Rob Barham

Paddling School Head Instructor
Adventure Travel Guide

Age: 34
Height/Weight: 6' 5" / 205 lbs
First Year Paddling: 1997
First Year at NOC: 1999
Favorite Boats: Dagger GT 8.1, Liquid Logic Jefe Grande, Jackson SuperStar
Favorite Rivers: Rio Los Valles, Panama

Fun Facts: Rob grew up in Mississippi but moved to the North Carolina mountains to attend graduate school in 1996. He learned to paddle with Heath "Raised on a Mayonnaise Farm" White while guiding rafts on the French Broad River during the summer of 1997. Rob started at NOC in spring of 1999 by joining the wait staff at Relia's Garden restaurant. Paddling during day and waiting tables at night afforded Rob the opportunity to hone his boating skills, so he began working in the Instruction department that same summer. In addition to paddling all over the United States, he leads Adventure Travel trips in Panama and has explored the rivers of Costa Rica and Ecuador.

A creek boater at heart, Rob leads our Advanced Creek classes in the spring and the fall Creek Week in Panama. He is currently a Head Instructor with NOC as well as an ACA Instructor Trainer. He is also a Wilderness Medicine Instructor for Landmark Learning/Wilderness Medical Institute. He loves mountain and road biking and is trying to figure out how to fly fish. Rob has a Bachelor's Degree in Music (Percussion) from the University of Southern Mississippi and has completed graduate work in Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University. An avid photographer, you'll see several of his photos in the NOC catalogs and website. Rob and his wife Joanne live with their dogs Jordan and Emma in a mountain cabin. Rob has been voted by the Paddling School staff as the most "Fired Up" instructor.

Certifications and Other Information

• Wilderness EMT
• ACA Kayak Instructor Trainer

Video/DVD

• "The Kayaker's Toolbox" 2006