Biography

Jake Taylor completed a BA in Geology and an Honors BA in History at Georgia Southern University while working as a Program Assistant at Southern Adventures, which is the outdoor recreation program at the school. He was able to complete a semester abroad in Finland, studying Scandinavian culture and history, and a semester in New Brunswick, Canada studying Canadian history and culture. Both of these semesters abroad were made possible from grants received from the federal government and Georgia Southern University. 

Jake Taylor is a SOLO WEMT and a SOLO Instructor. This involves delivering wilderness medicine courses for individuals and professionals. He was a Lifeguard Instructor for the American Red Cross from 2008-2021, and he still maintains his lifeguarding certification since 2002.

He has worked with the outdoor education school, Outward Bound, from 2011 through 2018. He was able to work with a variety of students from primary school age to retirees in a variety of outdoor venues and countries. Sailing in the South China Sea with an adult group, canoeing in the Florida Everglades with troubled teenage girls, to bush walking on the southwestern coast of Australia. During his time with Outward Bound, Jake became a Leave No Trace Master Educator and a Royal Yachting Association Day Skipper.  

Jake Taylor is an American Canoe Association (ACA) Instructor for sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding. He is also an Instructor Trainer Educator for kayaking and SUP. He was the Vermont State Director with the ACA from 2019-2020, and he led a multi-discipline Curriculum Committee in 2023-2024. He has been a Team Rider for Aztron Sports and Whatzsup competing in Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) racing.   

He recently completed a Masters in Education at Saint Michael's College with a concentration in curriculum in 2021. This was while working at Saint Mike's as the Graduate Assistant of the Adventure Sports Center and as a Resident Director. 

Until recently, Jake has been working through his personal business Mountain & Sea Sports LLC between Hong Kong and North America. He has now returned back to work with Outward Bound in Canada focusing on curriculum and research. 

I come from a large family with one brother and three sisters, and I grew up in the northeastern part of the southern state, Georgia. My parents are from Wisconsin and New York, and after they married they moved down south to a small town. They raised us with the values of: 

• Respect and recognize everyone

• Work hard and diligently regardless of the task 

• Small actions show the real measure of a person 

• Help others in need 

My full name is Jacob Robert Taylor, and my middle name comes from Robert being a common name amongst males in my family. All of my siblings have biblical names that are able to be shortened. Church and community were an important element of my youth and family. My parents separated when I was entering middle school, but we continue to celebrate holidays and spend time as a family when we can. My siblings are spread out throughout the US, and we are all reaching middle age. 

I am married to a lovely Hong Kong-Canadian who is in the banner photograph with me. We met while I was working overseas in Hong Kong at the Outward Bound school located there.

After a few years back in Hong Kong following my Master's degree, my wife and I are relocating to British Columbia in Canada. During this time I'm still running adventure sport, consulting, and outdoor adventure training courses for individuals and businesses in Hong Kong and North America.