Salish's highly motivated and qualified program staff.

Salish Sea Expeditions has a history of attracting and retaining highly qualified staff, and the 2008 seasons are no different.  More than half of this year’s staff members are returning from previous seasons, bringing with them a strong understanding of the program, a love of science and sailing, and an enthusiasm for working with students. 

Back row (left-right): Kevin, Lal, Erica, Elliott, Will, Lynn
Front row (left-right): Gerry, Sarah, Katie, Mollie (P.C.), and Abby
Not pictured: Erin

Katie Arkema, Marine Educator
Katie is originally from Duxbury, Massachusetts, a small coastal town near Cape Cod, where she grew up playing on the beach, exploring salt marshes and working at the homemade Danish ice cream store.  While at Princeton University, Katie studied poison dart frogs in Costa Rica, zebras and giraffes in Kenya, and coral reef fish in Panama.  She loves hanging out with young people in outdoor classrooms and has taught forest, desert and marine ecology at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI).  Katie completed her PhD research in the giant kelp forests along the coast of Santa Barbara, CA and is thrilled to be at Salish helping students study the ocean.

Lynn Asbeck, Mate/Marine Educator
Lynn grew up in an ocean-friendly family and spent her formative years bodysurfing, exploring tidepools, and hiking along the southern California coast. After graduating with a B.S. and M.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University, she spent the better part of three years sailing around the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans on tall ships as an assistant scientist with Sea Education Association(SEA).  She is excited to be working with Salish this fall, and is looking forward to sailing in new waters, and playing goofy games around the campfire.

Erica Bacon, Logistics Coordinator/Marine Educator
Erica comes to Salish after spending a year in Vermont’s “Northeast Kingdom” where she worked for a small environmental nonprofit. Committed to sustainable living and experiential education, Erica has been employed in the outdoor and environmental ed. field since graduating from Salisbury University with a degree in Environmental Issues in 2006.  She has led canoe and kayak expeditions in Algonquin Park, Ontario; Acadia National Park, ME; the Adirondack Waterways, NY; and throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. In college she studied coral reef ecology in Roatan, Honduras and is eager to work with Salish students as they explore the waters of Puget Sound.

Erin Bostrom, Mate
With many years of experience sailing in the Pacific Northwest, Erin brings enthusiasm and experience to Salish’s education programs, having worked in past seasons as both Mate and Marine Educator for Salish.  Originally hailing from New Hampshire, Erin has taught sailing and marine science on both coasts, with the Sea Education Association(SEA), Catalina Marine Science Institute, Scripps University’s Antarctica research station, and in the New Hampshire mudflats. Quick to smile and easy going, when she’s not out teaching on Carlyn, Erin can usually be found exploring new places on her bicycle. 

Kevin Campion, Captain
Kevin rejoins the Salish crew after spending the last half-year aboard the schooner Westward with Ocean Classroom Foundation. Before this year, Kevin was the full-time captain aboard Carlyn for Salish and Camp Four Winds, so he is excited to be back onboard in his home waters teaching students about sailing and Puget Sound! A Snohomish native, Kevin grew up in the marine environment. He is an adventurer who has taken part in research expeditions in Panama, as well as sailing and surfing adventures elsewhere.  He plays guitar and is quick to smile, and when he’s not out sailing, you can usually find him skateboarding around town. 

Elliott Day, Deckhand
A Seattle native, Elliott grew up exploring Puget Sound and the San Juans Islands both onshore and on the water. A University of Chicago graduate, Elliott has traveled extensively throughout South America and India, and has spent his most recent months working with kids on the water as the Waterfront Director at Camp Nor’wester. When he’s not on boats, you can usually find Elliott listening to music with friends, playing his mandolin, or relaxing with a good book.

Abby Loughrey, Deckhand
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Abby has been living in the Bay Area for the last several years after completing the Product Design program at Stanford University. Abby has been a waterfront instructor at Camp Nor'Wester, a rowing instructor for Oakland Unified School District, and most recently, an Americorps contruction site assistant for Habitat for Humanity East Bay, where she led volunteers in all aspects of building affordable, LEED certified homes. She loves learning and teaching new things, and is excited to work with students on Puget Sound.

Gerry Santillan, Captain
Gerry is the full-time Captain for both Salish and Carlyn’s owner, Camp Four Winds. Gerry is deeply familiar with Carlyn and the Salish program, having been both a Marine Educator and Mate onboard during past seasons, and he rejoined the Salish crew last spring after working full-time as the gardener at Four Winds Camp on Orcas Island, Carlyn’s summer home. Originally from Southern California, Gerry has taught sailing and marine science on both coasts, and his relaxed and approachable attitude makes him a natural with students. After a late-summer Carlyn trip to Canada’s Princess Louisa Inlet, Gerry is excited to get the fall season underway and may seek to reclaim his title of “King of Capture the Flag.”

Eulalie “Lal” Sullivan, Mate
Hailing from the Seattle area, Lal has worked with Salish for twelve seasons aboard Carlyn.  Originally from the East Coast, Washington and Alaskan waters have been her home since 1978.  She studied environmental biology at Smith College and received her master of marine affairs degree from the Univ. of WA.  In addition to working for Salish, Lal is a biologist and educator at the Seattle Aquarium and an instructor for the Windworks Sailing Club at Shilshole Marina.  Recent accomplishments include a blue-water delivery sail from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas to the Marquesas Islands, traveling in China, and sailing the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Will Voinot-Baron, Logistics Coordinator
A native to the Pacific Northwest, Will has grown up on the waters of Puget Sound and along the rocky coastlines of the San Juan Islands, hiking, kayaking, sailing, burning marshmallows and singing folk songs. His love of the ocean took him to coastal Maine for college, where he studied anthropology and environmental studies at Bowdoin College. Ultimately, he hopes to practice and explore public health as it relates to cultures and communities. Will spends his free time outdoors (rain or shine), volunteering at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, listening to good ole American folk music, or messing around on a hand-me-down thirty-year-old acoustic guitar.

Sarah Weigle, Marine Educator
Sarah grew up on Bainbridge Island, where she acquired an enthusiasm for sailing and marine ecosystems.  After graduating with an Earth & Environmental Sciences degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, she returned to the Puget Sound as an environmental educator. Sarah has experience teaching on boats, in Seattle schools, at outdoor education centers, and in the backcountry.  Her easy-going nature,  and passion for working with local youth out of the classroom make Sarah a natural fit on the Carlyn.  After working with Salish as a Deckhand in 2007, and Marine Educator last spring, Sarah is excited to return this fall and share her love of the Puget Sound ecosystem with our new students!