In this episode, we sit down with Mike Wendel, the Council Coordinator for the Tillamook Bay Watershed Council, to talk about how they’re working to protect the region’s watershed. Learn what a watershed is, how they’re partnering across the region to protect it, and how you can help support their mission. Below are the organizations, partners, and information about the waterways mentioned in our conversation. Explore the links to learn more about the people and places shaping the future of the Tillamook Coast.

Helpful links:

• Tillamook Bay Watershed Council
• TBWC on Facebook
• TBWC on Instagram
• More about Mike
• Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
• Leave No Trace
• Wild & Scenic Film Festival
• Cape Meares Lake
• Nehalem River
• Wilson River
• Trask River
• Tillamook River
• Kilchis River
• Rockaway, OR
• Netarts Bay
• Bayocean Spit

Credits:

• Hosted by Nicole Steen
• Music by Eric Sappington & Mercury Coast
• Edited by Jon Richardson

In this episode, we sit down with Sharlys Leszczuk, educator, real estate agent, and lifelong hospitality professional, to talk about how she’s bringing tourism education to life for students at Nestucca Valley High School. From her start in fine dining and PR in New York City to serving and teaching on the Oregon Coast, Sharlys shares how hospitality is more than service—it’s about connection, creativity, and community. Below are the organizations, local businesses, and partners mentioned in our conversation. Explore the links to learn more about the people and places shaping the future of Oregon Coast tourism and hospitality education.

Helpful links

• Nestucca Valley Jr./Sr. High School
• Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA)
• Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
• The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge (Netarts Bay)
• Garibaldi Boathouse (Garibaldi, OR
• Grateful Bread Bakery & Restaurant (Pacific City)
• The Riverhouse Nestucca (Pacific City)
• Heartfelt Hospitality
• Tillamook County Parks Departmen
• Tillamook Air Museum
• Pacific City Chamber of Commerce
• Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce
• Explore Tillamook Coast – Adventure Guide
• Tillamook County Library System

Credits:

• • Hosted by Dan Haag
  • Music by Eric Sappington & Mercury Coast
  • Edited by Jon Richardson
    

In this episode of Tillamook Coast Conversations, Nicole interviews Sydney Elliott, the owner and operator of Kayak Tillamook. Sydney shares her journey from being an English professor to running a guided kayak tour business, emphasizing the transformative power of nature and the importance of connection to the environment. She discusses the unique experiences offered through her tours, the significance of accessibility, and the role of her guides as ambassadors for the waterways. Sydney also highlights the importance of safety, community engagement, and the joy of celebrating milestones on the water.

Helpful links:

• • Kayak Tillamook
  • Alice’s Country House
  • Juntos Afuera
  • WEBS | Friends of Netharts Bay Watershed, Estuary, Beach, & Sea

Credits:

• Hosted by Nicole Steen
• Music by Eric Sappington & Mercury Coast
• Edited by Jon Richardson