Directors

Echo Hill Outdoor School Directors are the core of our administrative staff. They are responsible for the planning, scheduling, and hiring as well as teaching classes. Their commitment to education and the environment sets the standard for the Echo Hill community.

Peter Paul Rice Jr., Director

Peter Rice spent his childhood at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC where his father was Head of the Lower School. During their summers, Mr. and Mrs. Rice, Sr., operated Echo Hill Camp on the Chesapeake Bay, a highly regarded recreational summer camp. Peter began directing the successful Quaker based summer camp in the 1970’s and continues to lead the camp with passion today. Peter’s graduate work in outdoor education at Indiana and Northern Illinois University gave him the background and desire to start a non-profit educational organization. He did so in 1972, when he founded Echo Hill Outdoor School. Peter’s original vision of children learning in the outdoors remains at the core of the School’s existence. Peter is the president of the Board and is the School’s Executive Director. He lives on Still Pond Neck with his wife, Libby, and their three children, Katie, Julie, and Peter III. Peter serves on the Board of Directors for the Sultana Project and the Arts at Still Pond Station. At the heart of Peter’s passion lies his commitment to provide positive experiences in the out of doors to the child within each of us.

Andrew R. McCown, Associate Director

Andrew R. McCown has worked with Echo Hill Outdoor School since 1977. He founded the School’s Summer Explore Trips program in 1979, and became an Associate Director in 1981. Andrew is one of the School’s USCG licensed captains, and he regularly teaches Bay Studies and ecology classes. Andrew is a current and founding board member of the Chester River Association and he served on the board of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy for twelve years. Captain Andy worked as an oysterman for eight winters as he captained the Skipjack Elsworth, one of the last of the great dredge boats of the Chesapeake. In 2008 the Maryland Association of Outdoor and Environmental Education (MAEOE) awarded Andrew with the Robert Finton Outdoor Educator of the Year Award. Andrew performs with the critically acclaimed folk group, Chesapeake Scenes. Andrew and his wife, Betsy, live at the school with their two sons, John Andrew and Parker.

Elizabeth Zelter McCown, Associate Director

Betsy McCown joined Echo Hill Outdoor School in 1979 after earning a B.S. in Community Leadership and Development from Springfield College, Springfield, MA. Diverse involvement in outdoor adventure pursuits during college coupled with many years at a recreational summer camp built her foundation for individual and group development. She became an Associate Director in 1981 and has continued to work full time ever since. Betsy oversees all daily operations, the professional training and development of personnel, coordinates the yearly calendar of attending schools and groups, and helps to maintain a high standard of quality programming. At the heart of Betsy’s direction is her ability to facilitate personal growth and development and build a sense of community. Betsy is an involved and devoted educator, counselor, and parent. Growing up in rural western New York State instilled in her a keen appreciation for creative play in the natural environment. Betsy, her husband, Captain Andy and their sons John Andrew and Parker enjoy living on the Outdoor School’s nature preserve and appreciate the unique setting and community they call home.

Deborah Grigsby, Assistant Director

Debbie Grigsby began teaching at Echo Hill Outdoor School in 1991 and became an Assistant Director in 1994. She attended the University of Virginia and has a B.A. in Environmental Science. Her love of the outdoors began as a young child spending cherished times with family in the countryside surrounding her Front Royal, Virginia, home. Debbie worked as a hydrologist in southern Florida for six years before deciding to direct her interest in the environment toward education. She actively directs Echo Hill’s challenge course, is one of the school’s USCG licensed captains, and teaches an array of classes. Debbie coordinates the weekly program schedule, assists with personnel and risk management, and is instrumental in helping to maintain our program standard in all areas. Deb and her charismatic son Benjamin are often seen maximizing activities in the great outdoors…. like puddle jumping !

John Mann, Assistant Director of Daily Operations and Residential Life

John is a native of Baltimore, MD. After successfully hiking the 2175 mile-long Appalachian Trail in August 2005, John joined Echo Hill’s fall teaching staff. He quickly became a skilled leader, instructor and counselor of youth. In March, 2007, John became a member of the 400th Anniversary Shallop Crew that traced John Smith’s voyage around the Chesapeake Bay. John incorporates cultural history and his love for the Chesapeake region in every aspect of his work. John loves to write and was recently published in the “ Delmarva Quarterly.” For the past three years, John has volunteered his time, energy, and love of basketball as the head coach of a Kent County Parks and Recreation youth basketball team.

James A. Stone, Assistant Director of Facility Care and Daily Operations
Senior Educator, USCG Captain

Jim graduated from Springfield College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Services. He joined the Outdoor School's full time teaching staff in 1997. As a senior educator and licensed USCG Captain, Jim frequently teaches Chesapeake Bay Studies aboard our lab vessels along with a variety of aquatic, history, and ecology classes.

Jim oversees facility care and maintenance. His fair and consistent leadership style sparks a strong work ethic in fellow staff. Along with his wife, Tracy, and children Zach and Tory, Jim owns and operates the award-winning bed and breakfast “The Inn at Mitchell House” in Tolchester, Maryland.

Program Staff

Echo Hill Outdoor School teachers and interns are highly qualified professionals and dedicated naturalists who communicate appreciation and respect for nature and people. Since 1972, hundreds of individuals have committed a part of their lives to teaching, counseling, and nurturing students at Echo Hill Outdoor School. Our instructors thrive on the flexibility and freedom of the School’s learning and teaching environment. They take initiative to design unique classes and they skillfully adapt their classes to incorporate teachable moments. Their energy and creativity engage students and make learning fun.

