Just did the bioluminescence paddle at Elkhorn Slough with my two teens, and we absolutely loved it! The entire experience was magical -- from the stunning sunset to spotting harbor seals and multiple pods of sea otters (some even mating!), and of course, the glowing bioluminescence. We even got a great photo of a sea slug! We learned so much about each animal we encountered and enjoyed personal stories and insights Kim shared. I woke up this morning eager to check their calendar of events because I can't wait to do more tours with BWV. read more

Blue Water Ventures - Sunset - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I went to Baja for 10 days with Kim Powell of Blue Water Ventures last month. It was an absolutely fabulous trip with every detail and all logistics taken care. We camped on a remote beach on an island in the Sea of Cortez where we snorkeled, and also in Magdalena bay for whale watching. Kim is an amazing naturalistic with an infectious sense of joy in everything the natural world holds, from a teeny jelly to a gigantic Grey whale. You can't help but be caught up in her sense of wonder, having fun but also learning along the way. I only knew one person when the trip started, but ended up with 12 new friends. Highly recommend! read more

There are not enough lines here to say how fabulous Kim Powell and her partner in crime Nelly are running these fantastic adventures. Whether it's kayaking on the Santa Cruz Coast with all the sea lions, or whale watching or the most amazing experience of my life recently swimming with manatees in Crystal River Springs Florida.... they are incredibly knowledgeable naturalists about Marine wildlife and ecosystems and they run a really very cool fun trip! read more

A few weeks ago, we spent a wonderful late afternoon and evening winding our way through Elkhorn Slough with Kim as our leader - she's knowledgeable and fun but also knows when silence is the best narrative. The highly touted bioluminescence experience turned out to be the least interesting (to me, anyway) - I was all about the playful seals and "naughty" otters and amazing number of birds on display. The tide was super low and one seal was laying on kelp as if it were a hammock; I swear she waved at us. So cool. Finally, your age, size, experience level or shape doesn't matter if you decide to take a paddle with Blue Water Ventures. Never kayaked before? Doesn't matter. Shy? They're super friendly. We'll definitely book another kayaking spin with BWV and highly recommend. read more

Blue Water Ventures - Paddling in Elkhorn Slough w/ BWV, Sept. 5, 2020 - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I have gone on many of BWV tours over the years and I have never been disappointed. I normally have Kim, but I had Nikki this last time and they're both just as knowledgeable, fun, and helpful. The Elkhorn slough is always full of wildlife and natural beauty too. I'd say I'm an intermediate kayaker but I have brought several beginners along with me throughout the tours I've been on and they all have had a fantastic time. I highly recommend this tour group to everyone from kayaking beginners to kayaking experts. Out of all the tours I've been on, my favorite was the bioluminescent one. It was simply magical. read more

Blue Water Ventures - Kayaking within the Elkhorn Slough. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Loved our Elkhorn Otter/Seal Kayak tour with Lisa! She was very considerate and proactive with physical distancing precautions - reminded people to stand apart even with wearing masks, staggered the kayaks, reminded people of the same pod to stand across from each other and people from a different social pod behind to help transport kayaks. She was also nice enough to let us know her contacts so we definitely felt very safe and comfortable. The group was also kept to 10 people. Elkhorn Slough is a very special place and Lisa has lots to share about it! Blue Water Ventures definitely cares a lot about respecting the wildlife and teaching others about safe observation. Our whole group definitely appreciated this and were upset to see several Monterey Bay Kayak renters getting way too closer to the otters, seals, and disturbing the pelican resting place. Hopefully MBK will improve on educating their kayakers in the future. We've already recommended to our friends and plan on returning for another tour in the future! read more

Kim so gracefully guided our little human pod into the Monterey Bay, an incredible ecosystem that I've never had a chance to see like that. I've always entered the bay on motor boats or sail boats, never in my own power. I don't have words for how special it was to be brought in for even a moment to the humpbacks huge deep world. I feel more calm and grounded today after being in the presence of our little pod of people and the huge great beings and the many small ones that they depend upon. I can still feel the shimmery light of sun on water and circles of eyes and blow holes and sea lions. This memory will keep me hopeful on dark days. Thank you for sharing your love of the beings in my backyard that I hope to get to know better in the years to come. read more

