I am a single grandmother, a liberal, a UU, content and happy, intensely curious, and independent...a freethinker with a thirst for knowledge. I love to explore, and I'm constantly on the lookout for opportunities to learn new things or improve on old ones. I often impersonate my 9-year-old-self, before I grew-up and became too self-conscious and inhibited by an adult brain.

I try to live fully in the present and experience life with the non-judgmental innocence of a child. Of course I often fail – but that’s how we learn, right?!? I prefer to be outdoors, especially in or on the sea—or in some wilderness. I love wildlife and value all living things, including bacteria, fungus, spiders, sharks and snakes. I am a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and although I graduated from James Monroe High School in 1972, I postponed my academic career for over 20 years! That’s right, I enrolled in college for the first time in 1993 at the age of 39...the same year my youngest child started college. Even at this late age, my academic journey has taken me around the world, traveling, studying and conducting research in the North America, Africa, Australia, Central America and the Caribbean.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am a traveler...got hooked on backpacking type travel in 1993 when started college as an older student. Many people in many places put me up during my travels as a student and later as a visiting professor. Now that I have my own "forever" home - just a little cottage on the river in an awesome little beach town - I'd like to pay it forward. I don't have much indoor space, but I do love to share it with fellow travelers. I also continue travel (being a life-long learner) and prefer staying with locals to hotels. Unfortunately, I still cannot afford B&Bs.

Interests

Animal Behavior, Dogs, Manatees, Dolphins, Nature, Wildlife, Learning, Swimming, Biking, SCUBA & Snorkeling:

My academic focus is on the emerging discipline of Conservation Behavior, combining my expertise in Animal Behavior, Teaching & Training, Marine Mammalogy, and Conservation Biology. I am an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University where I teach Marine Mammalogy, Conservation Behavior, Environmental Education, Writing for Science, and advise students working on graduate degrees in Environmental Education, Marine Biology, Coastal Zone Management, and Marine Environmental Science. My animal behavior work is focused on mammals, especially dogs, cats, dolphins, and manatees!

I co-founded Sirenian International in 1999, a small struggling non-profit with a global scope. I serve on the IUCN SSC Sirenia Specialist Group and the Belize National Manatee Working Group. I teach and train using positive, reinforcement methods and have built a reputation as “The Silent Trainer.” In 2010, I founded Ask Dr. Caryn About Animal Behavior & Training, a small business where I help dogs train their people. This business has grown into my latest, and most likely my last career!

I also maintain long-term affiliations with local, national, and international NGOs including the Earthwatch Institute, Hugh Parkey's Foundation for Marine Awareness & Education in Belize, and the National Conservation & Research Centre in Ghana.

This I Believe: Science and technology alone cannot reduce the impacts of an exponentially growing and over-consuming human population on our Mother Earth...changes in human behavior are essential. However, punishing undesired behavior has unpredictable results and generally slows progress towards a higher occurrence of desired behavior. By being observant, we can mark and reinforce desired behaviors thereby increasing the probability of the desired behavior occurring again!

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• wildlife
• writing
• education
• technology
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• backpacking
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• swimming
• biology
• business
• teaching
• science
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I like music (oldies, blues, jazz, alternative, folk), but mostly listen to NPR (WAMU) and Public Radio Podcasts. I spend a lot of time on the road and "read" about one Audible book per week. Currently "reading" Eckhart Tolle, Patricia McConnell, and Harper Lee. My favorite movies include Avatar, Top Gun, Fried Green Tomatoes, Secretariat, Phenomenon. I like dramas, romantic comedies, and historical fiction. My favorite books include The Shell Seekers, Prodigal Summer, How Dogs Love Us, 11-22-63, The Help, South of Broad, Heft.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spent the night on the top of Temple IV in Tikal.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation, fun, stories, and help with their dogs!

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Belize, United States