Training & Awards
Gastineau Guiding Company has been providing guided interpretive tours on Juneau trails since 1994. We are a small locally owned and operated tour company. Our mission is to create a sense of wonder by providing high quality, educational wilderness tour experiences with exceptional services for adventurous travelers. We attribute our consistent positive feedback to extensive training, many returning seasonal employees and a friendly and fun working environment.
Our guides and Nature Center interpreters are trained under the principals of the National Association of Interpretation, and many have earned Certified Interpretive Guide credentials through the State of Alaska.
Over the past few years several of our guides have been selected as the “most highly recognized guide” or “notably mentioned” in Juneau by the Princess Cruises and Tours Adventures Ashore C.R.U.I.S.E. Program. This honor is especially notable in a tourism destination with hundreds of guides providing exceptional service to our visitors.
Gastineau Guiding was recently presented with the 2016 Compassionate Business Award by P.E.T.A (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in recognition of the action taken by our guide Audrey Benson and Captain Annette Smith to rescue a deer in distress as it struggled to swim between the island here in Stephens Passage. Find the following link to the nationally covered story: US New coverage
2018 Whale SENSE Alaska Marine Conservation Leader Award – Annette Smith and Chelsea Anglin
Outstanding captains and naturalist in Alaska were nominated for their leadership in marine conservation and stewardship. With both the whale watching industry and scope of Whale SENSE growing rapidly in Alaska, there are truly countless individuals that are working to emphasize the need for conservation and preservation of local whale populations. Captain Annette Smith and naturalist Chelsea Anglin in Juneau, Alaska were selected as 2018’s Whale SENSE Heroes based on their demonstrated exceptional leadership in raising the standards of stewardship and education in the industry.
Stan Stephens Stewardship Award Recipients – Bob Janes and Dawn Wolf
In October of 2016, Bob Janes and Dawn Wolf, the owners of Gastineau Guiding, received the Stan Stephen’s Stewardship Award from the Alaska Travel Industry Association.
This award commemorates the passion and dedication that Stan Stephens lived by in his commitment to safeguard a place he loved dearly. Stan was a meticulous steward of Prince William Sound and after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, publicly declared that he would dedicate the rest of his life to making sure the area was protected. We are honored and grateful to join a very special group of Stan Stephens Stewardship Award recipients as we continue our efforts towards a more energy efficient operation here at Gastineau Guiding and the Alaska tourism community at large.
We are so proud and grateful for the recognition and excited to continue furthering the movement!
Whale SENSE Hero – Wendy Brynes
In August, the Whale SENSE program announced the recognition of our Naturalist Guide, Wendy Brynes, as a Whale SENSE Hero for 2017!
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries Whale SENSE coordinator for the Alaska Region, Suzie Teerlink, reached out to companies involved in the program to ask crew members to nominate captains and naturalists/guides who exemplified the standards and responsible practices set forth through the Whale SENSE program. Although there were many nominations Wendy went above and beyond as she displayed outstanding leadership on the water, demonstrate the principles of Whale SENSE, and is respected by co-workers and passengers alike. As a member of the Gastineau Guiding team we are proud of this accomplishment as we continue to advocate for the principles set in place by the Whale SENSE program to promote responsible practices while out on the water.
We are so fortunate to work with incredible people dedicating themselves to responsible whale watching practices and encouraging others to commit to conservation!
In 2021, Gastineau Guiding became fully accredited through GBAC (Global Biorisk Advisory Council). This accreditation, has given us the opportunity to improve and built on our current cleaning policies and procedures to ensure they are at or above the current standard. As a recipient of this gold standard, we are proud to provide a safe environment and experience for both our guests and staff.
View some of the many comments we have received from our guests.