Our Core Values
Joy
We live with appreciation for every moment and every person; joy permeates every aspect of what we do.
Spirit of Adventure
We pursue challenges with tenacity, wonder, and courage.
Community
We strive to build an environment of trust and collaboration in which each person is valued.
Acceptance
We appreciate diversity and we unconditionally respect the talents and needs of each individual.
Integrity
We show up in the world as reliable, complete, and authentic; remaining true to ourselves and our community, holding to our values regardless of circumstance.
Stewardship
We promote the use of sustainable practices for enjoying and engaging with the natural world.
Growth
We seek to expand our knowledge, understanding, and abilities through learning and experience.
Who We Are
Mike Carruth - Founder/Executive Director
Mike Carruth, fondly known as Mr. Mike by his students and campers, is the driving force behind The Adventure School. Mike’s love of the outdoors started when he was a kid and his grandfather taught him how to live off the land in the mountains outside of Tryon. His parents told him to “find what you love and do that.” This directive led him to rock climbing and whitewater paddling in his teens. He went on to guide climbing, caving, paddling, and backpacking trips as a young professional. He studied education and leadership and became a facilitator for leadership programs for children, teens, and adults. He now has over four decades of experience in education and outdoor leadership to draw on having served as a program director for a broad range of organizations in the southeast such as SOAR, Green River Preserve, Polk County Schools, and Tryon Presbyterian Church, among others. He is a Wilderness First Responder and has been certified for many years. His passion for outdoor adventure, human connectedness, and individual self-expression led him to build this program. Following his parents’ advice, he found something he loves and he’s living it. He has no plans of stopping. It’s who he is.
Mattie Carruth - Program Director/Lead Educator
As Mike’s daughter, Mattie’s early life was filled with adventure. Most of her childhood and teen years were spent outdoors in rivers and on rocks. She built on this foundation later in college, earning a B.A. in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education from Brevard College in 2010 and later an M.A. in Education focused on Experiential Education from Prescott College. She has held her Wilderness First Responder certification since 2009. Her professional career has included leading backpacking, rock climbing, and paddling trips in the southeast and pacific northwest. She has been an educator in both outdoor programs and traditional schools for the past 15 years, most recently as a 4th grade classroom teacher at an independent school in Seattle where she also led outdoor adventure camps in the summers. She is passionate about the process of learning and cultivating curiosity, self-efficacy, and a sense of community.