Program Director
With over 10 years of professional experience in Outdoor Education, Ben brings a myriad of knowledge to the True North administration. Ben started out his wilderness career working at summer camps until he graduated to working for Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He started out as an assistant instructor and over the years has worked his way up to management and administrative positions for numerous organizations. Ben is also a professional rock-climbing instructor and is certified by the American Mountain Guide Association.
As the Program Director, Ben oversees the day-to-day operations as well as mentors and supports the administrative staff. Ben (not so secretly) loves the opportunity to get back into the field and spend time with students.
In 2010, Ben’s canine companion Kelsey completed training and was certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Kelsey is now True North’s resident therapy dog and has the opportunity to visit all of the students that attend True North.
Throughout the years as a wilderness professional, Ben has taken a serious interest in wilderness medicine and has worked as an EMT and on Search and Rescue teams. He currently holds a Wilderness EMT and is a Wilderness First Responder Instructor for Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO) based in Conway, NH.
Ben has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Education and Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College in the beautiful high desert of Arizona.
When out of the office Ben enjoys hand percussion, spending time with his wife and dog, reading books about mountaineering, and taking on a good challenging outdoor experience, period. Ben takes his passion for outdoor activities wherever the wind (or violent thunderstorm) may blow him. Ben is a devoted backpacker, mountain biker, rock climber, sea-kayaker, snowboarder, and outdoor educator. His most recent undertaking has been to learn how to unicycle and take it to the mountains!