Meet Kim Powell | Naturalist Guide

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kim Powell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kim, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
My life began in the Buckeye State where I spent endless summer hours exploring the creeks of Ohio with an absolute fascination. During the long winter months, I built snow forts and dreamed of a life fully outdoors living off the land.  Surrounded by the greenery of Ohio with a creek flowing through our property, my life felt  complete.  I was a happy kid. At the age of eleven,  my family moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida where my passion for all things salty was ignited. I recall seeing my first manatee, a bulbous marine mammal that surfaced near us in the warm,  clear gulf water. Swimming among the Florida Manatees remains on my personal bucket list,  to share the experience  with friends as well as clients.  Later that memorable day,  we discovered a sea hare, a slimy marine invertebrate that oozes a vibrant  purple dye. A life long passion for finding, then learning about  creatures of the sea had begun.

Both my parents nurtured a deep love, appreciation and respect for the wonders of the natural world. They provided opportunities that would help shape my life as an adult.  I am so very  grateful for the support of my parents,  such as when they gave me an opportunity to study aboard. During my junior year of college, I traveled to Belize to study the ecology of coral reefs.  It was during that trip to Belize, that my blood turned blue. Inspired  by two college professors,  I would return to the tropics in the following decades as a naturalist guide, both as a career and a lifestyle.  

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my career as a naturalist guide in September of  1985 working for Wilderness Southeast, an outdoor school  based in Savannah, Georgia.  I recall the sheer excitement I felt  when  assigned to lead my first overnight canoe expedition to a Georgia Sea Island with a group of high school students. I remember the absolute thrill I felt teaching the students the art of casting a net to secure fish for dinner that night. We combed the beaches for tiny sea treasures, each with a lesson, an adaptation,  a story to share.  The Georgia coast is bursting with  natural wonders. It was an exciting “job”  to educate others about the Georgia Sea Isles.

Three decades later, I still experience the thrill of teaching and sharing with the outdoors as a classroom. I would never have predicted that life’s journey would take me from sharing the intricacies of Georgia sea creatures to kayaking among the giants, humpback whales in my backyard of Monterey Bay. Each experience as a naturalist is so unique and I remain passionate about sharing the lessons that nature offers us.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this story to my parents,  Frank Powell and Beverly “Bear” Powell. My parents are  my foundation, my heart and soul. My parents always supported me in a loving way and gave me the confidence to create, then follow my dreams and passions.

How would I spend the day in my home town?
When asked how I would spend a day in my home town of Santa Cruz, all I could do was smile. There are such exciting and seemingly endless possibilities. Santa Cruz is a progressive, laid back community positioned  on the edge of Monterey Bay. Designated a National Marne  Sanctuary in1992, Monterey Bay is teaming  with extraordinary marine life. Flourishing kelp beds, furry sea otters, species migrating across the bay from whales to butterflies, Monterey Bay is truly a dream destination for a naturalist.  27 years ago I landed in  Santa Cruz finding the diversity and richness of the marine life irresistible.  I am thankful each day to call Santa Cruz home.

I would begin the day with a stop for some dark roasted brew followed by a walk along West Cliff Drive. Over the years we have witnessed newborn sea otters wrapped up in kelp, pods of  dolphin, humpback whales lunging upward as they feed just meters from shore and sunsets exploding across the bay. One  incredible evening I was swimming along West Cliff Drive when a baby gray whale and it’s mother joined me for over an hour. An unforgettable life moment, truly profound. Before leaving the cliffs, let’s have  a quick stop at our surfing  museum to review Santa Cruz’s most famous aquatic sport. Included is a display that commands a nod to “our landlord”, the “man in the gray suit”,  also known as the great white shark. A map reveals  just a handful of shark attacks over the decades.

Mid day we could stroll along the historic Santa Cruz Wharf, grabbing some clam chowder and a locally brewed beer. From there we might kayak into the bay searching for whales and wildlife, mountain bike among wildflowers or hike through a majestic grove of redwoods, all within Santa Cruz County. Our day might end at a local book store or  wine bar  as we watch the migration of two legged characters found in our colorful downtown. A day well spent.

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