Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing is proud of its long standing and excellent safety record. We are especially proud of our dedicated, highly trained staff for making this record possible, year after year.
All leaders and activity specialists must successfully complete a rigorous training and certification program, which is one of the longest in the industry. The average age of the staff is approximately 26, which is significantly above average for most summer program
Our Current Staff:
Gene Nervo: The owner and founder of Wilderness Adventure, retired Marine Colonel Gene Nervo is the heart and soul of this operation. As he regularly likes to remind his young staff he has the wisdom and the vision that is needed to bring life to a program as unique as Wilderness Adventure. We may all give him a hard time but he is the best bald boss anyone could ever ask for.
Patrick Boas: Our fearless leader and the new Director of Operations was passed the torch in December of 2008. Ever since he has kept all these crazy characters in order and made great progress developing the program and the company as a whole. Thank you for all your hard work, we love you Patrick!
Steve Allen: The notorious Director of Activities gets their title by being the best at every activity we offer. Steve is our rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and all other extreme sports expert. It’s hard being the best at everything, unless of course your Steve. Oh yeah and he also makes sure that all of our guests are safe on the zip line, high ropes, and low ropes elements. You can thank him after you get home safely.
Dan Lucas: Our Director of Base Camp is the hardest working guy on the payroll. Dan is in charge of all our building projects, maintaining our 500 acre property, and overseeing the care of our beautiful lawn and gardens. He is also a bike part connoisseur and mountain biking fanatic. Although he isn’t the first bald guy at Wilderness Adventure he’s certainly the friendliest. Right Colonel?
Julia Bradford: By far the most beautiful, important, and productive employee at Wilderness Adventure. Did I mention that she does all the content for the website? In charge of most marketing endeavors, group reservations, and making sure Colonel stays focused. These days she doesn’t get out of the office much. But when she does she takes part in her favorite sports snowboarding, rock climbing, trail running, and eating out.
Eric Albitz: Our Base Camp Store Manager and Summer youth program coordinator stays busy stocking our awesome camp store and organizing map packets and trips for our Summer Youth Program. He is a kayaking and canoeing enthusiast whose passion for the sport is contagious to those around him. Don’t let him fool you, he is surprisingly agile and can throw a frisbee like nobody’s business.
Diana Henderson: By far the most thoughtful member of our staff, Diana has been a crucial member of our year round staff. As one of our two amazing equipment barn managers, she puts her organizing and attention to details to use while maintaining all of our backpacks, tents, stoves, etc for our summer youth and year round programs. She is also a climbing enthusiast and instructor and makes beautiful jewelry you can buy in our store.
Chris Heslin: Our lovable bike barn manager in is charge of maintaining and repairing our fleet of Trek and Jamis mountain bikes and keeping all those little tiny parts organized. Chris is also one of our head leaders and facilitators for the year round group program and loves dirty jobs. If you thought Mike Rowe had an iron stomach, he’s got nothing on this guy. In 2009 he was the head leader and coordinator for our elite month long Wilderness Leadership Course.
Anthony Rose: Our studly Assistant Director of Activities helps maintain all of the elements on our property while still working with the group program full time. He also is a rock climbing, mountain biking, and zip line instructor and TJS expert. In 2008 he co-led our elite month long Wilderness Leadership Course.
John Nervo: John Nervo fighting pirates with a Samurai sword! Just ask any camper that’s come through the program in the last 3 years about John Nervo and his amazing feats and you will get an earful. Our own outdoor living skills guru can catch a fish, build a fire, and cook it without a lighter, a fishing rod, or any other modern materials. He is handy to have around in a true wilderness scenario.
Sean Bryant: Sean joined the WAEL team in the Spring of 2009 and quickly became one of our best leaders. His two passions rock climbing and spending money go well together, especially for the gear companies. Sean has now joined us year round (for our great discounts) and is one of our most valued group program and summer leaders.
Nicole Fenner: Nicole began working at Wilderness Adventure while studying as an English major at Roanoke College in the summer of 2008. We had our doubts about this girly girl but she has proved to be a tough cookie both on the trail and off. She led the WLC summer 2009 and after graduating she joined us as a full time staff member. She recently took over as our office manager and summer program administrator, so if you give us a call you’ll probablly get to chat with her.
