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San Juan Kayak Expeditions

Our Guides

OUR GUIDES

Through extensive experience and knowledge, each carefully chosen guide is put through rigorous training and an assistant-guide apprenticeship program. When your guide is ready to lead your trip, you can rest assured that he or she has a solid foundation of experience and knowledge to make your trip safe, educational and adventurous. All guides are CPR/first aid certified and have taken Leave No Trace Awareness course.

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Cole Wilson

General Manager

Hailing all the way from South Georgia, Cole is back for his fifth summer with San Juan Kayak Expeditions! After guiding for four summers and spending a few winters running twenty day canoeing expeditions for at-risk Florida youth for Outward Bound, Cole tried his hand at a number of local jobs before coming back as Operations Manager.for the 2021 season. Cole graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education from Georgia College in 2016 and has been living on the island ever since. Cole is also an American Canoe Association Level III kayaking instructor and a Wilderness First Responder. When he is not in the office, you can find him pouring beers at the local brewery or biking around the island. If you’re lucky, you may even get him on a tour!

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Ryan Carr

Guide / Naturalist

Ryan is a Georgia-born year-round guide entering his sixth year working as an outdoor educator. He calls New Orleans home but has guided all over the country. This is his second season working in the San Juan Islands and he has a knack for storytelling-putting that linguistics degree to good use- and would love to tell you tales near and far. Most of his spare time goes towards his dog, Wallace, traveling the country, and playing music.

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Shannon McCarthy

Guide / Naturalist

Shannon comes to the San Juan Islands from the mountains of North Carolina, where she first fell in love with kayaking on the region’s wild whitewater rivers. She loves adventure of all sorts, from guiding 200-foot waterfall rappels in the Green River Gorge, to summits on North Carolina’s most iconic climbs, and even paddling the Cape Fear River from source to sea (twice!). Shannon couldn’t be more eager to explore the PNW! She graduated in 2025 with a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education and is a Wilderness First responder and a Surface Water Rescue technician. Shannon is stoked to bring her passion and experience to the San Juan Islands. Whether on the water or at camp, she’s excited to help make your adventure memorable and meaningful.

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Maddy Kuhn

Guide / Naturalist

Maddy brings a wealth of enthusiasm and knowledge to her first season guiding in the San Juan Islands! Growing up in the southeast, she developed a deep appreciation for nature through frequent backpacking and camping trips in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Maddy graduated with a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, specializing in environmental education from the University of Georgia. After spending the last year kayak guiding in Charleston, South Carolina, she decided to take her skills across the country to the San Juan Islands. Her passion for the outdoors is infectious, and she loves sharing her knowledge with others.

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Benning Lozada

Guide / Naturalist

Benning hails from Salt Lake City, Utah, where he grew up spending as much time as possible playing in the mountains of the Wasatch Range. Having studied Biology and Philosophy at the University of Utah, he brings both a scientific curiosity and a thoughtful, inclusive approach to guiding. Driven by a deep passion for connecting people to the natural world, Benning is dedicated to making sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands an accessible, enriching experience for everyone—whether it’s your first paddle or your hundredth. His love for the outdoors is matched only by his commitment to fostering a welcoming environment where all feel empowered to explore, learn, and enjoy the beauty of the Salish Sea.

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Noah Baum

Guide / Naturalist

Entering his Fifth season with San Juan Kayak Expeditions, Noah is a well salted kayaker amongst this beautiful Archipelago. Noah’s guide life began in 2015, leading multi-day canoe trips through the Shuswap lakes in North-East British Columbia. After 3 seasons he was ready for bigger water. Moving out here in 2021 for a seasonal job, he fell in love with the wide variety of this area. In winters he works at a boat repair/maintenance yard in Roche harbor. Living full time on his sailboat, his free time is split between sailing, kayaking, spear fishing and hiking. As primarily a multi-day guide for San Juan Kayak Expeditions, his knowledge of each island and surrounding currents make for a relaxed, instructional environment filled with fun, memorable experiences. He is looking forward to sharing the beautiful San Juan Archipelago with you!

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Cooper Curtin

Guide / Naturalist

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Cooper is excited to spend another summer in the San Juan Islands—a place where he grew up visiting family. A graduate of California Lutheran University with a degree in Kinesiology, Cooper was a collegiate pole vaulter with a background in physical therapy and movement science. He’s passionate about the outdoors and has spent time as a ski instructor, rock climber, backpacker, and surfer. He’s climbed Mount Hood and is always looking for the next mountain to summit or wave to ride. When he’s not out on the water or in the woods, you can find Cooper soaking up island life, doing yoga, and sharing his love of nature with others.