about
OUR TEAM
Our mission is to guide you in
finding your True North, while providing you with ropes of love, faith, joy, encouragement, and inspiration.
~ Chessie, Cathy, and Greg
Family is everything
My name is Cathy Maziarz (maiden name Ervin) I am a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and godmother. I am blessed with family where love is at the core. Everything I am is because of the people that loved me.
Chessie
Greg and I have not been blessed with children yet ... but we have been blessed with a furbaby! Chessie is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He loves the farm we live on here in Virginia, where he is surrounded by cows, our 6 chickens, a pond, and an endless supply of sticks! He embraces outdoor adventure, fitness, and overall craziness with his partner in crime ... Cathy!
Stepping into the arena
I was recruited to play volleyball for Navy while in high school. I attended NAPS (Naval Academy Prep School) where I earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. This Arena I stepped into changed my life forever. Honor, courage, commitment, and never leave a man behind ... a few character traits the Navy instilled in me!
Taking my navy wings... to fly
After leaving the Navy, my wings took me to Nepal where I hiked to Mount Everest Base Camp. More amazing than the mountains were our guides, the Sherpas, and the Buddhists of Nepal and Tibet.
Calling to teach
After leaving the Navy, I earned a BS in Elementary Education. I was given an amazing opportunity to complete my student teaching in New Zealand. Many of my students were native Maoris ... they taught me to "Kia Kaha" (Be strong). It was the land and the people (and my homestay family) that nurtured my love for outdoor adventure ... taking me to new heights ... and it wasn't just the bungy jumping!
i was the student
Back from the Southern Hemisphere, I headed out west to the New Mexico. My heart led me to mission work with Americorp. I took my first job as a middle school math and science teacher at St. Bonaventure Indian and Mission school in Thoreau, NM. My Navajo students taught me more than I could have ever taught them. The beauty of the land, the language, and the people will forever stay in my heart.
Passions combined
Following in my father's footsteps, I started my own business. I watched my dad turn his passion for golf into his life-long work. He became a successful golf course architect.
I decided, that I too could turn my passion into my work, and so I developed EO-Challenge, Inc. (Education Outdoors Challenge). A program where I combined my two passions, teaching and outdoor adventured. This was the predecessor to True North where I combined a third passion ... faith.