Qualifications
All teachers have experience working with children or working in the environmental field. These experienced outdoor leaders come from a variety of educational backgrounds including environmental studies, education, history, sociology, biology, and English. Our staff diversity adds variety and imagination to our classes and lesson planning. The School also employs interns each season to assist teachers and students. Echo Hill Outdoor School staff hold American Red Cross certification in First Aid and CPR. Additionally, a team of teachers with more advanced medical training oversees the health and safety of participants.

Current Staff

Tricia Biles, Education Coordinator
Tricia has been teaching and counseling in the field of outdoor education for over twelve years. Her B.S. in Education from Westfield State College coupled with extensive recreational summer camp experience make Trish a vital member of our professional team. Tricia’s role as teacher and educational coordinator is mission driven .She provides her coworkers and the program with a depth of leadership in professional training and development, program design and teaching methodology.

The local Kent County community is close to Tricia’s heart and work focus. She is the current chair of Kent County Public School’s Advisory Board, member of Worton Elementary School’s PTA and a community representative on the Kent County Local Management Board. As a certified American Red Cross CPR instructor, Tricia contributes to the local EMS services through annually training the Echo Hill Outdoor School staff and other local educators. Along with her husband, Nick and adventurous children Finneas Jack and Madeleine Connor Biles, Trish lives in Still Pond Maryland. The Biles family thrives on being outdoor enthusiasts, whether they are kayaking, swimming, cycling or simply collecting toads!

CORE TEACHERS

Emily Burkholder, Senior Educator
Emily’s love of the outdoors was first sparked by family vacations taken throughout the natural areas of the United States. While earning a B.A. in Psychology at Penn State she became involved leading groups of students on adventure and educational experiences outside. Her favorite place on the Echo Hill Outdoor School campus is the top of the 38-foot zipline platform and the beach after dark. Emily continues to assist with various Echo Hill projects and events while studying to become a registered nurse.

Christopher Ebner, Teacher
When Christopher was a teenager he was an Echo Hill 5-day summer canoe trip participant. After graduating from Saint Vincent College with a B.A. in English, Christopher spent 2 years working as a classroom teacher and 2 years working in the business world. Christopher has also enjoyed a number of other positions including an internship at the National Aquarium and work with WWII veterans. While working as a teacher/naturalist at Echo Hill, Christopher will be pursuing a Masters Degree in English.

Nathan Ferster, Teacher
Through a summer internship at Echo Hill Outdoor School Nathan completed a B.S. in Recreation Management from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. After graduation he decided to continue his work with the Outdoor School as a teacher and core staff member. He exudes a true connection and passion to this region. Nathan loves to spend his free time hunting and fishing.

Amanda Fry, Teacher
Working as an educator/animal caretaker at the Catoctin Zoo allowed Amanda to realize that teaching outdoor environmental education is just as rewarding or more so than being a student. Amanda grew up near Gettysburg, PA and earned a B.S. in Biology from Salisbury University. Besides her work at the zoo and EHOS, Amanda has also spent time in England working with children in the outdoors.

Bradley Hirsh, Teacher
Bradley is a native of Kent County, MD, who has returned after 15 years of experiencing the world beyond the Chester, the Sassafras, and the Chesapeake Bay. He lived in upstate New York, Delaware, New York City, Los Angeles, Reno, and the Berkshires in Western MA. He spent five years in public and independent school classrooms teaching English, ESL, remedial reading, and Honors English to middle and high school students. However, his passion for the outdoors drew him to Echo Hill Outdoor School where he could combine his love for teaching and the outdoors. In his travels, he discovered a passion for two ecosystems, the high desert and the Chesapeake Bay. When he is not teaching he enjoys reading, playing video games, watching movies and playing chess.

Tim Pilesky, Teacher
Tim has worked as a naturalist for the last five years in parks, museums, classrooms, and back country settings. When he isn’t busy cultivating curiosity and awe, he can often be found in local wetlands monitoring amphibian populations. He is an accomplished amateur astronomer and enjoys studying fungus, napping and flying kites. When he is not in Kent County, Tim resides in California, Maryland with his cat Chunk.

Listed below is a sampling of college affiliations of Echo Hill Outdoor School teachers and interns over the past five years.

Board of Directors

Richard C. Balaban
Director, Oliver Wyman
London, England

Robert Creamer
Professional Photographer, Artist in Residence- Smithsonian Institution
Baltimore, Maryland

Michael F. Hertz
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
Rockville, Maryland

Leslie Morgenthal
Community Volunteer
New York, New York

Mel S. Rapelyea, MD
Contract Radiologist
Cookeville, Tennessee

Peter P. Rice, Jr.
Executive Director, Echo Hill Outdoor School
Worton, Maryland

Terry V. Rice
Partner, Birks and Rice
Rockville, Maryland

Amelia Salzman
Environmental Policy Consultant
Bethesda, Maryland

Advisory Board

Chris Ball
Attorney
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Susan Creamer
Nurse
Baltimore, Maryland

Mark Freibaum
Director of Marketing, Pharmaceuticals
Queenstown, Maryland

Zane Carter
Independent Advertising Executive
Worton, Maryland

Ann Hedgepeth
Non-Profit Manager, Prince Theater
Still Pond, Maryland

Heidi Usilton Anthony
Educator, Radcliffe Creek School
Chestertown, Maryland

Sharon Littig
Independent Artist
Annapolis, Maryland

Robin Nicolls
Educator, Calvert School
Worton, Maryland

Will Merriken
Educator, Living Classrooms
Towson, Maryland

Varley S. Paul
Educator, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dwayne Grimes
Independent Artist
Baltimore, Maryland

Torr Howell
Contractor, Blue Heron Contractors
Chestertown, Maryland

Will Hughes
Educator, Kent County Parks and Recreation
Chestertown, Maryland

Joel Potter
Retired Educator
Worton, Maryland

Marcy Ference
Educator, St. Patricks
Washington, DC