This was the best kayaking trip of my life. Kim was so amazing in finding a time and date that worked best for us after COVID initially cancelled our trip back in April of last year. Our group leader Nikki was AMAZING! She was so knowledgeable and pointed out so much wildlife that I would have missed had I gone on my own. She was also just a really fun person. Totally hilarious. Made the day extra fun! We learned so many interesting details about the slough including seeing a real life sea pig. I don't want to spoil it for you, you have to go and find out for yourself! read more

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My very first adventure with Blue Water Ventures was an afternoon paddle. As a brand new kayaker I was really nervous, but Kim set me at ease and I had such a great time that I went home and immediately booked a 3 day camping and kayaking trip with BWV. As I write this, I just got back from the Florida Manatee adventure. A 5 star from yelp says "Woohoo! As good as it gets!", which is how I feel about the time I have spent with this group. Instructions are complete, and questions are answered. I have always felt safe and in capable hands. Kim is easy going with a great sense of humor. All the events I have attended have attracted really great folks, with many being return customers. Kim is not only great on the adult trips, but she's also amazing with kids. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the ocean and it's inhabitants is infectious. I definitely recommend Blue Water Ventures, and Kim Powell. read more

Blue Water Ventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Literally just got back from the Elkhorn Slough Otter/Seal Kayak Tour. It was amazing! Saw and learned about otters, seals, pelicans, jellyfish, and all these other cool critters. Elkhorn Slough is just a beautiful, special place. The tour overall felt super safe apart from my bestie finding a used mask in her life vest pocket (I'm sure it was a one time oversight as the company takes covid precautions very seriously). All in all it was a just great day out on the water. Lisa is an amazing guide and knows and cares sooo much about the wildlife. We wanted to just keep talking with her after the tour. Respect!!! And would def go on another tour with her! Side note, Monterey Bay Kayaks rents out kayaks in the same area. It's great to get people out into nature, but MBK needs to do guided tours or at least teach about safe observation of wildlife first. Saw several MBK kayakers disturbing/scaring the wildlife. NOT ok. read more

This was one of those trips that is so surreal you can't possibly describe! From soaring Golden Eagles to grumpy groaning sea lions(wolf seals as we found out from our guide Luke) playful Otters nurturing their pups and busy eating shellfish, playing whack a mole with us to see when they would pop up next, birds, on and on, the fun, serenity, peace and amazement did not stop all day. I would give more stars if allowed! This is a must see bucket list item. You gotta do it! read more

Blue Water Ventures - Come see me in Elkhorn Slough! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Enjoy the beautiful day on the Elkhorn Slough, Kim and Luke were fantastic. Very welcoming, had a lot of information about the wildlife. Absolutely loved it read more

Blue Water Ventures - Birds near the harbor - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Had a great day on the water whale watching. Kim is charming and so knowledgeable on oceans life. We were even shown a show and tell which was fascinating. Whales were in abundance, otters were out and carrying their pups. So much more than expected. Thanks Kim. Will be getting a group of friends to book for the next trip. Mickey read more

We went as a group of three adults and two children. The gear was well maintained. The instructions were clear. The guides were very informative and attentive. We saw seals, otters and jellyfish. We were the in the lucky batch to see a small gray whale. This was totally worth it and totally worth the drive. read more

