Explore Cape Cod Instructors
Dick Hilmer
B.S. University of Vermont '77; TC-Coastal Ecology; is a MA licensed Earth Science Teacher; and is working on his Associates Degree in Environmental Technology.
Dick is Coastal Awareness Coordinator for the prestigious Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown; where he created a network of nearshore and small boat and paddling routes. He spends most of his time when off the water working with harbormasters, USCG, and Coastal Zone Management to promote a responsible and prudent mariner.
Before joining forces with Carl and Sam to form OSKA-Cape Cod, Dick founded Explore Cape Cod Tours, Inc in 1998 in order to teach coastal ecology to youth groups and environmental organizations.
He has been a director at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Idaho. He wrote the 5th edition Insiders Guide to Cape Cod. Dick is an ACA certified kayak instructor whose lives by the creed, “Do what you love and love what you do”.
Linda Fisher Hilmer
Linda is ECC co-owner and is married to Dick for the last 28 yrs.
She has skill and enthusiasm as both a professional registered nurse (RN) and an ACA certified kayak instructor.
Linda draws from her many years on the water and her love for the outdoors to provide a personalized experiential learning adventure for all. She has an amazing gift of graciousness, an assured calmness, and has a passion for the outdoors.
Richard Rodman
Richard Rodman is an ECC original having worked with Dick for 12 years. You'll appreciate his confident approach and love of paddling.
Richard is an expedition kayaker who paddles the Cape waterways year round. He is also our resident equipment/accessories guru - committed to knowing as much as he can about whats happening in the kayak world.
He is an ACA certified instructor and in the off-season works with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Bryan Horsley
Bryan is our free spirited resident surfer-boy. When not out in his kayak, he can be found surfing on the outer coast of Cape Cod, or jammin' on his djembe with some of his musician friends.
Bryan is an extraordinary 'self taught' paddler and he makes it look soooo easy. He is one of those guides who listens and watches his clients while asessing their need for instruction and improvement, speaking only when necessary.
In the off season he works with the Appalachian Mountain Club at Pinkham Notch at the base of Mount Washington, snowboard in hand. He loves spotting birds and will always talk to you about renewable energy.
An ACA certified instructor, life is just "cool" for this natty-dreaded Cape Codder.
Carl Ladd
BCU Coach and ACA Instructor Trainer, Carl co-founded Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures with his wife Samantha in '01 as a sea kayaking / environmental education school.
He has served on an Outward Bound safety review board for the Thompson Island seakayaking program and ropes course adventure elements. He spent five seasons in the desert southwest teaching desert ecology, environmental and experiential education for the Boojum Wilderness Institute. He also spent four seasons studying and teaching tropical marine ecology in the Sea of Cortez and the British Virgin Islands.
Carl has been teaching kayaking skills, rescue and safety to school groups, private organizations, individuals and instructors since '95. He has taught outdoor skills ranging from backpacking, back country skiing, rock climbing, high angle mountain search and rescue and sea kayaking since '91.
He recieved his training from NOLS, Prescott college, WPT, SOLO, the BCU and the ACA. (B.A., Prescott College ’93; Outdoor education)
Samantha Ladd
Co-founder of Osprey Sea kayak Adventures, BCU Coach 2, 4 Star, ACA Open Water Coastal Instructor, Sam currently designs and teaches OSKA's youth and adult environmental education & kayaking curriculum.
Sam has been guiding eco tours since '92 where she led kayak tours throughout the San Juan Islands. As a course director and instructor for the Boojum Wilderness Institute, she has taught environmental education, team building activities, rock climbing and low and high adventure courses. As Sea Kayaking Program Director for Broadreach Experiential Inc., she designed & instructed teen expedition kayaking programs in the British Virgin Islands. These programs integrated marine ecology, team-building, kayak expeditioning and community service. Sam fell in love with the Caribbean Sea and continues to lead OSKA's adventure travel programs.
B.A. Prescott College ’93; Outdoor Education.
West Howland
West has been paddling flat-water his whole life and took up whitewater kayaking and slalom four years ago at Proctor Academy. He has built his own sea kayak and loves nothing more than paddling it whenever he can. Recently he and a friend planned & paddled a three week expedition from Portland, Me up to Sommes Sound on Mount Desert Island.
West is also an avid sailor and has sailed with the Ocean Classroom Foundation first as a student and then as a member of the crew on a second and third voyage up and down the Eastern Seaboard.
He has served on the Blackwater Ski Patrol in New Hampshire and volunteered for the East Andover Rescue Squad after receiving his Outdoor Emergency Caregiver(OEC) medical certification.
Look for West guiding tours along the Westport River or throwin’ ends in the surf.
Bob Baldridge & Roo
Bob has been with Osprey Sea Kayak from the beginning as both friend and guide.
He is an accomplished outdoorsman, who enjoys fly fishing, whitewater canoeing, and of course sea kayaking.
Bob has spent most of his life exploring the south coast and Westport shorelines. He has been involved with many kayak clubs and orginizations, and we treasure his knowledge. His perspective and patient style have helped many new paddlers to increase their knowledge and fall further in love with the sport.
His loyal sidekick Roo often acompanies him on his adventures and has earned the nickname "Super Dog."