"We were blown away by the caliber of employees we encountered at AWA! Every guide had something special to offer. I was amazed at their knowledge, passion, and personalities. We couldn't have dreamed of better guides. I now know my flowers and birds!"
~ Kristin M. |
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Brooke Edwards: Safari Program Director
In 1998, Brooke Edwards came to Alaska to work for Alaska Wildland Adventures as a Natural History Trip Leader. From the moment she stepped off the plane, she knew Alaska would become "home." She spends winter chasing her skiing passion from Alaska to the far corners of the world and is always excited to return to our lodge in Cooper Landing as the Safari Program Director each summer. Her illustrious career in the great outdoors has including stints as a sea-kayak guide, instructing for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), working as field faculty for Audubon Expedition Institute, running Alaskan rafting expeditions, fighting forest fires, building trails for the local Chugach National Forest, and teaching the art of telemark skiing. Brooke's goal: "finding new and exciting ways to discover Alaska on a daily basis." Brooke brings to her position with AWA an M.S. in Environmental Education with an emphasis on Ecotourism. Her passion and respect for the preservation of wild places makes her a perfect fit with AWA. When she's not program directing, Brooke can be found backcountry skiing, travelling the world, surfing, writing poetry, and spending quality time with her Alaskan husky, Nunatak.
Geoff Jans: Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge Manager
Geoff currently spends his winters with his wife Jessica in the mountain town of Girdwood, AK. For the last three
seasons, he's worked as a member of Alyeska Resort's Professional Ski Patrol team -- time well spent skiing the
Chugach Mountains legendary snow. Geoff came to Alaska in 2004 finding work as a sea kayak guide in the Misty
Fjords National Monument area of Alaska's beautiful Inside Passage. He received his bachelor's degree from the
University of Colorado in Geography and Environmental Science, and then headed north. "After moving to Alaska
everything fell into place for me." He met his wife, Jessica, his first summer here and the two of them took off for an
adventurous winter traveling in Southeast Asia. Travel is still a big focus for Geoff and Jess -- they recently enjoyed a
honeymoon in Peru and Chile -- and are looking forward to their next big adventure& any planning it! Geoff is excited to
get back to work in Kenai Fjords National Park this summer, where his love of big mountains and big ocean meet head
on with dramatic effect. We're happy to have him on the AWA team and are looking forward to his return to Kenai Fjords
Glacier Lodge!
Jessica Jans: Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge Hospitality Coordinator 
Jessica was born and raised in Ketchikan, AK. After 18 years in Southeast Alaska, Jess decided it was time to
experience life in the lower '48. She ventured out of state for college and graduated with a BA in psychology from Seattle
Pacific University. Jess thought that the move to the big city might uncover a love of fast-moving city life, but instead,
she felt herself pulled back to Alaska - and we're happy she's here! Jess says: "There's just something special about
home, and when your home is AK, well, it just doesn't get any better than that!" Jess recently married to Geoff Jans,
KFGL Lodge Manager, whom she met while kayaking in Southeast AK. They enjoy summers working together at Kenai
Fjords Glacier Lodge and winters skiing in Girdwood, AK. Always seeking new adventures, they spend many chilly
Alaska winter nights planning their next big adventure, which often takes the couple overseas during the shoulder
seasons.
Kyle Kolodziejski: Kenai River Sportfishing Program Manager
 Kyle (aka Lenny) is
our Fishing Program Manager and Fishing Guide extraordinaire at our
Kenai Riverside Sportfishing Lodge! When asked what brought Kyle to
Alaska, as he was born and raised in Toms River, NJ, he replied, "What didn't draw me here? Alaska is amazing!"
Indeed, our question was answered! After receiving his BS in Geology, Kyle packed up and headed for the mountains
(and rivers!) of Alaska. Kyle's been with AWA for six years, and talk about doing what you love for a living - his favorite
way to spend time is on the river! He is truly a fisherman at heart. A close second to Kyle's passion for fishing is skiing,
especially heli-skiing in the Chugach Mountains. He does have a soft spot for the occasional escape to a warm climate,
although odds are that he could still be thinking about his favorite fishing spot on the Kenai River!
Jason Tracer: Kenai Backcountry Lodge Manager
Jason grew up in Port Townsend, Washington. From an early age, Jason enjoyed exploring Olympic National Park's
mountains, temperate rain forests, and river valleys developing a love for the outdoors. With ample opportunity to explore
the outdoor region of the Pacific Northwest, he grew up backpacking, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in the area - which
prepared him to take advantage of the Alaskan outdoors upon his arrival in 2000. Jason brings a cultural anthropology
background to AWA. His passionate fascination with people of all walks of life has taken him through SE Asia, Central
America and Oceania (and we're happy that it brought him to Alaska too!). His first journey abroad found him learning
the cultural traditions and subsistence survival that encompassed his host family's day-to-day life on a remote island in
the Fijian Archipelago.
Jason has spent the last five years at Kenai Backcountry Lodge (KBL). With a wide AWA-repertoire, his adventures with
us have included Natural History Guide, Maintenance and carpentry expert, winter caretaker at Kenai Riverside Lodge in
Cooper Landing and four years managing KBL. Some of his favorite Alaska adventures include extensive big water
kayaking in Kachemak Bay State Park; backpacking trips throughout Denali National Park; and watching the summer
solstice sun set in the arctic. Sizing up his Alaskan experiences, Jason shares: "The natural beauty and grandeur of
Alaska never cease to amaze me. I'm happy to say that Alaska has become a significant part of me."
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