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.
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™.
Shelly Ament
Wildlife Awareness & Tracking
Wildlife, behavior, bear/cougar response, and animal tracking. Shelly also teaches Bear/Cougar Self Defense.
Cathy Bell
Get Roped In
Create useful outdoor devices with ropes, parachute cord and thread. Cathy is a creative spirit and experienced teacher.
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.
Tiffanny Brooks
Wild Women Write
Nature journaling with feminine force. Tiff is a thoughtful communicator and burgeoning author.
Karin Cook
Archery
Beginning archery, traditional and recurve bow. Target practice and scoring arrows. Karin is a certified level-3 archery coach.
Laura Grayum
Big Game Hunting
Compound and crossbow techniques in Big Game Hunting. Laura is an accomplished bow and firearm hunter.
Sharon Gregg-Ellis
Fix it in the Field
Clever tips for gear repair when you need it. Sharon also teaches Backpacking, Kayaking and Survival Skills.
Lori Johnson
Soap Making
All natural cold-processed soap using fats and essential oils. Lori also teaches Kayaking.
Stacie Kelsey
Basic Freshwater Fishing
Spinning rods, reels, knot tying, lures & bait, and over-water casting. Stacie teaches freshwater fishing all across the state.
Sarah Lange
Wilderness First Aid
Wounds, sprain/strains, and fractures. Sarah is trained in wilderness first aid and response.
Bruce McGlenn
Big Game Hunting
Ethics, equipment, prep and firearms. Founder and lead instructor of Human Nature Hunting School.
Karen Magnuson
Herbal First Aid and Wild Foods
Use local plants, beeswax and other natural herbs; identify, harvest, and sample wild edible plants.
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.
Faith Roland
Fly Fishing
Knots, dryland and river casting, equipment and bugs. Faith is WOW’s longest teaching instructor.
Camille Speck
After the Harvest and Shellfish
“Clamzilla” is the WDFW Puget Sound Bi-valve Specialist. Harvest techniques, shellfish health and safety, and delicious recipes.
Tamara Stanley
Paws Need Protecting
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.
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!
Cathy Taflin
Fire Building & Knots
Teaching girls and women basic outdoor skills for years, Cathy demonstrates the magic behind fire making.
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.
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.
John McGlenn
Big Game Hunting
Ethics, equipment, prep and firearms. John, a US Navy Distinguished Marksman in rifle and pistol, also taught shotgun shooting at Waterfowling workshops.
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.
Dwight Brisky
Beekeeping with Live Hives
Colonies, live-hives, and honey. CWBA 2016 Bee Keeper of the Year, Dwight 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.