Meet Our Team
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Maggie Harings
Owner/Operator + Lead Instructor
In 2o24, Maggie founded Arctic Alaska Packrafting Instruction from her small cabin in the woods near Fairbanks, Alaska. Motivated by her passion for inclusive boating education, she offers boutique-style packrafting courses where new and experienced boaters can confidently progress at their own pace. With a challenge-by-choice mentality, Maggie strives to foster a safe, welcoming environment with opt-in activities to introduce boating terminology, gear maintenance, paddling skill development, boating safety, rescue skills, and ecologically responsible boating practices in Alaska. She is also a Yukon River salmon researcher and an outdoor adventure + race photographer.
Certifications:
- American Canoe Association L3 Packrafting Instructor
- American Canoe Association L4 Swiftwater
- Wilderness First Aid
- Outdoor Leadership
- 18+ years of on-water backcountry experience
Leadership + other qualifications
- Member of ACA's Packraft Education Committee
- Previous Chair of American Packrafting Association's Alaska Regional Chapter
Favorite rivers:
- Nenana River
- Copper River
- Salmon River (Middle/Main)
- Hells Canyon (Snake River)
- Brule River
- Any river with pals!
Sam Stone
Lead Instructor
Sam started sea kayaking as a kid in rural Maine and soon decided to pursue all aspects of paddlesports in a full-time capacity. Whether sending class V or paddling class fun, he is always excited to get on the water and introduce new paddlers to the sport. Sam is also an Outdoor Adventures Assistant Coordinator at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Certifications:
- American Canoe Association L5 Whitewater Kayak Instructor
- American Canoe Association L4 Sea Kayak Instructor
- American Canoe Association L4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- American Canoe Association L4 Packrafting Instructor* (*summer 2025)
- American Canoe Association L4 Whitewater Instructor Trainer Candidate
- BCU 3* Sea Kayak Leader
Favorite rivers:
- Nenana River
- Sixmile
- Willow Creek
- Rio Quijos
- Rio Hollin
- Rio Alseseca
- Green River Narrows
- North Fork Payette
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Patrick Higgins
Lead Instructor
Patrick is a watersports expert and has worked in every state on the West Coast teaching paddlesports courses. From Otter Bar Kayak lodge in California, to Next Adventure Kayak School in Oregon and Washington, to Turnagain Kayak and Alaska Pacific University in Alaska. Patrick teaches a variety of outdoor education courses at Alaska Pacific University with some of his favorites being Surfing (in Hawaii), Swift Water Rescue, and Whitewater Kayaking. Patrick can certify instructors through the American Canoe Association (ACA) and provides those courses for APU Outdoor Studies students, staff, faculty, and the general public. During the winter time, Patrick also helps with snow science classes, teaches fat biking classes, and works part time at Hilltop Ski Area in Anchorage teaching skiing and snowboarding.
Certifications:
- Level 4 Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Trainer
- Level 3 Packrafting Instructor Trainer
- Level 2 Coastal Kayaking Instructor Trainer
- Level 5 Advanced Whitewater Kayak Instructor
- Level 5 Advanced Open Water Sea Kayak Instructor
- Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
- Level 4 Whitewater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor
- Professional Ski Instructor Association Alpine Ski Instructor
- American Association of Snowboard Instructors Snowboard Instructor
- Wilderness First Responder
Leadership + other qualifications
- Chair of ACA's Packraft Education Committee
- Previous Vice Chair of American Packrafting Association's Alaska Regional Chapter
Dan Pyle
Assistant Instructor
One summer day when Dan was an early teen, his dad took him to a river, stuck him in a whitewater kayak and told him to follow him down a river. It all started on that fateful day and Dan has spent much of his life sitting in a boat on a river since then. This has taken him to explore the rivers in the Southwest US, guiding in Colorado and South America, starting kayak clubs when his school did not have one, and now exploring the creeks and rivers of Alaska. Dan cares about making people feel safe, informed, and prepared in order to maximize a river's fun potential and to help others pursue their own river journeys. While he no longer pursues charging class V lines, you might see him get a packraft up on a precipitous edge while snapping into an eddy in a class II rapid, or at least trying to.
Favorite rivers:
- Green River
- Colorado River
- Bull River
- Wells Creek
- Arkansas River
- South Fork of the American
- Rio Liucura
- Rio Palguin
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Raven Dawsen
Assistant Instructor
Raven’s love for rivers began kayaking the rivers in his hometown of Leavenworth, WA. One of his favorite things to do on the river is snorkeling to collect lost sunglasses. He’s never had to buy a pair in his life! After moving to Alaska, he has rediscovered boating and spends free weekends out on the water. Whether he's floating for fun or figuring out how to include packrafting and kayaking for his fisheries research, he is happiest on a river.
Favorite Rivers
- Wenatchee River
- Nenana River
- Snake River
Marianna Mallory
Assistant Instructor
Marianna grew up canoeing and “boating” in a fish tote down creeks in Nome. Marianna has nearly a decade of experience as a tour guide, primarily as a dog mushing tour guide, but also did a stint as a water fall rappel tour guide. She has always been a water person and has gotten more into boating and rafting in the past several years. She took an ocean kayak rescue course in Norway and started getting into packrafting and rafting in interior Alaska. Marianna enjoys introducing others to new activities and strives to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and safe. When not boating, Marianna can often be found out with her dogs, open water swimming, or berry picking in the summer. In the wintertime she enjoys skiing, skijoring, and dog mushing.
Favorite rivers:
- Nenana River
- Nome River
- Chatanika River
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Hannah Smith
Assistant
Zen
(aka: Zenny, Zen Girl, etc.)
Pawfessor of Padding, Treatology, and Scritches
Zen is a dog of simple pleasures; she loves a good romp along the shore, sniffing all the smells and taking the dip in the water. While “ruff” water might not be her jam, she takes pride in delivering expert-level morale boosts through enthusiastic butt wiggles and high-speed zoomies. All the treatos, scritches, and “good girls” in the world could never fully express just how much we love our Zenny!
Certifications:
- Level III: Whitewater Stick Retrieval Technician
- Level IV Canine Paddle Instructor - tail use only; no paddles, please
- Level III Treato Acquisition Instructor
Favorite rivers:
- All of them.