Meet the 2011 Crew

John Page

I came north in 1983. A chance opportunity to test skis for Powder Magazine in the Ruth Glacier was the bait. Ended up falling in love. Cancelled my plane flight three times so I could get better acquainted with Alaska.  I’ve been working in Alaska for 26 years and I’m still in love.
 
Alaska’s been a great playground for me to pursue my passions and challenge my abilities. I learned photography while working on a book about Wrangell St Elias. I gained organizational and people skills while serving as Executive Director of several non-profit companies. I tested my skiing abilities while covering the first four years of the world extreme skiing competition in Valdez.

In 1996 I started Sunny Cove. It grew out of the desire to experience living on Fox Island. I had guided kayaking for other companies in Prince Williams Sound and Kenai Fjords. I found I enjoyed sharing the place I loved with others. I also felt like it was an opportunity to educate others about our amazing natural environment. From a two-person start up we’ve grown into a company with 20 staff members. Each year we introduce thousands of people to kayaking and the wonders of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords. Each year I have the opportunity to work with a great group of people. I look forward to working with everyone this summer.

Kat Chandler

Transplanted from the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of Florida to the beautiful chilly waters of Resurrection Bay, Alaska – I have embarked on the journey of becoming a true sourdough. 

This will be my sixth season working with Sunny Cove as the office manager and living in Seward year round.   I have been enjoying the never-ending opportunities for hiking, paddling, camping and skiing in the surrounding areas.   As an active paddler since 1997 it was always on my “to do” list to visit Alaska and in 2004 made that dream come true with a kayak/camping trip to the Northwestern Fjords with Sunny Cove and  and my Florida friends.   And as they say ….. the rest is history.

Stephanie Millane

I was born and raised in Dousman, WI and much of my family still resides in the Dairy State. The road of my life has been winding...and continues to take me into new and unknown places. I've lived all over the US from Connecticut to Alaska with many stops in between. Many summers ago I landed in Skagway, Alaska and spent six summers working first as a bike guide/assistant manager and then as a rafting guide/sales manager. My winters found me in Alta, Utah working as an operations manager for the oldest ski shop in Utah overseeing four locations. Following my six summers in Skagway I found myself in Southwest Wisconsin for a summer working as a canoe guide on the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers and spending time with my family. One hot, humid summer was enough and I began to hunt for employment in Alaska once again.

I spent just a few days searching for another guiding job when I came across an ad for Sunny Cove. After several long conversations with John I found myself employed as the day trips coordinator and as a kayak guide. Following my first summer with Sunny Cove I was promoted to operations manager. I am working my way through my thirteenth winter in Alta and am looking forward to my sixth summer in Seward.

I have a lot of loves in my life...RC, my dog, my family, travel, the smell of the ocean, the sound of waves at night, waist deep powder, meeting new people, photography, music and unexpected experiences. I am definitely a ‘full plate’ kind of person and rumor has it I have a big personality and a sarcastic sense of humor.  Up to you to decide…

hannah Craig

My childhood was split between the two great states of Colorado and Iowa! I went from hiking and camping with my family in the mountains to biking the flat lands through the corn fields! Growing up in central Iowa I spent much of my time swimming, creek walking, swimming some more, and eating as much ice cream as I possibly could. I currently attend the University of Northern Iowa studying Communication Disorders and Sciences where I still eat ice cream. My weekends have consisted of taking students on adventure trips rock climbing, backpacking, and cross country skiing through our Outdoors program. It has been one heck of a ride and Alaska is next on the list. This is my first summer with Sunny Cove and I am looking forward to making this summer become one of the greatest adventures of my life!

Nicole Geils

I grew-up in Girdwood, Alaska experiencing all that this amazing state has to offer… from skiing to sailing, I am an adventurer at heart. After graduating from Portland State University with a Business & Marketing Degree, I moved back to Alaska. I spend most of my free time, with camera in hand, exploring the mountains during winter and voyaging the open oceans during summer. Living aboard our little boat, s/v Mystic Knot, my husband Thom, our beloved dog Chace, and I explore Resurrection Bay, Aialik Bay, and Prince William Sound all summer long. When the snow blankets the mountains, we move to Girdwood and fill our winter months making turns on Mt. Alyeska. I feel so lucky to live in a state that offers extraordinary potential for photographic expression with its dramatic landscapes and engaging wildlife. In short, I heart ALASKA, and I look forward to helping you enjoy this majestic state.

