OLTOA - Key Persons
Bob Flis enjoys anything related to the ocean. Bob is a Registered Maine Recreation and Sea Kayak Guide and a Wilderness First Responder. He is also an ACA certified Level 2 Canoe instructor and Level 4 Coastal Kayak instructor.
Bob says "While I enjoy anything that keeps me close to the water or in the outdoors, there is nothing better than paddling around the many islands off the coast of Maine"
Bob Myron, Owner of OLTOA, Master Maine Guide, and proud Dad has a passion for teaching paddle sports to people of all levels. An IT in Canoeing & SUP and Coastal Kayak Instructor Trainer Educator for the American Canoe Association, Bob trains Instructor Trainers, Instructors and entry-level kayakers.
A Registered Maine Guide for 26 years, and a Wilderness First Responder, Bob has led wilderness canoe trips in the Allagash region of Maine, taught prep courses for becoming a Maine Guide and trained instructors from Maine to Alaska. Bob has also participated in the British Canoe Union workshops including 5 star training. Bob owns and operates Outdoor Leader Trainers of America in Durham Maine.
A quote from Bob: "We are all in a different place in our quest to become better paddlers, there are no experts in this field, we are all learning and growing all the time. There are those of us who have had many experiences to learn from and we wish to share those experiences with you. My goal is to meet everyone of you at your current skill level and help you become a better paddler and/or outdoor educator. I want to create a learning environment where we can all be at ease, have fun and add some tools to our paddling tool box". No question is a silly question, so feel free to ask questions during your time with us.
Chris Raab started paddling in grade school and over the years progressed through solo and tandem white water canoeing on into canoe expeditions across the United States and Canada. In 1992 he began sea kayaking and quickly settled into the sea and surf as his primary interest. Chris is an ACA open water instructor trainer and BCU 4 paddler.
In 2000 he picked up a Greenland paddle and soon became a traditional Greenland skills instructor trainer and founded Tuktu Paddles. Chris has been a instructor and guide with Outdoor Discovery Schools of Maine, has appeared at symposiums around the country and, worked with many area clubs and organization to promote paddle sports.
He is owner of Tuktu Paddles in New Jersey.
Don loves travel and outdoor adventures of all sorts. A proud father of five kids, he enjoys sharing his passion for anything outside with his family and friends. "Volunteering and sharing knowledge of water sports is most rewarding for me when teaching others how to safely enjoy these activities".
Don became licensed as a Registered Maine Sea Kayak and Recreation Guide in 2005. He is a Wilderness First Responder and a certified ACA Level 1 Tandem Canoe, Level 2 Sea Kayak, and Level 2 Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor.
Janet bought her first canoe as a college student to run trotlines for channel catfish and has been involved with water since, either paddling or as a professional aquatic biologist. The grand-daughter of a sea captain, she loves both freshwater and the ocean and is a registered Maine sea kayak guide and an ACA-certified instructor in both sea kayaking and canoeing.
A former whitewater kayaker, she also enjoys hiking, backpacking, and long-distance bike touring, but is most excited about sharing her love of the outdoors with others through both teaching and guiding. Janet is past president of the Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network and serves as a Trustee for the Maine Island Trail Association.
Jen grew up on the shores of Southwest Florida before going to school in Wyoming to pursue a degree in Outdoor Education and Anthropology. Jen found her way to Maine to work as a trip leader and outdoor educator.
Jen's career has revolved around working with youth in outdoor settings, from leading week-long school programs to a 5-week expedition on the George River in Northern Quebec and Labrador, and many trips on the Allagash, St. Croix, and West Branch Rivers.
She is a Registered Maine Guide and ACA certified canoe instructor. Jen lives on Westport Island with her dog Pepper and enjoys flipping canoes on eddy lines and cooking delicious campfire meals.
Joe is a Maine guide and ACA open water sea kayak instructor. He is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Zambia 07-09), and a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Joe has paddled expeditions as far away as Fiji and Zambia, and has paddled the entire coast of Maine.
Joe enjoys bringing people into the marine environment, and he calls the sea his therapist. His favorite place to bring clients is under the Cushing Island Cliffs, where guillemots nest above the open sea.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Open Water Instructor
Kevin Hinds is an Advanced Open Water Instructor with the ACA, and a registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide. He truly enjoys sharing his passion for kayaking. He was introduced to Whitewater kayaking in 1996 and never looked back.
After starting in whitewater kayaking, Kevin learned coastal kayaking in South Florida. While in Florida, he dabbled in surf kayaking, and coached a Junior Olympics kids kayaking program for two summers. Kevin worked for three years as an instructor and guide in Palm Beach County. He currently resides in Bath, ME!
