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Naturalists
Naturalists
There’s the naturalist who casually mentioned that he hadn’t been back to this remote Alaskan island since living here 20 years ago for a summer to study the familial habits of bears. Or the one who told you the last time he sailed past this South Pacific island a stranger ran out and began shooting a gun at them. Or the one who tells you she lived on that uninhabited Galapagos island for a year studying interactions between giant tortoises and introduced donkeys for her PhD while gathering rain and heavy mist for drinking and only occasionally bothering to wear clothes.
They are as different as their vast experiences and come from academic, natural history, museum, medical, and exploration backgrounds. Their specialistes—ranging from archeology to zoology—are tailored to every Lindblad Expedition to give guests a variety of interests and personalities to choose from while exploring. With an industry-leading ratio of 1 staff for every 10 guests (depending on ship size), Lindblad guests have the luxury of choosing which naturalist to explore with each day to indulge their interests and learning.
And the naturalists are much more than guides. They are engaging companions, participating fully in the expedition joining guests at meals and in the lounge over drinks. In fact, Lindblad guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of the naturalist staff as a key reason they return to the same ships to explore new regions.
There’s the naturalist who casually mentioned that he hadn’t been back to this remote Alaskan island since living here 20 years ago for a summer to study the familial habits of bears. Or the one who told you the last time he sailed past this South Pacific island a stranger ran out and began shooting a gun at them. Or the one who tells you she lived on that uninhabited Galapagos island for a year studying interactions between giant tortoises and introduced donkeys for her PhD while gathering rain and heavy mist for drinking and only occasionally bothering to wear clothes....
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Expedition staff are subject to change.
Meet our Naturalists
Naturalist
Jeff Campbell
Jeff Campbell fell in love with the ocean while attending boatbuilding school in Eastport, Maine. Since completing his MS in Marine and Estuarine Science at Western Washington University, he has worked for NOAA documenting the ecological impacts of transoceanic fiber-optic cable; the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife developing an aging method for sixgill sharks; the Lummi Tribe as a Harvest Biologist; Northwest Indian College teaching Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, and as a volunteer for the Whatcom County Marine Mammal Stranding Network. He has been involved in research developing mitigation methods for harmful algae blooms, sterilization methods for oil tanker ballast water, and techniques for screening refinery effluent for harmful ecological effects. He also served as Principle Director on a USDA-funded grant using student interns to study the impact of nutrient-rich run-off on seasonal dead-zones in Bellingham Bay. Jeff is passionate about the marine environment, particularly the northeast Pacific, and believes that the key to preserving this fragile biome is lighting the spark in others by sharing his knowledge on the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate systems. He is particularly interested in the effects of ocean acidification on the larval stages of mollusk, and arthropod larvae. Summers for the last three years have found him driving expedition landing craft and sharing the joys of whale watching with guests. A Lummi Island, Washington resident for more than 18 years, Jeff lives with his wife Penny, who has been a marine naturalist on whale watch boats in the Salish Sea for many years, and their cat, Boo.
Naturalist
Hiro Kawashima
Born and raised in Ensenada, Baja California, México, Hiro´s heritage can be traced around the world, from Japanese immigrants to adventurous Finnish sailors, French entrepreneurs, and Spanish roots going back to the first settlers of the Peninsula. His love for nature came at a very young age, spending most of his summers in the waters of the Gulf of California, where his family had fished for generations. He learned to surf and free dive in his childhood and developed a deep connection with the ocean and the land, always amazed by the creatures that inhabited the surreal landscape. In 1996 he started guiding day tours in Ensenada, and in 1998 he enrolled in a Biology degree at the State University of Baja California. His first expedition as a naturalist was in 2001 and has continued ever since. His passion for learning and sharing has led him to be interested in practically everything, always trying to understand how things work and how they are interconnected. Currently, he lives in San Ignacio, the largest oasis in the Peninsula of Baja California, and when he's not working as a Naturalist, he spends his time designing and building a permaculture farm, photographing wildlife, spearfishing, surfing, building a house, and most importantly, enjoying life with his loved ones.
Naturalist
Oren Frey
Oren grew up exploring the wilds of New England and began leading others on adventures in the outdoors while a student at Middlebury College in Vermont. He has spent the better part of the past two decades pursuing opportunities to explore the world and to share its wonders with others. Oren has worked as a naturalist and kayak guide in the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, and the San Juan Islands, has led many river trips, and has worked as an instructor on wilderness travel and cultural exchange trips for youth in locations from Alaska to Ecuador. Years working as an environmental educator on Catalina Island sparked a deep love of the ocean environment and inspired him to complete a master’s degree in International Environmental Policy with a focus on marine issues. He went on to work for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and co-founded a community supported fishery. Oren later spent five years managing a non-profit program that aims to make outdoor adventure inclusive and accessible to all people. An avid adventure cyclist, he has cycled over the Pamir Highway, around Iceland, and across the Sahara. Oren is thrilled to have the opportunity to share the joy of exploration with Lindblad Guests.
Naturalist
Adrian Cerda
Adrian studied biology at the national Autonomous University of Mexico. In 1991 the Wildlife Preservation Trust of Jersey, on Britain's Channel Islands, awarded Adrian with a scholarship to its prestigious 16-week training program in Captive Management and Breeding of Endangered Species. This pioneering course of study is responsible for the conservation and rescue of countless species on the verge of disappearance. While there, Adrian also received a six month diploma in endangered species management. Adrian has actively participated in several research projects including a two-year period working among the islands of the Sea of Cortez as herpetologist (a specialist in amphibians and reptiles), and a one-year period in the Lacantun Forest studying fresh water turtles. He also carried out a census of the maroon-fronted parrot in the Sierra Madre Oriental, a mountain range in northeastern Mexico. Adrian has also developed conservation strategies for the Mexican gray wolf, focusing on genetic and demographic management and calculating probabilities of extinction through computer simulations of population growth and decline. His main interest as a biologist is the conservation biology of fresh water turtles and other herpetofauna, but he is also a natural history enthusiast with a particular interest in birds and mammals of the Baja and Chihuahua ranges. A freelance painter, photographer and writer, Adrian has exhibited his oil and ink works in three Mexican galleries, and is the author of more than 140 articles on wildlife conservation.
Naturalist
John Pachuta
John’s passion is lifelong learning and sharing what he learns about the natural world with explorers young and old. He grew up in rural Ohio and graduated from Marietta College with a BA in Recreation Management. Wanderlust hit when John decided to ride his bicycle from Ohio to Florida at age 18, and he’s never looked back. After extended travels, John attended the University of Alaska, Anchorage, majoring in Education and Wilderness Studies, while working as a Wilderness Guide and Educator. Here he developed a love for wild places and the people who inhabit them, and a curiosity for species great and small. His appetite for adventure eventually led to Lindblad Expeditions in 2012, first as an Undersea Specialist, then as a Naturalist and a National Geographic Certified Field Educator, working from Alaska to Antarctica. John hopes to inspire travelers of all ages to become informed global citizens and stewards for environmental conservation. When he’s not teaching, guiding, or adventuring, John lives in the beautiful San Juan Islands of Washington State.
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