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WHO WE ARE

Cali Collective is a kayak school based in Northern California dedicated to generating and fostering a community of people who share a love of the water. Our mission is to empower all persons to be confident both on and off the water. We are a diverse group of people, from river guides and ski bums to corporate CEOs, teens and retirees, therefore our events span a broad range of activities, including whitewater kayaking, standup paddleboarding, sea kayaking and the occasional tubing trip. Our main goal is to create a space for everyone to have fun, learn new skills and meet friends. This is an all-inclusive organization!

a group of people standing on a rock

Womxn’s Program

It is true that womxn and men learn differently! It is immensely valuable to work with instructors and alongside other paddlers who are coming from the same place. Our goal is to provide a supportive and friendly environment where womxn can feel comfortable and have fun.

a group of people playing in a park

Holistic Approach

We recognize that all things on this planet are interconnected and most important is connection between mind, body and spirit. Therefore we integrate things like yoga, Pilates and nutrition into many of our trips and workshops to keep us balanced and aligned and to help prevent injury.

a group of people sitting at a picnic table

Community Building

Becoming a part of the watersport community is a beautiful thing. We truly believe that if you can inspire someone to be confident on the water, then that will translate into other areas of their lives. In turn, if they feel good about something they’re doing, they’ll want to pass it on to someone else.

Crew

a person riding a surfboard on top of a pole

Melissa DeMarie

  • Chief Instigator
  • Whitewater Program Director
  • ACA L4 Whitewater
a small child sitting on a boat

Laura Zulliger

  • Saltwater Program Director
  • Whitewater Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L5 Advanced Open Water Kayaking
  • ACA L4 Whitewater
a man wearing a blue hat

Davide Sartoni

  • Paddleboard Program Director
  • ACA L4 Whitewater SUP
a little boy that is standing in the sand

Ellie Coffee

  • Whitewater Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Whitewater
a person riding on the back of a boat in the water

Owen Cross

  • Whitewater Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Whitewater
a person riding on the back of a boat in the water

Vance Harris

  • Whitewater Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Whitewater
a man standing next to a body of water

Cameron O’Connor

  • Whitewater Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Whitewater
a man wearing a helmet

Mary Ann King

  • Sea Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking
a person riding on the back of a boat

Suzy Matsubara

  • Sea Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking
a group of people in a boat on a body of water

Gennifer Gatan

  • Sea Kayak Instructor
  • ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking
  • BC Advanced Sea Kayak Leader

Guest Instructors

a person wearing a helmet

Natalie Kramer Anderson

a man standing in front of a body of water

Anna Wagner

Meret Becker swimming in the water

Anna Levesque

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Mariann Sæther

a young boy holding a flower in a field

Sage Donnelly

a man wearing a hat

Darcy Gaechter

a young boy wearing a hat

Darby McAdams