Leah grew up in the mountians of West Virginia, but fell in love with canoeing and kayaking at an early age. She is a Registered Maine Recreation and Sea Kayak Guide, ACA certified sea kayak instructor, Wilderness First Responder and licensed social worker.
She has spent her career working with youth and adolescents in various settings, from wilderness therapy to homeless services to outdoor education and paddling instruction. She brings her love of adventure to everything she does and excels at meeting clients where they are coming from.
Mary McCann-Baker began her paddling journey at Beal Island with the Appalachian Mountain Club in 1998. She has been an AMC volunteer and trip leader ever since.
She currently holds Registered Maine Guide Licenses in Sea Kayaking and Recreation, Wilderness First Aid and ACA level 2 Coastal Kayak certifications and is a Level 3 aspirant. She has held ACA certifications in Canoe and Stand Up Paddleboard. Her favorite paddling activity is multi-day kayak trips along the Maine Island Trail with friends.
When not paddling she may be found sailing the 53 year old classic wooden catboat she restored. Mary has worked as a paddling instructor every summer since 2012.
Mike's passion for the outdoor started at a very young age when his parents took him camping all over Maine and parts of Canada. During junior high and high school Mike spent his summer living in a tent by the family camp at Beech Hill Pond. With three brothers and a sister there was always someone to paddle the canoe or canvas kayak.
Mike is a Registered Maine Guide in both Sea Kayaking and Recreation. He also is an ACA Level 4 Instructor, and a Wilderness First Responder.
During the school year Mike can be found at Central Maine Community College teaching in the Business school or working with the school's Outdoor Club.
Mike's first passion is his wife Lisa and their dog Mia. OLTOA is extremely grateful to Mike for creating and managing our website from 2013 to 2020.
Moe has been registered Maine Guide for the past 12 years. Moe is an ACA certified instructor in Kayaking, Canoeing, and SUP.
Moe is also a WFR and enjoys hiking, camping and anything that keeps him outdoors.
Owen is happiest on the water. When he isn't paddling a canoe, sea kayak, SUP, or whitewater kayak, he can be found sailing, SCUBA diving, or working on his oyster farm.
He is a Registered Maine Sea Kayaking Guide, a Level 1 ACA Canoe Instructor, Leave No Trace trainer, Licensed Maine Recreation Guide, and all around outdoors nerd.
Peter is a registered Maine recreation and sea kayak guide. He is also an ACA certified level 2 Coastal kayak instructor. In the winter he works as a ski instructor. His abiding passion is working with people to get outside and enjoy themselves.
Peter is also an ACA SUP Instructor and Wilderness First Responder.
Rob is a registered Maine Guide for Sea Kayak and Recreational, an ACA Certified Instructor for Sea Kayaking: Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayak, and Stand Up Paddleboarding: Level 3 Surf Sup. Rob is also a WMA Wilderness First Responder.
Rob's remarkable achievement of paddling on all seven continents, including Antarctica in February 2024, speaks to his passion and expertise. Notably, he has paddled every month for the past two decades and counting - a testament to his commitment to the sport.
Sarah is a Registered Maine Recreation and Sea Kayak Guide, ACA Certified Level 3 Coastal Kayak and River Canoe Instructor, and a Level 2 ACA SUP Instructor. She also has a side business repairing canoes, kayaks and SUP's.
Sarah loves to share knowledge about paddlesports, spending days off doing wilderness canoe trips and motorcycle rides with her husband Rick and friends.
Spencer found his passion for boating in 2016 while earning his Adventure Recreation and Tourism degree at Washington County Community College in Calais, ME. He can be found sea kayaking and sailing around Cobscook Bay or at the Calais Skatepark teaching skateboarding lessons.
Spencer holds a Maine Guide license in Recreation and Sea Kayaking, ACA Level 2 Tandem River Canoe Instructor, ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayak Instructor, Leave No Trace Outdoor Trainer, Wilderness First Responder, and is a Certified Athletic Trainer. He finds great joy in empowering individuals to overcome personal challenges in unfamiliar environments.
Suzanne fell hopelessly in love with kayaking in 1980. She is a registered Maine Guide and an ACA Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking instructor. Suzanne has been guiding and teaching since 1996.
"Helping someone master kayaking skills and gain a sense of comfort in a boat brings me tremendous joy!" she says. Suzanne finished paddling the entire length of the coast of Maine fall of 2015 and she's hoping to do it again this year!