Amy Sayle - Educator & Support Guide

Amy communicates astronomy to the public and tells stories about the stars under the Morehead Planetarium sky, at skywatching events, and at Bryce Canyon National Park’s annual astronomy festival. She has a PhD in epidemiology, and is a proud winner of the Bold-Faced Liars’ Showdown in Laurinburg for a tall tale about accidentally piloting a planetarium full of 4th graders into outer space. Amy is our resident “Astronomer” and you will likely meet her if you join one of Frog Hollow’s Paddle Under the Stars programs.

Anna Tal - Operations Support & Support Guide

Anna is an avid hiker, biker and lover of all things outside. If she's not planning her next hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail she's probably looking for rocks to climb, parks to explore and bike trails to cruise. Along with her work at Frog Hollow, Anna is a Spanish translator currently using her skills with Duke Medical. Her passion is being in nature and motivating others to do the same and experience the wonderful, therapeutic great outdoors.

Banks Dixon - Original Frog Hollowian :)

In 1998 with an answering machine, a handful of canoes, and a passion for the outdoors, Banks began a tiny side hustle he called Frog Hollow. Currently, along with operating Frog Hollow, Banks is the Outdoor Adventure Instructor at Insight Co-Learning in Durham NC, and works with the National Center for Outdoor Adventure Education planning and guiding backcountry expeditions. Banks has lived and breathed work in the outdoor industry since the late 80s. Examples of his past work include positions as the Adventure Director for Camp Frederick in OH, Stewardship Coordinator for the Triangle Land Conservancy, and slinging gear at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. He is an Eagle Scout, a trained American Canoe Association (ACA) Kayak Instructor, a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), NOLS Outdoor Educator, and served in the US Marine Corps. His personal travels include numerous challenging expeditions, highlights of these include thru-hiking the AT, summiting Mt. Rainier, traversing the Baja, trekking the Annapurna’s in Nepal, and kayaking the Grand Canyon. Banks is committed to helping people gain a greater respect and understanding of themselves, others, and their environment through outdoor adventure based experiences.

Ben Gaspar - Camp Coordinator, Guide, and Instructor

Ben Gaspar loves hanging out around a campfire, easy multi-pitch climbing, hiking with his wife Katie and his dog Moose along the Eno, and helping others find joy, knowledge, and connection through outdoor experiences. As an educator in Durham Public Schools for 12+ years he was the pioneer of programs such as Northern High School’s Outdoor Education and Adventure Eductation Classes, and Merrick Moore Elementary’s fourth grade Outdoor Education Class, programs that allow students to learn far outside the classroom walls. In 2014 he moved abroad to study and receive his Masters in Outdoor Education from the University of Edinburgh. Ben has worked with Frog Hollow since 2008, he now leads multiple summer camps including this years Terrain Explorers and The Peak & The Hollow.

Carly Stines - Outreach Support

As an endlessly curious and adventurous human, Carly has grown up with Frog Hollow starting out as a camper and working as a camp counselor and guide throughout high school. She is a UNCW graduate, and now works on an organic farm near the California coast where she plays and explores in the outdoors every day. She loves to be on the water, hiking, surfing, and practicing yoga. Her goal is to spread love and connection by helping people experience the natural world. ... and we occassionally are still able to pull her away from all her amazing pursuits to assist us, or give guidance on our outrach and admin needs :)

Chris Hendricks - Camp Coordinator, Guide, and Instructor

A native of Akron, Ohio, Chris earned his bachelor's degree in recreation management with a focus on outdoor recreation in 2009, and has since served as the Director of Outdoor Adventures for Duke University, Coordinator for Iowa State University’s Outdoor Recreation Program, and Outdoor Adventures Graduate Assistant at Kent State. Chris is an avid climber, paddler, cyclist and backpacker with extensive backcountry leadership experience and he is passionate about sharing his love for outdoor recreation with the rest of the world.