My friends and I went kayaking in Elkhorn Slough with Kim and Nicky and it was one of the most fun things I've ever done in my life! I want to give it ten stars! We bought groupons for this guided kayaking adventure. If you go to Blue Water's website, you'll find the available dates for the Elkhorn Slough kayaking. We picked a date that worked for all of us and then made reservations for a morning kayak session. Once we got there, we got instructions on how to paddle, picked a kayak (they are double kayaks, so two people per kayak, and they come in different colors!), and started kayaking in the water. And we saw a lot of amazing wildlife! Right away, we saw a bunch of harbor seals and they were super cute! We also saw a sea otter in the beginning too, just floating on its back. We paddled some more into the slough and passed a group of sea lions - they were quite loud! We paddled into this area that was a sand dollar field! This was pretty cool! Then Kim showed us a sea hare! I had never heard of this marine creature before and it was probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It's basically a giant sea slug and it oozes out purple stuff. We got lucky that we got to see one on our trip. We also saw pelicans feeding, which is always great to see because they like torpedo into the water really fast. We also saw some pretty egrets. And one of the best parts of the kayaking trip was that we saw a giant raft of otters. There were maybe 15-20 of them and they were so cute! Not only did we get to see lots of awesome marine life, but it was like the best marine biology class ever, cuz Kim would also explain and talk in more detail about the animals, like about the behaviors of the wildlife and about the physiology of the animals. I appreciated that this wasn't just a marine safari in the slough, but also an opportunity to learn. Some tips: *Make sure to get there a little bit early to pay for parking. It was $6 cash when we went and you get this yellow parking card to put on your dashboard (that you give back afterwards). You also have to fill out and sign a waiver form. *Because you use double kayaks, if your group is an odd-number of people, one of you will likely end up being paired with someone else from an odd-number group or a solo traveler. Hurray for new friends! *Either wear water shoes or like those strappy sandals like Tevas. If you don't have either of those, wear old sneakers that you don't care about, because your feet and shoes will get wet when you get into your kayak. You have to step into the water to get on. And again when you get out of the kayak at the end. *If you have them, wear some waterproof or water-resistant clothes! I wore a rainjacket and rainpants. Maybe I was paddling wrong, but water kept coming into my seat and onto my legs. But the rainpants definitely helped. *Bring a change of clothes and a change of shoes for afterwards! Even though I was wearing rain stuff, the sleeves of my shirt got wet from the water running down my arms and the pants I was wearing under my rainpants still got wet. There's are restroom facilities that you can change in. *Bring an easily portable snack, like a granola bar, and some water. You're going to be kayaking for like 2+ hours and it's a lot of armwork! I got really hungry! *It's on the website and in the confirmation email from the company, but definitely bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. It was a gorgeous sunny morning when we went and you're kayaking in uncovered water the whole time. I had the best time on this trip and I thought Kim and Nicky were great! They made it fun but also educational at the same time. The company also offers several other kinds of trips, including a bioluminescent kayak tour at night which sounds super cool. My friends and I definitely want to do that one! read more

Wow, what to say about Blue Water Ventures! if I had more money I'd sign up for all of their trips! I've been going on trips with Kim Powell who owns and operates Blue Water Ventures for years and her trips have never let me down. She is an amazing organizer of fun for everyone! Being an OCD Planner myself, I always know that if I'm signing up for a BWV trip, I don't have to worry about anything, that Kim will have everything covered or she will instruct you exactly what you need to bring. Kim is a very knowledgeable naturalist, a professional kayaker, and can make anyone feel at ease being on the water. I've been on various organized trips through BWV, such as Elkhorn Slough Paddles, Mendocino Cave Kayak/Camping Trip, Sunset and Full Moon Paddles, and most recently her Big Sur Seals, Tidepools & Morro Bay By Kayak Trip. Also, I have to mention, don't be afraid to sign up for any of her trips alone, as she, her group, and the people who attend her trips are some of the most welcoming people you will come across. You will leave her trips having added more friends to your FB account. Her trips are so much fun I have added to my Must Do list: - Baja Whales & Wildlife Trip - Belize Rain Forest, Reefs & Ruins Trip - The Florida Manatees Trip I can't wait! read more

We recently can back from a magical trip from Baja with Kim's company and I am still reeling with all that we saw: flying mobula rays, dive-bombing pelicans, shy turtles, curious sea lions and their pups, and most of all the magical gray whales!!! The last half of the trip was like whale watching on steroids. The campgrounds and food provided by the outfitter, Mar y Adventuras, was superb. Kim is such a fun guide and knowledgeable naturalist. Nellie and Roman, the other guides, were also super knowledgeable and friendly. The 10 day trip to Baja was very well organized and all the meals were provided. You didn't really have to plan much of anything. Just pack what you need and go. Baja is a very special place and we were very lucky to see and experience what we saw. We were fortunate to have Kim and her crew navigating us through this grand place. Check out this trip and her other local kayaking excursions! read more

