I have a heart for people, especially teenagers. I have been teaching for over 20 years, with most of it being in high school, though I now find myself loving teaching in college more than anything I could have ever imagined. I have a background in camp programming and management, ministry, acting, event planning, recreation, adventure programs, writing, counseling, and outdoor education. I have been a motivational speaker for children and teens at camps, retreats, and other events nationwide, and have experience speaking on the radio. As a mom of four and teacher of many, my experience with children and teens is extensive, as is my background in the field of education. Outdoors is my happy place. I have led numerous events and trips, both low key and adventurous in nature, and enjoy backpacking, camping, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, trail running, and hiking. I loved my years at summer camp and grew up through the ranks, from camper to assistant director. The camp experiences helped develop me as a mom, teacher, leader, coach, minister and all-around person. One of my most treasured experiences was an adult renewal Outward Bound course, backpacking in the Yosemite Wilderness.I spent 16 years working as a Firefighter / EMT - Shock Trauma. I was the youngest certified EMT in the state of VA in 1993, and quickly added numerous certifications and advanced training to my repertoire. I worked as an Adjunct Instructor for the state of Virginia for a couple of years, teaching Mass Casualty Incident Management. I was a red card HOTSHOT for the Department of Forestry, was a member of and subsequently led a disaster response team, and was HTR certified for rope rescue, swiftwater rescue, trench rescue, and vehicle extrication. While I have not worked in the emergency response industry in many years, I have frequently found those skills to be extremely beneficial when managing risks, preparing for and responding to crisis situations, and planning for the unexpected. I continue to maintain my basic certifications and assist whenever I can during local disasters. Virtually all of my favorite jobs/careers have centered around the outdoors, managing emergencies, teaching others, and ministering to people, especially teens. I have been working on a new book and continue to teach, lead trips in the outdoors, and bring order to chaos. I'm in a wonderful place in life right now teaching English at MC, writing, being mom and getting myself and others outside.