History

In 1971, on 350 wooded acres in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, the Wilderness School was founded to help youth in Washington, DC by taking them out of the city to live and learn in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Over the years, the School was able to touch the lives of many inner city youth throughout the area until it closed in 1987.
 
In 1988, Nancy Van Scoyoc had a different vision for the site. In the same wooded corner of the earth, she created the Outdoor Education Center (OEC). The first year her staff brought 12 teenage boys from homeless shelters for an intensive three week wilderness camp. It was a tremendous success for everyone involved. The next year they added a camp session for girls.
 
Since then, the Outdoor Education Center has been giving many other children the opportunity for hands on learning through a variety of activities. Expert staff run day-long to week-long programs and summer camps where people of all ages are free to learn and grow. We have grown to include youth development, professional and organizational development, adventure programming, facility rental, and retreats and trainings - all serving clients' needs. 
 
In addition, we have created the Leaders in the Making program--a weekly after-school workshop for 10- to 14-year-old students that focuses on the environment, teamwork, leadership, community service, and reading and writing skills.  Students who are grade-level competent in reading will participate in enrichment and experiential activities designed to encourage them to become life-long learners.
Through community service projects and time spent at the Outdoor Education Center, students will improve their understanding of how urban and rural environments are interconnected; will learn about scientific processes in the natural world; and will discover positive ways in which their actions can impact their immediate and global environment.  Throughout the year, students will have experiences that promote growth and success.  Equally, they will strive towards becoming productive and effective leaders among their peers and in their communities.  The reading comprehension and writing component of our program will teach students to increase their reading and writing skills, as well as foster a love for both.

Each month focuses on a different theme, which is then explored during a four-week period in a variety of ways, including in-class discussions, field trips, guest speakers, and group projects.

Through team-building exercises, group discussions about the community, as well as community service projects, our Leaders learn to take positive risks in their lives, gain a greater sense of self, and improve their interpersonal skills. For more information, contact Allison Rawls at arawls@floc.org.

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Download the FLOC Outdoors brochure here (pdf).

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Staff & Bios

Executive Director, For Love of Children:

Tim Payne,

tpayne@floc.org, work: 202-349-3518

Bio: Tim Payne came to For Love of Children's Neighborhood Tutoring Program (NTP) as a work-study student tutor while studying political science and history at George Washington University. He joined the NTP staff full time in 2001 and became its Math Program Coordinator the next year, continuing to develop and test refinements to FLOC's copyrighted math curriculum. Later, as its program manager, Payne oversaw the continuing expansion of NTP through the External Partnership Program. Finally, Tim lead in the development and implementation of new educational programming for high school students seeking to pursue post-secondary education as FLOC’s director of programs. He has been FLOC’s executive director since January 2007. He is a native of Carroll County, and lives with his wife Rebecca and their new son Jackson, in Columbia, Maryland.

“Tim Payne is absolutely the right person at the right time to lead FLOC,” said FLOC Board President Ellen Roche. “Tim has been the force behind the ongoing success of FLOC’s signature “back-to-basics” tutoring initiative – the Neighborhood Tutoring Program – and his design of reliable metrics to corroborate the program’s success has earned FLOC near-continuous accolades for superior out-of-school time educational programming.”

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Program Coordinator:

Rob Stull,

rstull@floc.org, work: 304-725-0409

Bio: Rob Stull joined FLOC as the OEC Program Coordinator in 2006. Rob graduated from Frederick Community College with an A.S. in Park Management and Shepherd College with a BS in Environmental Studies. Rob originally grew up in the Harper’s Ferry area, where he spent his free time on the rivers and trails of the eastern panhandle. He has worked for River and Trail Outfitters as a guide and instructor as well as the West Virginia DNR as an Environmental Coordinator, where he implemented environmental education programs. Additionally, Rob taught environmental science and outdoor recreation at Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg , VA. Rob most recently worked for Canaan Valley Institute, a non profit based in WV committed to helping communities address water quality issues at a local level. Rob Currently lives in Thomas WV with his fiancé Shannon and their two dogs.

