PEAK

PEAK is an acronym that stands for the Pursuit of Environmental Adventure and Knowledge. The PEAK Outdoor Program at Heathwood Hall consistently offers high-quality opportunities to individuals and groups of all ages in the following areas:

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

WILDERNESS EXPLORATION

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

PEAK Programs offer VALUES that . . .

Promote understanding and appreciation for the natural world

Develop and Enhance specific sets of outdoor/wilderness skills including those associated with paddling, climbing, mountain biking, backpacking, and Leave No Trace wilderness ethics

Encourage positive and meaningful decision-making, communication, problem-solving and teamwork/team building skills

Challenge and push beyond self-imposed circles of comfort and ability, and promote opportunity for healthy risk-taking

Instill feelings of confidence, qualities of leadership, and a willingness to compromise

Engage with the local community, encourage social responsibility, and improve the quality of life for others

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The PEAK Outdoor program was formally established in 1997 as an educational program associated with Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, SC, and is directed by Stan Wood who has been a faculty member at the school since 1983. Kristy Gutierrez serves as the Associate Director, and many other faculty members and part-time staff serve as instructors and facilitators for a variety of programs. Visit our staff page to meet the qualified individuals who work for PEAK.

Heathwood Hall is an independent, college preparatory school with an enrollment of 800 students in grades K3-12. Heathwood is affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. The school is located on 133 acres in Richland County and is bordered on the west by the Congaree River, and on the north, east and south by rich farmlands.

The campus is home to a one-acre pond, a large healthy stand of loblolly pine, a large field habitat, and a stretch of old growth deciduous trees. A large area of wetlands is located less than a mile from campus. Wildlife is abundant as the Heathwood campus provides a home for foxes, coyotes, deer, rabbits, bobcats, snakes, eagles, herons, hawks, owls and hundreds of other animal species. In addition to the pines, native plants include sycamore, maple, dogwood, wax myrtle, sweetgum, ash, and oak, among others. Such a rich setting provides a natural outdoor classroom for students and adults.

Programs offered through PEAK include curriculum-based formal outdoor education classes and ecology trips for students at all grade levels, multi-day adventure outings and expeditions, after-school adventure programs, programs and events for special interest and non-profit groups, corporate leadership training, and summer camps and expeditions.

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STAFF PROFILES

Stan Wood - Director
Stan has been a faculty member at Heathwood since 1983 and has served as Director of the PEAK program since 1997. He previously served as Athletic Director and was head coach of several varsity sports including boys basketball and track. Stan graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1983 with a degree in Physical Education, and is a 1986 and 1998 graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Stan was recognized by the Richland County Conservation District as Conservation Teacher-of-the-Year in 2001 and was awarded the Jim Gasque Award for Teaching Excellence in 2010. He is an experienced kayaker, mountain and road biker, backpacker, mountaineer, and adventure racer. Stan also has an advanced SCUBA certification and is a certified rescue diver.

Kristy Gutierrez - Associate Director
Kristy graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science in 2010. In college she was a student wilderness guide for the Outdoor Pursuits program at Wake. There she led a variety of trips around the Southeast and a couple of overseas backpacking trips to Sardinia, Italy and Mallorca, Spain. She also served as one of the race directors for the Trailblazers Isoseries Yuki Joy 15 hour Adventure Race in 2010. In addition to working with college students and adults, Kristy worked at Camp Seafarer in North Carolina for four summers teaching girls of all age athletic skills and teambuilding. Kristy is a Wilderness First Responder, SCUBA certified, and trained in ACA Swiftwater Rescue. She is a skillful mountain biker, backpacker, adventure racer, and kayaker.

Jim Morris - US Science Teacher and Senior Instructor
Jim has more than 25 years experience as an outdoor education instructor and trip leader, including 16 years experience with the North Carolina Outward Bound School, and has previously served as the director of outdoor education programs at three NAIS schools. Jim is in his tenth year as an Upper School Science teacher at Heathwood. He is an experienced paddler, having kayaked the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He is also an experienced ropes course facilitator, mountaineer and backpacker.

Elizabeth Airey - Instructor and Program Facilitator
Elizabeth began working with the PEAK program in February of 2007, teaching outdoor education classes in the Intermediate and Middle School. She has previously served as the full-time Associate Director of the PEAK Program, and her work with Heathwood students and PEAK programs over the past 3 years has been exemplary. Elizabeth graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in athletic training. Having grown up in the mountains of western North Carolina, she has an avid interest in the outdoors and is experienced in wilderness travel and Leave No Trace wilderness ethics. Elizabeth and her husband now live in Salem, NC and she serves as an instructor for PEAK on a part time basis.

Robert Horak Ph.D. - Guidance Counselor and Program Facilitator
Robert has been a school counselor since 1993 and is in his fifth year as counselor in the Intermediate and Middle School at Heathwood. He earned a Master of Education (M. Ed.) in 1993 and an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) in 1995 from the University of South Carolina Department of Educational Psychology. In 2003, He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of South Carolina, Department of Educational Psychology. Robert has received advanced training by Project Adventure as an Adventure-based Counselor and serves as a ropes course facilitator for several educational institutions. In addition to his published dissertation on Adventure-based Counseling, he is a published author in the Journal of Individual Psychology and a contributing author in the textbook: Culture & Counseling: New Approaches. Robert is an accomplished pianist, a pilot and holds an advanced diving certificate. He enjoys running, cycling, and riding motorcycles.

John Duhan - Band Director, Trip Facilitator
John began directing the band program and teaching music classes at Heathwood in the fall of 2003. Originally from western New York, John came to Columbia to study Music Education and Trombone Performance at USC. He can be found performing regularly with a wide variety of ensembles throughout Columbia and South Carolina. In addition to his passion for music, John is an enthusiastic outdoorsman. Recent summer adventures include summits on Half Dome and Mt. Whitney, and backpacking in the Grand and Zion canyons. John is also a very experienced and enthusiastic kayaker.

Brice Spires - Instructor and Program Facilitator
Brice is a 2009 Graduate of Heathwood Hall and is currently pursuing a degree in history at the University of South Carolina. He is a former PEAK Student Leader working with groups of all ages and sizes in PEAK’s many outdoor activities. Brice is an Eagle Scout, and in addition, has achieved the status of Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America’s national honor society. Brice is certified in Wilderness First Aid and is an experienced climber, backpacker, and freshwater fisherman.