Duke University Outdoor Program
Program Director Guide Staff Trainer, Trip Leader
Durham, North Carolina, 1990-1994
Coordinated outdoor trips and programs for Duke University. Responsible for all aspects of operation including trip and program promotion, budget, and equipment purchase. Supervised executive board and outdoor guide staff. Designed and conducted staff training. Wrote trip leader and caving handbooks. Organized and led trips in rock climbing, caving, canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, and hang gliding. Responsible for the instruction and safety of 6-15 participants on each trip.
I was the director of the Duke University Outdoor Program for most of the time I was at Duke. At that time, the program was almost non-existent. I was able to build it up over the years that I was there. I got the university to increase the budget by tens of thousands of dollars, purchased and upgraded all of the climbing, boating, and backpacking gear, and implemented a rental gear program. I also started offering many more trips and outdoor skills seminars, and a much greater diversity of trips. Trips included day hikes, longer backpacking trips, caving, trips to the North Carolina coast, rock climbing, rafting and kayaking, and hang gliding at the dunes at Kitty Hawk. Educational seminars included navigation, stove repair, bike repair, paddling clinics, caving safety and rope work, and first aid. I am especially indebted to Frank McNutt, who was the Dean of Student Affairs and a former Outward Bound instructor. He supported the program, acted as my mentor, and provided me with a lot of my initial outdoor skills training.