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We took our kids kayaking with BWV yesterday. We used a groupon (sometimes I need an email to get me motivated) but the regular prices are just slightly higher than going and renting your own kayak from a nearby rental place. Going with BWV gave so much more: kayaking instruction plus loads of information about what you are seeing. Adults and kids loved it. Kim and Nikki are fun, knowledgeable, respectful of nature. The trip was an active and educational experience. I can support great people running a responsible, small business doing something they love! read more

The best way to adventure out!! Kim and the crew rock it always guaranteed fun. We had the most amazing whale watching tour and saw so many whales I was exhausted THANK YOU!!! read more

Our daughter bought us a Blue Water Venture kayaking trip on Groupon and gave it to us for Christmas. Awesome trip! Nikki and Luke were friendly, experienced guides who took us on a fun and educational tour of Moss Landing Harbor and the Elkhorn Slough in tandem kayaks. We had kayaked in mountain lakes but never in sea water, and our guides gave us the instructions we needed to have a safe and enjoyable excursion. We saw harbor seals, sea otters and pups, sea lions, and lots of birds. The day we went there were 3 couples and a family of 5, plus the guides. Ages ranged from around 12 to 60. Everyone looked like they had a great time. My biggest fear was getting out of the kayak at the end of the trip since my hips aren't what they used to be, but with guidance and help from Nikki and my husband, no problem. We would definitely recommend. read more

Thanks for a great Sunday morning kayak, Kim! We went on the Elkhorn Slough for 3+ hours and visited a ton of wildlife and got a TON of knowledge about the area and its inhabitants. Did you know that a brown pelican has a wingspan of 6 ft but only weighs 12 pounds? (My height/weight ratio is slightly different - probably why I can't fly. :( ) Did you know that male otters bite females on the face when mating? (Not cool, male otters!) Did you know that an elephant seal can weigh up to 6,000 lbs!!? (We didn't see any, but dang!!) Most of the group had groupons, but I was able to purchase a tour and go with my friends anyway after emailing Kim. It was super easy to coordinate and she did a great job making sure we knew all the details. I loved getting out onto the water and hanging with the otters, harbor seals, sea lions, pelicans, and even the super-abundant sea nettle jellies. Highly recommend this group for a guided tour of the slough and a sweet little adventure. When I drive by I will have a new appreciation of all that is in and around that brackish backwater! Nature is cool, man. read more

, Provides wonderful wildlife experiences. Very knowledgeable naturalists. The women's only whale watch cruises are particularly great. read more

Blue Water Ventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I bought a Groupon for BWV because I wanted to kayak in the Slough, but as a novice, I thought it would be wise to have some guidance. I was a little nervous at the beginning of this trip, but Kim made me feel comfortable. If you have any questions or qualms about going, contact Kim, she's very helpful. She's also knowledgeable about the area, and respectful of the wildlife. read more

Nikki and Kim are knowledgeable, helpful, and positive. They practice social distancing and adhere to the highest safety protocols on their exoeditions. A beautiful and educational way to spend an afternoon. read more

Kim Powell is an amazing woman as is her company Blue Water Ventures. I have been going on her trips for over ten years and every one has been a wonderful and memorable experience. I have gone on many of her kayaking trips in the Monterey Bay, Elk Horn Slough,through Mendocino's Sea Caves and more. Even better, her trips are not limited to the united states. I have gone to Belize with her FANTASTIC! and most recently on her Baja Whale trip. We started in LaPaz where we stayed in a wonderful small in. From there we headed over to Magdalena Bay where we camped on the beach while being catered to by additional naturalists and very, very good cooks. Magdalena Bay was an unforgettable experience. Magdalena Bay is famous for being home to the "Friendly" Grey Whales"-they came right up to our boat, an extraordinary experience. From Magdalena Bay we continued over to the Sea of Cortez, again camping and being catered to :) In the Sea of Cortez we saw Blue Whales, the largest mammal on earth, and snorkeled with young sea lions. If you want to have a great experience in nature, take one of her trips. You will NOT be disapointed and will want to go on them all! read more

