Staff

Ken Jacquot
President of Blue Ridge Learning Centers
ken@brlc.org

Ken is the owner of Blue Ridge Learning Centers, Inc. (BRLC) and oversees the operations of both Challenge Towers and BRLC Programs. He has been in the industry for more than 20 years and has been involved with the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) through a variety of roles which include serving on the Board of Directors, chairing the Government Relations Committee, and serving on the Universal/Accessible Committee. Ken designs new and innovative challenge courses and program elements as well as program outlines and activities. Prior to founding BRLC, Ken gained experience through his work with a variety of other organizations. During his time as a Ranger for the National Park Service, he researched and developed programs, provided security and emergency medicine, led groups, and provided maintenance to structures on Alcatraz Island and throughout the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. While Ken was a Traveling Team Leader with Pecos River Learning Centers, he worked around the country providing program facilitation, course setups, course repairs and staff training. Ken gained experience leading expedition programs for youth-at-risk on the Appalachian Trail for the Morgan School. With the school, he also taught experiential based climbing wall programs that engaged students in design, construction and management of their indoor climbing wall, and managed adventure based programs including canoeing and rock climbing. Ken has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education from Ohio State University. He is involved in various environmental conservation projects including being the President of the Todd Community Preservation Organization. Ken lives by a mountain stream in Todd near Boone, NC with his wife, Beth, son, Beckham, and daughter, Mairin. He enjoys cycling and playing with his family.

Nicole Hiegl
Office Manager
nicole@brlc.org

Nicole began working for BRLC in April 2010 in the role of Office Manager where she is responsible for a great deal of the operations of the organization. Her duties include, but are not limited to, handling office communication, equipment sales, accounts payable, and logistical oversight for the Challenge Towers building crew. Somewhere in the midst of her many tasks, she still enjoys getting out to our local course to facilitate on occasion! Nicole graduated Appalachian State University in 2002 with a BS in Geography and has lived and worked in the high country ever since. She has ample outdoor education experience with great organization like Trails Wilderness School and SUWS of the Carolinas. That outdoor education experience led her to work for Western Youth Network for 4 years where she served as Program Coordinator. During her time with WYN, Nicole helped implement an outdoor education curriculum for middle school age youth in the area, delivered lessons in local classrooms, and directed the local "Trips for Kids Chapter," a group who works to take kids mountain biking who would otherwise not even have access to a bike. In her free time Nicole enjoys cycling, mountain biking, and rock climbing with her husband Eric.

Carson Rivers
Program Director
carson@brlc.org

Carson joined Blue Ridge Learning Centers in the summer of 2010 as the Program Director and is responsible for managing all aspects of BRLC Programs. Prior to taking on his current role, he served BRLC in several part time roles including program facilitation, training delivery, and course component fabrication. Carson has been in the outdoor education field since 1996 and has worked for a wide variety of camps, outdoor education centers, university outdoor programs, challenge course providers, and the Boy Scouts. Most notably, Carson served for four years as the Program Director for River's Way Outdoor Adventure Center (an AEE accredited organization), and two years at Appalachian State University where he served on the administrative team of Outdoor Programs, and as an Adjunct Instructor in the Recreation Management department. Through his career, Carson has had the opportunity to work extensively with adults, college students, youth of all ages, and people with disabilities. Carson earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management: Outdoor Experiential Education and a Master’s Degree in College Student Development: College Outdoor Program Administration from Appalachian State University. He currently serves on the Southeast Regional Council of the Association for Experiential Education. He lives in downtown Boone, NC with his wife Christy and their dog Blue. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, a variety of other outdoor activities, spending time with his family, and watching football!