Valerie hails from Canada, the land of the polar bear and the maple leaf. At a young age, Val fell in love with the Canadian outdoors and made the obsession her vocation. An avid kayaker, climber, camper, and tree hugger, she spent many years helping others use these activities to stretch their boundaries and step out of their comfort zone through personal development work.
Valerie worked at multiple Outward Bound schools in both the United States and New Zealand. Between work stints, she completed several university degrees, taught outdoor and environmental education in Australia, and spent 12 months exploring the culture and hidden gems of Central and South America and Thailand. After completing a certificate in Arctic Studies from Lapin Yliopisto — University of Lapland in Finland, Val turned her polar obsession southward and began working on expedition ships with Quark in Antarctica in 2008.
Valerie enjoys helping others discover the magic of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by kayak, SUP, Zodiac, and on foot. When not on a ship, she is an environmental champion, teaching outdoor and environmental education in Raglan, New Zealand, and running a business upcycling kitesurfing gear into unique bags. She also releases her itchy feet by leading youth expeditions to developing countries for student accelerated growth experiences.
