Jody Rice, Executive Officer
Jody Rice has been employed for a variety of youth and natural resource organizations that include the Boy Scouts of America from 1989 to 2000 (after achieving the highest level of attainment as Eagle Scout) and the Department of Natural Resources with a stay of 20 years as an Interpretive Park Ranger, Wildlife Specialist and Resource Manager.
Jody has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus in Outdoor Therapy and Counseling. He has been personally involved with wildlife conservation and experiential education for over 24 years working with youth camps as an area director, diversion based programming, outdoor program design, facilities/sites usage and resource management. With GA Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR), he was the statewide coordinator for Georgia Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) from its development in 2012 to 2018. As a certified Master Tree Climbing Instructor, Jody also started the on-rope tree climbing program that included training the trainer courses for Georgia DNR. He has also personally instructed individuals, groups and organizations in low/high challenge courses, wildlife conservation, hunter development, wilderness survival, shooting sports that includes NASP and Glock trainings, historical education, living history and outdoor adventure skills.
Jody has also consulted, designed and developed outdoor use facilities/sites that include tree climbing groves, campgrounds, historical and natural museums, hiking and canoeing trails, wildlife viewing blinds/areas, low challenge courses, team building, orienteering courses, archery and shooting ranges that include the Panola Mountain State Park Archery Range and resource management/interpretive educational plans.
Jody is a type 2 Firefighter. He has been part of resource management projects with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station that includes an ongoing project for entomology forestry impacts, Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, Georgia’s Audubon IBA program, non-native flora removal and river cane breaks and native grasslands restoration.
In addition, Jody has been a team member of the GA DNR Search and Rescue team for 11 years and has been involved with a variety of searches and response to multi-discipline incidents such as lost person searches, floods, tornadoes, blizzards and swift water rescue. He has trained personnel for lost person searches, wilderness survival, wilderness risk assessment and line-gun training for swift water and high angle access.
Jody collaborates with Hardigree Wildlife Sanctuary, Boy Scouts of America, Trail Life USA, American Heritage Girls, Oconee County Parks and Recreation and the Global Organization of Tree Climbers so others can have a meaningful experience in the outdoors.
Jody is married to his wonderful wife Naomi, has six children, a big “insane goober” Labrador and enjoys the outdoors with them all.
