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Board of Directors
Hunter Hendrickson (Physical Therapist, River Guide)
Nicole Haskey (Recreational Therapist, River Guide)
Nina Maus (Accountant, River Guide)
Noni Soldo (River Guide, Student Pastry Chef)
Sara Sokolowski (Photographer, Water Safety Instructor)
Michael Franz Horner (Research Assistant, River Guide)
Cara Vallier (Legal Consultant)
Bio: Hunter Hendrickson – Founder
Hunter hails from the Philadelphia area where he was born and raised,
being the youngest of three boys. He and his family spent vacations skiing
in the Rockies; camping and hiking which developed his love of nature
at an early age. He received a Bachelor of Science (BS), graduating with
honors, and Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) from College
Misericordia in Pennsylvania. While in college he played four years of
varsity soccer and also taught swimming. During summers off, Hunter hiked
many sections of the Appalachian Trial including Maine, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and Tennessee and made many pilgrimages to explore the wilderness
areas of the great northwest. Following his interests in the out-of-doors,
he relocated to Seattle.
Hunter has worked for the Tukwila School District as a Pediatric Physical
Therapist for 3 years where he works closely with a variety of disabled,
multi-ethnic (ESL), and general education students. He helps special
needs students access the general education classrooms and curriculum
and is an advocate of inclusive educational settings. He has become an
expert on blending diverse groups of disadvantaged children. Tukwila
is one of most impoverished and ethnically diverse districts in Washington,
where students speak 30 different languages and 55% of students participate
in a free and reduced meals program.
In Tukwila, Hunter founded and coached the first Special Olympics team
and is the Varsity Coach of the boys’ soccer team at Foster High
School. His varsity team also boasts incredible world cultural since
ALL 35 players came to Tukwila from one of 16 different countries located
in Eastern Europe, Africa, Mexico or Asia. Hunter also works for City
League Racing and has helped SKIFORALL organize adaptive skiing and cycling
events for children with and without disabilities around Washington.
As an Outdoor Adventure Guide he takes customers rafting, kayaking, skiing,
snowboarding, and surfing on Washington’s many forms of water.
During the last 2 years Hunter began organizing free outdoor education
trips to the Skagit River for groups of disadvantaged kids. But as Hunter
took these children to learn about wilderness it became obvious there
was so much they were learning about themselves. These trips have demonstrated
incredible opportunity to children, who due to their physical, financial
or cultural barriers would not otherwise experience the wild and scenic.
Hunter Hendrickson co-founded the Wild and Scenic Institute after these
2 years of organizing free outdoor education trips on the Skagit River.
He knows the beauty, power, value, and “magic” of the wilderness
areas of Washington and is compelled to share his passion with others.
The Wild and Scenic Institute has now expanded to offer trips in and
around 11 different rivers including the Skagit, Sauk and Suiattle rivers,
located in the North Cascades, which are federally recognized and protected
by the Wild and Scenic Act.
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