David Olcott

Dave is a retired earth science educator of 32 years. Throughout his teaching career he was noted for conducting extended field experiences to unique geologic sites throughout the Pacific Northwest. He excited interest and participation in both young people and adults.

Although born and raised in Portland, he has educational ties to the heartland of Oregon. His grandfather herded sheep in the Blue Mountains while his great aunt homesteaded and taught school along a tributary of the Umatilla River. In addition, Dave became well acquainted with ranching/farming practices characteristically found east of the Cascades through a teacher-student exchange program he developed and coordinated for 23 years. He has taught in Queensland, Australia for a year, and has conducted field work in northern Tanzania and Jamaica. Dave received degrees in physical geography/earth science/ecology from Portland State University and the University of Illinois. He has traveled with Lindblad Expeditions in Alaska and Antarctica.

Dave and his wife, Dee, manage their 22 acre tree farm on the south rim of the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland. Most of his interests center on the out-of-doors. He enthusiastically embraces the Lindblad way of nurturing awareness and understanding of the natural world.