Wild Latitudes

503-714-3504

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About Us

A Passion for Nature and Education

Hi, this is Steve and Ivan, co-owners of Wild Latitudes. We each had a long journey of exploring, studying, and guiding before we started this business. We worked together at the same organization in Portland, Oregon, co-leading birding and natural history trips as well as leading trips independently. We’re kindred spirits who are crazy about natural history, so not surprisingly our professional relationship quickly grew into a great friendship.

Wild Latitudes is an expression of our passion for nature, guiding and teaching. Few things make us happier than seeing someone light up with delight and new understanding while out in nature. We feel like we have one of the best jobs in the world and our enthusiasm shows when we’re out in the field. We’d love for you to come along with us and share in the excitement!

Enjoying and protecting the wild corners of the world

 

Steve Robertson

A true lover of the natural world, Steve has been a student of nature his entire life. First, as a little boy, who caught every creature he could for the mini zoo he kept in the garage, then later as an adult, leading scientific research expeditions into some of the most remote regions of the world, searching for rare species in such places as Tasmania, Madagascar and the upper Amazon Basin. With degrees in Wildlife Biology, advanced biology & education, Steve has worked in the field of Environmental Education for over 30 years. From 1998 to 2017, Steve served as the Education Director for the Audubon Society of Portland, creating a number of innovative programs including International Ecotours, a program that has won hundreds of accolades from around the country. During his time with Audubon, Steve personally designed and led Ecotours to over 20 countries, spanning six continents.

Steve strives to provide the kind of experience that gives people the chance to re-connect with the natural world in a truly fulfilling way. Rather than rushing around to “check off” as many birds as possible, he would rather the group linger to better enjoy and understand the bird at hand. To Steve, our avian friends provide the perfect vehicle to discuss and understand a myriad of ecological concepts and evolutionary theories. Though birds are always central, for Steve they’re not the only focus… any creature encountered is fair game, and the star for the moment!

Ivan Phillipsen

Ivan is a passionate naturalist with a background in scientific research. He holds an M.S. in biology from Cal State San Bernardino and a Ph.D. in zoology from Oregon State University. Ivan worked in the field of conservation genetics during his academic career, studying amphibians and aquatic insects. His scientific contributions were the culmination of a life-long love of amphibians and other freshwater creatures.

The more Ivan learned about biology and ecology, the more his interests in natural history expanded. How could he limit himself to study only one group of animals from only one perspective, that of population/conservation genetics? Ivan made the conscious decision to leave academia to become a full-time naturalist, to fully embrace his childlike love of all the world’s organisms and landscapes.

One of Ivan’s greatest joys is teaching others about natural history and science. He found the perfect job as a Naturalist Guide. Ivan is especially fond of birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, plants, and geology. Everything is interconnected in nature and Ivan does his best to bring the attention of his tour participants and students to beautiful and complex ecological patterns across the natural world.

In addition to leading trips for Wild Latitudes, Ivan works as a naturalist aboard National Geographic ships in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Mexico.

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