Betsi Oliver

I come from suburban Boston, where I would escape to the forests of New Hampshire every summer. The two months of trees and lake and good company there felt more like my life than the rest of the year did.

I love to learn, which has led to me to travel and work abroad, take an assortment of jobs, and to attain a college degree. After school I planned to travel the world forever. However, that changed when I fell in love - with Alaska! In my travels I kept coming back to this magnificent state, and it seems there are enough new experiences and wonderful people here to last me a lifetime. So in January 2010 I decided to make the move up here permanent.... at least for now.

I love living in Anchorage in the winter, but in the summer I just need to get somewhere smaller people-wise and larger nature-wise. Things that excite me are: learning everything there is to know about Alaska, harvesting natural foods, building friendships, discussing abstract ideas, and of course, recreating outside. I look forward to this season doing all those things at Sunny Cove!

Caitlin Parker

I was born and raised in a small mountain town in North-Central Idaho. I grew up skiing, riding bikes, hiking, camping, and being outside nearly all of the time. Growing up in such a remote area instilled in me both the desire to get out and see what else there is, as well as a deep appreciation and love for nature and the outdoors. Over the past few years I've been doing much rambling :). I've done a bit of foreign travel, as well as lived in Idaho, Arizona, and most recently been living in Seattle Washington. In between travel I've worked for the forest service fighting wild-land fires, and last winter worked at a mountain teaching snowboard lessons. I enjoy playing tennis, painting, snowboarding/skiing, and recently have gotten really into mountain biking. I have a love for venturing places I've not yet been, seeing different cultures and ways of life, and learning things unknown to me. This will be my first season as a sea-kayak guide at Sunny Cove, and I'm looking forward to learning and experiencing all that comes with it. I'm really excited to move to Alaska and have the opportunity to live and work in such an incredible place.

Daniel Perry

Daniel grew up in Alaska canoeing, skiing, playing hockey, and camping with his family out of their VW bus and Cessna 170. He has degrees in geology and violin performance from Pomona College and the University of Washington. While living in Alaska he was an environmental lobbyist in Juneau, an environmental consultant in Anchorage and performed regularly with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Anchorage Opera and the Birchwood String Quartet when not out kayaking in Prince William Sound.
For the last 12 years Daniel has lived in Idaho, playing with the Boise Philharmonic, Boise Baroque Orchestra, Opera Idaho, CastleRock String Quartet, and teaching violin to kids aged 4 to 64.
If he was not on stage or in his teaching studio he was on ski patrol at Bogus Basin near Boise, was a snow school instructor or was teaching nordic skiing there. He also worked as a Park Guide at Natural Bridges National Monument in southeast Utah and an Interpretive Park Ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He has completed Leave No Trace training, a sea kayak leadership course in Glacier Bay National Park, and has his Wilderness First Responder certification.
Daniel's dream of sharing his love and knowledge of Alaska will be realized this summer working for Sunny Cove. He is also optimistic about having enough fair weather to share some fiddling moments at the kayak camps.

Forest Hoff

Surrounded by native burial mounds and singing cottonwoods, this Iowa born clod stomper spent his childhood exploring the creeks of warren county. Craving to know what was beyond those creeks, he packed up his VW bus and headed to college in Cedar Falls. There he began to take groups of students exploring through the University's outdoor program. With the extra time that summer and winter brought, he decided to jump the pond and find out what was going on in far off lands. During the autumn and spring, you will find him perusing the stacks at the library while he finishes his M.A. in Linguistics. He continues to share weekend and college break adventures with students when he is not participating in the IOWA acronym (intellects out wandering around) and cultivating wild teas and edibles. Everyday is an adventure for Forest, and he is excited to make your tour an exciting and fascinating journey. See you in Sunny Cove!

