Our Team

Founder & Executive Director

Since 2005, Aimee has worked with adolescents in the outdoors in both prevention and therapeutic settings. She earned her Master of Science in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University in 2011. Aimee founded Cypress Adventures in April, 2015, in order to bring all that she has learned from her adult and youth teachers back to her hometown of Hartsville, South Carolina.   

Aimee began working in outdoor education in New Orleans through the Louisiana Office of State Parks' Outdoor Outreach Program, LOOP, where she was honored to work with youth of Northern Caribbean culture. After Hurricane Katrina, she relocated to Albuquerque where she worked with youth of Mexican, Mexican-American, and Navajo cultures in Cornstalk Institute's after-school program that was awarded New Mexico's best alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention program. This is the program that became her inspiration. Working as a field instructor for Second Nature Cascades (now Evoke Therapy Programs), in Bend, Oregon, Aimee gained confidence working with teenagers living with autism, ADHD, addiction, suicidal ideation and other learning and behavioral challenges in addition to gaining wilderness survival competencies. 

Aimee returned to her southeastern roots in 2009 and intensively studied the science behind adolescent cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development and community organizing while working in non-profit administration in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is now living her dream of fostering positive youth development in Hartsville, South Carolina.

Program Instructor

Te’Quan attended Thornwell Elementary where his passion for the violin was sparked. Since graduating from Hartsville High School in 2017, Te’Quan has been giving back to the Hartsville Community in a variety of ways.

He served as a youth delegate to help the City of Hartsville win All America City. Te’Quan and his fellow youth delegates hosted a celebration event in downtown Hartsville to celebrate the accomplishment. He has provided free violin lessons and strives to offer free violins for young children. “Playing the violin has changed my life for the better.” Te’Quan joined the Cypress Team in 2020 to serve as a mentor for students and to help lead a Youth Council for the organization.

Program Assistant

Michael first joined Cypress Adventures as a volunteer mentor for middle school students in the Leadership 101 course when he was a senior in high school. Today, Michael serves as a full time program assistant.

Grants Manager

Susie keeps us on task, systematic, organized and ensures we have the resources we need!

Program Instructor - Music

Jerome is a Coker University alumni, Music Director for Thomas Hart Academy and Music Instructor for Cypress Adventures. What brought Jerome back to Cypress was his passion to continue planting seeds into the same soil that helped him GROW into the person he is today.

Program Instructor - Art

Mary Cline is a full time Art Teacher at Hartsville High School and part-time art instructor for the Youth Leadership Program.