Virginia Ecotour Guide Certification Program - Eastern Shore

Promoting Ecotourism

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.

New Certification Curriculum Offered on Virginia's Eastern Shore

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 (lfollow link for an outline and description of the curriculum.)  Courses will be offered on a regular basis as part of the formal certification and recertification process. The first guides to complete this new curriculum and earn certification are listed at right.  For more information about the course schedule visit www.es.vccs.edu .      

Previous Ecotour Guide and Instructor Certification - VIMS

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 Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program as part of the Virginia Seaside Heritage Program.  All ecotour guide certificates provided through this course were valid until December 2009.  See the list of previously certified guides below. 

Guides - Please consider certification or recertification through the new curriculum at the Eastern Shore Community College! 

Ecotourists - Please encourage your favorite guide(s) to become certified!

In 2007, the following guides were certified as Ecotour Guide Instructors by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.  This certification expires on January 1, 2011: 

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

Previously Certified Guides

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

Bo Lusk

Southeast Expeditions - Cape Charles

877-22kayak (225-2925)

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

For comments or questions concerning this program's web pages, contact the Web Author.

This web site 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.