Staff

Meet the Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure Program Staff!

Program Director

Doug Carty

• Associate Degree of Applied Science in Adventuresports, May 2001
• Bachelor’s Degree, General Studies, May 2006
• Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, Franklin Pierce  University, August 2001- July 2002
• Director of Campus Recreation, Franklin Pierce  University, July 2002- Present
• Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure Program Director, January 2009- Present
• Favorite Outdoor Activity: “I’d call it a three way split between kayaking, rock climbing and sailing”
• What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce? “Exploring the trail systems is always an adventure- you never know what you’ll find out there.”
• Favorite Backcountry Meal: “I’ve never been much of a cook and sometimes it’s the ease in making the meal that matters most after a long hike/paddle/bike ride.  So, although not the healthiest choice- I crack open a few Ramen noodle packages…”
• Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “I was hiking through the woods near my parent’s house with my yellow lab when I came into an overgrown field.  The saplings ahead were grouped in a circle shape.  When I approached a bull moose stood up right in front of me.  He had been keeping to the shade in the middle of all the saplings.  Thankfully my dog spooked him by barking otherwise I was sure I was going to end up with hooves imprinted on my chest.  There was the time I bumped into a 300 pound black bear while hiking the Franklin Pierce trail system- but the moose was frightful because he just only three feet in front of me and two feet taller.”
• Favorite quote: “I am the Lizard King, I can do anything.” -Jim Morrison

Student Guides

Jared Gardiner
Business Management, minor in Recreation Management, Class of 2011
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “Skiing”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “Mountain Biking”
Favorite backcountry meal: “Chili and Corn Bread is my favorite because it is easy to make and tastes so good.”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “I would have to say the most interesting experience I have ever had with wildlife was when I was in New Mexico. It was the second to last day of a 12-day trip. We were all feeling a little crazy and decided to chase after a small group of deer we spotted. We were camping in a very open area and the deer had retreated to a small group of trees not to far from the site. We surrounded the group of trees and began to approach the trees slowly. A younger crewmember named Justin, and I entered, we found ourselves in a small opening between the trees. We could hear the rumble of something approaching us from the right. Then a large deer came barreling through the branches. I tackled Justin out of the way before we both got trampled. Definitely an experience I will never forget.”
Favorite quote: “I like to reach higher places by taking narrow roads.”

Rebakka Miles
Double Majoring in Psychology and Environmental Science, Class of 2011
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “Hiking”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “Climbing Mount Monadnock, kayaking on Pearly Pond, Walking through the woods”
Favorite Backcountry Meal: “Rice and beans on a tortilla shell with salsa.”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “I was walking through my woods at home and I found my favorite spot out by the creek, I was just sitting on a fallen log, relaxing, and thinking, when I saw a little red fox.”
Favorite Quote: “As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." -Henry David Thoreau
Advice to incoming students: “The outdoors is place for thinking, relaxing, getting away, and to enjoy the beauty of the Earth. I suggest coming with us because it will help you to get to know people before you come to Franklin Pierce, it will help you relax and not feel as nervous or worried about starting a new chapter in your life. It will help to meet older students who remember what their first year felt like, and will be able to help you with questions you may have.”

Tyler Brown
Political Science, Class of 2010
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “Snowboarding”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “This past year I did a lot of kayaking and some sailing because my dorm was right across from the lake…some ice skating too.”
Favorite Backcountry Meal: “My favorite meal would have to be blueberry pancakes for breakfast then for dinner pasta and grill-prepped chicken hopefully with Alfredo sauce. For lunch I’m undecided but it should involve a Macintosh apple.”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “I don’t think it was interesting to me at the time but I saw a black bear at my Uncle’s camp in Jackman, Maine, when I was a freshman in high school. I was riding a bike that didn’t really have brakes and cresting a hill on a logging road. The bear was parked at the bottom. Unfortunately stopping wasn’t an option with out wiping out so I made a lot of noise and picked up some speed. The bear strolled out of the road and that’s my story.”
Favorite Quote:  “You can’t pick the weather but you can pick your attitude.”
Advice to incoming students: Why should you sign up for a Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure? You might be thinking it would be fun to get some good pictures, learn some neat stuff you’ll definitely use later and treat yourself to some of my great (effort) cooking. What you probably don’t realize is that you’ll also understand by the end of the trip the three things you need to succeed in college: good times with good friends, the value of not procrastinating, and a passion for whatever you’re doing. If you have any questions/comments/stories/concerns about my cooking I can be reached at: browntw@franklinpierce.edu. Hopefully we’re hanging out soon!

Logan Mack
Mass Communication with a concentration in film production Major, Graphic Design Minor, Class of 2011
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “Kayaking”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “My favorite thing to do on the Franklin Pierce campus is kayaking on Pearly Pond but in the winter Ii like trekking up the hill behind the Adventure Rec. Lounge in the mornings and skiing down.  Also hiking some of the trails around campus is a good break from school work.”
Favorite Backcountry Meal: “Beans and rice is one of the easier meals I have had that is filling and really good on long trails.”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “Not one of the most exciting stories, but I have run into many skunks while in the woods on campus.  One time I was walking through the woods and decided to walk off the trail, not the smartest idea.  When I rounded a tree I saw I skunk about 10 feet or less from me.  We both stopped, I looked into his little black eyes and saw his tail was up so I turned away slowly and walked the other way.  Didn't want take a chance of being sprayed…”
Favorite Quote:  "The Edge...there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over." -Hunter S. Thompson 
Advice to incoming students:  Hey Everyone!  My name is Logan and I am a Junior at Franklin Pierce.  I am a student who made the choice before my freshman year to go on the Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure.  It was the best decisions I have made since I’ve been at Franklin Pierce.  On the trip I was immediately tossed into a group of incoming freshmen with similar interests which helped me open up and meet new people.  The friends I made on my trip I am still friends with today.  I couldn't imagine not doing the trip.  Having to live in the same tent, cook meals together, and pretty much spend every waking moment with these new students helped me get to know them even better then I expected.  The trip itself is amazing, it lets your mind relax being in the woods and once you meet the people in your group you all have shared something that no one else coming to Franklin Pierce has experienced.” 