We bought by Groupon and Elkhorn slogh kayaking. It was very nice! Kim is the best teacher. She taught everything. I didn't expect to see animals but you can see many otters, harbor seal!! Amazing! Don't be scared to fall down water. I was very afraid to fall down to water but never! Because Kim and Jackie were great! read more

We went on our first Whale Watching tour from Moss Landing, California. Kim (our guide, the Naturalist) was fantastic! She was well prepared, with clear instructions and she was full of interesting information about all of the wildlife we encountered. The Captain of the boat knew exactly where to take us to find the whales. The other women on the tour were fun too. Several of us met up early (organized by our guide Kim as an informal opportunity to meet each other and chat prior to the event) for some beach time and socializing. Everyone was so friendly and the whole experience exceeded my best expectations. Kim was well prepared with things we might need (or might have forgotten) for a minimal price on the honor system. In fact this whole experience was so well planned, easy and fun that we are now saving to go on one of her longer excursions in the Virgin Islands or Baja! I absolutely recommend this for anyone! We saw all sorts of bird, whales, otters and jellyfish. read more

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My wife and I did a week long kayak/camping trip with Blue Water Ventures and had the time of our life. If you want to camp, this is the way to do it! Kim Powell and her fabulous crew do all the schlepping and cooking and planning, and you just show up and enjoy. Kim is so knowledgable about all things natural... you will learn stuff you can use to impress your friends for years! She's the best out there! read more

Blue Water Ventures is top notch. Kim is very professional and our guide, Nikki was very knowledgeable and fun. Our group of 6 loved the experience from beginning to end. We went on the Elkhorn Slough tour and I will definitely be trying some of the other trips they offer. read more

I didn't think it was possible to top Kim's 5-star Belize trip -- but Tonga was truly the adventure of a lifetime! From snorkeling in the water with the awe-inspiring whales, to learning basket-weaving from the women of Tonga, to staying in huts right on the water in 3 different amazing islands, to truly magical snorkeling -- and of course led by Kim's infectious enthusiasm, thoughtful planning, and wonderful sense of adventure, it's unbeatable! read more

We used a Groupon to do the Elkhorn Slough kayaking trip and invited some friends. Kim could not have been more accommodating and helpful as we made the arrangements. Her communications answered all of our questions, so when we arrived to start our morning of exploration, we were ready to go! The kayaks were comfortable and well-maintained. Kim and Nicki (sp?) did an excellent safety and introduction talk and gave great instructions for people in the group who were new to kayaking (I used to be a river guide and I know that this can be spatially challenging for some). We were in the water promptly at 10am and everyone made it in their kayaks without capsizing! After a few minutes of the group getting used to the controls, we began a tour of the marina. Right off the bat we saw otters and seals as well as groups of wading birds. Kim has a great eye and was able to identify everything and explain what we were seeing while keeping a respectful distance from the wildlife. I truly appreciated her sense of stewardship as we went through the fragile slough habitat. Once in the slough, we saw more otters and a variety of birds. Kim helped the group navigate the current and winds so that no one had to paddle too hard. Kim was always receptive to questions and made sure that no one got separated from the group. I was truly impressed with her leadership and knowledge and I hope to go on more trips with Blue Water Ventures in the near future. read more

Had an amazing paddle out this morning in the vibrant waters of the Elkhorn Slough. Amelia and Aaron were our fabulous and thoroughly knowledgable guides. Learned so many interesting facts about the history of the slough and about the animals that either live there or pass through. Saw several Mom & Baby Otter pairs as well as a floating raft of about a dozen or so male Otters. Also saw many Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, and a variety of migratory seabirds. Can't wait to go out with this kayak company again. A superior experience compared to others, for sure. read more

