The faces of Longacre Expeditions
 Directors and Owners
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 through-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, sea kayaking in Fiji, canyoneering in Spain, tele-skiing in the Colorado Rockies and backpacking over much of the Pacific Northwest and New England.
Nicole Eckman,RD., has been involved with the Longacre family since 2000. She is a graduate of Colorado State University and an Integrative Nutritionist, 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 reside in Fort Collins, Colorado and are the proud parents of future Expeditioners, Mckenzie, age 5 and Avery, age 2. The Eckman family enjoys spending their summers in Maine and Colorado with Longacre students and staff.
 Director of Financial Operations 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 18-year-old daughter, Amy, traveled with Longacre to Ecuador in 2008.
 Director of Marketing 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!
 Director of Staffing & Custom Programs
Maryjane McDowell
Longacre Expeditions welcomes Maryjane (MJ) aboard the “indoor” team this season! After spending six years as a backcountry guide in the Adirondacks, MJ joined Longacre as a trip leader in 2009 and was the New England Course Director in 2010. MJ will be back on the “outdoor” team this summer where she will be directing the new and exciting Wellness programs in Kauai and Costa Rica.
After experiencing the power of the wilderness first hand at a young age, MJ is dedicated bringing that empowering experience to today’s youth through the beauty and the challenge of the wilderness setting. A true lover of backpacking, MJ’s adventures include: skiing in the Rockies, kayaking expeditions on the North Shore, tagging the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, sailing in Acadia, and guiding in the Appalachians of Pennsylvania. She specializes in sunrise hikes, veganism, and is a master orchestrator of group sing-a-longs. MJ currently resides in Fort Collins, CO. When she is not bouldering or biking to a yoga class, she’s gearing up with an afternoon cup at the Bean Cycle Coffee Shop hiring the next great Longacre Leader.
As head of our Year-Round Custom Programs, MJ is excited to expand her adventures with Longacre and combine her passions for the planet and healthy living into the Wellness Programs. With a kind heart, and a knack for logistics, she’s the perfect fit for the Longacre Family. |
