Dan Gardoqui

Dan Gardoqui

Board Member


Dan Gardoqui is a lifelong learner, educator and naturalist who has been sharing his passion and knowledge for the more-than-human-world for over 30 years. In 1987 he met Wilderness Awareness School’s founder, Jon Young, who was a teacher at his suburban New Jersey high school – beginning a long, fruitful relationship. Dan’s passions are bringing out people’s curiosity and teaching others how to mindfully share space with the myriad of species with whom we share the planet. Dan served as co-founder and founding director of White Pine Programs from 1999-2019. Today, he is the founder and director of Lead with Nature, where he offers consulting services to individuals and organizations; custom guiding experiences; online and in-person classes. Dan is a Registered Maine Guide, Certified Wildlife Tracker, Certified Birder and creator of the “Learn a Bird” series on YouTube. He lives in the Agamenticus Region of Southern Maine with his extraordinary partner, Kate, where he likes to hunt, forage, bird, run and explore in the backwoods and seashores.

Wilderness Awareness School