Leah Okin

Leah was born in England and began a life of adventure at an early age. Drawn to remote areas, she has lived in many but now calls Alaska home. Working as a guide, naturalist and Expedition Leader since 1996, Leah’s extensive knowledge and experience have afforded her the opportunity to train other guides in the geology, anthropology, glaciology and ecology of Southeast Alaska. Working alongside personnel from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Forest Service, she conducts educational field programs for Alaskan school teachers, taking them into the wilderness to learn about bear biology, physiology and behavior. In addition to her work in Alaska, where Leah has guided a full spectrum of trips from the southern panhandle to northern Arctic rivers—“from brown bears to polar bears.” She also leads Churchill polar bear adventures and has guided in Papua New Guinea as well.

Upcoming Adventures with Leah:
Polar Bears of Churchill

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

B. Hruska
"I can't say enough about Leah. She was absolutely top notch—the very best in every way! This trip—something I never thought I'd do—so exceeded my expectations, it's hard to put into words. I was overwhelmed and quietly moved to tears by the sighting of the bears on the first day on the Rover (Leah gave me a hug). We learned a lot and our group of 10 was great to be with. We're now all sharing hundreds of photos!"

K. Ringer
“Leah was first-rate. She was one of the most prepared, conscientious guides I have ever had. I was constantly impressed at her attentiveness to our members of the group who might have required, or just desired, a little bit of extra attention. She never missed anything and had a great sense of humor. She was a delight!"

M. Adamo
“Leah was terrific. She was knowledgeable on all aspects of the bears, the culture, Churchill and other animals, and she also had a great sense of humor. Thanks, Leah!"

H. McCarthy
“Leah was a most accomplished guide. Not only is she great with people and managing all the personalities, but she is organized and facilitated all of our movements with great efficiency. She is very knowledgeable about the bears and all of the wildlife we encountered. Her substantial wealth of knowledge made the trip more meaningful. I don't know how many of the guides make a DVD of the trip for their guests, but she did, and it was most thoughtful."

L. Schaefer
“I can't say enough about how important Leah was to making this a fantastic trip. Her knowledge of the wildlife and life in Churchill is immense, but even more importantly, her energy and enthusiasm in sharing that knowledge was contagious and energizing for all of us. She made it perfectly okay for me to be a kid again when seeing not just my first bear but the umpteenth bear, and even got teary-eyed when saying goodbye. She and our Polar Rover driver were a great team in finding the wildlife and getting us out to the right spots at the right time. It made this a trip I will always treasure!"

M. Pigeon
"I have been on many trips with guides. Leah has been the best of all. She went out of her way to make our trip the most spectacular of all. She made sure we experienced every aspect of the polar bear and northern lights experience. I traveled with a disabled friend and Leah did everything she could to assist her."

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