Audrey Benedict is the founder and Director of Cloud Ridge Naturalists. She is the author of Valley of the Dunes: Great Sand Dunes National Park (2005) and A Naturalist’s Guide to the Southern Rockies (2008). Audrey served for 10 years as a Trustee for the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and remains committed to Conservancy projects in Colorado, British Columbia, Argentina and Ecuador. In addition to a broad knowledge of natural history in mountainous environments in many parts of the world, her interests now focus on the northern and southern circumpolar regions, and temperate rainforests in both the Patagonian Andes and the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Geoff Hammerson, Cloud Ridge’s Co-Director, recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest. He is an outstanding zoologist, always adding new dimensions to his far-ranging, natural history expertise. Geoff has served as a Research Zoologist for both The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe and teaches courses in field ecology, ornithology, and marine ecosystems at Wesleyan University and elsewhere. For the past 25 years, his research has focused on the distributional ecology of amphibians and reptiles. He is the author of Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado, a superb field guide, as well as the definitive Connecticut Wildlife. Geoff is a wonderful teacher in the field, able to coax the most reluctant animal to share its secrets with an appreciative audience.

Dr. Emmett Evanoff is an Assistant Professor in the Geology Department at the University of Northern Colorado, and a Research Associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. His research over the years has focused on the study of paleoenvironments—the “story behind the scenery.” Emmett brings to his teaching a tremendous knowledge of regional geology and a contagious enthusiasm for the geologic events that have shaped western landscapes.

Sarah Drummond, by her own admission, “grew up” traveling with Cloud Ridge Naturalists. Her passion for drawing the natural world began at an early age, and she has kept illustrated field journals since she was twelve. Sarah graduated from Maine’s College of the Atlantic, where her studies emphasized general ecology, island ecosystems, and art. Sarah was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Foundation Fellowship and has just completed a year of travel in Argentina, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Greenland, focusing on the important role of artists on exploratory expeditions. Re-visiting many of the places described by these intrepid naturalist artists, she has produced an extraordinary collection of watercolor paintings and field journals—recording with exquisite skill her own “voyage of discovery” in a changing world.

Kimber Owen wears many hats—owner of the M/V Sea Wolf and Sea Wolf Adventures, Captain, Naturalist, and Conservationist. Her passion for Alaska and its wildlife is unsurpassed and is reflected in her mission to make the Sea Wolf a platform for conservation education throughout the Pacific Northwest. Kimber’s experience in creating “Leap of Faith,” a therapeutic riding center in Texas, inspired her retrofit of the Sea Wolf—total accessibility in the service of wilderness education without barriers!

Dr. Mike Scott is a Senior Research Ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey and an Affiliate Faculty member of the Biology Department at Colorado State University. His research focuses on the biology and ecology of cottonwoods, tamarisk, and other riparian tree species, and on efforts to develop a predictive understanding of how riparian vegetation responds to human-induced changes in stream flow. Mike is an excellent field teacher, and is enthusiastic in sharing his broad knowledge of river systems with others.

Dr. Ed Wick has studied the biology, behavioral ecology, and habitat requirements of the Endangered native fish species of the Colorado River System for more than 30 years. As both a private research consultant and working in conjunction with numerous governmental agencies, Ed has focused the majority of his research efforts on the Yampa, Green, Little Snake, White, and Colorado Rivers. He is an extraordinary field teacher—an eloquent and compelling spokesman for the conservation of the native fish of the Colorado River System.

Carol and Carlos Passera founded and direct the premier Patagonian ecotourism company, Causana Viajes. Based in Puerto Madryn, located on Patagonia’s Atlantic coast, the couple’s love for Patagonia began nearly 30 years ago when Carlos, a leading environmental journalist, was appointed Park Ranger at the Punta Tombo Magellanic Penguin Reserve. Superb naturalists and cultural historians, Carol and Carlos champion conservation efforts throughout Patagonia and have guided tours for Massachusetts Audubon, Questers, Geographic Expeditions, Cloud Ridge, and others.

Barbara Knapton grew up near Washington’s Olympic National Park but lost her heart to the Chilean altiplano and the Atacama Desert nearly 15 years ago. A biologist by training, Barb founded Alto Andino Nature Tours in 1994 and lives in Putre, Chile, where she specializes in guiding trips for birders and botanists throughout northern Chile.