About

Welcome! I’m Jon Gardner, the owner and lead Maine Guide of Willow & Sunset Guide Service. I was bitten by the outdoor bug on my very first trip to Acadia National Park as an 18-month-old in 1979. Soothed by the rustling leaves in the wind and inspired by the changing seasons, I’ve maintained a connection with the wilderness throughout my formative years and beyond. In 2018, after 40 years of hunting, fishing, hiking and canoeing in the Maine woods and waters, and witnessing the decline of outdoor recreation amongst busy families, I wondered if perhaps I could inspire a new love of the outdoors for modern families. In an outdoor enthusiast world of hype and high-tech gear, which often can be a deterrent for novice families, I rely on the basics — primitive skills, self-reliance and awareness — to foster confidence of oneself and appreciation of the natural world as is.

Professional Memberships, Certifications & Vocation:

Maine Wilderness Guides Organization, Member/Board Member/Education Chair
Maine Wilderness Guides Organization Outdoor Education Fund, Vice President/Board Member
Project Wild Educator
Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certified from SOLO
25 Years of Government Service at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Ducks Unlimited Member
Maine Audubon Member
Saco Bay Trails Member & Volunteer
Three Rivers Land Trust Member
The Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Member & Volunteer
Former Saco River Corridor Commissioner for Waterboro, Maine