The Pinelands Adventures Team

Jeff Larson has been a pinelands resident for most of his adult life. He is an avid pickerel fisherman who has spent countless hours exploring the watersheds within the Pine Barrens. He has enjoyed many years of exploring the deepest, most remote areas of the woods and has a profound respect for the history and culture of the region. A professional musician and guitar teacher, Jeff released two albums with a pine barrens related theme that have been well received in the community and internationally.

After many years as an “unofficial” guide for his friends, family and colleagues, Pascal “Frenchy” Chavanon joined Pinelands Adventures in 2024 to share his enthusiasm for hiking, paddling and camping in the Jersey Pines. Frenchy’s career in recreation began when, at the age of 19, he left Paris to work at Club Med Resorts around the world, from Greece to the Mauritius Island. Pascal’s move to the United States in the 80’s, led to a 25-year career as a Winslow Township Police Officer. Frenchy has biked the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail and the Katy Trail in Missouri, America’s longest Rails-to-Trails project. Always ready to “turn the page” when it’s time, he’s excited about this new chapter as a driver and guide with Pinelands Adventures!

Alexis joined the team in 2024. She grew up frequently visiting the pinelands with her grandparents and has a deep appreciation for the area. She currently attends Rider University, working with her professor in a dendrochronolgy lab and helping run the Green Team. Her goal of one day practicing environmental law has led her to take up jobs that involve being submerged deep in the wilderness. When she isn’t launching guests or analyzing tree cores, you can find her reading in the library or coming up with ideas for new Green Team events.

Despite his growing up in a heavily industrialized part of the New York metropolitan area, outdoor adventures have been a constant in Eric’s life since childhood. His travels have taken him backpacking, hiking, cross-country skiing, sailing, and paddling in the wild spots of 36 U.S. States, as well as abroad. When not outside or driving for Pinelands Adventures, Eric teaches music at the university level and listens to his ever growing collection of 1,500 LPs and 4000 CDs on a vacuum tube powered HiFi he built for himself.

Jason Howell is an NJ Volunteer Master Naturalist, Wilderness First Responder, and is a volunteer with Mid-Atlantic Search and Rescue covering Southern New Jersey and The Pinelands National Reserve. Jason works full-time as Stewardship Coordinator with the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and helps us at Pinelands Adventures whenever he gets the opportunity.  Jason is an avid canoeist, hiker, and wilderness skills enthusiast.

Mike arrived at Pinelands Adventures in 2018 not a moment too soon. At the time we needed another driver and Mike hit the ground running knowing just what to do. You might find him wandering anywhere in the Pine Barrens when he’s not helping launch customers or regaling them with stories about the Pines. Be sure to ask him about his cats or his adventuring pup, Patches!

Some of Kevin’s earliest outdoor memories include family canoe trips down the various rivers of the Pines. An overnight trip down the Mullica is still a favorite birthday event for him! He turned his love of nature into a 30+ year long career in the zoological field, and now plans to reacquaint himself with the incredible wildlife of the area. Kevin has a personal goal of finding the biggest Timber Rattlesnake he can! As a driver, Kevin hopes to pass his enthusiasm on to everyone he meets.