BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard C. Balaban
Business Designer
London, England and Chestertown, MD
Rachel Skolnik Cogen
Associate Judge, District Court for Baltimore City
Baltimore, MD
Georgina Creamer
Special Education Teacher, Baltimore City School System
Baltimore, MD
Robert F. Creamer, Jr
Professor, Community College Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD
Julia M. Hassett
Owner, Hassett Willis Company
Washington, DC
Leslie S. Morgenthal
Community Volunteer
New York, NY
Mel S. Rapelyea, M.D.
Contract Radiologist
Betterton, MD
Peter P. Rice, Jr.
Executive Director, Echo Hill Outdoor School
Worton, Maryland
Terry V. Rice
Partner, Birks and Rice, CPA
Rockville, Maryland
directors
Peter Rice, Jr., Founder & Executive 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 mission. 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. He lives on Still Pond Neck with his wife, Libby. Their daughters Katie and Julie live nearby with their families; their son Petey currently devotes his career to both Echo Hill Camp and Echo Hill Outdoor School.
andrew R. Mccown, Associate director, Director of Summer Programs and Historic Fleet
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’s contributions to the school’s mission and methodology are instrumental to the programs’ effectiveness and success. As a senior trainer and educator, he mentors the full program staff in Echo Hill’s teaching standards and quality of programming. Andrew is one of the School’s USCG licensed captains. He regularly teaches Bay Studies, aquatic ecology and the heritage of the Chesapeake Bay. Andrew is a current and founding board member of the Chester River Association and 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 for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) awarded Andrew with the Robert Finton Outdoor Educator of the Year Award. Andrew also performs with the critically acclaimed folk group, Chesapeake Scenes. Andrew and his wife Betsy are caretakers of the school’s Nature Preserve.
Elizabeth Zelter McCown, Associate and Managing Director
Betsy 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 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. In September 2011, Betsy joined the Board of Trustees for The Gunston School in Centreville, Maryland. At the heart of Betsy’s direction is her ability to facilitate personal growth and development and build a sense of community. Growing up in rural western New York State instilled in her a keen appreciation for creative play in the natural environment. The McCown family enjoys living on the Outdoor School’s nature preserve and appreciates the unique setting and community they call home.
Deborah Grigsby, Assistant Director
Debbie joined Echo Hill Outdoor School in 1991. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia. Her love of the outdoors began as a young child spending cherished times with family in the countryside surrounding her Front Royal, Virginia, home. 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. Debbie lives with her charismatic son Benjamin, who spends all the free time he can on the Echo Hill campus.
Peter "Petey" P. Rice III, Assistant Director and USCG Captain
After graduating from Gettysburg College with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, Petey felt a strong desire to experience a bit more of the world. He farmed oysters in New York on Long Island Sound, then moved on to Course Designer/Supervisor for Tough Mudder in New York City, designing and building challenging obstacle course races all over the world. After a year with New York Road Runners, a company that organizes and supports marathons, Petey finally returned to the place he loves best – Kent County, Maryland – to help direct his family’s traditional summer camp, Echo Hill Camp. At that point he also joined the staff at Echo Hill Outdoor School as Assistant Director and licensed USCG Captain.
administrative support
Pat Bjorke, School Secretary/office manager
Pat grew up in eastern Pennsylvania in a family that valued time outdoors fishing, hunting, camping and skiing. She is still happiest digging in a garden, poking around shorelines in her kayak, and walking in a quiet snowfall at night. Curiosity about the human mind and psyche led her to a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. On a whim, she and her husband Clark wound up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland nearly 40 years ago and they have called it “home” ever since, raising three daughters and now three granddaughters on crabs and Old Bay seasoning.
Robin Whitney, Business Manager
Robin has been the Business Manager at Echo Hill Outdoor School since July 2013. Robin is a native New Yorker and her business career began in retail management in Macy’s Herald Square. She and her husband, Chris, left city life behind in 1990 and have never looked back.
After taking time off to raise their two young sons, Robin returned to work in an accounting firm, where she managed payrolls for clients in Maryland and Delaware. Her attention to detail and customer service provided the framework for strong professional relationships with all her clients. Robin handled Echo Hill Outdoor School’s payroll as well as accounting assistance and consulting when needed. She has now found her niche at Echo Hill and loves the non-profit world of outdoor education. Robin holds a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences and Psychology from Carnegie-Mellon University, and currently lives in Worton, Maryland with her husband and their orange tabby cat, Rocket J. Squirrel, aka Rocky.
program staff
James A. Stone, USCG Captain
Jim 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. Along with his wife Tracy, Jim owns and operates the award-winning bed and breakfast “The Inn at Mitchell House” in Tolchester, Maryland.
Our EHOS program staff help us inspire and educate students and adults on our Kent County campus and during experiences on the Chester River.