Colin Paine - Guide and Support Instructor

Bio Coming Soon

Elijah Halligan - Camp Counselor, Support Guide, and Instructor

Elijah Halliagan was born in Durham NC and has been on the water as long as he can remember. He loves any type of kayaking, skiing, and biking. Elijah started his journey working for Frog Hollow as a CIT when he was only 13 years old. He is currently living his life to the fullest.

Izzy Moffitt - Camp Counselor, Admin Support, and Guide

Izzy has lived in Durham most of her life and became involved with Frog Hollow through camps at age 10. She began work with Frog Hollow at 14 as a CIT/SIT. She has been swimming or playing in the Eno for as long as she can remember and spent her Jr Fall Semester at the Outdoor Academy in the southern Appalachians backpacking and rock-climbing. She is currently at Riverside High School and figuring out what is next in life. In her spare time, you'll find Izzy walking her dog (and sometimes her neighbor's) along various Eno River trails.

Janet Xiao - Support Guide

Janet is originally from Hong Kong and Beijing, and found a home in Durham through the beloved community of the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) where she worked for nearly a decade in relationship-based housing and economic justice. In her free time, you can find her taking her friends and two dogs, Molly and Friday, out paddling on local waterways -- Molly prefers the relative safety of the kayak, and Friday the thrill of the stand-up paddleboard! Janet enjoys marine animals (with a special love for manatees), scifi/fantasy, board games, video games, and hearty eating.

Jerry Yang - Lead Guide & Instructor

While you may see Jerry teaching an Intro to Kayak Class or leading a school group out on Falls or Jordan Lake, but his true passion is whitewater. Jerry lives a beautiful transient life in his Honda Element (The Adventure Toaster) paddling southeastern whitewater, and in-between his play time rotates through work with multiple outfitters in NC. If he’s not teaching, guiding or paddling for personal fun, Jerry is hard at work editing videos and creating content for his thousands of followers on social media. Check him out on YouTube, Tiktok, or Instagram as JerKayaks.

Jordan Ludwick - Lead Guide and Instructor

Jordan began his journey with us in 2016. He enjoys all things outdoors, especially biking and fly fishing. His full time job is with North Carolina State Parks working as a maintenance construction tech. He loves maintaining trails and managing our natural resources. Jordan’s passion for outdoor recreation comes from a childhood of boy scouts, camping, exploring, and just always being outside.

Julian Phelps - Lead Guide and Instructor

Julian began working at Frog Hollow in 2015. While residing in Hillsborough and working both there and Durham, he loves to explore the outdoors through paddling, nature walks, cycling, and swimming. While not outdoors, he is painting abstract nature and exhibiting his art on 3rd Friday’s in his studio, Phelps Phine Art, in downtown Durham.

Michael Feigin - Lead Guide & Instructor

Born in Hungary, grew up in Moscow (when it was in USSR), moved to Israel, and then to the US (for a three year work relocation, 20+ years ago). Growing up Michael went flat-water kayaking and camping with his parents often and learned early on that it doesn't matter how uncomfortable your sleeping arrangements are as long as it's outside, in the woods, and close to the water. He enjoys everything snow related and volunteers with Sugar Mountain Ski Patrol during winters. Since Raleigh is not the best place for skiing he finds kayaking the next closest thing. Michael came to Frog Hollow Outdoors after taking an Eno River trip ,and a River Kayak Fundamentals class. Michael is a graduate of Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering) and also has a MBA from NC State's Jenkins MBA Program. He speaks three languages - Russian, Hebrew, and English. He loves being outdoors and wants to share his passion with others. Michael lives in Raleigh area with his wife and kids. Usually, Michael is very quiet, but if you ask him where one can ski while avoiding the crowds, you wake him up.

Patrick O’Conner - First Aid/CPR Medical Trainer & Operations Support

BIO COMING SOON

Susan Stines - Operations Manager

BIO COMING SOON