly towards the end of the project. But, it is always a struggle to balance every project. To try and help with this, I made weekly timetables counting down the days until the deadline so I could visually organise my mind. This really helped but going forward to FMP I know the one area I can improve on is working consistently to produce a body of work. I don’t want to be in a rush at the end of a project, I want to develop my work as much as possible. In terms of feedback, I think I responded quite well. I always took notes and wrote down the feedback from the tutors in order to look up the necessary points to move my ideas forward. However, sometimes I struggled to understand the advice given to me but I think I need more confidence and less critical views in order to develop my own direction and stop stressing! 

My experimental process I really enjoyed despite the fact I found it hard to grasp an idea. I created a digital book just to show how the progression of my digital ideas as they visually look quite cool. Moving forward this is one area I really need to work out how to improve, starting with having more confidence. Overall, I think the idea for my project is really interesting and lovely but the outcome maybe doesn’t celebrate the community enough as it could. If I had more time, in an ideal world I would definitely revisit this because I really enjoyed the design process despite the idea struggles.

Solo D&AD Bibliography

https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/en-gb/blog/14-06-17-7-of-the-most-impactful-digital-campaigns-of-2017

https://www.monotype.com/fonts/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0011392104041808

https://www.behance.net/gallery/50406411/Letter-M-Development

https://www.behance.net/search?content=projects&sort=appreciations&time=week&featured_on_behance=true&search=type%20campaigns

https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/en-gb/blog/14-06-17-7-of-the-most-impactful-digital-campaigns-of-2017

https://www.behance.net/gallery/13853615/Demeter-corner-shops-POS

https://www.cornerhousepublications.org

https://www.citipostmail.co.uk/blog/typography-in-direct-mail-campaigns/

https://www.dandad.org/awards/new-blood/2017/monotype/3146/immigration-town/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/9813272/Dirty-tricks-in-allotment-wars.html

https://campaignsworthsharing.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/ambient-media-for-breast-cancer-awareness/

https://www.behance.net/search?content=projects&sort=appreciations&time=week&featured_on_behance=true&search=type%20campaigns

https://speckyboy.com/typography-print-ads/

https://www.adsoftheworld.com/collection/creative_typography_in_advertising#

https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org

https://www.dandad.org/awards/new-blood/2017/monotype/3209/fabric-of-the-nation/

http://ravensbournegraphicdesign.com/Year-2-Project-Something-in-Common-s

https://www.hoxtonminipress.com/collections/books/products/along-the-hackney-canal

https://www.yell.com/s/cafes+and+coffee+shops-hungerford-berkshire.html

https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/1-7-october-2018/mailchimp-rebrand-aims-to-unify-bran/

https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/monotype-graphic-design-130617

https://www.police.uk/hampshire/13HS01/crime/stats/

https://fleetstatistics.com/

https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/21-27-january-2019/islington-giving-gets-new-identity-show-its-about-positive-change/

https://curvehospitality.com/projects-gallery/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304608109_The_role_of_foreign_languages_in_hospitality_management

[dukeoa-blog]

Meet n' Greet

Meet this year's Duke Outpost team! These folks work hard to provide you with the best outdoor experience possible. Stop by and see us for gear rental, trip planning advice or general inquiries about Duke Outdoor Adventures! Hours of operation and more information about The Outpost can be found on our website.

Aateeb: Hey folks! My name is Aateeb and I am currently a first-year student at Duke from Richmond, VA. Though my plans change just about every week, I’m currently hoping to major in Public Policy and Religious Studies with a focus on the intersection of politics and religion-- some pretty serious stuff. Since childhood, the outdoors has always served as my outlet from all of those serious adult topics (cue weak laughter). Coming to Duke, I joined Outdoor Adventures to learn how to lead trips ranging from backcountry hiking to whitewater kayaking. If I’m not at the Outpost or in a kayak at Brodie pool, you can find me trying (and most likely failing) to study in my dorm common room. Before coming to Duke, I spent the majority of my time outdoors on the river fishing or kayaking, and I’ve been blessed to have had the chance to raft down Devil’s Canyon, Alaska and the Colorado River! I hope to continue to take advantage of my Outdoors Adventures lessons, however, and continue to broaden my horizons!

Carmen: My name is Carmen Hoyt and I am an aspiring Earth and Ocean Sciences major from Naples, Florida. As a freshman, I have become involved in the Marine Science and Conservation Leaders club, the Photography club, and am an Duke Outdoor Adventures trip leader in training. Growing up on the Gulf Coast of Florida has inspired my passion for the oceans and adventure. My favorite sea creature is the whale shark. I love to travel with my family and have been fortunate enough to experience 16 countries and counting, and I would love to go to Australia next. In my free time, I can be caught playing guitar, listening to music, or taking pictures. I also have a massive sweet tooth, love surfing and paddle boarding, and am always looking for the next concert to attend. After graduation, I would love to take a year and explore the U.S. by VW bus. One day, I hope to be able to combine my passions for traveling, the ocean, and photography into a career as a documentarian.

