The faces of Longacre Expeditions

Directors Jason and Nicole Eckman
Jason Eckman first joined Longacre Expeditions in 1998. A graduate of University of Oregon, Jason has a diverse background in education, business and adventure travel. For over 18 years, he has been positively impacting the lives of young people as a wilderness guide, environmental educator, outdoor program director and high school teacher. His love for the outdoors has led him to the summit of Mt. Rainier, a thru-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, sea kayaking in Fiji, tele-skiing in the Colorado Rockies and backpacking over much of the Pacific Northwest and New England.

Nicole Eckman has been involved with the Longacre family since 2000. She is a graduate of Colorado State University and a Registered Dietitian, who practices a holistic approach to caring for the body and mind. Nicole believes in the true value of the Longacre Experience, where physical challenge, communication, and personal growth are highly emphasized. Nicole’s passion for world travel and outdoor adventure has led her to visit most of Europe, much of Central America, Fiji, Morocco, British Columbia and most of the 50 US. States. Jason and Nicole are the proud parents of future Expeditioners, Mckenzie, age 3, and Avery, 9 months. The Eckman family enjoys spending their summers in Maine with Longacre students and staff.

Chief Office Administrator Polly Hartzell
Polly brings a unique blend of education, travel, and life experiences to the Longacre mix. A graduate of Duke University and the University of Virginia, she uses her education and background in bookkeeping and office management to keep the office running like a well-oiled machine. As a mother of two teenage daughters, Polly understands the questions and concerns of our Longacre parents and is always available to chat.

Polly believes that introducing one’s children to the wonders of the world is among a parent’s most important responsibilities. As a child, she lived in Nepal and Liberia and traveled extensively with her family through much of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States. Her 16-year-old daughter, Amy, traveled with Longacre to Ecuador in 2008 and her 14-year-old, Sarah, looks forward to her first Longacre experience this summer.

Assistant Director Bert Roling
Bert's unquenchable love for the outdoors started when he was 3 years old rocketing down the ski slopes of eastern Pennsylvania and has been growing exponentially ever since. Whether surfing in Nova Scotia or snowboarding in the Rockies, Bert believes that traveling, meeting new people, and sharing amazing outdoor experiences with others are the most powerful means of learning. Bert began his Longacre career in the spring of 2007 and has led programs in Maine, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Costa Rica and Panama. His tremendous passion for biking, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, music, and photography explain his insatiable urge to share them with others. At Longacre HQ Bert puts his B.S. in Business Management to great use overseeing programming and marketing efforts. In the field Bert leads with creativity and enthusiasm for exciting new experiences. Bert is truly the essence of awesomeness!

Staffing Coordinator Sarah Ballard
Sarah Ballard's extensive background in Adventure Education began in her own backyard-the mountains of Eastern Kentucky where she played in the creek, camped in the woods and scampered up rocky hills. Inspired by her own adventures and the desire to share her experiences, she enlisted as a Longacre Trip Leader. Sarah has spent seven summers climbing, cycling, laughing, hiking, cooking, and learning with the youth and staff at Longacre all across the country. Her boundless energy, myriad of experiences, and contagious enthusiasm make her a natural leader. Sarah is a proponent of the power of learning in a small group setting. She believes that stepping out of the familiar, and taking on new challenges are the perfect vehicle for developing self-confidence, independence, and personal growth.