NATWC Board of Directors
The NATWC Board of Directors is comprised of industry professionals that work in cooperation with one another to provide opportunity for the training of front-line wilderness staff. These Board Members volunteer their time, talents and professional abilities to maintain the direction of this non-profit organization and endeavor to meet the needs of the membership.
Presently NATWC does not employ an Executive Director as the Board of Directors is the driving force behind the organization. The Board meets regularly to address the needs of the membership and respond to issues within the industry that may impact NATWC. NATWC is proud to introduce these Board Members to you:
Steve Cockerham, Chairman of the Board
Steve Cockerham was elected to the position of Chairman in January of 2010. In addition to his responsibilities as editor for the NATWC Publication: Journal for Therapeutic Wilderness Camping Steve will be leading NATWC.
The NATWC Journal is a scholarly publication highlighting research, theoretical, information, and opinion articles related to wilderness therapy. Steve was instrumental in producing the NATWC National Wilderness Counselor Certification program and has regularly assisted with the NATWC annual conference since his admittance to the Board.
Steve is a tenured faculty member at East Tennessee State University and is a professor and teaches in the Human Development and Learning Department where he instructs counselors in courses such as Educational Psychology, Counseling Theory and Practice, and Internship. Steve also serves on the Board of the Southern Association for Human Services and edits their newsletter. Steve is also a member of the National Association of Human Services, the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and the Association of Experiential Education.
Steve has worked for many years with young people and their families who were struggling with life transitions. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he worked as a psychologist in a psychiatric facility, a psychology instructor in community colleges, and as director of several counseling programs, including wilderness programs. Steve is an avid environmentalist and his hobbies include hiking, backpacking, and gardening. Steve lives on an old farm in the Cherokee forest of Tennessee and loves to pick wild apples, berries, and morels with his family. Steve also enjoys while bird watching and listening to bluegrass. Email Steve.
Linda Tatsapaugh, Vice Chair 
Linda’s education includes MS in Child and Youth Care Administration from Nova SE University and a BA in Religion from Davidson College. Linda has served as Talisman Programs director since 2001. Previously, she worked at Stone Mountain School from 1991 to 2001. She is an instructor-trainer in First Aid, CPR, life guarding, and crisis management, and is a tree climbing facilitator. She thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1990 and has served on the board of the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps since 1999. Email Linda
Micah Wheat, Treasurer 
Micah Wheat has been in the field of Wilderness Therapy and employed with Aspen Education Group since 2002. Micah worked with at-risk adolescents at SUWS of the Carolinas, Adirondack Leadership Expedition before his present assignment at the Stone Mountain School in Black Mountain, NC as their Field Supervisor. Prior to his employment with Aspen, Micah was employed with two other non-profit organizations in Western NC and was an Adventure Staff for Camp Rockmont in Swannanoa, NC for four years.
Micah holds a Master Level Certification through the NATWC and is a Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Associate Instructor. Micah is presently pursuing a degree in Therapeutic Uses of the Wilderness with a minor in Wilderness Leadership from Prescott College. Micah is also a National Outdoor Leadership School graduate of a Spring Semester in the Rockies. Email Micah
Sandy Schmiedeknecht, Secretary 
Sandy Schmiedeknecht brings to NATWC a depth that is not only grounded in professional expertise but amazing life experiences. She has harnessed her sense of care for others into a focus for serving young people and families who are in the throws of angst, strife and emotional crisis. After a full career in nursing, Sandy was instrumental in the development of a therapeutic program and then serving as their Admissions Director, Marketing and Alumni Services. After a lengthy service, she designed, developed and implemented several unique aftercare service models which many therapeutic programs use today.
Sandy has been active in creating alumni services promoting connections for graduates and fundraising for those who are in need of financial support for aftercare. She extends beyond her professional contributions through her generous spirit of volunteerism as demonstrated by Sandy’s leadership with service organizations such as Rotary and numerous local community programs. Sandy is active in NATSAP, National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs serving on the Alumni, Public Policy and National Conference Committees. Her commitment to God reveals in her selflessness, passion for life and well being of others. Sandy is currently studying to complete her Masters Degree in Human Services. Email Sandy
Angie Senic Shockley 
Angie Senic Shockley has worked with at-risk children for most of her career. At Elkins Mountain School, a placement for adjudicated youth in West Virginia she served as English/Language Arts Teacher and Principal. During her time at EMS, she implemented several programs which gave the students opportunities to work with the local parks and recreation department and also provided them with options for repaying community service debts. It was during this experience that she realized the positive impact of having at-risk students working with their environments.
Angie left Elkins Mountain School to accept a position as Principal and later Executive Director of Alldredge Academy, a private wilderness program also located in WV. As principal, she gained NCACASI Accreditation for the academic phase of Alldredge Academy and in the process, learned a great deal about outdoor programming and how therapeutics and academics can work hand-in-hand to give students tremendous opportunities to grow personally and academically.
After many successful years at Alldredge, Angie accepted a position with Eckerd Youth Alternatives as Director of the Private Academies. Presently her responsibilities include admissions and marketing for the EYA Private Academies. She continues to work on program development within Eckerd, always looking for new opportunities for the company to grow in regard to outdoor treatment.
