Sea kayaking is one of the most intimate means of exploring the marine and near shore terrestrial environments. In fact, a writer once described kayaking as “the closest you’ll ever get to becoming a marine mammal.” The slow pace and intimate contact with the environment offered by sea-kayaking provides the paddler with unique perspectives that almost no other form of water transportation provides. During this 12-day field based course (2 days on land, 10 days on water), participants will take advantage of these unique attributes to explore and learn about the natural history of the Salish Sea of Washington State. Using the San Juan Archipelago as both a classroom and laboratory participants will address concepts in marine and island ecology through a combination of presentations, explorations and hands-on experiments. Additional topics we’ll be exploring include fauna and flora identification, tide and current prediction, navigation, and expedition sea-kayaking planning. Find out more about our trip below and we hope to see you on your next San Juan Island Kayak Tour! For questions/more information: Skagit Valley College Website or Cliff Palmer: cliff.palmer@skagit.edu office: 360.416.7656 • cell: 206.526.8226
The OO crew couldn't have been more professional and prepared from the moment they picked us up at Friday Harbor through the launch and landing. It was beyond expectations and worth every penny.
BrianIf you’re looking for a fun and unforgettable kayak trip in the San Juan Islands, I highly recommend Outdoor Odyssey. Our 3-day trip was superb.
ShellyI am not usually someone to pay for a guided tour, but this was absolutely worth it and a huge highlight during our time in the San Juan Islands. Our guide was awesome. We were a group kids, teens and adults (two families). We learned a lot about the island, and had a ball along the coast for our 7 mile day trip.
Seth KThe food was excellent. Organic as much as possible, fresh as much as possible, well prepared, and plenty of it.
TimThis trip was one I will never forget. Outdoor Odysseys does such a great job on these kayak trips. Our guides were wonderful. The food was beyond belief...for anywhere, not just a kayaking trip.
DJWThis company has been around for a long time. They know how to treat people.
CocoaTom Murphy graduated from Lawrence University with a biology degree in 2003. After graduation Tom spent a year and a half overseas. He traveled through India, worked for an NGO in Nepal, and taught elementary students science in the…
Read MorePeter, a lifelong New York City region resident, now lives full time on San Juan Island, helping to run Outdoor Odysseys. Peter has a long and storied career in government, tourism, and in corporate America. Peter has a graduate…
Read MoreBorn on the coastal islands of Georgia and raised in the marshes and swamps of the south, Laura has always maintained a deep connection to the ocean. Her earliest memories are paddling canoes through the Okefenokee Swamp with her…
Read MoreHayden’s roots are in Colorado and Central Oregon. She ventured out to the Pacific Northwest when she started school at University of Oregon, where she studied human physiology and business. These days, she finds joy in connecting others to…
Read MoreEli Todaro grew up in Southeast Louisiana. Eli is a NOLS Wilderness First Responder alumni with specialties in swift water and high angle rescue. He has always had a great passion for the outdoors. Growing up hunting and fishing…
Read MoreSam grew up outside Seattle, WA, with the Cascade Mountains and the Puget Sound as his backyard. After getting a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Washington, Sam vagabonded through Europe, Australia, and the US before finding…
Read MoreGrowing up in Seattle, Maddie Hollister gained a love for outdoor recreation and education attending a summer camp on Puget Sound, where she eventually became a lifeguard and outdoor educator. She studied marine biology and science communication at Quest…
Read MoreBoston bred, Georgia grown, and Seattle seduced; Patrick remains as footloose as his “military brat” childhood would deem but continues to rebound back to the San Juan Islands. In Georgia he attended both high school and college where he…
Read MoreDuncan will be returning for a second season to the San Juan Islands as an Outdoor Odysseys guide and adventure filmmaker. Born in San Mateo, California, Duncan grew up SCUBA diving, backpacking and sailing. After college he spent a…
Read MoreBorn in Snohomish, WA, Christina grew up mushroom picking, squid jigging, crabbing, traveling, backpacking, fishing, clamming, skiing, frog catching, climbing, and everything else outdoorsy. Christina made her way down to Orange, CA to attend Chapman University as a Business…
Read MoreBorn near the ocean cliffs of northern California, Zoey was raised just as much by redwoods and harbour seals as she was by her parents. She is currently going into her 4th year at Quest University, focusing her studies…
Read MoreElliott grew up in sunny Seattle and spent countless days exploring the Cascades, Puget Sound, and the forests and deserts throughout Washington. He studied environmental science and policy down in California, and uses his emphasis in ecology daily while…
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