I am Palou Yin Tao, an Adventure Guide, Creative Educator, and Sustainability Storyteller with over 15 years of wilderness guiding, teaching, and creative education. I’ve spent more than five seasons as a wilderness coach and mountain/sea kayak guide, and I currently freelance as a Wilderness Coach and Outdoor Education Teacher with Bike Now and Southbound Adventures, coaching students in mountain biking, nature connection, and environmental responsibility. These roles deepen my ability to inspire confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young people through safe, purposeful outdoor experiences. Over the past 15 years I’ve worked internationally as a design manager, sustainability coach, and facilitator, helping communities and schools integrate creativity, environmental awareness, and experiential learning into their programs. Highlights include stakeholder engagement and co-design for global NGOs, school-based sustainability workshops for ages 8–18, and multi-day outdoor and cross-cultural experiences in Greece, New Zealand, and Australia. I am motivated by curiosity, connection, and stewardship, and I’m excited by opportunities like The Santa Monica Experience that align with my teaching philosophy and values.

Palou Yin Tao

I am Palou Yin Tao, an Adventure Guide, Creative Educator, and Sustainability Storyteller with over 15 years of wilderness guiding, teaching, and creative education. I’ve spent more than five seasons as a wilderness coach and mountain/sea kayak guide, and I currently freelance as a Wilderness Coach and Outdoor Education Teacher with Bike Now and Southbound Adventures, coaching students in mountain biking, nature connection, and environmental responsibility. These roles deepen my ability to inspire confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young people through safe, purposeful outdoor experiences. Over the past 15 years I’ve worked internationally as a design manager, sustainability coach, and facilitator, helping communities and schools integrate creativity, environmental awareness, and experiential learning into their programs. Highlights include stakeholder engagement and co-design for global NGOs, school-based sustainability workshops for ages 8–18, and multi-day outdoor and cross-cultural experiences in Greece, New Zealand, and Australia. I am motivated by curiosity, connection, and stewardship, and I’m excited by opportunities like The Santa Monica Experience that align with my teaching philosophy and values.

Available to hire

I am Palou Yin Tao, an Adventure Guide, Creative Educator, and Sustainability Storyteller with over 15 years of wilderness guiding, teaching, and creative education. I’ve spent more than five seasons as a wilderness coach and mountain/sea kayak guide, and I currently freelance as a Wilderness Coach and Outdoor Education Teacher with Bike Now and Southbound Adventures, coaching students in mountain biking, nature connection, and environmental responsibility. These roles deepen my ability to inspire confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young people through safe, purposeful outdoor experiences.

Over the past 15 years I’ve worked internationally as a design manager, sustainability coach, and facilitator, helping communities and schools integrate creativity, environmental awareness, and experiential learning into their programs. Highlights include stakeholder engagement and co-design for global NGOs, school-based sustainability workshops for ages 8–18, and multi-day outdoor and cross-cultural experiences in Greece, New Zealand, and Australia. I am motivated by curiosity, connection, and stewardship, and I’m excited by opportunities like The Santa Monica Experience that align with my teaching philosophy and values.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Wilderness Educator at Bike Now & Southbound Adventures
May 1, 2018 - Present
Coach and guide comprehensive multi-day, nature-immersion experiences for school and youth groups, focusing on courage, adaptability, leadership, and environmental awareness. Deliver hands-on workshops in mountain biking, kayaking, and camp craft, fostering teamwork, self-reliance, and respect for nature through experiential learning and outdoor adventure.
Creative Lead & Campaign Strategist at Environmental & Adventure Clients
June 1, 2018 - Present
Leading projects and producing engaging creative communication production, for environmental organisations and adventure-sports entities. Managing ideation, strategy, graphic design, copy writing, creative storytelling, marketing and project launch. Clients: National Geographic Indonesia, Canadian Science, Antarctic NZ, Bob Brown Foundation, Greenpeace Canada, Red Chili, Icebreaker, Crust Bikes.
Start-up Organiser & Strategist at Climate Change Makers
June 1, 2022 - Present
Creating the framework for an adventure-based conservation media school. A conduit between media professionals, NGOs and students seeking to learn storytelling. Experience in enterprise development and strategy, brand creation, stakeholders mediation, networking, public speaking, social enterprise innovation, and media training.
Sea Kayak Guide at Surf SUP
January 1, 2025 - October 20, 2025
Guiding with a small crew within Whenuakura Island National Park, Coromandel. Guiding guests of all levels on multi-level ocean trips. Nature interpretation and storytelling with Iwi, the original guardians of the Island.
Sea Kayak Guide at Kafelonia Kayaks
October 1, 2023 - October 20, 2025
Dynamic multi-level wilderness guiding in Greece’s eastern islands. Guided adventure seekers on 1- and 2-day ocean paddling trips. Food and trip planning, paddle and rescue skills, first aid, health and safety in remote locations.
Freelance Biking Guide at Independent / West Java - Bali Indonesia
October 1, 2022 - October 20, 2025
4-month cycling trip, cultural immersion deep into Indonesia. Meeting unique communities, traveling through nature, fast cities, to volcanoes, exotic jungle landscapes, to idyllic coasts.
Hiking Guide at Ultimate Hikes
February 1, 2019 - October 20, 2025
Summer season guiding international groups of hiking enthusiasts. Leading multi-day trips through Milford National Park. Risk management, route planning, weather interpretation, trip presentation, public speaking, flora and fauna interpretation, first aid management.
Sea Kayak Guide at Abel Tasman Kayaks
February 1, 2016 - October 20, 2025
Guiding single-day trips with international clients; early guiding post; nature guardian in NZ’s National parks.

Education

Bachelor's Visual Communication at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
January 1, 2000 - October 20, 2025
Wilderness Arts Diploma at WILD School, Ottawa, Canada
January 1, 2014 - October 20, 2025
Diploma in Adventure Tourism at Nelson Polytechnic, Nelson, NZ
January 1, 2016 - October 20, 2025
Post Graduate Diploma Product Design at Otago Polytechnic, NZ
January 1, 2019 - October 20, 2025
Certificate in Enterprise Innovation at Hong Kong School of Innovation
January 11, 2030 - October 20, 2025

Qualifications

Driving Licence (AU)
January 1, 2025 - October 20, 2025
Remote First Aid Award
January 1, 2025 - October 20, 2025
First Aid Pro (St John)
January 1, 2025 - October 20, 2025
First Aid Award - Level 2 (St Johns Ambulance, NZ)
January 1, 2023 - October 20, 2025
Water Education Safety Face Up First (Canada)
January 1, 2022 - October 20, 2025
P Driving Licence
January 11, 2030 - October 20, 2025
BCU 3 Kayak Award
January 1, 2021 - October 20, 2025
Certificate in Enterprise Innovation
January 11, 2030 - October 20, 2025
NASM Certification
January 1, 2019 - October 20, 2025
Post Graduate Diploma Product Design
January 1, 2019 - October 20, 2025
Master Trainer Award (ISSA)
January 1, 2016 - October 20, 2025
Wilderness Arts Diploma
January 1, 2014 - October 20, 2025
Wilderness First Aid (NOLS)
January 1, 2010 - October 20, 2025
Yoga Teacher Certificate
January 11, 2030 - October 20, 2025
Bachelor's Visual Communication
January 1, 2000 - October 20, 2025

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Travel & Hospitality