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Site and Sustainability Coordinator:

Kevin Hughes,

khughes@floc.org, work: 304-725-0409

Bio: Kevin C. Hughes is a professional kayaker, skier and international caver. He brings over 30 years of experience as an experiential educator and wilderness skills instructor coupled with 22 years as an electrician, plumber and HVAC mechanic. Kevin was born and raised in Washington D.C. and subsequently moved to the Shenandoah River in Jefferson County, WV. He studied Earth Sciences and Recreation at Shepherd University to better integrate environmental education with adventure recreation. Kevin joined the FLOC family in 2005 and has utilized his varied skills and talents to revitalize the OEC Team Development Course. He has enhanced the Environmental Education curriculum while developing sustainable energy learning stations. Kevin continues to implement Perma-culture methods of sustainable living in the forms of organic edible plant gardens, native plants, invasive species removal, water conservation techniques, and composting wastes. Kevin resides in Jefferson County on a 12 acre estate along the Shenandoah River with his mother, assorted gardens, pets and boats. He has one child, Zachary, who is a student of Clemson University. Kevin is pleased to have the opportunity to combine his understanding of the natural world with his love for educating humans to their greatest potentials.

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Administrative Coordinator:

Angela Cogle,

acogle@floc.org, work: 304-725-0409

Bio: Angela Cogle has been coordinating large and small group retreats, team development courses, adventure programming, and environmental education programs for the Outdoor Education Center since June 2005. Angela was born and raised in West Virginia, except for a brief period when she resided in Denver, Colorado. Angela attended Marshall University and Valley Technical Institute where she studied Business Office Administration and Management. Angela currently resides in Harpers Ferry with her husband, two daughters and dog. 

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LITM Program Coordinator:

Allison Rawls

Bio: Allison Rawls joined FLOC as the Summer Program Director in 2006 and transitioned into the Program Coordinator position for Leaders in the Making in August 2006. Allison graduated from Appalachian State University with B.A.'s in Psychology and Cultural Anthropology and was 
introduced to outdoor education with youth through work with the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta. Allison moved to DC after graduating from ASU and interned with the Center for Student Missions; a non-profit that teaches faith-based groups about urban issues.  Since her time at CSM, Allison has worked with the Southeast Whitehouse, a base for mentoring programs and a resource center for disadvantaged families, the Teen Learning Center of Good Shepherd Ministries, which also focuses on empowering and motivating youth through positive mentoring  relationships, and has worked as a facilitator at Hemlock Overlook Center for Experiential Education. Allison is excited about continuing to work with youth ages 10-14 from both DC and WV through leadership focused programming. Allison lives in Columbia Heights, loves learning how to play the banjo and bike riding in DC.

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Summer Camp Director:

Kelley Thompson

Bio: Kelley Thompson joined the FLOC staff in September 2007 as a Program Coordinator for Leaders in the Making and the Summer Program Director. An Atlanta native, Kelley graduated from Rhodes College with a BA in Political Science and Urban Studies. After college, Kelley taught outdoor education at Echo Hill Outdoor School in Worton, MD and at Experience Works in Cloudland, GA. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand for two years, teaching drama and working at an HIV/AIDS outreach organization. Kelley recently earned her MSW from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Kelley currently lives in Alexandria, VA and loves hiking, swimming, exploring other cultures and listening to music.

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Assistant Site & Sustainability Coordinator:

Shayne Safford

Bio: I joined the OEC in September of 2005 as the Assistant Site and Sustainability Coordinator. Born and raised in southern Maryland, I spent most of my life working on the Chesapeake Bay or in the construction field. However, I made a career change for a few years, obtained my Commercial Driver’s License and began driving a tractor trailer for a moving company. After a couple of years on the road, I decided to settle down by working as a nanny for two years. It was then I decided to move to West Virginia and become a professional Whitewater River Guide. While working on the river, I met Kevin Hughes and came to work at the For Love of Children. I have a ten year old daughter and recently married my wife, Angela, in October of 2007. My hobbies include whitewater kayaking/rafting and music. I enjoy drumming and collect hand drums from all over the world.

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