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Second Year Returning Guide
Ryan is thrilled to return to Outdoor Odysseys for a second season. She grew up in the Seattle area and where she earned her degree in Ecological Education and Teaching English as a Second Language from Western Washington University. Since graduating, she has sought every opportunity to teach, explore, learn and adventure throughout the mountains and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
When not in the San Juan Islands, she resides on the Olympic Peninsula where she teaches field ecology and natural history for Olympic Park Institute. This fall, she will begin graduate studies at the University of Victoria in order to study restoration ecology and its social impacts in this bioregion she calls home.
Further afield than the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Ryan spent last winter watching toucans and parrotfish as a rainforest and coral reef ecology instructor in Belize and Guatemala. Other travels include extensive time in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Nepal, and on the blue highways of the U. S. of A. When not paddling, hiking or teaching Ryan plays guitar and flute, writes songs, and works on her novice watercolor skills. Summer goal: to learn to juggle.
Favorite parts about guiding:
Sharing the wonder of this place with excited guests...Laughing at camp over the remains of a delicious meal...Stars, sun, seals, and strong sore arms.
Favorite wildlife sighting in the San Juans
Too many to name! One instance last summer was particularly funny, though: a harbor seal followed my boat for a good half hour. I couldn't help feeling it was trying to get my attention. Sure enough, when I looked closer, I saw it had a bright orange octopus that it was pulling along!”
“Once I stopped to look closer, the seal darted around my boat, tossing the octopus, letting it float down, then pulling it back up again. It was showing it off, like a proud cat that brings a mouse inside. I felt honored it wanted to show off to me…”
“Really, though, encounters from the orcas breaching to the barnacles filter feeding with their feathery feet, are magical if you let them be...”
Favorite Quote
“To live is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else.” Emily Dickenson
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"This was my first time kayaking and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Ryan is a good leader, explained things well (for the novice) and instilled confidence. Very knowledgeable! I always felt her priority for our safety and the whales. (And it didn't hurt to see whales galore.) Thanks again for a wonderful time."
- First Time Kayak Guest |
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