Inspired by her experiences growing up in Japan, Norway and England, Kit van Wagner has been on the water and steadily making her way around the globe for much of her life. To date she has visited and worked in over 130 countries and territories worldwide.

Her travels launched in earnest when Kit began working internationally on expedition ships in 1999. She enjoyed working as a small boat captain, expedition leader and field staff trainer creating a range of professional development opportunities for expedition guides and Zodiac skippers. Kit also provided essential support in expedition operations including permitting, drafting SOPs, destination scouting, itinerary design and product development. 

Kit is a USCG 100GT Captain, PADI Dive Instructor, Senior Polar Guide & Assessor with the Polar Tourism Guide Association, and has a varied career history also working as a sailing instructor, tall ship officer, marine science instructor, and backcountry kayak guide. Additionally, Kit has directed several government-funded coastal conservation and public outreach initiatives. Most notably she worked full-time on Narragansett Bay with NOAA based on Prudence Island. Kit holds a Master’s degree in Science Education from Florida Tech and is currently enrolled at UMaine studying Instructional Technology and Design. 

At heart Kit is an explorer, educator, life-long student and artist – usually traveling with camera and sketchpad on-hand. She keeps fit with yoga, running and swimming so she can surf the waves around the craggy coast of her home state of Rhode Island (and anywhere else she can travel with a board in tow).