Ryan Means is a conservation ecologist, naturalist, and outdoor explorer. He holds a B.S. in zoology and a M.S. degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, both from the University of Florida. As conservation ecologist, and President of the Coastal Plains Institute, his research interests include ephemeral wetland ecology, herpetology and developing conservation strategies for imperiled wild lands and wildlife. As naturalist and outdoor explorer, Ryan has journeyed through many iconic wild areas of our planet including the Outback of Australia, the Amazon basin and Guyana Shield of South America, the USA, and to what may be his favorite—the Alaskan wilderness. Ryan rejuvenates his well-being through frequent forays or all-out expeditions into wild areas. One of his greatest desires in life is to help others establish their own connection with the natural world.
Rebecca P. M. Means is a wildlife ecologist and science educator with a passion for wildlife, outdoor adventure, and food. She has a B.S. degree in both Wildlife Ecology and in Biology from Virginia Tech and an M.S. degree in Forestry from Texas A&M. As Director of the Coastal Plains Institute, Rebecca has worked with wildlife ranging from fire ants to the Florida panther but her expertise is with the amphibians that inhabit temporary wetlands. Rebecca’s love for adventure has led her backpacking all over the U.S. and beyond — from Florida to California, Costa Rica to Thailand. She loves how traveling changes her perspective on life and what is really important and she loves the feeling of waking up in a new place and knowing everything she really needs is right there in her tent (or tied up in a not-so-nearby tree).
Skyla is our amazing, inquisitive daughter. She accompanies us on all of our outdoor expeditions and pursuits. She has already camped and explored the United States from Florida to Maine and all the way to Idaho before age 5. She is our willing and wonderful companion on Project Remote and has been to 36 state Remote Spots. We believe in raising our daughter by our side and giving her the gift of the outdoors often and early. Children raised in the outdoors are many times more likely to be knowledgeable, self-reliant, passionate individuals. Skyla has taught us that we as a family are limited only by our imagination – she is game to do just about anything.
