David Jaffe

David has been guiding outdoor trips and teaching varied audiences about the natural world and our connection with it since 1991. His childhood interest in natural systems eventually brought him to Evergreen State College in Washington, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Geology. Born in New Jersey and currently living in Durango, Colorado, David's professional path has been circuitous, yet knit together by a deep passion for ecology and wild places. After 13 years of "life experience," he went to graduate school at the University of Vermont to earn a master's degree in Applied Ecology with the Field Naturalist Program. Mingling an academic background with experience working around the world in exceptionally diverse environments, David has come to efficiently observe, understand and interpret natural and cultural history.

David's work has taken him around the world, leading backcountry trips in Denali National Park, learning from students in Kentucky, and gaining great insights while hitchhiking home from Yosemite National Park. He has experience as a naturalist in many of the Lower 48 states and Baja, California, and he has also been a divemaster in Australia, Costa Rica and India. He has assisted with the establishment of a marine protected area off the coast of Madagascar and has researched and formally studied birds in Canada and South America. David's understanding of, love for, and enthusiasm about the natural world continues to grow.

David received his Photo Instructor certification through a multi-day training workshop developed and taught by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions photographers. The intensive workshop gave him additional insights and skills necessary to gain more comprehensive expertise with his camera equipment and photography composition—all to help his guests better capture the definitive moments of their nature expeditions.

In addition to his guiding pursuits, David has a keen personal interest in travel. He has trekked through the Himalayas in Nepal, looked into the eyes of masked boobies in the Galapagos, sought nudibranchs on the Great Barrier Reef, and walked the Ghats along the Ganges River in India. He plans to visit as many different habitats as possible, to maximize his opportunity to experience the greatest bird diversity in each region. 

Upcoming Adventures with David:
Glacier & Waterton: An International Treasure

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