Angie is an individual affiliate and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping (NATWC) and Chair for the NATWC National Conference and is very active on all levels of the organization. She also holds a board seat on the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and serves on several committees with an emphasis on the effort to make our political leaders more aware of the positive outcomes associated with outdoor treatment.
Angie is very committed to continuing the development and improvement of outdoor treatment program models within the industry. Email Angie
Jason Brode 
Since the spring of 1999 Jason Brode has been the Director of Wilderness Services at the Diakon Wilderness Center in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. As their Director Jason oversees the day to day operations of the wilderness based adventure services at Diakon, which was formerly TresslerCare Wilderness Center. Jason also directs Diakon’s 31 Day Wilderness Challenge Program which is unique to their area. This WCP has a 50 foot climbing tower with high and low ropes challenge courses.
Prior to his employment with Diakon Jason gained two years director experience in developing and overseeing a weekend alternative treatment program for adjudicated delinquent and dependent male and female youths ages 13-18 and five years management experience in a year round treatment facility for adjudicated delinquent and dependent male youths ages 12-18 in PA. During this time Jason developed and implemented programming based on the Balanced Approach Restorative Justice principles of community protection, accountability, and competency development; interfaced with referral sources and actively communicated with other community based programs to link program treatment with other services; and was responsible for recruiting, training and new program development.
Jason is a cum laude graduate of Frostburg State University with a B.S. in Political Science. Email Jason
Holly Hunter 
Holly D. Hunter is owner of SafePassage Adolescent Services ®. SafePassage focuses on the transport of at-risk adolescents to short term and long term therapeutic schools, programs and facilities. Hunter has been transporting at-risk teens for more than a decade and holds a 100% success rate in delivering the students in her care to the therapeutic institution selected by their parents and guardians. Hunter has been Director and Owner of SafePassage since 2007 and throughout her career has personally assisted more than seven hundred families.
SafePassage is a division of Atlanta, GA based Hunter Investigations LLC, which specializes in the recovery of missing persons. Hunter Investigations is a full service investigative and security consulting agency that provides services for attorneys, government agencies, insurance firms and individuals across the country. Hunter Investigations is fully bonded and insured. Hunter holds the State of GA professional license number PDC002236. Email Holly
Jeff Holloway
Jeff began working with underprivileged kids during his sophomore year of college while attending Iowa State University. After working several years with this population Jeff transferred to the University of South Dakota where he received his BSW. After 9 years of working in a residential treatment program in various capacities including line staff, supervisor, and director; and Jeff received his MSW from the University of Iowa.
In 2002 Jeff moved to Georgia where he was able to utilize his diverse clinical and administrative skills as the Assistant Headmaster for Hidden Lake Academy and for three of those years serving in an additional position as the Executive Director of Ridge Creek, a therapeutic wilderness program. In this capacity Jeff was able to serve families in need while working with global industry professionals.
In mid-August 2009 Jeff took a position with the Aspen Education Group as their SE Regional Liaison. In his present position Jeff is reaching out to families and professionals across Georgia and Florida to assist in finding appropriate placements for their students. Jeff is married, has three children and together they are deeply rooted in their North Georgia community. Email Jeff
Rick McClintock
Rick “Tick” McClintock was an Executive Director of NATWC and has been an instrumental guiding force since its inception in 1995. During his service to NATWC Rick has initiated communications with other industry organizations and worked to enhance a best standard of practice and utilize the Power of Community to form bonds and cross promote therapeutic wilderness camping. Rick received his Masters in Counseling Guidance from West Virginia University in 1990 and has continued to reach out to the industry as well as the private sector as a consultant and therapist for various mental health providers.
Formerly Director of Pressley Ridge at Ohiopyle Rick retired from his position in 2006 to serve in his present capacity with NATWC. Rick was affiliated with the oldest outdoor wilderness camping program north of the Mason Dixon Line in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania for three decades. During Rick’s experience as a wilderness counselor some of his favorite adventures with his campers were nightly readings of Rudyard Kipling stories by the campfire. The Mongoose and Cobra story and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi were some of the camper’s favorites and from these stories he was given his nickname “Tick”. Through the adventures by the campfire Rick was able to utilize Kipling’s personification of animals and moralistic lessons as an additional therapeutic component for his campers.
Rick had the privilege of mentoring with Campbell Loughmiller, a pioneer in wilderness therapy. Rick spent many days taking a “ramble with Campbell” and has carried Campbell’s message of positive presence and the worth of a boy with him to this day. Rick has also had the unique experience of working with the Ministry of Justice of Portugal to open Portugal’s first Therapeutic Wilderness Camp at the Villa De Fernando.
Rick is co-founder of the Youghiogheny River Trout Cage Culture, a successful trout culture project in southwest Pennsylvania which is located near Rick’s home where he lives with his wife and three children. Email Rick
Honorary Board Members
Archie Buie, Chris Burns, Mark Hobbins, Reginal Jackson, Larry Olson, Bob Provencher, Ross Whitney, George Young and Shep Young