Faculty
OLP has a highly talented instructional staff with very muddy boots, including nationally certified instructor trainers, authors in the field, national champions, and international guides. They're an unusually committed crew--some have worked for the program for 20 years! All of our instructors combine a high skill level in their specialty areas with a passion for teaching in the outdoors. In awarding national accreditation to OLP, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) cited the outstanding commitment among its dozen part-time staff members as integral to the program's success. Your OLP group will spend the whole year with several core instructors as well as with specialists who share their expertise for specific periods of time. By spending time with them, you'll learn from their experience in the industry, their technical skills, as well as from their diverse teaching styles.
Austin Paulson, Coordinator, lives with his wife and two kids in Northfield, MA. He has worked as an instructor-trainer for the Outdoor Leadership Program for almost two decades. In addition to his work with OLP, Austin is the founding owner and chief guide for Peak Expeditions, an international high altitude mountain guiding business. He has guided more than 100 expeditions and projects worldwide including Alaska, Newfoundland, China, Russia, Africa, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Argentina. As a former consultant and instructor-trainer with Project Adventure, Inc. and High Five Adventure Learning, Austin also maintains a strong interest in Challenge Course facilitation and management. He is keenly interested in leadership development, risk management, and small business entrepreneurship. He maintains professional membership with the American Mountain Guides Association, Professional Climbing Instructors Association, and the Association for Experiential Education. Austin specializes in the technical skills of rock, ice and alpine climbing, backcountry skiing, wilderness travel, and hazardous terrain rescue.
Beth Sayers has worked as an instructor-trainer for OLP since 2002 specializing in group development, multi-modal backcountry travel, canoe and kayak instruction and challenge course programming. She began her outdoor adventure career in 1991 as a sea kayak guide in the San Juan Islands. Beth has many years of field experience as a wilderness guide, counselor and program supervisor working with adjudicated and troubled youth and youth living with type-1 diabetes. She has also worked as a ski patroller, challenge course trainer and builder, and paddling instructor. Beth has traveled throughout the US and internationally, accomplishing lengthy unsupported wilderness canoe and kayak expeditions and several high altitude mountaineering expeditions. She is a Leave No Trace Master Trainer, bringing a passion for wilderness ethics to her teaching. Beth has a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Education from Georgia College & State University where she worked as Coordinator of the Outdoor Education Center. She maintains professional membership with the Association for Challenge Course Technology, American Canoe Association and the Association for Experiential Education where she serves on the Northeast Regional Advisory Council. She lives in Greenfield with her spouse, dog and cat.
Evan Perkins of Bethlehem N.H. has been bringing his skills as a paddler, wilderness guide and counselor to the Outdoor Leadership Program, since 1997. As a certified canoe instructor trainer for the American Canoe Association he works to certify students in flat water and white water paddling. Evan has canoed and kayaked over 8000 miles through arctic and sub arctic North America. Along with many personal expeditions Evan has led four 60-80 day unsupported canoe expeditions into the most remote wilderness areas on the continent, the Arctic Barrens of Canada's Nunauut and Northwest Territories. Evan has also worked for many years as a wilderness therapy counselor for different organizations including the Connecticut Wilderness School and Summit Achievement of Stowe, M.E. Through his study of the natural world and wilderness survival skills, he brings his wealth of experience into the class room, helping students develop the core skills they need to be outdoor leaders.
Laurie Gullion of Deerfield, NH has completed 11 whitewater canoeing expeditions to Arctic and sub-Arctic rivers in the U.S., Canada, Norway, and Finland--paddling almost 10,000 miles in remote regions since 1980. An avid photographer, Laurie has authored seven books on canoeing, kayaking, Nordic and Alpine skiing, including the national text used by the American Canoe Association in its certification programs. Her most recent book, Canoeing: A Woman’s Guide, includes the reflections of more than 100 women, some of whom have been paddling for 60 years. She has taught OLP students since 1982, specializing in canoeing, skiing, and backcountry travel trips. She is a former coordinator of the Outdoor Leadership Program at Greenfield Community College and currently is a full time faculty member in Outdoor Education at the University of New Hampshire .
