Meet Our Office
Throughout the year, the full-time staff members at the ARCC home base are shaping the adventures for the upcoming summer. This same group of former trip leaders, world travelers, marathon runners, and moms and dads, are in the office each day of the summer to provide the trip leaders, students and families with support. They are all united by their love of travel and adventure, and the desire to create positive experiences for young people.
Scott von Eschen, President
Scott has a diverse background in international travel, business, and adventure travel. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology as well as an MBA from Dartmouth College. He has lived in Spain, Japan and Guatemala. Scott’s passion for the wilderness is reflected in his love of backpacking, mountaineering and kayaking. He lives in Mill Valley, with his wife, Kristin, and their daughters, Campbell and Andie.
Lisa Halsted, Founder
Lisa founded ARCC in 1983 with the intention of offering adventure travel programs exclusively for young adults. Lisa gained her outdoor experience through participation in Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School and Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars. Lisa is a graduate of the Ethel Walker School and Trinity College; she holds Master’s Degree in Experiential Education from Mankato State University. She lives in Mill Valley with her husband, Scott, and their children, Katie, Sheldon, Heidi and Willie.
Ellery Fink, Program Director
Ellery’s extensive outdoor leadership background in Colorado, California, Utah, and Costa Rica brought her to ARCC in 2002. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a psychology degree. Ellery enjoys taking advantage of the surfing, biking and culinary opportunities in the Bay Area.
Zachary Dorman, Senior Regional Director
After leading trips in Colorado, Utah, Hawaii and Alaska, Zach joined ARCC full-time. He graduated from the University of Montana in Resource Conservation and Wilderness Studies and also studied in West Africa. When Zach’s not in the office, he spends his time paddling for waves and fishing the rivers of California.
Claire Diepenbrock, Senior Regional Director
Claire joins our full time staff after leading ARCC programs in Colorado, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Claire holds a degree in Mass Communications from UC Berkeley and is a graduate of the NOLS Rocky Mountain Semester. Claire’s passion include travel, photography, creative writing and big bowls of cereal.
Piper Christian, Senior Regional Director
Piper comes to ARCC with five years of experience organizing and leading trips throughout Latin America. A native of the Bay Area, she graduated from the University of California in San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology. Her passion for exploring the world was first sparked with a year of study in Spain.
Brian Johnson, Regional Director
After leading our Hawaii Service and Hawaii Blue Water trips, Brian joined the ARCC team full-time in 2009. A biology graduate from Duke University, Brian enjoys teaching and developing fun, informative curricula for kids. When not in the office, you can usually find Brian at one of the Bay Area’s local rock climbing spots or plotting his next Yosemite adventure.
Sarah Byron, Regional Director
Returning to ARCC after leading trips in Hawaii, Italy and Greece, Sarah joins our staff full-time bringing a strong passion for exploring the world. A graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sales & Promotion, Sarah has since worked in various regions of the United States with extensive travel in Australia and New Zealand. Her free time is spent running, enjoying the sunshine outdoors, and finding her favorite local cafe.
Bridget Tobin, Admissions Coordinator
Bridget’s love of travel was fueled by studying abroad in Italy and visiting 13 countries in seven months. She graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Her most recent adventure took her to Tanzania as a volunteer working with children.