Heather Herbeck
With her pink helmet, her pink/purple Jackson Kayak and her penchant for running big waterfalls, Heather is a recognizable figure in the whitewater kayaking community. Heather is currently on the water full-time as a whitewater kayaking instructor and raft guide.
Heather first moved to the Pacific Northwest, along with her husband, in 2004. The two made their move to the area to pursue their passion for whitewater kayaking. While personally growing and progressing in the sport of kayaking, Heather is now giving back to the kayaking community. She specializes in women's clinics, kid's clinics and motivational speaking. Heather has presented at Expos throughout the United States over the last couple of years, as well as the 2007 Whitewater Symposium.
Over the last 5 years, Heather and her husband, Nate started a film production company, Sheer Madness Productions, and have produced two kayaking films - "Liquid Insanity" and their new one, "Toxic Waters".
Heather's easy-going personality and sheer enthusiasm for paddling make her a favorite with the people she's in contact with, both on and off of the river.
"This is my third year in helping to organize the White Salmon Riverfest and Symposium. I continue to be a part of this event, because the White Salmon is one of the "Northwest Classics", and I wish for this river to be enjoyed by everyone for many, many years to come. However, we cannot continue to enjoy this beautiful river, if we neglect the fact that we must we must also care for it. In order to care for the White Salmon, we must first be educated about the rivers' history and its' future. This education is available on June 4th, 2008. I hope to see you there!
- Heather Herbeck -
Jaco Klinkenberg
While there are few people who can actually pronounce Jacomijn Klinkenberg's name correctly, Jaco (pronounced Yako) holds claim to being the inventor of the name 'Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking'. A native of the Netherlands, this Dutch paddler's route to becoming co-owner of Wet Planet has its' beginnings in the European Alps. Born and raised in Holland, Jaco spent much of her childhood in the outdoors. An accomplished skier and climber, Jaco first encountered whitewater paddling on a trip to the United States. On this trip she took her first kayak instruction at the New England Outdoor Center.
In Holland, Jaco spent 10 years in the advertising industry before beginning her career in outdoor recreation. Working for several of the world's top international advertising agencies, Jaco worked with international clients such as American Express, Texaco, Philip Morris, and Canon. This experience and training is evident in the professionalism, organization, and vision that Jaco brings to Wet Planet.
Jaco first met Todd Collins on a 12-day whitewater trip in Utah. At the time, Todd was already working with ideas for creating a new whitewater company. The two shared similar visions of what this company could be, and Jaco's marketing background and professional work experience provided pieces that made the vision a realistic possibility. It was on this trip that Jaco decided to leave her life in Amsterdam to pursue her passion for outdoor adventure and travel. Says Jaco, "I wanted a job where I could actually see the beauty of the world we live in."
Jaco and Todd joined forces again in Costa Rica, where the two worked for the same whitewater company. For two years, Jaco worked as operations manager for the Turrialba based company providing custom whitewater and travel trips to foreigners visiting the country. She handled everything from planning logistics for multiple week trips to designing content for the web site to guiding customers on scenic trips throughout Costa Rica. During this period Todd and Jaco started to plan for the creation of a new style of whitewater company, and it was on a jungle paddling trip that Jaco first spoke the name Wet Planet.
Although Jaco is currently most visible at Wet Planet managing schedules, logistics, reservations and day-to-day operations around the Wet Planet headquarters, she is also responsible for much of the behind the scenes work with marketing and strategic planning. While she may not spend much time in the back of a Wet Planet raft, she does also bring a high level of whitewater expertise and adventure travel experience to the company. She is a certified whitewater raft and kayak instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School, a certified ACA whitewater kayak instructor, a trained Wilderness First Responder, and a Leave No Trace Educator. She has traveled extensively throughout Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Central America. She speaks five languages and pours a mean espresso.
"I see this unique and wonderful river, and so many individuals who care for it: whitewater rafters and kayakers, as well as people and interest groups involved with the White Salmon. There is a fascinating history on this river and in its' valley, and now things are happening that will change its future. For the better or worse, everyone has their own opinion and interest concerning these changes. With the White Salmon Riverfest and Guide Symposium, I want to create an opportunity for people to share knowledge and passion and to learn from each other and other professionals in their field of interest to the White Salmon River. In addition, I would like this event to take place in a fun, relaxed atmosphere, where people feel safe and respected, and where they will all have a good time in a way that builds bridges among a diverse community.At Wet Planet, we see a great opportunity to share our gained knowledge with thousands of guests each year, while exploring the river with our guests each day. We feel fortunate to be one of few permitted outfitters on this river and are grateful for this opportunity to give something back to this beautiful river and its community."
-Jaco Klinkenberg-
And, here's our new recruit! We are very excited to have Hootie on board.
Hootie Boucher
Christopher (Hootie) Boucher grew up in Natick, Massachusetts, home of champions and the dreaded Natick Mall. With a father who was a high school biology teacher, a mother who was a nurse, and recovering injured hawks and owls as pets, Christopher developed a strong appreciation for nature and a genuine desire to help others at an early age. Of his early years, Christopher states, "if it isn't weird enough having hawks and owls as pets growing up, then perhaps being nicknamed after the owl is." When he was 12 years old, for reasons that have mostly been forgotten, his peers named him after one of the owls. The nickname Hootie stuck.
With a loud voice and an ability to remember camp songs, it was a natural progression for Hootie to become a summer camp counselor. In a life-changing experience, Hootie became a camp counselor for a unique camp program designed for children and adults with special needs. The compassion, patience, and desire to help others that Hootie developed during summers as a counselor is still evident in his current work.
Hootie's career in whitewater began at an early age when his father first took him on a whitewater rafting trip in Maine. Several years and a few whitewater adventures later, Hootie found himself looking for a summer job in Colorado after college. Working as a raft guide seemed to be a natural calling. Living in a tent in the Arkansas Valley with an incredible view of the Collegiate Peaks and working on the river four months out of the year, Hootie developed one of his greatest passions... river travel.
Hootie believes that the time he has spent on rivers has changed his life in positive ways, providing perspective and helping him to focus. Working as a raft guide has provided Hootie with the opportunity to share his passion for whitewater with others, while learning to kayak has allowed him to experience rivers in a much more personal way.
Hootie spent several years migrating between the summer rafting season in Colorado and winters in a small mountain ski town in the Eastern Sierras. In 2002, prompted by the suggestion of a friend, he moved to the Columbia River Gorge. An avid whitewater paddler, skier, and mountain biker, Hootie found equilibrium in the Columbia River Gorge. These days Hootie is easy to spot around town or at a river put-in with his truck loaded with boats or bikes and the unmistakable license plate "River Zen."
He has this to say about spending time on the river with Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking, "I love the opportunity that guiding offers in that I get to meet new people and share with them something that I am very passionate about. I also feel very lucky to have come to work for Wet Planet. The diversity and experiences of my fellow staff has helped make it an ideal work situation. We all like to have fun and enjoy sharing that with others. See you on the river!
Mark your calendars for June 4th, 2008!
Stay tuned for the next posting and find out where the event is taking place and what topics will be discussed.
Hootie Boucher hootiekrmnl@yahoo.com
Heather Herbeck hherbeck@yahoo.com
Jaco Klinkenberg jaco@wetplanetwhitewater.com
whitesalmonriverfest@gmail.com
http://www.headwatersinstitute.com/
1-800-306-1673
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