The Triad’s Outdoor Adventurer
Anna Wheeler grew up with a real love for the outdoors. To her, the next adventure was always just around the corner. Paddling down the river and exploring new walking trails helped feed her love for the environment. The Triad is rich with rivers, state parks, and areas for outdoor recreation which is why Anna relocated and dedicates her work to this area. When it came time to choose a career, she selected an organization that is also dedicated to protecting and promoting rivers of the border region of Piedmont North Carolina and Virginia. Anna now works at the Dan River Basin Association as the North Carolina Programs Coordinator.
The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) believe that providing outdoor recreation is vital to the region’s growth. While their home office is located in Eden, NC they cover a 3,300-square-mile area.
“My job partially entails working with local municipalities, special groups (like hiking clubs), and the general public to make sure we are doing as much as we can for recreation in the Triad,” Anna said.
Even if she didn’t work there, Anna would be involved in many of DRBA’s programs. First Saturday outings for example take place the first Saturday of every month and are always new and exciting outdoor adventures.
“We’ve done a paddling trip on the Mayo, hiking expeditions, and right now we are going to a special creek that has geologic formations,” Anna explained. The creek is on private land so through this program members of the public are getting an experience they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
Anna is passionate about the impact she can make in the Triad. “The idea is, we can introduce people to a brand-new activity that might end up changing their lives and how they see the world.”
It’s amazing how you can be in the middle of downtown and then ten minutes later in a rural countryside which is awesome to me. I love both of those things and I love the convenience of having things so close but also knowing I can be a little bit remote if I want to.
NC Program Coordinator | Dan River Basin Association