R.A.D. Guides
R.A.D. Guides come from diverse backgrounds and have a ton of wisdom and passion about the outdoors to share with R.A.D. Campers. All R.A.D. Camps guides must complete a background check and attend "Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting" training. Each trip is led by a Wilderness First Responder (or higher) and professional lifeguard, and is accompanied by both male and female guides. As naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts, our guides teach experientially through free play and exploration and are well versed in "Leave No Trace" principles. You can rest assured knowing your child(ren) will be well cared for while they are having a blast in the wilderness with us! Learn more about each guide in their short biography below.
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Adam - Better known as Radam, started R.A.D. Camps in 2008 with Eric. He has an Associate of Arts Degree from Central Oregon Community College in Outdoor Leadership and is a certified Wilderness First Responder and professional Lifeguard. He loves to play in the woods, fish, hunt, ski, snowboard, and enjoys showing people how to have fun in these outdoor settings.
Adam is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys living out of his backpack and sleeping in his tent. He has traveled to remote locations in the Nepal Himalaya, the Sierra Nevada Range, the Rocky Mountains, Costa Rica and Panama, Molokai, the Oregon backcountry, and much of the Pacific Northwest. "I am dedicated to the mission of R.A.D. Camps and do my best daily to promote an outdoor active lifestyle. I truly enjoy facilitating such an amazing program and will continue offering high quality outdoor service, whether at R.A.D. Camps, coaching skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor, or enjoying free time in the backcountry. Thank you to all of my friends, family, and the Central Oregon community for such amazing support." |
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Eric - Eric started R.A.D. Camps in 2008 along with Adam. As well as running R.A.D. Camps, Eric also works as a Registered Nurse here in Bend. He spends as much time as possible exploring all of the Oregon mountains, seeking out the best possible camping spots (winter too!) and the best swimming lakes. Whether it’s summertime backpacking or wintertime snowboarding, he is always out exploring the Central Cascades, as well as numerous other mountain ranges throughout the country and the world.
Being far more comfortable running around in the mountains than running around town, Eric truly believes in an “outdoor healthy lifestyle” and believes this starts at a young age. Hence his belief and passion for R.A.D. Camps. Being able to introduce the freedom of the mountains and playing in the woods to others he feels, is the most rewarding experience one can have, and one he will continue to do. A huge thanks to all the friends, families, and to the community for all the support over the years in helping keep Central Oregon R.A.D.!!! |
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Tin - Q) What kind of flower lives on your face? (answer at the bottom)
Kristin (Tin) is an environmentalist and yogini. She holds a dual Bachelor of Science and Arts Degree and Bachelor of Arts in Ecology and Sustainability Studies Degree, as well as an Associate of Science Degree in Outdoor Leadership. Tin first fell in love with R.A.D. Camps in 2013 when she did her internship with us. Tin teaches AcroYoga, kids yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and is a certified Thai massage therapist. She is a seasoned traveler and spent much of the last 3 years studying abroad and traveling in Uganda, Australia, Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Canada, Knowing that our children are our future, she aims to arm kids with the skills they need to do more with less resources and to make the world and themselves happy and healthy. Tin loves corny jokes, plants, animals, AcroYoga, cooking, making jewelry, biking, reading, slack-lining, and going on hikes with her dog.. A) Tulips (two-lips) |
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Carson - Carson is a native Oregonian and has lived in Bend since 2003, working in numerous fields around Central Oregon. He has done everything from watershed restoration to aviation line technology, but it’s no secret he has found his passion in child development and the great outdoors.
In the winter months, Carson can be found up at Mt. Bachelor, working as a certified snowboard instructor or enjoying the snow himself when he’s not teaching. He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and Lifeguard. When Carson isn’t guiding he’s probably out leading one of his many outdoor passions - whether it's climbing, disc golf, photography, traveling, or his recently-found love of fly fishing. Carson’s child development work stems not only from being a snow-sports instructor but from his many years working with "Young Musicians and Artists", an arts and music program in Salem, Oregon. There, he taught and lead kids and teens in Visual Arts classes. Carson is a R.A.D. Camps alumnus and attended many trips when he was younger. If anyone knows Oregon’s secret spots and how to play in the outdoors like a kid, it’s him. |
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Jamie - Jamie was born and raised in beautiful Southern Oregon and moved to Bend two years ago. She is a bilingual teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching and working with kids. She has her Master’s in Education, Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and is licensed to teach ESOL, Spanish and Yoga. She is an outdoor education advocate and loves sharing her passion for nature with kids. She co-created an outdoor classroom and “Forest Friday” program at her last school which empowered students to take the concepts and skills they were learning and apply them outdoors.
When not teaching you can find Jamie exploring and playing outdoors. She loves backpacking, snowboarding, yoga, slack-lining, climbing, Acroyoga and has recently gotten into bird hunting and fishing. Jamie is an avid traveler who loves learning about new cultures. She lived abroad for a year in Australia, taught English for a year in Mexico and has been to Guatemala, New Zealand, China, and Ecuador. She wholeheartedly believes that connecting with nature is a vital component of holistic health. Children need ample time freely roaming outside; exploring, playing and strengthening their creativity skills. She is beyond excited to join R.A.D. Camps this summer, ready to share both her expertise and lively energy! “Think outside, no box required." |
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Kenzie Kenzie grew up in a rainy suburb of Portland. Growing up, her weekends were either spent at volleyball tournaments or camping with her family (mostly on the Oregon coast). Since her early teens, Kenzie knew she wanted to work in an environment focused on cultivating resilience among a pediatric population. As such, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Northern Arizona University, and then achieved her Master of Science in Family and Child Life at Central Washington University.
Throughout her education, Kenzie challenged herself to build a strong repertoire of skills necessary for working in youth advocacy. She served as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters, volunteered at a therapeutic horse-riding center, co-facilitated a bereavement group, and completed an official Child Life practicum abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. Kenzie also worked as a behavioral technician for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and until recently was volunteering under the Certified Child Life Specialist at the local hospital. Today, Kenzie works as a R.A.D. Camps guide, a part-time nanny, a barista, and is exploring opportunities for a hospital-based internship. This will be Kenzie’s first summer in Bend, OR and her first R.A.D. Camps experience. In preparation for this summer, Kenzie has become a certified Children’s Disaster Services Volunteer and is CPR certified. She is extremely excited to be involved in the invaluable experience of outdoor exploration, adventure, creativity, and unlimited fun that this camp offers. |
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Tory
After growing up in Wisconsin, I left for the west coast for my love of the mountains and to pursue a degree in biology at Willamette University. I became the president of the school’s ski and snowboard club my freshman year, leading trips to Mt. Hood every available weekend throughout senior year. Between school years I worked for a Yale medical research group in Maine for four summers. And after living in a lighthouse research station I returned to Oregon to finish my senior year graduating with honors in biology. Following my graduation I moved to Vermont to work at an organic veggie farm which taught me how invaluable hard work and physical dedication to a job is. Also, how to find the best veggies around! After that, that’s when I moved to Bend. Thinking I would only be here for a year, here I am 8 years later! I’ve worked at bachelor as a ski instructor every winter since and have gained my alpine L3 cert, children’s specialist 2 as well as my wilderness first responder. Outside of ski instructing, I’ve worked as an electrochemist, goat farmer/cheese maker, landscaper, water purity technician, and have worked at multiple kids outdoor camps, so I’ll take any curveball you can throw at me! I’m very excited to be working for RAD camps this summer and can’t wait to adventure with everyone! I’m an avid hiker (sometimes even with my cat Dumont!), backpacker, kayaker and definite skier; I can’t wait to share my passion for the outdoors with everyone!
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