Assistant Director

Salmon 'Sam' Norgaard-Stroich
WCOP Assistant Director

Office: Reid Campus Center, G22 (Next to the OP)

509.386.7343 cell & messages
509.527.5791 office
norgaas@whitman.edu
Facebook Page

Salmon teaches courses for the SSRA department, runs the OP trip program, oversees the Speakers & Events program, assists with Scrambles and conducts leader trainings for student trip leaders.

SSRA Courses that Salmon teaches:
        139 -     Canoeing
        140 -     Beginning Kayaking
        250?-     Advanced Kayaking
        332 -     River Guide Leadership
        334 -     Sea Kayak Guide Leadership
        380 -     Outdoor Leadership
        115 -     Telemark Skiing
        342 -     Wilderness Expedition: Sea Kayaking
        342 -     Wilderness Expedition: Backcountry Skiing
        487 -     Theory of kayak construction/development (Independent Study)

Salmon brings a diverse background of outdoor experience to the OP.  As a whitewater kayak, canoe and raft guide/instructor starting in 1989, he has witnessed an evolution in the field of whitewater.  Salmon loves any stretch of water that you can fit a boat onto, and especially touring in a sea kayak, expeditioning by canoe, or skin diving and spearfishing below the surface.  

 As the season turns to winter, all that water interests freezes up and gets channeled into skiing.  Salmon grew up as a resort punk on alpine boards, and started telemarking and backcountry skiing in 1987 (after his parents stopped paying for his lift ticket!).  After grad school he had a chance to live in Crested Butte and work at a ski academy high school during the re-awakening of Telemarking in the US.  After a year living the freeheel culture in Norway, Salmon also fell in love with skinny skis - skating, or just touring with super light gear.  Salmon worked as a pro ski patroller in Oregon, and for a year in Norway to round out his ski background and first aid experience.  Salmon loves all kinds of skiing - but the wilder the terrain the better!

The only thing Salmon loves more than experiencing wild country is helping others to gain the skills, technique and knowledge to adventure on their own.  He started teaching a semester long Natural History field program for UC Santa Cruz in 1991.  With a focus on biology and land management, Salmon has found a strong connection between outdoor activities and the wild places we visit.  "Meet your neighbors" is one of Salmon's favorite lesson plans, where students get to learn a little bit about the plants/animals of the places they are recreating in. 

Salmon has certifications from ACA (American Canoe & Kayak Association) (Whitewater Kayak & River Canoe), PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) (Telemark, Track skiing, Advanced Children's Educator), Swiftwater Rescue (SRT-1), Avalanche (Level II), advanced first aid (WFR & EMT) as well as over 15 years experience teaching college courses in natural history, ecology and outdoor activities.