Marlo Shaw

As a child, Marlo spent her summers in northwest British Columbia. It was during these formative years that she first became acquainted with the flora and fauna of the coastal temperate rain forest, and her passion for it has flourished ever since. Marlo graduated with academic distinction from the University of Victoria with a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography. She also earned a diploma in Ecological Restoration. During her university years, Marlo worked with multiple local nonprofits as a restoration technician and volunteer coordinator, fostering her interest in environmental education and interpretation.

Since 2016, Marlo has been working in ecotourism, getting her start as a guide in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia—her home turf—taking guest on a quest to see grizzly bears. She is fascinated by bear biology and behavior as well as the ecology of the entire environment that surrounds them, from lichen distribution to birdlife. While attending the International Conference on Bear Research and Management in Quito, Ecuador in 2017, Marlo was fortunate to see wild Andean bears, also known as spectacled bears, hidden in the cloud forest. She is excited to expand her bear repertoire as an Expedition Leader on Nat Hab's Churchill polar bear trips. When she's not out spending time with bears, Marlo fills her spare time with long-distance running, hiking and putting her passion for the outdoors on canvas. You are also likely to find her at a local brew pub sampling a flight of the latest and greatest drafts.

Upcoming Adventures with Marlo:
Polar Bears of Churchill
East Greenland Arctic Adventure
Sailing Antarctica: A Polar Wildlife Expedition


D. Gutterson
“Marlo was born to do this job. All of us came away from our expedition more aware of our surroundings and more intelligent about the animals we were seeing. Charismatic as she was, she became friends with all of us and will remain that way long after our vacation is over.”

B. Smith
"Marlo is a stellar guide. Her wit and humor combined with her vast knowledge of a plethora of subjects (First Nations residents, wildlife, photography, art and the aurora borealis) inspire me. Thank you Marlo!" 

B. Barnard
"Marlo is exceptional. She managed to be tuned into individual needs and interests without neglecting the group. Her smile and laughter were contagious." 

T. Kirson
"Marlo sets the bar high in terms of her knowledge, competency, maturity, decision making and humor. She made each traveler feel important and attended to. She made the experience so rich and memorable for us. We will seek her out when we return to Churchill for the polar bears! We came for the northern lights, and thanks to Marlo we got so much more. This included the sled dog ride, learning from locals, walking on the frozen river, patching cracks on a newly built igloo and visiting the Northern Study Center. Hanging out in the Aurora Pods and domes, we laughed and sang and danced and whistled. Marlo made this a magnificent experience."

C. Flynn
"I will always remember Marlo’s bright spirit and high energy. She made the trip so much more memorable with her smile and humor. She went above the call of duty sometimes in the funniest ways! She was helpful and compassionate and always had our best interests at heart. She’s a remarkable person. What I enjoyed the most was seeing northern lights (a dream come true) and having Marlo lead the group."

R. Rullan
“Marlo is knowledgeable and generous with the information she shared. She truly cared about the education and experience of all of her guests. She would go out of her way to make sure everyone was comfortable and cared for on the expedition.”

J. Lozano
“Besides the fact that this was a spectacular trip, Marlo made it even better with her personality, knowledge and willingness to do whatever it took to make everyone happy. She would go above and beyond her call of duty to make sure all guests had the best experience possible.”

K. Duryea
“Marlo was the best in guiding us through a trip of a lifetime. She’s passionate about bears, the environment, Arctic culture and conservation awareness, which was evident in her leading. We’ve taken many adventure trips and have had wonderful experiences, but Marlo’s enthusiasm, humor and sensitivity puts her at the top of the list with the best leaders we’ve encountered.”

J. Hustler
“Marlo is deeply appreciative of the natural world and hugely enthusiastic about each and every sighting. She was super organized and detailed about logistics and safety. She was also flexible in making options available and always did her best to accommodate individual needs. She had a lovely sense of humor and was a terrific communicator—an educator extraordinaire! Her passion for learning and sharing information about wildlife is amazing.”

J. Roth
“Marlo was always very professional while still adding a lot of personal touches and humor. She had an excellent handle on the group, which kept us on schedule, while also addressing all personal requests. She worked effortlessly to ensure we all had a marvelous trip.”

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