Meet the Guides

Ellie has lived in St. Petersburg for five years and has truly enjoyed getting to explore this beautiful part of our state. Ellie holds a deep-rooted passion for education and conservation, and love sharing the beauty of nature with people. Ellie has developed an in-depth knowledge of the local ecosystems and organisms through their Environmental Science education at Eckerd College, and work with local organizations around the area. Ellie truly believes there is nothing more peaceful than spending time kayaking in Tampa Bay and is excited to share beautiful experiences with new nature lovers during ECOmersion kayak tours!

Cass is an environmental educator with over 3 years of experience instructing kayak tours and rental operations across Tampa Bay and the state of Florida. Cass has a deep knowledge of marine life through her work with Zoo Tampa and Marineland Dolphin Adventure. Her knowledge of the local ecosystems is unmatched. Cass is both Project WILD and Aquatic WILD certified, and strives to bring new, enriching experiences to guests. Furthermore, her Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Eckerd College help her better understand how others learn, thus improving their educational experience on the water and in nature.

Brady is excited to educate others about local ecosystems using his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Economics from Eckerd College. Additionally, his background as a wilderness guide has prepared him for any event on the water. His experience with Tamarack Camps leading 35-day tours for groups of more than 25 teenagers through the Western U.S. National Parks uniquely qualifies him to lead adventurous and safe kayak tours.

Natasha has lived in St. Pete for 4 years and loves living so close to the ocean. Growing up, she proudly held the title of “the outdoorsy one” in her family. Natasha spent her summers looking for sea turtle nests on Tybee Island, GA or scuba diving and living off of sailboats in the Caribbean. Eventually her love of the outdoors drove her to go to Eckerd College where she graduated with degrees in Biology and Psychology. Natasha is excited to get out on the water and share her knowledge of local wildlife with tour groups!

Micah Powazki is a tour guide on the ECOmersion team whose love of the outdoors and interest in understanding natural environments has led him from graduating from the University of Toledo with an environmental studies degree to working with ECOmersion here in beautiful sunny St.Pete! He has furthered his ability as a kayak tour guide by becoming certified as a L2 ACA kayak instructor where he learned valuable skills such as teaching kayak safety, rescuing capsized paddlers, and a variety of paddle strokes to improve movement in the water. Micah is also an avid backpacker and outdoorsman. He hopes to share his love of the outdoors with you at Weedon Island Preserve!

Matthew moved to Saint Petersburg five years ago, after his ship docked at Harborage Marina. He instantly fell in love with the city and decided to call it home! Matthew was working as a Navigation Officer for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society at the time, working on campaigns to protect marine wildlife in Central America and the Caribbean. Originally from the UK, Matthew grew up kayaking around the South Coast of England, and has had a passion for being on the water since he was young. He has spent many years traveling the world on ships, but believes Florida’s waterways have some of the most exciting biodiversity this planet has to offer, and he can’t wait to share this with you at Weedon Island!

Sarah has called Tampa home for four years after escaping the cold winters of Northeast Ohio. She’s always loved spending time out on the water and grew up kayaking around the Lake Erie Islands. You will often find Sarah exploring different Florida waterways by kayak and paddle board. Weedon Island is, of course, one of her favorite spots! To further her paddling skills, Sarah earned a Level 2 Instructor Certification through the American Canoe Association in 2021. Sarah is also very familiar with parks and trails in the Tampa Bay area so give her a shout if you have any questions about hiking, as well as paddling!

Rachel has lived in St. Petersburg for 4 years after graduating from Eckerd College with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and minors in Environmental Science and Mathematics.

She has experience kayaking and canoeing across rivers and lakes in the Midwest. It wasn’t until she worked at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in the Sea Turtle and Aquatic Biology and Education departments that she fully realized her passion for inspiring others through environmental education. Rachel is excited to share her knowledge of local species with ECOmersion guests, especially information about her favorite species, stingrays and sharks!

Robbie is a lifelong outdoor enthusiast with experience paddling and adventuring in waters all over the world. From spelunking Mammoth Cave, to paddling Lake Superior, to kayaking Weedon Island Preserve, Robbie is experienced and ready to invite guests on board. He recently left a longtime career with the St. Petersburg Police Department to serve the community in a new way – by inspiring and developing skills with new paddlers, leveraging his ACA certifications. Robbie has been kayaking his entire life, but has devoted himself to paddle sports instruction over the past 18 months. He enjoys spending time on stand-up paddleboards for their maneuverability and ability to see down into the water from a higher angle.