The first time that I went on a trip with Blue Water Ventures was a kayak day trip in monterey bay. I followed on a family tour of Elkhorn Slough which was a fantastic intro to kayaking for my young daughter. Kim, the owner and main guide, was knowledgeable, friendly, and amazing with kids. The paddles, while appropriate for beginners, were lots of fun even for those of us that have a fair amount of paddling and wilderness experience. But it wasn't until I went to Baja this winter that I truly understood how amazing BWV trips are. I spent a week going from beautiful La Paz to Magdalena Bay's "whale camp" where we saw majestic grey whales, camped out in super cool beach tents, and enjoyed Kim's (and our local guide's) entertaining knowledge of the area. We finished the trip in the Sea of Cortez snorkeling with young sea lions - they really are just like puppies -and explored some beautiful little islands by kayak! Since we had a little extra time before we left Mexico, she even took us out to snorkel with whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. Amazing! She did it just because she loves it and wants to share the experience with others. The thing is that you could go do these trips with a different outfitter but Kim makes the adventures so incredibly memorable. Her child-like enthusiasm combined with her intense care for the natural world is both completely addicting and inspiring. There are few people that can keep up with her energy but somehow she inspires us all to keep trying. I will definitely join more trips in the future and can't recommend the trips highly enough. read more

Last weekend I had the most incredible experience with Blue Water Ventures while kayaking in the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. As soon as we left the harbor we saw a mother gray whale and her calf. But our adventure didn't stop there as we continued to look for more whales (which we did see) we kayaked over to the pier and saw sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions playing in the kelp. Kim who leads this trip is an experienced marine biologist and naturalist who readily gives interesting information about all of the wildlife. I recommend this trip and I had such an awesome time that I am going again this Sat May 7th "Whales and Wildlife Kayak to Brunch" read more

I went on the ladies night paddle in Elkhorn Slough it was a wonderful trip. I live close to the Slough but had never been on the water at night. It was really a magical experience Kim and Jackie and Chris were wonderful guides. Highly recommend this outfitter read more

My boyfriend & I went kayaking with this Company last weekend in Elkhorn Slough & we had a fantastic time. I'm quite a beginner at kayaking & was a bit apprehensive at first but the staff gave us all life jackets & made us feel really safe in the water. Nikki & Stephanie, our guides were super nice, fun & knowledgeable regarding the area & the wildlife we saw. I'd say that the Elkhorn Slough trip is perfect for first time kayakers, as the water wasn't very rocky being in an estuary in the morning. We saw loads of sea otters, harbor seals & migrating birds. I had a great time & could have stayed out there all day! I hope to do this trip again in the future. read more

We bought our trip off Groupon and went on the sea otter and sea lion kayak adventure. It was so incredible and absolutely surreal. It was beautiful and amazing to ger close up to the sea otters and harbor seals. You will not be disappointed on this trip. Luke was a fantastic guide and had incredible knowledge on the animals and their surroundings. We will definitely be going on this trip again. read more

Did a groupon for kayaking in Elkhorn slough - was a really great trip guides were super knowledgeable and pointed out some cool stuff - got very close to some sea otters when they popped up. Kim and staff did a great job communicated what you needed to bring etc. They were great. read more

Went with Kim Powell to kayak on the Mendocino Sea Caves and was blown away. Pure joy! She is very experienced and anticipates any possible hassles, but also retains utter enthusiasm for the wildlife plus the skills, thrills and spills of kayaking. We always felt secure enough to try new techniques at the Van Damme State Park. We had three days of excitement on the water, and each day was different. Paddling up the Albion river was a quiet treat and we spotted river otters, seals, as well as comorants, hawks, terns, gulls, and red-winged blackbirds. Meals were delicious and BWV accommodated dietary requests by some gluten-free, carbo-light, lactose intolerant guests. There were 14 people in our group and most camped out in tents on the river. Bliss under the clear skies, and even during a shower. Some folks opted for nearby lodging in motels, inns, etc. It would be tough to take whiny kids under 10 on such a trip, but all skill-levels were able to cope. Kim adjusts to the swell, the tide, and the mood of the group. We'll be back for more! read more

Kim Powell and her team are simply the best in enabling you to have an outdoor adventure on or near water. Having taken trips with Kim to Baja California (whale watching), Tahoe area and Mendocino (kayaking) I can testify that each trip provides a wonderful, safe, informative and playful environment in which to get "closer to nature". Kim's knowledge as a naturalist combined with her "deep blue" passion experience make for an exceptional combo. Highly recommended! read more