Ronn Patterson at Glacier Bay
© Thomas M. Johnson
Guides
Guides & Leaders
Ronn Patterson Owner and Captain of Delphinus
Ronn is a naturalist by profession, a marine biologist by training, a student of whales by practice, a professional photographer by habit, a teacher by inclination, and a writer by requirement. For over twenty-five years he has led natural history trips to such places as Africa, the Amazon, the Andes, Baja California and Mexico, the Galapagos, and Alaska.
Ronn founded the Natural Environmental Studies Program for the University of California Extension at Berkeley. During the fourteen years he directed that program, he also directed biology instruction and founded and directed the UC Extension Photography Program. In his last three years with the University, he was the Chairperson of the Science and Mathematics Extension.
Ronn’s study of whales led him to co-found the Whale Center, an international non-profit whale conservation group. He has also been a whale consultant and biologist for the U. S. Government as well as a delegate to and member of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.
In 1981 Ronn formed Dolphin Charters to offer travelers a rare combination: the enjoyment and celebration of the earth's wonders and a sound natural history education. From October through late April, Dolphin Charters offers cruises in the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento River Delta, and the Pacific Ocean as well as Mexico and the Galapagos. During the summer, Dolphin Charters offers one-of-a-kind journeys in British Columbia and Southeast Alaska.
Dolphin Charters has brought Ronn's life full circle--back to his college training in marine biology--and incorporated his interests in teaching, lecturing, writing, photography, research, and natural history.
Betty Sederquist
Betty is
a popular photo instructor and professional working photographer. She
has had a career in Alaska as an editor and acting photo editor for Alaska
magazine. She has years of professional experience in both teaching and
photography. Betty has joined us in Alaska for the past 8 years and we
look forward to her photo workshop in 2008. For more information on Betty,
see her web site at www.sederquist.com
Wildlife Special I with Betty Sederquist
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Brenda
Tharp
Brenda Tharp
has conducted both private and public workshops and seminars since 1985,
and has spoken to hundreds of people across the country through one-day
seminars, and slide presentations. She teaches through the acclaimed schools
of Santa Fe, Maine, and Toscana (Italy) Photographic Workshops, and Rocky
Mountain School of Photography, as well as conducting private tours and
workshops. Her classes emphasize the art of photography. Her book Creative
Nature and Outdoor Photography was published in March 2003 by Amphoto.
She has been a CANON photographer since 1993. Learn more about Brenda
at www.brendatharp.com
Wildlife Special II with Brenda Tharp
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Don Paulson
In April
of 1997 Don Paulson turned his longstanding passion for photography into
a full-time profession. He specializes in nature, travel and stock photography.
His images are marketed worldwide by SuperStock, a leading stock agency,
and are regularly reproduced in a wide variety of publications and applications.
Don’s compelling, often colorful fine-art prints are displayed in
many corporate collections. Don and his wife, Kathy, have traveled in,
and photographed, many exotic locales.
He is best known internationally as one of the most popular photographers
featured on Webshots.com, the world’s leading photography website.
Webshots members world-wide purchase enlargements of Don’s photos
or download them to their desktops. On a more regional scale, Don enjoys
tutoring and teaching photography workshops.
www.donpaulson.com
Whales
and Bears with Don Paulson
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John
Kipping, naturalist
John has
been a professional naturalist since age 14 working at the Randall Junior
Museum in San Francisco curating the native animal collection. The Director
Of Education at Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in famed Golden
Gate Park, and resident biologist at the Audubon Canyon
Ranch in Stinson Beach California, John has taught many field classes
for Ronn at UC Extension Berkeley, Davis, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles.
John has led natural history and wild river tours in the western US, Mexico,
Ecuador, Canada, and New Zealand. When not climbing around in trees as
a self-employed arborist and tree service contractor, John can be found
weaving baskets, gardening, bird-watching, floating wild rivers or making
your Delphinus trip more enjoyable.
