Promoting Ecotourism on Virginia's Eastern Shore
For ecotourism to be a sustainable resource the environment must be protected, even as tourists are enjoying it. Promoting ecotourism is a way of creating an economic reason to protect natural areas, in addition to 
increasing awareness of the value of our natural resources. By providing ecotour training to guides, we can reduce potential conflicts over use of resources and the inadvertent damage to animals, plants and natural areas often associated with tourism.
Ecotour guide certification and instructor courses were first offered on Virginia's Eastern Shore by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in 2005 through grants from the Virginia CZM Program as part of the Virginia Seaside Heritage Program.
In October 2009, the Eastern Shore Community College began offering a new suite of ecotour guide certification courses, a rigorous curriculum customized for the specific local ecological and tourism concerns of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, developed through a grant from the Virginia CZM Program. Contact the Community College for more information on upcoming classes - www.es.vccs.edu.
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Guides and Instructors Previously Certified
(please inquire of the guide their current status)
Charlie Birch
Chincoteague Cruises & Nature Tours
3666 Willow Street, Chincoteague, VA 23336
(757) 894-8149
Chincocruises1@verizon.net
http://chincoteaguecruises.com/
Charles Ray Davis
Captain Dan’s Around the Island Tours
4175 Main Street, Chincoteague, VA 23336
(757) 894-0103
captaindan@captaindanstours.com
http://captaindanstours.com/
Abigail Davis
Captain Dan’s Around the Island Tours
4175 Main Street, Chincoteague, VA 23336
(757) 894-0103
captaindan@captaindanstours.com
http://captaindanstours.com/
Thor Gormley
Southeast Expeditions
32218 Lankford Hwy, Cape Charles, VA 23310
(757) 331-2680
bill@burnhamguides.com
www.southeastexpeditions.com
Scott Allen
Oyster Bay Outfitters - Chincoteague
(888) 732-7108 (toll-free)
Miles Ashley
miles@AshleysofChincoteague.com
Jim Barnes
fjandmsb@esva.net
Tom Bonadeo
Thomas B and Company - Cape Charles
Tom@bonadeo.net
Bill Byrd
Folly Creek Tours - Accomack
757-787-8537
Dave Burden
Southeast Expeditions - Cape Charles
877-22kayak (225-2925)
Bo Lusk
The Nature Conservancy - Virginia Coast Reserve (formerly with Southeast Expeditions)
Jim Clark
oyster2@infionline.net
Jack Collins
ncollins@ecpi.edu
Chuck Conley
Sandbridge Eco-tour Sports - Virginia Beach
Jane Corson-Lassiter
Eastern Shore Soil and Water Conservation District
jane-lassiter@va.nacdnet.org
Randy Gore
Kayak Nature Tours, Ltd. - Norfolk
757-480-1999
Tom Jankowski
Baydreams Bee Farm - Onancock
tjankow@aol.com
James M. Johnson Jr. and
James M. Johnson Sr.
Eastern Shore Canoe and Kayak - Accomac and Bloxom
esck@verizon.com
757-302-1344
Rick Kellam
Broadwater Bay Ecotours - Exmore
Dan Lytle
dlytle7273@aol.com
Ken Marshall
Salt Marsh Tours - Willis Wharf
757-440-4246
Ray Miles
Oyster Bay Outfitters - Chincoteague
(888) 732-7108 (toll-free)
ESKayaker@hotmail.com
Gerry Ryan
captmilo@intercom.net
Ed Schiller
Wild River Outfitters - Virginia Beach
757-431-8566
In 2007, the following guides were certified as Ecotour Guide Instructors by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. This certification was set to expire in 2011. Please inquire of the guide their current status.
Dave Burden
SouthEast Expeditions
gonesailin@yahoo.com
757-331-2660
Bo Lusk
buzzlusk@hotmail.com
757-331-2660
Jim Clark
oyster2@infionline.net
757-331-4016
Ray Miles
Oyster Bay Outfitters
ESKayaker@hotmail.com
757-787-7099
James M. Johnson Jr.
Eastern Shore Canoe and Kayak
esck@verizon.com
757-302-1344
For comments or questions concerning this program's web pages, contact Virginia Witmer.
This website is provided by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program through a Coastal Zone Management Act grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce.