Year-Round Staff
Ali Lien
Venturing into our 15th year of Mountain Roots programming and camps, Ali is excited to help provide opportunities for hundreds / thousands of kids to get outside and involved in both the community and the natural world all year long. She's been an experiential educator for over 25 years with wilderness programs, camps, schools, colleges, challenge courses, and retreats all over the country!Â
Shannon Lally
Shannon Lally is a Certified North Carolina Environmental Educator deeply committed to fostering connections between people and the natural world. As Program Coordinator, Shannon contributes her experience and perspectives gained while working directly with local public schools in Western North Carolina to promote access for our next generation of stewards.
Outdoor Education Staff
Leslie Prescott
Leslie brings enthusiasm and a real love for outdoor education to her classes with students. She has a Master's Degree in Environmental Education and brings learning to life for students across WNC. Leslie brings years of experience in both Outdoor Education and as a classroom teacher, which helps provide a knowledge of working with children in a range of settings.
Stepahnie Francis
Originally from North Florida, Stephanie moved to Upstate South Carolina in 2013, and has been involved with outdoor education programming since then. She is a certified North Carolina Environmental Educator and an Upstate SC Master Naturalist. When not working with students, Stephanie enjoys helping her own two children discover their love for the world around them.
Carlton Burke
Carlton Burke is a naturalist and educator who operates Carolina Mountain Naturalists and presents a variety of wildlife and nature programs for various groups and organizations. Before joining the Mountain Roots team, Carlton was also on staff at the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville, NC as the Curator of Exhibits for more than 25 years. He also is one of the founding instructors of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate Program at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and enjoys playing the acoustic guitar and singing at various venues around western NC.Â
Allie Mariotte
Allie recently moved to Asheville after graduating from Appalachian State University in 2023. She loves being outdoors, some of her favorite outdoor hobbies are; rock climbing, swimming, surfing, and hiking. She hopes to share her love of the outdoors with the students she gets to work with.Â
Jonathan Gray
Jonathan has been teaching elementary-age students for the past 15 years in and outside of the classroom, in various cross-curricular combinations of music and science and ELA, and science and outdoor education. He has also been a touring musician for the past 30 years. When not teaching, he enjoys reading, etymology, and a nice Sunday crossword.
Eli Adams
Eli Adams is an experienced hiking guide, naturalist, and outdoor educator passionate about connecting people and children to the natural world. With years of experience leading hikes and environmental education programs in the Blue Ridge Mountains, they create engaging, hands-on experiences that inspire curiosity, stewardship, and adventure.
Deborah Davis
Deborah, a Western North Carolina native, now calls Brevard, NC, home. She spent 21 years in the classroom teaching science to 5th and 6th graders. Upon retirement, she shifted her focus to environmental education, blending her passion for teaching with her curiosity about the natural world.
Carolina Conway
Carolina's Bio Coming Soon...
Day Camp Staff
Lauryl Meile
Lauryl was first introduced to Mountain Roots through a pottery class that she was gifted to her in 2015. And she's been a part of the Mountain Roots team ever since--helping us to grow and strengthen our programs over the years, Lauryl has a true gift for working with young people. This is her 9th summer working at Mountain Roots Day Camp! She started as a Roots Crew member in middle school and is an integral part of the Camp leadership team.
Summer McCarthy
Summer is in her 9th summer working with Mountain Roots Day Camp. Summer was a participant in Mountain Roots Outdoor Education programs during middle school, and then joined our Roots Crew. She's been a part of every summer since. Summer connects with campers where they're at and has spent more time with our Maples group (ages 4-5) than any other staff member. Summer recently graduated with her nursing degree and she continues to make the world a better place!
Abigail Field
Abigail joined the Mountain Roots staff in 2020, while we were offering Mountain Roots Day Camp for essential workers around Transylvania / Henderson Counties. Abigail brings a smile to each day and connects with her campers to bring a smile to their faces too! When she's not hanging out with kids at Camp, Abigail works with horses and leads trail rides throughout the year.
Jake Holland
Jake got his start in working with children through Brevard Academy's after-school program. Jake is another staff member that received Mountain Roots Outdoor Education programs when he was a student. Now, several years later, Jake has joined the Day Camp team for his second summer as a Lead Counselor. He enjoys the simplicity and child-like opportunities to engage campers in fun and games all day long!
Logan Stubbs
Logan's connections with Mountain Roots go back to 2nd grade, when he was a participant in Mountain Roots Outdoor Education programs at school week in and week out. Logan joined Roots Crew in 2021, and joined the Mountain Roots Day Camp staff in 2022. He brings his interest in the outdoors to exploration times with campers ever since. Logan is joining the ranks of Lead Camp Counselor this year as he heads into his Senior year of High School.Â
Elizabeth (Liz) Snowdon
Liz first joined Mountain Roots as a Roots Crew member for Camp in 2022. She enjoys leading activities and playing games with the kids. Liz is an avid soccer player, and she brings fun, smiles, and creativity to Camp. This is Liz's second year as a Camp Counselor at Mountain Roots Day Camp.Â
Riley Holroyd
Riley is one of just 3 individuals who have been around for every summer of Mountain Roots Day Camp. Starting as a preschool camper in 2015, then a full day camper, onto Roots Crew, and now in their second summer as a Camp Counselor. Riley brings a lively sense of humor to each day. Their camp highlights are playing Gaga and 4-square with the campers and other staff. If there's a chance to play soccer or put on a bit of a play, Riley's game for that too.
Rose White
Rose White has been around the Mountain Roots community every year since 2015 as a participant in our Outdoor Education programs weekly at school, and into our Roots Crew program as a middle schooler. Rose is great at lending a hand and helping out the campers with a project or going on adventures in the woods. This is Rose's second summer as a Day Camp Counselor at Mountain Roots Day Camp.Â
Evie Brown
Evie joins the Day Camp staff team this summer after a decade of being a camper and Roots Crew member! Theater and singing are among Evie's interests. She's also big on family and being a big sister.
Lylah Posnock
Lylah was a preschool camper in 2015, this summer, she's joining the Camp Staff team after several summers on Roots Crew. When Lylah’s not on the soccer field, you’ll likely find her with a book in hand or strumming her guitar.
Sofie Refo
Sofie is excited to be joining the Camp Staff team after several years as a Roots Crew member. More about Sofie coming soon.Â
Riley Oosting
Riley joins the Day Camp staff team this summer after a decade of being a camper and Roots Crew member! Riley loves animals- especially their cat, Katniss!
Willow Austin
Willow joins our camp staff after a summer of Roots Crew. When Willow is not hanging with campers, she enjoys making music and horseback riding.
Board of Directors
- Becca Dinsdale
- Kane Farmer
- Kimberly Best
- Jinx Vidrine
- Virginia Watkins
- Melissa McGill
- ​Kylie Baker