Our 2011 Trip Leaders > Cloud Ridge Naturalists - Field Discovery Seminars - the Finest in Natural History, Education and Travel

	Audrey Benedict is the founder and Director of Cloud Ridge Naturalists. Trained as a biologist and geologist, Audrey has guided groups in the field and at sea for more than thirty years, drawing on her broad knowledge of mountain and oceanic environments in many parts of the world. She is the author, with photographers Rozinski and Shattil, of Valley of the Dunes: Great Sand Dunes National Park (2010), and The Naturalist’s Guide to the Southern Rockies (2008).
	Sarah Drummond is a naturalist/artist who grew up traveling with Cloud Ridge. She received a B.A. from Maine’s College of the Atlantic, where her studies emphasized ecology, island ecosystems, and art. Awarded a Thomas J. Watson Foundation research fellowship, Sarah spent a year traveling to Argentina, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Greenland "following in the footsteps" of artists who accompanied major exploratory expeditions. She is an adjunct faculty member at COA and currently completing a Masters in Environmental Studies at Prescott College. Sarah spends her summers as a naturalist/kayak guide on the M/V Catalyst in Southeast Alaska. Visit her gallery at www.sarahdrummondart.com.
	Dr. Emmett Evanoff is Assistant Professor of Geology at the University of Northern Colorado, and a Research Associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the University of Colorado Museum. His research 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.
	Jennifer Hahn is a writer, illustrator, naturalist, wild harvester, teacher, and coastal traveler. Calling land her second home, Jenny has 30 years of wilderness travel, including guiding natural history trips by sea kayak in the San Juan Islands for 21 years, solo-kayaking from Alaska to Washington, thru-hiking 1100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, and many seasons guiding in Southeast Alaska. She is author of the award-winning Spirited Waters: Soloing South Through the Inside Passage, and Pacific Feast: A Cook's Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine, a delightful melange of wild foraging adventures, field guide notes and color photos, conservation, and 65 fabulous recipes from chefs from Alaska to California.
	Marilyn Hailbronner’s drawings—rendered in pen and ink and color wash—grace Cloud Ridge’s brochure and website. They are a reflection of her love for the natural world and her passion for conservation. Marilyn works aboard the M/V Sea Wolf as a naturalist/kayak guide in Glacier Bay. Her dual role as a medic for Cloud Ridge has taken her to remote wilderness areas around the world. Visit Marilyn’s website at www.wildinkwell.com.
	Dr. Geoff Hammerson is Senior Research Zoologist for NatureServe and lives in Port Townsend, WA. He is the author of the definitive Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado, as well as Connecticut Wildlife. Geoff also teaches popular courses in field ecology at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He is an outstanding field zoologist and teacher, always adding new dimensions to his natural history expertise, and is known for his ability to coax the most reluctant animal to share its secrets with an appreciative audience.
	Dr. Yan Linhart is Professor of Biology, Emeritus at the University of Colorado. His research and teaching focus on the ecology and evolution of plants, the genetics, ecology, and biogeography of forest trees, and the interactions between plants, their pollinators and parasites. To answer these questions, Yan has conducted field research in North America, Central America, and Europe. He is also a passionate advocate of the need to incorporate evolutionary thinking in conservation biology and ecosystem restoration. Yan is an exceptional teacher and is known for his ability to convey the magic of evolutionary biology.
	Kimber Owen wears many hats—owner of the M/V Sea Wolf and Sea Wolf Adventures, Captain, expert 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 early 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!
	Carol Passera is one of Argentina’s foremost naturalist guides, and resides with her writer/naturalist husband, Carlos Passera, in Puerto Madryn, on Patagonia’s Atlantic coast. Their ecotourism company, Causana Viajes, is involved in conservation and educational efforts throughout Patagonia. Carol is of Welsh/Scottish descent, her great great grandmother having been among the first Welsh immigrants to settle in Patagonia’s Chubut Valley in the 1880’s. Carol’s great knowledge of Argentina’s natural and cultural history makes her an inspired and inspiring tour leader. Her passion for all things “Patagonian” is contagious—her expertise unsurpassed!
	Bob Rozinski & Wendy Shattil are the rarest of species—full-time professional nature photographers. They have worked individually and as a team for more than 30 years and are known world-wide for their award-winning images and reputation as environmental photographers of endangered species and at-risk ecosystems throughout North America.They have produced twelve books, and their images have appeared in National Wildlife, Audubon, Nature Conservancy, BBC Wildlife, Nature’s Best, National Geographic publications, and many others. As members of the International League of Conservation Photographers they have participated in several Rapid Visual Assessment Expeditions, documenting areas of critical environmental concern, such as wildlife habitat impacts of the border wall in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the effects of gas field development on wildlife migration corridors and wildlife habitat in Wyoming’s Red Desert.
	Dr. Mike Scott is Senior Research Ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, a member of the Degree Program in Ecology at Colorado State University, and the Watershed Sciences Dept. at Utah State University. His research focuses on the biology and ecology of cottonwoods and other riparian tree species of the Colorado River System, and on efforts to develop a predictive understanding of how western riparian vegetation responds to human-induced changes in stream flow. Mike is an excellent field teacher, and has a marvelous talent for sharing his broad knowledge of rivers.
	Deb Tewell and Fran Enright combine their unique fiber art skills for "Weaving Andean Stories." Deb brings her passion for combining art with inspiration from nature. She’s studied with master felt artists and taught others the craft, including workshops in 3-dimensional felt forms. Her portfolio includes flatwork (scarves and shawls) and dimensional felt (purses, hats, etc.), winning recognition at the Taos Wool Festival. Fran is a retired biology teacher, as well as an ardent birder, botanist, and conservationist. She’s studied with master felt artists and has taught felting in Colorado and Argentina. Her portfolio includes nuno felting, felted fabric, and dimensional felt, and her work has been exhibited at the Boulder Handweaver’s Guild and Weaving Southwest.
	Dr. Ed Wick has studied the biology, behavioral ecology, and habitat requirements of the Colorado pikeminnow (squawfish), humpback chub, and razorback sucker for more than 35 years. As both a private research consultant and in cooperation with numerous governmental agencies, Ed has focused 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.