CURRENT MISSION
Explore, Create, Teach: I am in a constant state of learning and can be deeply fascinated by both the familiar and the new. I use what I learn to create new opportunities for myself and others, as well as to discover new methods to share and connect with people and the world.

ABOUT ME
My parents always told me that they found me under a rock, and some days, I believe them. I grew up in a little town in Washington, and when I say little, I mean about 300 people total. This gave me lots of opportunities to explore the outdoors and generate a genuine appreciation for nature. I can be perfectly content watching a trail of stinging ants make their way across my sandal, or equally impressed with a long hike to a cloudy mountain peak. There is always something interesting to look at, all we have to do is find it.

Beyond the outdoors, I pursue science education through media and art. I spend a fair amount of time in front of a computer screen, but I also work with kids and volunteer as a naturalist whenever I can.

PHILOSOPHY

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
-excerpt from Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've liked the idea surrounding CouchSurfing, but have been leery of taking advantage of it myself. Now, with the reviews of my friends, I decided to jump in, and see what I can offer. Though I don't have a good couch to stay on, I am often happy to meet new people and help provide a local/uniquely Jonas spin on the areas in which I live.

Interests

I have a wide array of interests and a desire to learn new things. With that said, I often enjoy hiking, backpacking, snorkeling, kayaking (calm water exploration), drawing, teaching, being ridiculous, being serious, telling bad jokes (known as "Jonas Jokes"), tide pooling, videography, photography, paleontology, biology, most sciences, mythology, and I'm constantly discovering new interests and learning new things.

• arts
• photography
• education
• drawing
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• snorkeling
• biology
• communications
• teaching
• science
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Book Sampling: The Odyssey (favorite), The Iliad, Jurassic Park, Dune, Dinotopia, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Gilgamesh, The Mists of Avalon, Oedipus the King, . . .

Movie Sampling: 28 Days Later, Indiana Jones (trilogy), Baraka, The Labyrinth, Whale Rider, Pan's Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story, The Lord of the Rings, Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire, Batman Begins and Dark Knight, Spider-Man, Hero, Unbreakable, The Breakfast Club, . . .

TV Sampling: Scrubs, Star Trek, Avatar the Last Airbender, 6 Feet Under, Skins (UK seasons 1&2), Heroes, Firefly, . . .

Music Sampling: John Denver, Matchbox Twenty, Loreena Mckennitt, The Weepies, Smashing Pumpkins, various soundtracks, Eddie Vedder, Blink 182, . . .

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

With a wet wind ripping at my poncho, I sat patiently through the early dark before sunrise to be surrounded by rows of wobbly Yellow-eye penguins. As they made their way nervously past, I watched them each become swallowed by the thunderous breakers of Curio Bay, New Zealand.

Countries I’ve Visited

United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand