Emma Vawter

A love of nature, adventure and wild places has been a constant in Emma’s life, from a childhood spent in the field with her father in pursuit of rare birds to teaching 5th graders about ecology as an outdoor educator. The child of nature lovers who met in West Africa in the Peace Corps, Emma grew up in Maryland dreaming of travel. Far-flung adventures to Costa Rica and Canada for birding and to Puerto Rico to visit family were among her happiest memories, along with summers spent camping closer to home on Assateague Island, watching wild ponies and black skimmers all day. Emma’s first taste of working in travel came after a grassroots development trip to El Salvador before college with International Partners. Throughout college, she worked as a trip leader for the organization, returning to El Salvador numerous times. After college, she moved to a small town outside Munich, Germany to work as an au pair. She enjoyed exploring Europe in her free time, particularly finding all possible hikes that ended with a beer garden near the top.

Emma came West for an outdoor education position at Cal-Wood Education Center above Jamestown, Colorado, where she taught 5th graders about ecology, the water cycle and the joys of looking for aquatic macroinvertebrates. She loved living in a remote A-frame cabin overlooking the Continental Divide and a meadow that was frequently visited by owls, mountain lions and migrating elk. Completely embracing the Colorado lifestyle, Emma has worked in conservation or the craft beer industry since, with stints at the Brewers Association and Palmer Land Conservancy after completing graduate school. Emma has a BA in English Literature from Yale University and a Master’s in Music from the University of Colorado Boulder.

In her free time, you'll find Emma birding, hiking, biking, trail running, camping, singing, practicing wildlife photography, or any combination of those activities. Favorite travel and nature experiences include watching baby sea turtles hatch in Mexico, swimming with African penguins whizzing by in South Africa, whale watching in Canada, and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Admin Note : Slideshow Migration
Choose the version to show.
Current Version: old
Set Version
Enjoying a sunny day on the tundra in Churchill searching for polar bears. One of the happiest moments of my life. We had gotten to Boulders Beach in South Africa and no penguins in sight. We had to climb some rocks and swim to explore further down the shore. I looked up from swimming after getting around a big rock to see what big fish were swimming by and saw a lifer! African Penguins! My boyfriend, who had already gotten to shore and seen the penguins, caught the moment on camera!Releasing baby sea turtles in Mexico.Horseback riding near Cape Town, South Africa.Backpacking with friends in Weminuche Wilderness in Colorado.Atop the highest mountain in Colorado with my friend, Katia.Birding in the San Juans.Exploring Yellowstone.A wild polar bear near Churchill, Manitoba.
Our Story

Get Weekly Updates

Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more.

Privacy Policy
We're Proud of the Reputation We’ve Earned
Outside
Voted "World's Best Travel
Company"
by Outside Magazine
Outside
Natural Habitat Adventures Ranked
“Best Outfitter”
NatGeo
Voted Best Winter Trip: Natural Habitat Adventures' Monarch Butterfly Migration, Mexico
VIEW MORE AWARDS

Request Your 2023 Catalog

Discover the World's Best

Nature Travel Experiences

Nathab 2024 Catalog

Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly a hundred nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Request Your 2024/2025 Catalog
Continued - Page 2 of 2
To help us customize your catalog request, please tell us more about your travel needs:
Thank you for requesting a catalog
We’ve received your request. If you have any questions about our trips, please feel free to contact an Adventure Specialist today by calling 800-543-8917.

Get Weekly Updatess

Discover the World's Best

Nature Travel Experiences

Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Me Travel Emails
Privacy Policy
Thank you for joining our email list!

Look for a special welcome message in your inbox, arriving shortly! Be sure to add naturalhabitat@nathab.com to your email contacts so you don’t miss out on future emails.

Send Us a Message

Send Us a Message

Have a question or comment? Use the form to the right to get in touch with us.

Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Send Us a Message
Thank you for your message

We’ll be in touch soon with a response.

Refer a Friend

Refer a Friend,
Get $250 Off
Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.
Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
Refer a Friend

Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.

Thank you for the referral!

We've received your friend's information.

View Our 2023 Digital Catalog

View Our 2024/2025

Digital Catalog

Help us save paper! We offer a digital version of The World's Greatest Nature Journeys. If you'd prefer a mailed copy, please provide your contact details here. To view our digital catalog, please enter your info in the form to the right.
Natural Habitat Adventures Logo WWF Logo
View Digital Catalog
Happy browsing!

Thanks for requesting access to our digital catalog. Click here to view it now. You’ll also receive it by email momentarily.

Our Trips

Polar Bear Tours

Polar Bear Tours

African Safaris

African Safaris

Galapagos Tours

Galapagos Tours

Alaska Adventures

Alaska Adventures

U.S. National Parks Tours

U.S. National Parks Tours

Canada & the North

Canada & the North

Europe Adventures

Europe Adventures

Mexico & Central America Tours

Mexico & Central America Tours

South America Adventures

South America Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Asia & Pacific Adventures

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Antarctica & Arctic Journeys

Adventure Cruises

Adventure Cruises

Photography Expeditions

Photography Expeditions

Women's Adventures

Women's Adventures

Family Adventures

Family Adventures

New Adventures

New Adventures

Questions? Call 800-543-8917

Contact Us

Have a question or comment?
Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us.

Hours
Mountain Time

  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday
  • 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday
  • Closed on Sunday
Call 800-543-8917
Questions? Click to Chat
Questions? Click to Chat
/our-story/staff-bios/emma-vawter/