CURRENT MISSION

I am hoping to travel as much as possible this winter 2012/13. I am currently planning a two month trip to Europe that will start in Spain and take me to who-knows-where. I'm looking for cool people and great ideas on places to see.

ABOUT ME

I am an outdoor educator and expedition leader for YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island. During the spring and fall seasons, I work with 5th through 8th graders teaching courses in outdoor education and challenge course facilitation. During the summer I switch over to a kayak guide and expedition leader for teens attending summer camp at Orkila.

In the winters I try to find new adventures. I have spent some time traveling around the United States, I've delivered pizzas in downtown Seattle. Now, I'm planning on going abroad and traveling in Europe.

PHILOSOPHY

I live my life to learn and to teach. I work most of the year as an outdoor educator and really believe in showing people the importance of spending time outside. Most people I work with are young (12-17) and it is a joy to be able to influence the lives of our next generations. I want them to care about themselves, those around them and the planet that they live on.

I would like to believe that I am open to all people and all thoughts and all experiences.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Right now I'm looking for people to meet and places to stay. Most of the year I work on a small island and with a smaller community. I don't always have a places for people to stay but I live in a cool space that people should feel free to come explore. There are lots of places to camp at least.

I am about to embark on a three month trip across the United States and then over into Europe. I know a few people and have some ideas of where I want to go, but I am more excited to embrace this new community and see where it may take me.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Though I am new to the CouchSurf community, I am no stranger to staying on peoples couches. My experiences have always been with friends across the country. I love the idea that travel shouldn't have to be expensive, that couches can be comfortable and that there are people out there who want to offer up their couch to those who are out adventuring.

I was on a road trip a few years back and one of our goals was to either stay with friends or camp outside, spending no money on hotels or the like. This allowed us to reconnect with people from as far back as middle and high school. We found new friends in Colorado, San Francisco and all around the south west and they showed us more about their cities and towns than any guidebook or website could. That is what I really want out of traveling and adventuring.

Interests

I am interested in the following things:
Kayaking
Backpacking
reading
taking pictures of stuff
being out of doors
traveling
wood working
teaching
learning
cooking
brewing
eating

• education
• cooking
• boating
• reading
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• rowing
• teaching
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently reading the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss

Other Favorites include
Snowcrash - Neal Stephenson
The Starship and the Canoe - Kenneth Brower
The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran
A Song of Ice and Fire - George R.R. Martin

Favorite Musicians and Bands include
The Mountain Goats
Neil Young
Kaki King
The National
Botch
Jawbreaker
Cap'n Jazz
Defiance, Ohio
The Beatles

Movies that I have enjoyed include, but are not limited too

Inception
The Dark Knight
The Empire Strikes Back
The Shawshank Redemption
City of God
Stranger Than Fiction

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My most recent adventure included crewing a wooden long boat and rowing it across the Straight of Juan de Fuca. That is the 30 mile open crossing between Vancouver Island BC in Canada and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

I also spent five weeks this last summer in my sea kayak exploring the San Juan Islands.

I spent 20 days with two good friends of mine in a jeep traveling down the west coast of the United States and into the South West. We traveled 4500 miles and six states.

I have also spent time traveling briefly around the UK and Japan.

Teach, Learn, Share

My two passions are the outdoors and helping people tell stories. I would love to share my knowledge of sea kayak touring. I have been a paddler for the better part of three years and have spent a great deal of time exploring the San Juan Islands in Washington State.

In school I studied photojournalism and focused my efforts on finding cool people and organizations and finding interesting ways to tell their stories. What's yours? And how can I help you share it?

Countries I’ve Visited

Japan, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States