The Team

TheCanoeMan has a number of fully qualified regular instructors and we also use other specialist instructors from time to time.

Mark Wilkinson

Mark is the Managing Director of Activ-8 Adventure and TheCanoeMan.com. He has over 35 years of experience in outdoor / adventure activities, having gained the bulk of this through a long and varied career within Scouting. His specialist area is expedition bush craft – practical, effective and fast learnt from running many trips and expeditions all round the world. He has worked with many organizations including NCC, SCC, Scouts, Guides and many other youth and adult groups. He is a BCU Level 5 Coach and has qualifications in Air Rifle Shooting, Archery, Team Building activities, Bushcraft and is fully First Aid trained.

David Smith

David developed a healthy passion for the outdoors at an early age by taking every opportunity to explore and learn about the woods, and through his involvement in the Scouts and the Air Training Corps. This was taken a step further by joining the military where he discovered new skills and got the chance to put them to use in a number of challenging environments. Since then David has taken part in a number of Bushcraft courses and expeditions in order to constantly further his knowledge and skills. David is also a qualified Engineer who enjoys mountain climbing, canoeing and skiing.

Malcom Mckee

As a child growing up in Norfolk Malcolm couldn't wait to get out of the house and into the woods where he spent many hours walking, building shelters and watching wildlife. He started to develop his outdoors skills in the scouts and as an adult has furthered those skills by attending several bushcraft courses and active participation in bushcraft events. Malcolm derives satisfaction from learning and teaching practical skills that are essential to wilderness living. He particularly enjoys the "craft" side of bushcraft such as carving, ropework, knifemaking and leatherwork.

Tony Dennis

Tony has been working for the Canoeman since 2007 instructing on a variety of Bushcraft and Canoe trails. He first became interested in teaching around 20 years ago, training the scouts in survival skills and running survival camps to put their skills into practice. Tony then went on to teach other scout leaders bushcraft skills and outdoor cooking. Tony is also a fully qualified Canoe Instructor.

Mark Elson

Mark has worked for TheCanoeMan for over three years as a guide on the canoe trails and as a canoe or activity instructor on other courses. He is a BCU level 3 Canoe and Kayak coach, and also coaches Archery, Air Rifles, Team Building, Bushcraft, Climbing and Sailing. He has over 20 years experience canoeing and sailing on the broads He has worked with many professional organisations, school groups, adult groups and families. Before returning to Norfolk, he was Head of Canoeing at the UK Sailing Academy, and also runs Sailnorfolk.org, an RYA Training Centre and coaching service based on South Walsham Broad.

Will Mills

Will started kayaking and teaching kayaking at 14 with the scouts but later fell in love with canadian canoeing whilst working in France for a UK Outdoors Activity Company. Will is a level 2 Canoe Coach and is currently working towards his Mountain Leader qualification. He is a keen mountain biker and regularly takes trips to The Peaks, The Lakes and Wales to enjoy these sports. Will has a strong background in youth work and currently works with young people on a countywide basis as a Youth Volunteer Adviser for a national youth volunteering organisation. He studied Outdoor Recreation Management at university. Will works for TheCanoeMan leading canoe trips on the Broads including overnight bushcraft trips, otter spotting trails, wild swimming trips, and short day trips. He loves working for the company because... "we have such beautiful and unique countryside and waterways in Norfolk, Canoeing is truly the best way to make the most of these. I love meeting new people and seeing their canoeing/bushcraft skills and passions for the outdoors grow as the days go on."

Jasmine ‘Jaz’ Waters

Jaz is “Mrs TheCanoeMan” and is regularly spotted on trails at the weekends when she has time off from her day job at the University of East Anglia. Jaz comes from an Venture Scout background and has 20 years experience canoeing, kayaking and leading expeditions. She is an aspirant level 5 coach and is one of the leading female canoe paddlers in the country. Jaz is very knowledgeable on the flora and fauna of the Norfolk Broads. Her family has a long history and connection with the Norfolk Broads, here Great Grandfather being the last working wherryman on the Albion.

Kerry ‘Kez’ Davis

Kerry is Mark Wilkinson’s PA and Administrator. Kerry came to TheCanoeMan for the 2010 summer season and loved it so much she resigned from her job at the University of East Anglia and stayed. Kerry came late in life to canoeing (its amuses the rest of the staff how bad she can be and how often she can fall in), her background is as a triathlon coach and swimming teacher. You will speak to Kerry on the phone or via email during the week and you may see her helping out at weekends, leading the wild swimming trails or running air rifle sessions.

Rachael ‘Chully’ Kirkham

Chully was introduced to the outdoors by her father, where she spent many hours sailing on the Broads, watching wildlife and exploring the woods and this was further enhanced through her involvement in scouting. Her love of the outdoors was further encouraged during her 22 years in the Royal Navy. Although in administration she found every opportunity to move her desk outdoors into the mountains or onto the water and gained her Mountain Leader qualification. Prior to an accident in a speed boat Chully was a keen swimmer, competing for the Royal Navy and as a master at national level. Chully can be found working in many areas of the company – running archery sessions, on canoe trails, assisting with bushcraft and is the canoe man’s Business Manager. Her hairstyle is modelled on Mr Darcy and her personality based on Uisce’s. Her greatest achievement is gaining her Brownie Cookery Badge and is eternally grateful to her mother for teaching her how to pee in the woods!!!

We also use other specialist instructors from time to time.