Nathan sees himself as a woodsman:  part warrior, part farmer, part hunter.  He lives by a code of honor that he feels is missing in today’s modern society.  However, Nathan is not an anti-society extremist:  his daughters go to the public school up the road, his wife teaches at the local university, and Nathan spends a great deal of time educating children at various schools in the area.  Nathan drives a car, and even has a computer and phone to organize his programs and communicate with family and friends.  He believes strongly, however, in the importance of close contact with nature and an intimate connection to the circle of life.  He is concerned that many of the ancient skills which were crucial for most of human existence are now all but lost – the use of fire and fire building, knife skills, farming techniques, blacksmithing, and tanning hides – and hopes to pass some of these skills on to his students.  Nathan is unique in today’s world because he is able to maintain a balance between the principles, skills,  and knowledge of our predecessors and the innovations of our technologically savvy society.

   Even throughout her typical childhood in Tennesee, Holly Roark knew she wanted to live a simpler life out in the woods.  She used to tell her mother that she was born in the wrong time -- that she should have lived in the time before cars.  She met Nathan while studying at Appalachian State University when her class visited Turtle Island where Nathan was teaching a course about 18th century farming.  They knew very quickly that they both had a similar outlook on life, and it wasn’t long before they were building their first cabin together.  Today, Holly balances her professional life as a social worker and dance instructor with her chores on the homestead: sometimes doing ballet, other times skinning rabbits.

Jasmine lives in a group home with four other girls and a house mom in Miami, Florida.  At twelve years old, she has been with the CHARLEE Program now for 5 years.  She enjoys singing and playing with her pet bunny and is in the 6th grade at her local school.  Her journey to Nathan’s camp was her first experience in the wilderness outside of Miami.  

Tommy is returning to Nathan’s camp for the third summer in a row.  He has prospered at the camp in earlier years, previously earning the distinction of Honor Camper.  He loves the outdoors and says his experiences in North Carolina have completely changed his life.  He hopes to work at the Buffalo Cove Outdoor Education Center in the future.