Jared Fink

Jared was Born and raised in western Alaska, on Lake Clark. After growing up in the outdoors around the guiding industry he decided that after high school guiding was the obvious choice. After two seasons though he grew an interest in emergency medicine, went off to college and left guiding behind. Never giving up his love for the outdoors he continued pursuing water and snow sports in his off time. Finally after 4 years of school and 3 years working as an EMT he decided to get back to his roots and back in to the outdoors and joined the crew at sunny cove. He is now putting down roots in Seward and is expecting his first baby in the fall. When he isn't kayaking he can be found either in his Stand Up Paddle Board or in his kitchen exploring another life long passion cooking.

Joellyne mackinnon

Born in Wasila, raised on moose meat and salmon, Jo's nothng like Sarah Palin.  An artist at heart, she enjoys creating, exploring, new places and cultures, and making the most of life's moments.  For the last four years Jo has divided her life between Alaska and Guatemala.  Her passion for good coffee has made Sunny Cup the place to drink.  A Sunny Cove employee for nearly 10 years-mostly as a guide-she now serves as chief barista and manager of Sunny Cup.

Kayti Rowen

Hey everyone, I’m Kayti. I was born and raised on the flat lands of the Great Plains. Growing up in a town of 150 people in South Dakota, I always knew I had to get out. I then decided to journey as far away from SD as I could get and headed up to Alaska. My plans were to pursue a degree in Marine Biology once I got up to AK but everything changed when I took my very first look at the mountains. I knew I had to do whatever I could to be in the mountains, and that moment changed my life forever. I am now attending Alaska Pacific University majoring in Outdoor Studies, Senior Year!! What! Since I started OS my passion for the outdoors grew deeper as I went on every expedition.  I have took interest in backpacking, skiing, glacier travel, canoeing but what really hit the core was sea kayaking. This will be my second season with Sunny Cove, and I can’t wait for summer. Looking forward to seeing everyone again! Enjoy the Sunshine!

Matthew Barnes

Born and raised around Atlanta, Georgia, I have a Bachelor of Arts in  Philosophy from Emory University.  I spent several years working  outdoors in the "Green" Industry of landscaping and retail  gardening.  But the lack of sustainable, eco-friendly practice turned  me off the career path and onto a meandering trail in search of  genuine wilderness experience and more fulfilling work.  

As an avid  hiker with a burgeoning passion for paddling, I loaded up my kayak,  hopped in the old truck, and hit the road.  Last summer, numerous  lakes and streams later, I found my way up to Alaska on an extended  road trip which included working in Anchorage, backpacking in the  Chugach range., and a sea kayaking excursion in Prince William  Sound.  Like so many before me, I fell in love with the majestic  waterways, mountains, and glaciers.  I've been trying to find a way  back ever since and truly couldn't have planned a better means to  that end.  It will be my first experience formally guiding and I  can't wait to soak up as much as possible -- freezing glacial water  
included!  I am ecstatic about this opportunity with Sunny Cove and  eagerly await the chance to join all you guys out on the water.

Sabrina Krewin

I was born and raised in Kent, a suburb 20 miles south of Seattle. I enjoyed a childhood of hiking, camping and skiing. It’s hard to say where my permanent home is, because I move around a lot. I studied at UCLA, and after graduating I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, West Africa. During this time I stumbled across one of my life passions, paragliding. In terms of work, it is my objective to have as random of a resume as possible! So far I’ve worked as a freelance graphic designer, art teacher at a school for deaf children, wilderness therapy counselor, US Forest Service employee and ski instructor. I’m excited to start sea kayak guiding because I find the ocean to be both mesmerizing and soothing. In general, I am an outdoor junkie and feel happy when surrounded by a countless number of trees and mountains or vast stretches of desert. I love the smell of campfires, powder face shots and spontaneous dance parties! In terms of life goals, I hope that I can stay healthy and happy while continuing to explore new places and new opportunities. The combination of careful planning and lots of reckless optimism helps me to achieve my life dreams.