WILD GUYde Adventures, LLC

1047 Stuart St.

Harrisonburg, VA 22802

(540) 433-1637

“First, he should never show fear. Second, he should be courteous to all, and always give special attention to the weakest member in the party. Third, he should be witty, and able to make up a white lie if necessary on short notice, and tell it in a convincing manner. Fourth, he should know when and how to show authority, and, when the situation demands it, should be able to give a good scolding to whomsoever deserves it.”

(Conrad Kain, 1934,

On Being a Companionable Guide)

Who is this WILD GUYde?

Lester R. Zook is the Director of the Outdoor Ministry program at Eastern Mennonite University. He has been leading wilderness adventures and training camping leaders for 15 years, and he loves to take people outdoors!

He is a Wilderness First Responder, and is a certified member of the American Mountain Guides Association (Top Rope Site Manager).
He is also a member of the National Speleological Society (NSS), and has cave rescue training with the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC).
In the Spring of 2006, he released the 2^nd edition of CLIMBING ROCKingham County – a guidebook to local crags around Harrisonburg.
He climbs and backpacks frequently in Virginia and West Virginia, but has also clambered on rocks in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Vermont, New York, and California.
Lester has his B.A. in Health and Physical Education from Messiah College (1982), his M.Ed. from Temple University in Recreation and Leisure Studies (1985), and his Ed.D. from the University of Virginia in Higher Education Administration (1995).
He was featured in Harrisonburg’s weekly newsmagazine, ROCKTOWN, in March of 2006; take a look at http://www.rocktownweekly.com/rocktown/rock_archive_details.php?AID=291&page=profile
His interview by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine about “Children and Climbing” just appeared in the January 2008 issue (p. 28). See it at

http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/content/January-2008/Outdoor-Family-Guide-2008/

Lester’s birthday is in September, and his favorite colors are blue and green. Anything else you want to know . . ?

Certified Top Rope

Site Manager

· WILD GUYde Adventures LLC is incorporated in Virginia, and is fully insured for both general liability and major medical.

· WGA practices environmental stewardship and is a member of the Access Fund.

· WILD GUYde holds commercial-use permits with the George Washington National Forest, the Monongahela National Forest, and along Virginia’s Blue Ridge. We are an equal opportunity employer and provider.

· WGA has been a member of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce since 2006.