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.