Meet the Staff

Executive Director

Kent Orr

Kent Orr is the Executive Director for Rising Appalachia. He arrived in SE Ohio in 2012 to attend Hocking College's Ecotourism and Adventure Travel program. Since he has transferred to Ohio University and graduated with a Bachelors in their Recreation Studies Program. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Recreation Studies while working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant leading trips and expeditions for the University's outdoor skills classes. He has been involved in the summer camp world as a camper and then staff for the past 22 years. He has worked as a counselor and a trip and expedition director at summer camps in Texas, California, and Ohio. He has two cats, reads entirely too many fantasy novels, and is huge fan of the breakfast burrito.

Camp Director

Carrie Vieland

Carrie Vieland is an Athens native, raised by the woods in Shade, Ohio. She received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Outdoor Recreation and Education and minor in Environmental Studies. She is currently working on her master’s degree in Outdoor Education at Ohio University. Carrie discovered her love for outdoor education as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Rural Action Environmental Education program in 2012. Carrie then honed her skills as an educator at the Nuhop Center in Ashville, Ohio. She has also been a skills specialist for Ohio Military Teen Adventure Camps and spent 2 summers as a trip leader for the adventure travel company Backroads. Carrie is passionate about fostering connections to the natural world in children, rock climbing and exploring the wonders of our beautiful planet!

Camp Pup

Tina "Kitty" Musick

Tina is an Olde English Bulldogge. Born in late December she has spent the winter months exploring the farm and visiting Solid Ground School to be well acquainted to environments filled with excitement and children. She's a complete cuddle monster and scientifically proven to be too full of squish for existence. If you come out to camp, you can fully expect a nose boop while her tiny tail wiggles.