Korena Calder
Fine Arts, Class of 2010
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “Swimming”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “Kayaking and swimming on Pearly Pond and biking on trails and back roads around Rindge.”
Favorite Backcountry Meal:  “Apples with peanut butter and other fruits.”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “The most interesting non-domestic animal that I’ve seen while surrounded by nature would be the blue heron because they are unlike most birds in New England with their tall legs and large size. I remember sitting on the dock on Pearly Pond in the middle of the night, seeing the silhouette of a blue heron on a dock 30 feet away, and wondering why it was so close to human contact. Whenever I’m kayaking by them, they always fly away, so that experience increased my curiosity towards blue herons.”
Favorite Quotes:  “We had tossed aside all that was comfortable and predictable about our lives and hurled ourselves out into the cold.” -Chris Stewart. And, “You will look back at this in ten years and laugh.”
Advice to incoming students:  Welcome to the Franklin Pierce Adventure Recreation Power Trip of 2009. This program helps bring new students together through teamwork, understanding, and appreciation of the wilderness. The experiences you will gain take you away from the fast-paced lifestyle we live in and allow you to enjoy nature while being in the company of new faces. This trip may prove to be something completely out of character for you, but through this adventure, I hope you learn more about yourself and how to handle situations that arise in life.

Brandon Burton
Sports and Recreation Management, Class of 2011
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “at the moment cycling is my favorite, but it changes with the seasons.”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “I like to mountain bike, road bike, kayak on Pearly, hike Monadnock, snowboard, play Frisbee, attend the Adventure Rec. weekend trips, as well as any other outdoor activity that keeps me active.”
Favorite Backcountry Meal:  Since I'm a snacker of sorts, my favorite backcountry meal would be an assortment of nuts or trail mix (the one with M&M's and dried cranberries of course). The complex carbs and sugars help to keep me going for the long run, while the proteins in the nuts help me to rebuild what I lose on the hike. I'm also a fan of chocolate so the M&M's take care of my sweet tooth.”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods:  “The most interesting animal I have encountered was a hawk (most likely red-tailed) on my last hike up Monadnock. My friend and I we're on our last trip up of the day when we stopped and saw a hawk riding a thermal up the mountain. As we climbed higher two other hawks joined the first in what looked like the search for their next prey. Finally two more hawks joined the group (or cast?). This was the first time I noticed the beauty in their flight, as each bird rode the wind effortlessly. The hawks owned that late afternoon sky.
Favorite Quote:  “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Advice to incoming students:  Dear Class of 2013: there is no better way to start your college years than to get involved. The Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure Program allows for just that. This program offers you the opportunity to meet new people in an adventurous setting that promotes trust, team building, and the most important, the feeling of having completed something. Although we will not be climbing K2 or plunging down a 100 foot waterfall in a kayak, the terrain we encounter will satisfy the avid hiker or kayaker, while testing the comfort zone of the absolute novice. Whether you're looking for that end of summer trip to announce your independence from home or if you're just looking for a chance to meet new people before the semester starts, Franklin Pierce's Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure Program is the way to go.

Chelsea Ketchen
Business Management major, Marketing Minor , Class of 2011
Favorite Outdoor Activity: “Swimming”
What you like to do outdoors at Franklin Pierce: “Kayaking on Pearly Pond, hiking throughout the various trails on campus, helping build ski jumps throughout campus during winter.”
Favorite Backcountry Meal:  “Mexican rice and bean burritos… mmmmm, delicious!!”
Most interesting non-domestic animal spotted while out in the woods: “While kayaking down the Magalloway River, there was a baby moose (still large enough to do some potential damage if it didn't like us...) wading in the left side of the river. So we all paddled on the right side. Luckily it wasn't bothered by us, and we were able to get some great photos from it.”
Favorite Quotes: “At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.”  -Jean Houston
Advice to incoming students:  “First off let me say hi, my name is Chelsea and I am going to be a Junior here at Franklin Pierce. I myself went on a Pre-Orientation Wilderness Adventure trip my freshmen year and I loved it. From the trip I met some of my best friends here at school, which I can be seen with a few of them walking around campus because like some say: ‘we’re attached at the hip.’ Maybe it’s because we went camping with each other right off the bat so we all know what each other looks like and smells like without 5 days of showering (ha-ha). The fact of the matter is that these friends that I have made quickly have become my family here at school, and since we were on the trip together, we all know we like being outdoors so we bond on that and go on adventures with each other here on campus. Going on these trips is seriously like a mini vacation from everyday life; when was the last time you didn't have a cell phone so someone could get hold of you; the world has to function without you in it. It’s a great escape, something that I don't think people get enough of. This is a time when you get to clear your head of all problems, and you get to go out and meet new people and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. I couldn't imagine coming to school and not participating in this adventure, partially one of the reasons why I am a trip leader is because I can't get enough of these trips. I can not wait to meet all of you, and who knows perhaps we'll become ‘attached at the hips.’”