Our Mission is to excite people, of all ages, about the coastal and ocean environments with an
emphasis on fun and exploration of the natural beauty around Cape Ann.

Through our naturalist guided tours we seek to foster a love and respect for the ocean. Kayaks allow you to float gracefully along rocky inlets, tidal estuaries, and sandy beaches. Using your own power to move you quietly along, you visit areas only inhabited by seals, starfish, and sea birds.

Our summer camp program offers the opportunity for kids to be kids. While having fun on the water with friends, they will learn the skills necessary for safe paddling, rescues, and snorkeling. They also gain an appreciation of the natural world surrounding them. The activities aim to spark their interest in Marine Science and the instructors have the knowledge to support their discoveries.

Discovery Adventures was established in 1994 and has been a splash hit ever since! Female-owned
and operated, the staff of Discovery Adventures has over 15 years of outdoor education experience, is
trained in First Aid, CPR and Lifesaving. Discovery Adventures is a Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Board of Health permitted day camp.

Who we are
Kacy Lafferty, Executive Director
Kacy first began offering sea excursions to local Gloucester children as a way to open up opportunities and encourage their independence. A Gloucester native, Kacy has her Masters in Education, Teaching Credential and has taught both Elementary and Middle school. During the winter months she has taught Marine Science to children on Catalina Island, and San Diego, California. She has worked in Outdoor Education for the past 15 years and is a trained guide with CPR, WEMT, Emergency Dive Accident Management and Lifesaving Certification. She is certified by the Coast Guard as a licensed Captain. kacy@discoveryadventures.org

Laurie Henry, Program Director

Laurie Henry first started leading adventures in the outdoors in 2003. she has worked for several outfitters throughout the U.S. and abroad leading kayaking, snorkeling, backpacking, horse packing, and cycling expeditions. She loves leading children and adults on both land and sea based trips to share with them her love of the outdoors. Laurie is a certified Lifeguard, Wilderness First Responder, and is trained in CPR. Laurie has a degree in Environmental Studies and recently received her teaching credential and Masters in Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. During the winter months, she now teaches Middle School Science in the Santa Barbara area. She is excited to be on the East Coast and spend the summer on the water.

Sarah Wolfskel, Guide/Instructor

Sarah was a camper with Discovery Adventures for four years. This opened her eyes to the beauty and excitement of the outdoors and forever changed her life path. Since then, Sarah has spent time in Colorado obtaining a degree in Biology from Colorado College. She worked in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska surveying the sea floor and compiling nautical charts. She grew up on the waters of New England and spent many summers sailing the coast with her family and teaching kids as a sailing instructor. She now returns to her home waters. Sarah is certified in CPR and First Aid and has a USCG Basic Safety Training for Seafarers.

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Anna Berry, Guide/Instructor

Anna has spent the last 9 years living on sailboats between England, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. She owned her own boat, that she sailed to New Zealand and has kayaked all over including Panama and Tahiti. She is most comfortable outdoors and in or on the water. She has a degree in Ocean Science and works on yachts in the winter. Anna has First Aid and Sea Survival training and is a certified PADI Rescue Diver.

Tess Cleary, Guide/Instructor

Tess is a Gloucester native who spent her childhood summers swimming and exploring Cape Ann. As a camp councelor, she has led children on many outdoor adventures. She loves to get kids excited about exploring the coastal waters. Her winters are spent in rural Maine finishing her degree in Agriculture, Food, and Sustainability and cross country skiing. Tess is CPR and First Aid certified and looking forward to another summer on the water.

Marina Montevecchi, Guide/Instructor

Marina was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada. She completed an Adventure Tourism Program in 2007. During this course she achieved her Level 1 in Sea Kayaking, Canoeing and led backcountry trips. She is trained in Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and Lifesaving. Since graduating she has been guiding tour groups in the US, Western, and Eastern Canada. She has many years of experience educating and counseling children through adventure camps. She is currently completing her Environmental Science Degree at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Marina joined the Discovery Adventures team in 2009. She loves working with children and is always ready for a new adventure. marina@discoveryadventures.org

Alejandra Rivas, Guide/Instructor

Ale was born and raised in Cancun, Mexico. She moved to Newfoundland 5 years ago to attend and graduate from the Adventure Tourism Program. She completed Level 1 in Sea Kayaking and Canoeing as well as being certified in Wilderness First Aid, CPR, and Lifesaving. For the past 4 years she has been guiding tours and instructing camps for children throughout Newfoundland and Mexico. Ale loves the outdoors, traveling, meeting new people and having fun in the sun.

Katie Cortese, Guide/Instructor
Katie was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She moved to Gloucester in the summer of 2003 and fell in love instantaneously with the oceans and outdoor beauty of Cape Ann. Katie graduated from Lock Haven University with a BS in Social Work and Sociology. Katie has many years experience in social work, counseling children and families. She plans to complete her graduate degree in Wilderness Therapy and is trained in CPR and First Aid. She has been a part of the Discovery Adventures team since 2008. Katie loves stand-up paddle boarding, dancing to the shop tunes, traveling, and meeting new people along the way.

Whitney Morris
Whitney has been working with the Discovery Adventures Camp program for six years. She worked on Catalina Island teaching kayaking and snorkeling and sustainable living techniques. She is recently completed her Masters in Education at University of California, Berkeley.
She is originally from Boxford, Massachusetts. She will continue to be an important part of creating international trips for school groups.
whitney@discoveryadventures.org

Scott Aalbers, Marine Biologist & Fishing Guide
Scott has a Masters in Fisheries Biology and loves to sample the ocean's bounty. He grew up in Bird Rock, CA and has spent most of his life on or underwater. He has worked on a variety of fisheries projects with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research, and NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division with the intention of sustainability for fish populations and fishermen. He brings a wealth of knowledge to Discovery Adventures and will be leading the Southern California and Baja, Mexico excursions.

Mike Lafferty, Guide/Instructor
Sky Captain has been with Discovery Adventures since its creation. He has over 12 years of experience running guided trips all over Cape Ann. His one-on-one instruction keeps beginner paddlers coming back time and time again. His professional teaching strategies and constant encouragement turns beginners into experts.

Ann Lafferty, Guide/Instructor  
Murf is the most experienced paddler on our staff. She began instructing on Deer Lake in Minnesota and has paddled the boundary waters countless times. She has her Masters in Creative Learning and ran her own school for 17 years. Her adventurous spirit makes all of her tours tons of fun.

Anne Perkins, Baja Guide
Anne has worked with Discovery Adventures for six summers and has hired our staff as Marine Naturalists for her school's trip to Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja, Mexico. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA and works as the Outdoor Education Coordinator at The Crane Country Day School. She has created an incredible opportunity for thousands of students and their families to explore the Baja Peninsula. She has over 20 years of experience running trips to remote locations. Her attention to details and safety make every trip a success. Her boundless energy and infectious laughter insures everyone has a great time.


Stacey Johnson, Guide/Instructor
Stacey Johnson is a Gloucester native and has 10 years experience as a kayaking guide and
instructor A skilled paddler and patient instructor with a fun personality means she’s always up for an adventure. She has traveled extensively and has worked as a guide in California, Iceland and Costa Rica.