FLOC Outdoors - About Us

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.

Download the FLOC Outdoors brochure here (pdf).

OEC Staff

Click to enlarge

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.”

Tim Payne, Executive Director, For Love of Children

OEC Director:

Todd McKinney

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

Bio: Todd McKinney came on with FLOC as the Program Coordinator in the summer of 2008. Most recently, Todd attended Minnesota State University, Mankato where he finished his graduate studies with a M.S. in Experiential Education. Prior to that experience, Todd worked for the Sargent Center for Outdoor Education as a facilitator and Conference Program Assistant in New Hampshire. Born and raised in Indiana, Todd attended Anderson University where he completed his B.A. in Marketing, but later on realized that working outdoors with people of all ages was where he needed to be, so he started down a path of outdoor exploration that has landed him here with FLOC Outdoors. Todd is very excited about his new role as the Program Coordinator and hopes to bring new ideas to the OEC. Todd is thrilled with the possibilities the OEC offers and is looking forward to assisting in helping it grow.

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 36 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 his family's 12 acre estate along the Shenandoah River with his assorted gardens, pets, bicycles and boats. He has one child, Zachary, who is a graduate 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.

Kevin Hughes

Assistant Site and Sustainability Coordinator:

Shane Hovatter

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

Bio: Shane Hovatter joined FLOC OEC in the summer of 2007 as a part time Team Building Facilitator and in the summer of 2008 has joined full time as the Assistant Site and Sustainability Coordinator. While growing up in Ohio, Shane worked as a carpenter for a custom home builder from the age of twelve until he graduated from Hocking College with an AS in Eco-tourism and Adventure Travels. After College he worked in the cellular phone tower industry and as a Team building facilitator for the Boy Scouts of America. Shane then decided to move to West Virginia to work as a white water rafting guide for River Riders incorporated. While there for three years, Shane worked as a guide, lead team building facilitator, summer camp director, and CPR and First aid Instructor. Shane now resides with his dog in West Virginia on the Shenandoah Mountain.

Program Coordinator:

Katie Nolan,

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

Bio: Katie Nolan joined FLOC as a Senior Naturalist in 2009. Born and raised in Berryville, VA, Katie was thrilled to hear about a program such as the Outdoor Education Center so close to home. She graduated from James Madison University earning her B.S. in Exercise Science and Pre-Physical Therapy. Although Katie loves health and nutrition, her true passion lies in education and the outdoors. During college Katie worked as a ski/ snowboard instructor at Massanutten Ski Resort, as well kept very involved with the Adventure Program at JMU. After she graduated, Katie signed on to be the programming VISTA for the OEC in September of 2009. Completing her year of service, Katie is excited for her role as the OEC Assistant.

WV Promise VISTA:

Jacki Horn,

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

Bio: Jacki Horn joined FLOC as a Summer Camp Counselor in 2011. In the fall of 2010, she visited the OEC to teach at the Science Olympiad as an intern with the Student Conservation Association and Harpers Ferry National Park. During that time, she fell in love with the OEC's mission and location and was determined to get involved after her internship was over. After completing her undergraduate degree in Geology from University of Mary Washington in the spring of 2011, she applied for a position at FLOC. At the end of the summer, she became the OEC's VISTA for a year, now working with the Leaders In Action program at Harpers Ferry Middle School and continuing outreach efforts for the OEC. Jacki has always felt drawn to a career in teaching and the outdoors, having worked as a soccer coach, raft guide, and other educator positions, and hopes to join the Peace Corps in the future. While she currently resides in West Virginia, she has lived on a farm in western Loudoun County and in the mountains of Colorado.

Home About Us Contact Us Donate Directions 671 FLOC Way, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 (304) 725-0409