" Derek,   Thanks for including me in TAO's kayaking weekend at Tomales Bay.  I thought you did a great job introducing the sport to the first timers as myself.    I was impressed by the talent, experience and dedication of the teachers you assembled. I am certain TAO will provide great experiences for kids."

Sincerely,  Jeff Freidman PhD,  Math and Science Education

   "Derek first introduced me to rock climbing, backpacking, and wilderness first aid when I was a 14 year-old high school student at University High School. Two and a half years later, I took his California Natural History class that made college courses (in Geography, Evolution, Behavioral Ecology, and Biology) pale in comparison.

   After four years of planning trips and helping run the McGill Outing Club, a Bachelor of Science, two years working for both State and Federal natural resources programs, and having started my own business in the outdoor industry (not to mention countless days spent on the rocks, in the snow, or on the water), I am proud to now be working alongside Derek and the inspiring group of teachers he has assembled in TAO Education.

   What better way to complete the circle than to give back to a new generation the same appreciation and wonder for the outdoors that Derek helped instill in me."

  --Elizabeth Ü, workshop participant