Our Story & Meet the Team

Nolan is a seasonal resident of Vancouver Island, each spring migrating across B.C. from the Kootenay’s, where he spends the winter working at Baldface Lodge. Nolan has been guiding kayak tours for several seasons, and is stoked to explore the special places along Ucluelet’s coastline. He is most excited for, morning coffee on the beach, wildlife viewing, stargazing, and seeing a bunch of happy kayakers. Nolan is a Level 3 Sea Kayak Guide, a Level 1 Sea Kayak Instructor, and holds a SVOP boat licence.

Morgan attended the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training at Strathcona Park lodge, where she developed her skills and passion for sea kayaking. All the amazing things to learn outside sparked the desire to go back to school to study them.

Now she spends her winters in the West Kootenays, learning and snowboarding, before making the annual trip back to the coast to explore this incredible ecosystem.

When not guiding, you can catch her on the trails, in the surf, or looking up facts about that cool thing she just saw.

Michael is no stranger to the open water. He’s paddled the entire East Coast, from the belugas of the St. Lawrence Estuary to the towering icebergs off Newfoundland’s shores.. He’s now making his way to the West Coast for fresh challenges after spending a couple years guiding in Nova Scotia. With over 10 weeks spent solo on epic expeditions, Michael had his fair share of long, remote paddles, navigating some of the most beautiful Canadian coastlines.

When Michael’s not guiding, he’s always on the lookout for his next adventure and new waves to surf in his boat. While he’s deeply passionate about paddling, his love for marine life has always gone hand-in-hand with his passion for the Ocean. And whether he’s on or off the water, you can count on him to be chasing good vibes and plenty of laughs.

Vince has been guiding sea kayak trips in BC for the past couple years, this is going to be his first season for Hello Nature and he’s really excited about it.

Vincent is from Quebec and even though there’s really nice kayaking there, his love for whales and the biodiversity that the Pacific Ocean offers brings him back every year. Vince spends his winter in Quebec telemark skiing, guiding in the backcountry and ski patrolling.

Born and raised on Salt Spring Island, Lisa Marie Stafford naturally fell in love with the ocean. When not kayaking, Lisa spends her quality time with her family, and supports children in the public school system through her work as an Education Assistant. She’s been guiding for over 20 years in the Gulf Islands and across Vancouver Island.

Lisa is a Level 3 Guide with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance and a Paddle Canada level 2 kayaking instructor.

Born and raised on mainland British Columbia, he ran away to live the island life out on the West Coast. With a BA in Anthropology from UVIC and a diploma in Outdoor Recreation Management from Capilano University, Jonathan is your go-to guide for educational knowledge. He loves engaging in conversation with our guests on the biodiversity of our ecosystem, and spends his time living an endless summer between BC and New Zealand.

Born and raised in North Vancouver, Tal grew up playing in the coastal waters of Howe Sound and on Gambier Island.

When he is not on the water surfing or fishing, you can find him exploring the backcountry on skis, mountain biking or practicing guitar. He is studying in Golden, BC where he attends College of the Rockies in the Adventure Tourism Business Operations Program.

Tal is excited to share his curiosity and love for the ocean life with guests to provide fun and positive experiences.

A founding member of the Swell Pirates, Caelin is a SKGABC Level 2 Guide and Paddle Canada Level 2 Instructor known for her quiet confidence and deep intuition on the water. With a background guiding in some of the most technical, current-driven environments in Canada, Caelin brings a rare mix of skill, awareness, and calm leadership to every course.
Talented and humble, Caelin has an exceptional ability to read both people and conditions, creating learning spaces that feel supportive, challenging, and fun. Her teaching reflects a genuine love for the craft of paddling and a commitment to helping others find comfort and confidence in dynamic water.

Kat is originally from Vienna, Austria and fell deeply in love with the Pacific Ocean and the rugged coast of Vancouver Island about seven years ago.

She is passionate about sharing her love for the waters and surrounding nature and get people stoked on connecting with their bodies and the outdoors as a surf instructor and new kayak guide.

Her dedicated mindfulness practice supports her in staying present and focused on the tasks at hand and in enjoying the beauty of life from one moment to the next.

Rina grew up on the dry prairies of southern Alberta and has been making up for it ever since by spending most of her life on the water. Now working as a kayak guide, canoe guide, and certified wilderness first responder, she splits her time between the wild waterways of northern Canada and the rugged west coast of British Columbia.

You can find Rina with a smile on her face and a paddle in her hands, sharing her enthusiasm for wild spaces and the plants and animals that call those places home.  When she’s not paddling, Rina can be found backpacking, fishing, creating art, or chipping away at projects on her off-grid property.

Kristina was raised on her family’s farm in southern Saskatchewan and the liberty of that lifestyle founded her wanderlust at a young age. She has followed her love of wild places across Canada working either as a biologist or guide. However, no matter how far she goes you’ll always find her near the water and these days when she’s not on the ocean you’ll find her in the Xwulqw’selu watershed mapping groundwater for her Ph.D.