Naturalist Guiding

My season as a naturalist in Southeast Alaska was never just about identifying wildlife or explaining ecological processes. It was about helping people slow down long enough to notice the stories held within a landscape.

Each day, I guided travelers through rainforests, coastlines, glaciers and mountain valleys, sharing the ecology and natural history of a place that has shaped countless generations. Yet the most meaningful moments often came from helping guests see beyond the surface—recognizing the relationships between land, water, plants, animals, and people.

Living and working in Southeast Alaska deepened my respect for the Indigenous stewardship that has sustained this region for thousands of years. As a guest on Lingít Aaní, I approached the work with humility, listening, learning, and continually educating myself about Tlingit culture, history, and perspectives. That learning reminded me that a landscape is more than scenery; it is memory, identity, and home.

As a guide, I sought to blend science with storytelling, observation with curiosity, and education with genuine connection. Whether standing beneath towering spruce, watching salmon return to their streams, or sharing a quiet moment as an eagle passed overhead, I hoped to help others experience the same sense of wonder that first drew me outdoors.

At my core, I am someone who believes that the natural world has wisdom to offer. My role as a naturalist was simply to help people hear it.