About Pine Mountain Adventures

A brief look at the origins of Pine Mountain Adventures, our staff and their qualifications.

Pine Mountain Adventures was founded in 1996. Its origins come from collaboration between a group of individuals with expertise and experience in many fields including: Public and Corporate Leadership; Experiential Education; Counseling; Social Work; and Outdoor Leadership. As Pine Mountain Adventures has grown, it has worked to foster the beliefs and principals that it instills in its clients. Open Communication, Integrity, Trust, Teamwork, and Problem Solving Skills are an important part of Pine Mountain Adventures.

The original team of Cliff Grant, Tom Schrager (B.A.), Jon Rousseau (M.S.W.), Bob Daniel (M.C.), Diana Hardenstein (M.Ed.), and Frank Hardenstein (M.Ed.) are still a part of Pine Mountain Adventures along with many newer additions. Pine Mountain Adventures stays abreast of changes in the field through our staff memberships in organizations such as:

Additionally; we feel that it's vital for our staff members remain certified in, and kept up to date with, their specific areas of expertise. Some of our certifications include:

Meet Our Staff

Frank Hardenstein

Frank Hardenstein, owner of Pine Mountain Adventures, believes that experience is his greatest attribute. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors and holds graduate degrees in Administration and Behavioral Disorders. Frank enjoys learning and challenging himself with new activities. Through his pursuit of education he has been able to help Pine Mountain Adventures to evolve and stay in the forefront of changes affecting their clients. When time permits, Frank and his wife Diana spend time traveling and pursuing outdoor adventures.

Tom Schrager

Tom has spent his professional career working with adults and youth in an outdoor environment. He is an entrepreneur and has extensive experience as an corporate trainer. Tom has been working with Frank Hardenstein and Pine Mountain Adventures since 1996 and is presently introducing Pine Mountain Adventures to the Asheville, North Carolina region. Tom spends his winters living in Western North Carolina where he enjoys whitewater kayaking and mountain biking in the Appalachian Mountains with his dog, Ralphy.

Tom also makes his way annually to the Grand Canyon where he guides 14 day trips for Outdoors Unlimited Rafting Company. He also has traveled to Costa Rica and Ecuador to kayak and hopes to lead trips there in the future with Pine Mountain Adventures. Tom was born and raised in Chicago and went to Western Illinois University where he graduated with a degree in Recreation and Park Administration in 1991.

Bob Daniels

During his many years of experience in the counseling field, Bob has worked with adults and children alike. He is particularly adept at relating challenging experiences to growth within our clients. Bob constantly pursues new activities and experiences within his own life. In addition to his outdoor skills Bob is a carpenter, a volunteer fireman, a potter and a musician.

Jon Rousseau

Jon has extensive experience working with both youth and adults in the outdoors. His professional background has included earning a Master's Degree in Social Work, leading month long wilderness expedition programs with incarcerated male teenagers, creating his own experiential education business with a focus on youth at-risk in his community, managing two residential group homes for teens with mental health diagnosis, leading day-long environmental education and nature awareness programs for middle school age youth, and co-facilitating high ropes and group challenge courses for adults and corporate groups.

Jon has a passion for teaching and imparting the wisdom inherent in the ancient ways through the forms of primitive living skills, storytelling, group drumming, and ritual. When he is not where he feels most at home, the wilderness, he can be found doing carpentry and construction projects, traveling, practicing Aikido, gardening and keeping his bees.

Diana Hardenstein

Diana is first and foremost an excellent teacher. In addition to her career in Education, Diana has helped Frank with the operations of Pine Mountain Adventures. She has been conducting and developing teambuilding workshops for several years. Some of her recent workshops utilize her love and expertise in cooking. Diana grew up in Europe and is fluent in several languages. Diana pursues her interests in travel, cooking, and her pets whenever possible.

Other Valued Staff Members

Bobby Booker — Lead Instructor, School Program/Canoe Guide, First Responder and Volunteer Fireman

Riley Cathcart — School Instructor/River Guide, B.S. in Recreation

Leigh Thomas — Lead School Instructor, M.S.W.

Chris Reynolds — CMA, Lead Corporate Facilitator

Josh Blackwood — Webmaster, Photographer

Pine Mountain Adventures, LLC  ·  3584 Dallas Mill Road  ·  La Grange, Ga. 30241  ·  706.812.9189