Favorite Animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Great Grey Owl

John’s long career in outdoor recreation and environmental education began right here in the GYE as part of the Teton Science Schools Graduate Program. Since then, John has been an administrator for Nature Centers in Utah, Colorado and Kansas. He has also worked as a middle school science teacher and as a biologist for the US Forest Service studying birds for their Neotropical Migratory Bird Program.  John earned his Bachelor's Degree in Natural History from Prescott College and did additional graduate studies at New Mexico Highlands University. He is a Certified Interpretive Guide with the National Association of Interpretation, a Leave No Trace Master Educator, and Certified Outdoor Leader with the Wilderness Education Association.  John is thrilled to be part of this organization that deeply connects people with the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and all of its wonders.

Favorite Animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Coyote

Kevin Taylor has been part of the Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools team since 2002. Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters of Science in Botany.  His biological research experience includes several wildlife research projects, as well as mapping distribution of rare plant species and the effects of global climate change on mountain plants.  He believes that it is critical to include modern humans when discussing natural history and ecology, and he studies and teaches ethnobotany and ethnozoology.  Hunting, gathering, gardening, raising chickens and bees, and constantly performing ethnological experiments in Jackson Hole allow Kevin to become increasingly intimate with the ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and interpret the human history of the GYE with a hands-on perspective.

Roger grew up in New England, attended college in the mid-west, and lived for 25 years in the Seattle area. He fell in love with the greater Yellowstone ecosystem in his early 20s and has finally made it back to fully enjoy it! Along with his guiding, he is a remodel contractor and an avid skier.

Hometown: Feeding Hills, Massachusetts
Favorite Animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Red Tail Hawk

Hometown: Hamilton, NJ
Favorite animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: River Otter

Bobby grew up in Hamilton, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University and obtained an Animal Science degree with a focus on animal behavior. After school Bobby served as a Biologist at Adventure Aquarium outside of Philadelphia. It was there he discovered his passion for education. Since 2013 Bobby has travelled around the West Coast exploring a variety of ecological education opportunities. He spent four years guiding kayak tours and working as a naturalist on whale watch boats. He also worked as an outdoor educator in the mountains of California and at Teton Science Schools before joining the Wildlife Expeditions team.

Hometown: Buchanan, Georgia

Favorite animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Pine Marten

Mike grew up on a farm near Buchanan, Georgia where his family raised livestock, corn, soybeans, and pine timber. Recognizing the value and importance of the natural world at an early age, he developed a strong interest in natural resource conservation which led to a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Louisiana Tech University, and a Master of Science in Wildlife Science from Utah State University. In graduate school Mike performed research on mammalian carnivore communities where his study subjects were coyotes and striped skunks in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and then pine martens in Yellowstone National Park, his favorite wildlife species. Mike has worked as a professional wildlife biologist in the western U.S. since 1994. This includes three years as a part-time Guide for Wildlife Expeditions (2009 through 2011). He is excited to now have a full-time opportunity to share his passion for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Favorite Animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Gray Wolf

Scott has enjoyed a lifelong passion for animals and the outdoors since he began observing ants for hours at a time as a four-year old. In college he developed his skills as a birder, and has led bird-watching trips in Alaska, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico since 2007. His desire to share his love of nature led him to work as the Education Coordinator for a California State University ecological reserve. Since building his home in Wyoming in 2020, he has enjoyed sharing his knowledge as a wildlife tour guide In Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Scott is the author of the highly reviewed novel Yellowstone DNA, a tale of Lamar Valley wolves.

Hometown: South Lyon, MI
Favorite animal in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE): River Otter

Born and raised in Michigan, Sam spent her childhood dreaming of the mountains and rivers of the American West. This dream became reality when Sam left home to study at the University of San Diego. She soon began a career guiding throughout the Southwest, Alaska and Canada.

In 2018, Sam moved to Jackson Hole for a dream job with Teton Science Schools. She spends winters leading trips throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In the summers, Sam splits her time between Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana. As a science communicator throughout the West, Sam feels she is living her childhood self’s wildest dreams.

Sam’s work with Teton Science Schools is purpose driven. By deepening her own understanding of a place, she comes to feel a greater sense of responsibility to it—to the land’s inhabitants, its beauty, and its future. As a Wildlife Expeditions guide, she wakes up every day with the intention to help others deepen their own relationship with the land around them.

When Sam isn’t out trying to find her favorite animal (otters), she enjoys writing or exploring nearby rivers and trails.