WOW’s instructors do what they teach and are passionate about the outdoor experience. Their staying power is resilient and their proven knowledge exceptional, Certified where necessary, their teaching abilities drive home our mission’s authenticity. They are the pillars of the WOW program.
Shelly Ament

Wildlife Awareness & Tracking
Wildlife, behavior, bear/cougar response, and animal tracking. Shelly also teaches Bear/Cougar Self Defense, and is a Wildlife Biologist at WA Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Cathy Bell

Knots & Fire Building
Cathy is a creative spirit and experienced teacher and will show you the most useful outdoor knots.
Dollie Boyd

Harvest Basket Weaving
Dollie is the Museum & Art Center Superintendent for the City of Moses Lake and will lead a course on weaving vocab, culture, history, and how to weave using fast-growing renewable resources.
Sarah Lange

Wilderness First Aid
Wounds, sprain/strains, and fractures, and how to address urgent medical issues in the field. Sarah is trained in wilderness first aid & response, and is a doctor of physical therapy.
Karin Cook

Archery
Beginning archery, traditional and recurve bow. Target practice and scoring arrows. Karin is a certified level-3 archery coach.
Laura Grayum

Wool Carding, Hunting Ed & Soap Making
Compound and crossbow techniques in Big Game Hunting. Laura is an accomplished bow and firearm hunter and a long-time dedicated wound nurse.
Faith Roland

Fly Fishing
Knots, dryland and river casting, equipment and bugs. Faith is WOW’s longest teaching instructor.
Sharon Gregg-Ellis

Fix it in the Field
Teaching clever tips for gear repair when you most need it. Sharon has also taught Backpacking, Kayaking and Survival Skills, and is a seasonal ski guide and national cycling champion.
Camille Speck

After the Harvest and Shellfish
Clamzilla is the WDFW Puget Sound Bivalve Manager. She teaches harvest techniques, how to forage shellfish safely and legally, and what to do with your shellfish once you bring it home.
Kris Costello

After the Harvest
As a WDFW rep Kris helps to demonstrate how to shuck oysters, clean crab, steam clams and more with shellfish.
Tamara Stanley

Tails & Trails
First aid for dogs: hands-on learning for in-the-field injuries & ailments. Tamara is the person in charge at Off-Leash Adventures.
Courtney Sullivan

Garden for Wildlife
On-site native plant & edibles gardening. Courtney is the Education Director at the Pacific National Wildlife Federation.
Liz Crain

Outdoor Survival Skills
Liz has been teaching outdoor wilderness skills for many years, and is also a hunter, butcher, and naturalist with knowledge of edible and medicinal plants, as well as mushroom foraging.
Cathy Taflin

Fire Building & Knots
Teaching girls and women basic outdoor skills for years, Cathy demonstrates the magic behind fire making.
Jackie McBride

Map & Compass
Jackie works for the WDFW and has experience as a ski patroller providing search & rescue, a firefighter/EMT, and as medical personal for the Tough Mudder challenge.
MaryPat Sullivan

Fire Building
Outdoor Education Manager at Warm Beach Camp & Conference Center, teaching basic outdoor skills for several years.
Katie Laushman

Co-teaches Map & Compass
Wildlife Area Manager in South Puget Sound and on the North Olympic Peninsula for WDFW and has lead fieldwork for dryland research projects across the Southwest.
Lea Dyga

Edible & Medicinal Native Plant ID
Lea Dyga is an ecologist, environmental educator, and community organizer originally from West Michigan. They hold a Bachelors of Environmental Plant Biology and has a passion for plants, restoration, and community education.
Mari Hunter

Co-teaches Wool Carding
Mari has raised sheep for over 12-years, and is experienced at spinning, weaving and crocheting wool fiber.
Former WOW Instructors
Many thanks to these who volunteered years teaching for the program.
Cheryl Drevecky

Map & Compass
Declination, bearings and topographic maps. Cheryl is an accomplished backpacker with search and rescue experience.
Ronni McGlenn

Waterfowling
Course creator, coordinator and Lead. Ronni was also a certified shotgun instructor.
Jill Eelkema

Survival Skills
Preparedness, awareness, shelters, fire building, and essential equipment. Jill is currently based in Colorado and is an avid outdoor woman.
Suni Pak

Fly Tying
Vise and tying techniques. Suni is an experienced fly fisher who ties her own patterns.
Katie Surbeck

Fly Fishing
Knots, dryland and river casting, equipment and bugs. Katie has also taught Camping Skills and Packing with Horses.
Jen Syrowitz

Snowshoeing & Survival
Choosing a trail, cold weather survival, avalanche safety. Having grown up in Canada, Jen knows snow!
Tiffanny Brooks

Wild Women Write
Nature journaling with feminine force. Tiff is a thoughtful communicator and burgeoning author.
Debbie Brisky

Beekeeping & Beeswax Creations
Colonies, live-hives, and honey. CWBA 2016 Bee Keeper of the Year, Debbie tends over 70 hives for local honey in Eastern Washington.
Gavin Stephenson

Waterfowling
Duck calling and protocol in the blind. Gavin is known for his exceptional duck calling skills.
Anastasia Allison

Backpacking & Hiking
Lightweight equipment, planning, coping and ‘Leave No Trace’ ethics. Anastasia is the violinist for The Musical Mountaineers and the inventor of Kula Cloth™.
Ragan Masterson

Dutch Oven Cooking and DIY Backpacking Food
Both a DIY and Dutch Oven instructor teaching preparation and hands-on cooking with tasting. Ragan is an avid hiker and a talented cook.
Cynthia Rainwater

Co-Teaches DIY Backpacking Food and Dutch Oven Cooking
Cynthia’s knowledge and research of the DIY backpacking food process
will amaze you. She also teaches hands-on Dutch oven cooking.
Bruce McGlenn

Big Game Hunting
Ethics, equipment, prep and hunting education. Bruce is the founder of the Human Nature Hunting School.
Laura Till

Map & Compass
Declination, bearings and topographic maps. Laura has taught map and compass for over 10 years.
Sharon Rose

Field to Freezer
Ethics, equipment, firearms, and shooting. Field to table instruction for wild meat prep & cutting.
Stacie Kelsey

Basic Freshwater Fishing
Spinning rods, reels, knot tying, lures & bait, and over-water casting. Stacie teaches freshwater fishing all across the state.
Karen Magnuson

Herbal First Aid and Wild Foods
Use local plants, beeswax and other natural herbs; identify, harvest, and sample wild edible plants.