Discovery Adventures

About Us

Our Mission is to excite people of all ages, about the coastal and ocean environments with an emphasis on fun and exploration of the natural beauty around Cape Ann.

Our summer camp program offers the opportunity for kids to be kids. While having fun on the water with friends, they will learn the skills necessary for safe paddling, rescues, and snorkeling. They also gain an appreciation of the natural world surrounding them. The activities aim to spark their interest in Marine Science and the instructors have the knowledge to support their discoveries.

Through our naturalist guided tours we seek to foster a love and respect for the ocean. Kayaks allow you to float gracefully along rocky inlets, tidal estuaries, and sandy beaches. Using your own power to move you quietly along, you visit areas only inhabited by seals, starfish, and sea birds.

Discovery Adventures was established in 1994 and has been a splash hit ever since! Female-owned and operated, the staff of Discovery Adventures has over 20 years of outdoor education experience, is trained in First Aid, CPR and Lifesaving. Discovery Adventures is a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Health permitted day camp.

Meet the Team

  • About_kacy

    Kacy Lafferty, Executive Director

    Kacy first began offering sea excursions to local Gloucester children as a way to open up opportunities and encourage their independence. A Gloucester native, Kacy has her Masters in Education, Teaching Credential and has taught both Elementary and Middle school. During the winter months she has taught Marine Science to children on Catalina Island, and San Diego, California. She has worked in Outdoor Education for the past 15 years and is a trained guide with CPR, WEMT, Emergency Dive Accident Management and Lifesaving Certification. She was certified by the Coast Guard as a licensed Captain.

  • Britta

    Britta Akerley, Program Director

    Britta is an experienced Kayaker and thoughtful teacher. If you are lucky to interact with Britta, either on the water or in the shop, your day will be much better for it. An infectious smile and welcoming demeanor, she will organize your group to have the best time possible on the water. 

    Britta is a graduate of National Outdoor Leadership School where she spent 3 months mountaineering and boating around Patagonia, Chile.  How cool is that!  She is currently working on her B.Sc in Biology.  Be sure to ask her all about the sea life!

  • About_marina

    Marina Montevecchi, Instructor

    Marina will be rolling through this summer and we are happy to have her back! She is an enthusiastic instructor and water woman. If she isn't on her home island of Newfoundland, she is on the extreme other coast of British Columbia, pursuing her dreams. 

  • About_mike

    Mike Lafferty, Guide/Instructor

    Sky Captain has been with Discovery Adventures since its creation. He has over 12 years of experience running guided trips all over Cape Ann. His one-on-one instruction keeps beginner paddlers coming back time and time again. His professional teaching strategies and constant encouragement turns beginners into experts.

  • About_ann

    Ann Lafferty, Guide/Instructor

    Murf is the most experienced paddler on our staff. She began instructing on Deer Lake in Minnesota and has paddled the boundary waters countless times. She has her Masters in Creative Learning and ran her own school for 17 years. Her adventurous spirit makes all of her tours tons of fun.

  • About_scott

    Scott Aalbers, Marine Biologist & Fishing Guide

    Scott has a Masters in Fisheries Biology and loves to sample the ocean's bounty. He grew up in Bird Rock, CA and has spent most of his life on or underwater. He has worked on a variety of fisheries projects with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research, and NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division with the intention of sustainability for fish populations and fishermen. He brings a wealth of knowledge to Discovery Adventures and will be leading the Southern California and Baja, Mexico excursions.

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    Kyle Webster, Guide

    Kyle is an experienced outdoorsman and avid high-five enthusiast. He was introduced to the wilderness at a young age through Project Adventure. He is an experienced kayaker, snorkeler, hiker, and outdoor adventurer.  Kyle graduated in 2013 from Salem State University with his B.Sc. in Geology with a concentration in environmental science.  He has worked as a camp counselor, managed a climbing wall, and spent a month canoeing around the wilderness of Maine.

    Kyle currently holds Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications and is currently working on his Wilderness EMT.

    If he's not guiding Kyle spends his time hiking the white mountains, swimming, cycling, rock climbing, working with dogs, watching Top Gun and often grabbing a backpack and traveling the world. 

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    Kilian Fitzpatrick, Lead Guide

    Kilian is a college student at the University of New Hampshire where he is studying business, and previously studied engineering. He graduated high school in 2014 from Hamilton-Wenham Regional and is the youngest lead guide of the crew. Kilian is in his third year of being a tour guide, but has been part of the "Disco" family for almost 10 years since being a kid at our day camp. He has his certifications in Life Guarding as well as First Aid, CPR, and Emergency Oxygen Administration. In his off time, he loves to play hockey or go out fishing or hanging out with his friends.

    Kilian is still figuring out what he wants to do after college, but he plans on remaining in the area for some years to come!

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    Alana Williamson-Doyle, Guide

    A Gloucester native, Alana has a keen knowledge of the coastal area she calls home. She enjoys leading group kayak tours and stand up paddleboard trips up and down the Cape Ann Coast. During the off season, she is an avid skiier, and spent two winters living and skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado. While out west, she also took classes in outdoor education at Colorado Mountain College. As a former discovery adventures camper, Alana has multiple years of experience in addition to this being her third summer as a guide. In her spare time she stays active by hiking, biking, kayaking and snorkeling during the summer months.

discovery adventures

po box 31

gloucester, ma 01930

978-283-3320