Claire: I became involved with Duke's Outdoor Adventures program at the beginning of my junior year and quickly fell in love! Now, only a year and a half later, I have become the student manager of The Outpost while also holding positions as a rock wall monitor, rock wall route setter, and trip leader. Being from central California, I have always been infatuated with the outdoors. I especially love camping, hiking, rock climbing and scuba diving. Recently, my passion for nature has taken me through the Caribbean, as I've worked with NOAA as part of a sea turtle research team. After graduating this May, I hope to continue doing biological field research before returning to graduate school. Outdoor Adventures has shown me the importance of experiencing things that are bigger than ourselves. Through this, I have developed a respect and affinity for what lies just off the beaten path. I hope to continue living this way in my life beyond Duke. 

Dan: My name is Dan Connolly and I am a freshman Pratt student from Southington, Connecticut, United States of America. Part of the reason I came to Duke was to get below the Mason-Dixon, and I could not be happier to have made it. Since getting here in August, I have continued my volleyball career (yes, men’s volleyball) by joining the Duke club team and have started a new formal interest in outdoor adventures by joining the OA Leadership Training Program. I function best when I’m busy (see, Pratt student), and will almost always be studying, practicing, cheering on the Blue Devils, or finding something to do with friends. Outdoor Adventures has been a great way to keep my schedule full while also keeping me relaxed and active. Though I’ve been on semi-guided SUP, hiking, and whitewater rafting trips before, I am looking forward to expanding my backcountry skills, teaching others, and exploring a new section of the country through Leadership Training. This program is full of opportunities, much like Duke itself, and taking advantage of all of them is why I chose to be here.

Lavanya: Hello! My name is Lavanya Bakshi, and I'm from Portland, Oregon. Currently a freshman here at Duke, I'm a Pratt student (at the moment) leaning towards Mechanical Engineering. I did plenty of research back in high school and hope to pursue more of it in Pratt throughout my undergraduate years. But my extracurriculars, as of now, encompass activities with Duke Diya and a Leadership Program with Outdoor Adventures. Having been a member of my high school's outdoor club and gained outdoor experience during the school breaks, I naturally gravitated towards the Leadership Program. I mountain biked over the summers up in Whistler, Canada, but I also have experience hiking and whitewater rafting. Here at Duke, I sincerely hope to pursue a vast array of adventure sports with both breadth and depth. My other interests include reading and tennis.

Lizzie: Hi! My name is Lizzie and I am a senior at Duke studying Environmental Science with a minor in Biology and a certificate in Marine Conservation and Leadership. I first realized I loved adventuring outdoors the summer before my freshman year at Duke, when I participated in the backpacking pre-orientation trip, PWILD. Since then, I’ve gone hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and rock climbing all over the world including in South Africa, Lesotho, Australia, Louisiana, and of course, here in North Carolina. I currently work at both the Outpost and the Duke Rock Wall. After graduation in the spring, I hope to work in outdoor education for several years before returning to graduate school to study ecology.

Noah: Hi y’all! My name is Noah and I am a first-year student at Duke from Long Island, NY. I’m planning on majoring in Biology and Environmental Science, and I’m hoping to go into Marine Science and Conservation. My outdoor excursions at Duke began with a 2-week backpacking trip through Pisgah National Forest as part of PWild (Duke’s Outdoor Adventure Pre-Orientation Program)! I’m also part of the Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader training program where I’m being trained to lead trips ranging from SUP to mountain biking. I can usually be found at the indoor climbing wall at the Duke gym several times during the week. If I’m not backpacking or climbing (or studying), I’m probably underwater working as a Divemaster. I’ve completed over 300 scuba dives and have been lucky enough to dive in a variety of incredible locales including Hawaii and the Red Sea. I’m also an avid trail runner and I love exploring the trails within the Duke Forest. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be hiking the John Muir Trail this summer!

The Fearless Leaders: 

Nathan McKinnis: Nathan joined the Duke staff in September, 2012 and serves as the Managing Director of Recreation Programs. He is a California native and studied at California State University Monterey Bay where he earned his Bachelor’s in Social and Behavioral Science with a minor in Outdoor Education and Recreation. He went on to study at Aurora University where he earned his Master’s Degree in Recreation Administration with a specialization in Outdoor Pursuits. Nathan is also an alumnus of the National Outdoor Leadership School. He has been a college outdoor program administrator in both Maryland and Texas. Nathan currently resides in Durham and enjoys exploring beautiful North Carolina.

Chris Hendricks: Chris joined the Duke staff in January, 2014 and serves as the Outdoor Adventures Coordinator. Chris is originally from Ohio where he received his bachelors in Recreation Management with a minor in business from Ohio University. He then went on to Kent State University to receive his MBA, while also working as the graduate assistant for their Outdoor Adventure program. After school Chris spent 90 days in the Rocky Mountains mountaineering, whitewater kayaking, climbing and canyoneering on a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School. Prior to joining the team at Duke Chris was a Coordinator for Iowa State University’s Outdoor Recreation Program.  After spending the majority of his life living in the Midwest, Chris is very excited to be here in North Carolina.

Kristin Gloystein: Kristin was born and raised in California. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon with a major in environmental studies, a minor in planning, public policy, and management and a certificate in outdoor leadership and education. Before moving to North Carolina Kristin worked at the University of  Oregon Student Recreation Center as a Rock Wall Facility Manager and Student Teacher for Outdoor Pursuits Program Classes. She is excited to explore all of the beauty and adventure that the east coast has to offer.