INSTRUCTORS & GUIDES
Read the Washington Post article about our June '06 Sea Kayak Discovery Weekend
Wild River Outfitters Touring Company employs professionally trained and certified leaders in all paddling activities. Our instructional events are staffed with a minimum of one "Lead" and one assistant instructor - and quite often two Lead instructors. You are sure to receive the finest training from our American Canoe Association (ACA) certified Instructors - they are truly "the best of the best" and thoroughly enjoy sharing their passion for paddling with our guests. Our Guides are all experienced paddlers with a keen knowledge of the waterways that they guide on. Additionally, all instructors and guides maintain both First Aid and CPR qualifications, with several holding EMT and other advanced medical certifications.
Lillie Gilbert
Lead Canoe Instructor/Lead Guide
VIMS/DEQ Certified Virginia EcoTour Guide
Email: lillie@wildriveroutfitters.com
As owner and full-time employee of Wild River Outfitters since 1980, Lillie is the recognized expert on our local waterways. As much as she loves to be in the shop assisting customers, Lillie thoroughly enjoys exploring and writing about our nearby waterways. If it can be paddled....... you can bet Lillie's paddled it! Lillie can honestly say that she's taught Indians how to paddle canoes - on the movie set of "The New World"!
Publications
- Co-author: Wild River Guide to Dismal Swamp Water Trails
- Co-author: Wild River Guide to the North Landing River and its Tributaries
- Co-author: Bayside History Trail - A View from the Water
- Co-author: Ghosts, Witches & Weird Tales of Virginia Beach
Nancy Wendt
Lead Instructor/Assistant Guide
ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor
An avid whitewater paddler for more than 20 years, Nancy traded her whitewater canoe for a sea kayak when she retired from corporate strategic planning and program management five years ago. Since then she has kayaked her way around the Chesapeake Bay, the west coast of Florida and the Outer Banks of NC. Be sure to ask her about the flock of Buffleheads she surprised during the big snowstorm of 2003. When she is not on the water, she does volunteer work for voter education, wildlife preservation, water quality protection, and better land use and zoning.
Patty Adkins
Lead Guide/Chef
Patty joined the WROTC team after participating in one of our Sea Kayak Discovery Weekends and realizing that kayaking is what she really loves to do. With a background in botany, she readily shares her knowledge of our local flora (and fauna) on each trip she's on. On our 2-night, 3-day SKDW events, Patty's culinary skills have really impressed our guests! Good paddlin' and good eatin'...... what more could you want?
Charlie Ellin
Assistant Guide/Assistant Instructor
A long time resident of Virginia Beach, Charlie is entering his 6th year guiding for WROTC. When he's not "in the office", Charlie can usually be found paddling the beautiful waters of Back Bay NWR - since its literally right in his back yard! A skilled kayaker, Charlie really enjoys introducing others to the "experience" of paddling and providing them the knowledge and skills to enjoy and advance in the sport. Since Back Bay is his "home waters", be sure to request Charlie for your next Back Bay Tour.
Pat Gammon
Naturalist/Botanist/Assistant Guide
Pat is a part-time wetlands consultant and part-time WROTC assistant guide. With more than 20 years experience with the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pat is sure to impress you with her extensive knowledge of our local flora. While working on a graduate school project in the 1970's, Pat conducted a comprehensive study and listing of the flora found in what is now known as Merchants Millpond State Park, NC - which is quite an interesting and unique place to paddle!
Vickie Shufer
Naturalist/Assistant Guide
Vickie is a recognized field botanist. A wild foods expert, she is extremely knowledgeable about the local environment and the editor of "Wild Foods Journal" (http://wildfood.home. infionline.net). An avid kayaker and canoeist, Vickie thrives on sharing her knowledge of our local flora.
Publications
- Co-author of Wild River Guide to Dismal Swamp Water Trails
- Co-author of Wild River Guide to the North Landing River and Its Tributaries
- The Wild Foods Forum, national newsletter, editor/publisher since 1994
- Dismal Swamp Ethnobotany
Here are several more talented paddlers that you'll see on the water as your lead and assistant guides this season.......
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Floyd Baker |
Melanie Bausch |
Kema Geroux |
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Anna Kephart |
Anne Fox |
Doug Harrison |