Eva Vanek - Admissions Director, Where There Be Dragons

WTBD Guatemala, Andes and Amazon Semester Instructor
B.A. with honors in International Development, minor in Anthropology, McGill University.

Growing up canoeing and camping along the shores of the St. Lawrence River, Eva has always been a nomad at heart. After completing two gap years working as a divemaster in South East Asia and volunteering throughout Central America, Eva returned to Canada to complete her degree at McGill. Using the momentum from her time abroad, Eva became a key member of the McGill student government, started an organization working with recent Canadian immigrants and spearheaded various initiatives such as the University’s Annual Human rights Speaker series. In 2006, Eva moved to Costa Rica to work with Reto Juvenil Internacional and coordinated youth volunteer involvement in local grass root development programs.

Inspired by slow travel, Eva made her way home from Limones Panama(and eventually to Northern ON) by taking over 70 local buses, 5 boat trips, various bike rides and by tackling a number of well-earned miles by foot. From 2007-2009, Eva worked as the Far North/Niagara Project Coordinator for Katimavik (Canada’s national leading youth service organization). In this role, Eva supervised 6 communities, partnered with over 50 not-for-profit organizations and managed close to 200 youth volunteers on their intensive 9 month odyssey across Canada. In the summer of 2009, Eva found her way to Dragons where she led a Guatemala program and later, a couple Andes and Amazon Semesters. Presently, Eva is thrilled to be working as the Dragons Admissions Director and in her spare time enjoys volunteering at the Boulder homeless shelter, touring on her bike and running Pop Up Cafes.