Administrative Team

Anna Birch
President/Founder

has dedicated her entire adult life to the training, educational and adventure industry and is one of the founders of Adventure Links. With experiences as an executive facilitator, residential counselor, wilderness expedition guide, special education teacher, elementary school teacher, and program director, she contributes a contagious energy and insight toward designing innovative programming at Adventure Links.  She founded and has since grown her company on the belief that profound, high impact experiences are the driving force behind building confidence and driving commitment.  Over the last fifteen years, Anna has designed and delivered executive retreats, forum retreats, leadership summits, management workshops, and international learning events.  Anna’s programs have inspired teams, leaders, and entire companies to apply positive action and facilitate change from the inside out.   She happily resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband Austin and two daughters Audrey and Autumn.

Austin Birch
Director/Founder

was first inspired by the outdoors as a whitewater guide on the Penobscot River in Maine. It was here he met his wife Anna, and together they have pursued their dreams with Adventure Links. Austin gained experience with youth as an elementary school teacher, wilderness expedition guide and is termed by many as a "professional kid." With the lessons he learned from his students and the certainty that adventure and experiential education is the most effective way to make a difference in the lives of others, Austin has since dedicated his life to his company and its mission.

Maria Debonis
Outreach and Development Director

Maria DeBonis joined the Adventure Links team in May of 2012.  She studied Psychology at Sacred Heart University and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from Fordham University.  Originally from New York, Maria moved to Virginia in 2007 to work at The George Washington University as a Career Consultant.  Throughout undergraduate and graduate school Maria participated in many volunteer and outdoor activities.  Maria’s interest for the outdoors began in third grade when her teacher would take her class to Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Suffolk County, New York.  She has experience as a low and high ropes facilitator as well as a zip line instructor.  Maria loves working with individuals to help them realize and utilize their potential.  Outside of work, Maria enjoys rock climbing, hiking, volunteering and spending time with her family, friends and fiancé. 

Rachel Doody
Program Director

Joined the Adventure Links team in 2009 after 13 years with Hemlock Overlook Center for Experiential Education. Using her background in environmental education and degree from George Mason University, she creates programs to bring science curriculums outdoors. Rachel strives to share her experiences and knowledge of outdoor education and leadership with the next generation of outdoor leaders. Rachel enjoys rock climbing, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains with her Australian Cattle Dog, Skylar and has a goal to visit every U.S. National Park.

Mark Diedering
Summer Camp Director

Joined the Adventure Links team in 2011. Originally from New England, he studied Outdoor Education at the University of New Hampshire. As a dedicated outdoor educator, Mark has a diverse background of working with young people in adventure settings, including overnight experiential education centers and therapeutic residential programs for troubled teens. Mark's favorite activities are hiking, paddling, ultimate Frisbee, and Frisbee golf.

Adam Trautenberg
Group Program Manager

Adam first joined the Adventure Links team as a summer instructor in 2010, he came back to join us as an instructor this past fall and now serves as our Group Program Manager, working with schools and groups to plan adventurous, exciting, and fun programming.  A graduate from the University of Central Florida, Adam is happy to now call Northern Virginia home, in his free time Adam enjoys, hiking, paddling, surfing, and photography.