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Dr.
Rafe Payne, Baja naturalist
Rafe is a
professor of biology at Biola University. He regularly teaches classes
in ecology, marine biology and marine mammals, to name a few. Rafe has
been teaching about the Natural History of Baja since 1979 and
has worked as a Naturalist in Baja for the past 20 years. Rafe loves Baja
and introducing people to its wonders, and the wonders of nature in general.
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Paul
Jones , Baja naturalist
Paul
is a life scientist with the US EPA in San Francisco. He works mostly
with wetland restoration projects and has also worked in research on seabirds
and marine mammals.
Paul has tons of sailing and sailing instructor experience. He has worked
as a wildlife guide for over 20 years, 6 years in Baja, and other places
too like Alaska, Utah, Washington, and locally. He also many years' of
adult-level teaching in ecology, zoology, wetlands, etc.
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Nicholas
Szatkowski, naturalist
Nicholas has been with us in Alaska for the past three summers and has gotten great reviews. Nicholas grew up in rural Maine, right beside Passamaquaddy Bay. After college he moved to Alaska and British Columbia and has lived in the Chilkat Valley, near Haines, for 6years. He has previously been a back country ranger in Alaska and worked on conservation, forestry, bear, wolverine, and glacier projects. He is very experienced at back country living, white water canoeing and kayaking and plays guitar He is enthusiastic about sharing his fountain of knowledge and experience of wilderness and wildlife of his home.
Thomas
Johnson,
naturalist
Tom, onboard
naturalist in Alaska and California, is the past president of the Whale
Center and founder of Albatross Guides. As a naturalist with The Whale Center
and other organizations for the past 25 years he has led natural history
and photography trips to Alaska, Australia, California, Canada, Costa Rica,Florida,
Hawaii, and Mexico. By our guests, Tom is renowned for his caring and fun
loving nature. Tom is a professional photographer and marine biologist with
a keen interest in marine mammals and birds. Learn more about Tom at www.natures-spirit.com
Art Taylor, Captain of Searcher
With over
25 years of professional ocean experience, Art has done it all. Starting
in 1974 as crew on a commercial fishing boat, he rose to First Mate of
the 65-foot Cat Special in 1977. Then he served as First Mate
on Searcher before becoming Master and Captain of the 75-foot
Champ. Art served as Master on another boat, personally maintaining
the engines and mechanical and electrical systems, then returned to Searcher
as Master in 1982. Now
Art owns and operates the 95-foot Searcher. He and his wife,
Celia, a trained and experienced naturalist, have been leading natural
history trips in Baja California's coastal waters and islands since 1985.
Description of Searcher
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Rob Gomersall, Skipper of S/V Sea Fever
An English
born Australian, Rob Gomersall has been sailing for 40+ years, and has
served as Skipper on both power and sail vessels in many parts of the
world. He is qualified by the Royal Yachting Association & the Australian
Yachting Federation to be an instructor of sailing and navigation. Because
he loves the sea, he has spent countless hours diving, photographing and
studying marine life. For 12 years, Rob lead nature trips to Australia's
outback, rainforests and oceans - giving travelers an intimate look at
the wilderness and wildlife which surrounds them.
Skipper's Qualifications:
• Master IV (USL) Skipper's Ticket
• Sailing Instructor (R.Y.A/A.Y.F.)
• PADI Scuba Dive Instructor
• 40+ of Years Sailing Experience
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David Wimpfheimer
David is a naturalist and biologist with a passion for the birds and natural history. His research and studies have taken him from seabird rookeries in Alaska to forests of the Sierra and deserts of the Southwest. David's extensive knowledge of the natural history is incorporated into his customized birding tours as well as with groups such as the Smithsonian Institution, Point Reyes Field Seminars, California Academy of Sciences, Oceanic Society and the National Audubon Society. Find out more about David at www.calnaturalist.com