Teens Westward Bound 2024: TRIP 2!
Hello America, meet your 2024 Trip 2 counselors and directors! We are so excited to learn everything there is to know about you while traveling America this summer. For now, here is a little information about us. We cannot wait to see you on June 17th! Let's go west!!
Grant Deaton- Program Director
HELLO AMERICA! My name is Grant Deaton and this is my 24th year traveling across this amazing country with TWB. I started going out west in 1996 and 1997 as a participant. In 2001, I began traveling as a counselor and became the tour director in 2003. It was such an honor and privilege to take on the role of Program Director in 2016. Words cannot express how excited I am about traveling out west again this summer with such an incredible group of young people. We are going to have a blast!
I have worked as a Marketing teacher for 13 years in North Carolina. I enjoy golfing, mountain biking, backpacking, as well as hanging out with my family and dogs. My wife, Kitch, and I are extremely blessed to have four wonderful little boys in our lives. Connor (13 years old), Brandon (11 years old), Samuel (9 year old) and Grayson (5 years old) bring so much joy to our family. I will miss them so much this summer. Enjoying every minute of life is so important to me. Going out west every year with the best young people God has to offer is the best way to spend a summer in my mind. I can't wait to see you soon!! LET’S GO WEST!!!
Director- Vickie Wilkins (TWB 1906)- Site Managers
Are you ready to be living your BEST LIFE EVER on TWB TRIP 2, the summer of 2024? Jyeeeeeeeeesssssssss you are and the places you will go, the things we will do, and the friendships that will be formed will change your life forever!
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo excited to get to know you, your family, and lots of new friends. I’m so glad you were selected to be on TWB this summer. I’m The V, V, and Ms. Beautiful - my students at Southern Lee High School call me by that name. I’ve been traveling with the Deaton Clan for 35+ years! I traveled with Grant’s dad, Dennis, aka Big D, who had the dream to share the beauty of our great country and to allow participants to lead, grow, accept responsibilities, and make all these experiences flow and go. With Big D retiring a few years ago, Grant has continued his dad’s dream with his passion and love for America, as well as giving young people this unbelievable experience to find out more about who they are, and what their contributions will be to our great nation?
Sanford is my home and I graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and Campbell University. This is my 49th year teaching and presently I teach Health and PE, and 2 elective courses traveling off campus. I coach Girls and Boys Tennis, and I am the proud Bowling Coach of the Boys Bowling State Championship Team and Boys Individual Bowling State Champion for 2023! I also love working with SGA! I am an Usher Supervisor at UNC Chapel Hill in football, basketball, and other Olympic Sports. If you think I might be able to get you tickets, I am so sorry, I never have tickets!
The time for our adventures are drawing nigh, and please listen to your friends who have left their prints all over this beautiful nation, as well as touching the hearts of so many people along the way.
Please do not overpack, you have to carry that duffel.
Budget your money, there’s so much to see and sample in 23 days.
Give your best everyday to all of these adventures because this experience will not come again with these friends, this amazing staff, and our outstanding Master Motor Coach Driver.
V loves fruits, veggies, Fritos, peppermint gum, and I THANK YOU so much in advance for sharing!
“Getting to know new people and gaining new friends is one of life’s greatest pleasures. So conquer your fears, get out there, and get ready AMERICA because TWB TRIP 2 is coming your way” Here we go, I am sooooooooo excited to meet you!
Maddi Hatfield (TWB 2016-2) - Cooks
HEY TWB TRIP TWO!! First off- CONGRATULATIONS! You have no idea how lucky you are that you get to travel the great U.S.A this summer and get to participate in what will be the trip of a lifetime. I’m Maddi Hatfield and I am from Denver, NC! I went out west for the first time back in 2016, returned last year as a counselor (shout out 2023 Trip 2), and am SO excited to be going out west for a 3rd time this summer with you guys!! A little about me-I graduated from Francis Marion University in 2021 and I have been an ICU nurse for 3 years (now you know who to call if you need a band aid). I have been travel nursing this past year from Michigan, New Mexico, and all the way to Seattle, Washington! Fun facts about me- I am a beach bum at heart, I never say no to taking a road trip or any trip for that matter, I love to eat (ice cream sundaes are superior), live music is my favorite (looking forward to our nightly sing a longs), and I love a good book! Get ready TWB…You don’t know it yet, but your life is about to change forever for the better. P.s- get a journal, be yourself, be open to making new friends, and seeing new places. This trip will be what you make it! Here is to having the best summer EVER!! I can’t wait to meet you all!
Ashley Guffey (TWB 2016-2) - Blog / Research
Hi y'all! My name is Ashley and I can't WAIT to go out west with you. This will be my third time on TWB and my third time traveling with The One and Only Ms. V!!! I went as a participant in 2016 (with Maddi and V!) and it changed my life forever. I went as a counselor for the first time in 2022 after I graduated nursing school from Queen's University in Charlotte. Between my last trip and now I have started working on an Oncology/Medical-Surgical floor in Charlotte and I became a Clinical Nurse Supervisor this past winter on the same unit. Needless to say, my job is a big part of my life but I LOVE it. Being a nurse has always been my dream. I got married last September in my hometown of Gastonia, NC and it was the best day of my life! (Even though it's hard to beat the day we hike the Grand Canyon...that is the second best day of my life. Just wait and see.) My husband and I have and aussie-doodle named Oatmeal - he's my little fur baby who is the most spoiled dog I know. And that is my life in a nutshell - Nurse, Wife, and a Forever TWB Participant! I cannot wait to travel America with you all. God has blessed us beyond measure to have this kind of opportunity. Let's get this show on the road! (P.S. Pack a journal and make a note for EACH day. You won't regret having that in years to come.)
Griffin Law (TWB 2017-1)- Bus Cleaners / Bus Packers
Hey everyone! I am so stoked to be heading out west with you all this summer! Travel has been one of the most impactful parts of my life so far and I am excited to see the impact it has on all of you. I’m Griffin Law and I am from Raleigh, NC. I graduated from Appalachian State (Roll Neers) in 2023 and have been living and working as a Registered Behavior Technician in Black Mountain, NC before heading back to App State for my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I love spending time outside, whether backpacking, climbing, skiing, you name it, I’m there. I love to cook and eat food of all cuisines - especially Thai and Indian. And I love music, some of my favorites are Khruangbin, Jack Johnson, and Billy Strings - get ready for many jam sessions in the van! Once again, I am honored and excited to be your counselor and can’t wait to meet you all on June 19th. Come ready to go with the flow, laugh your butt off, and be your authentic self - you are here for a reason!
Justin Turner (TWB 2019-3)- Dishwashers / Bus Packers
What's up TWB, who’s ready to go west?!? I’m Justin, but you can call me basically anything and you’ll get my attention. I went out west in 2019, yes I know I’m old. This is my second year going out west as a counselor and I’m extremely excited to do it again! A little bit about me, I’m an Eagle Scout, I graduated from App State with a degree in Criminal Justice, I played lacrosse at App before retiring after 10 years playing the sport I love, my favorite place on TWB is Wyoming, and lastly I LOVE sports. Every day I check ESPN to see what happened last night, so if you want to know how your teams are doing, just ask me. I am extremely excited to meet all of you and travel out west! Make sure you get a good water bottle to fill up stickers with! I will see you all on June 17th!
Now we can't wait to meet YOU! See you SOON!
