Marissa

Marissa (she/her) is a 1.5-generation Thai American who grew up in Seattle, Washington, and proudly describes herself as "not your typical outdoorsy person." She's far more likely to pack extra snacks than memorize trail stats, yet she's always found herself returning to nature—not simply for adventure, but as a way to reconnect with herself and remember our unique place within the natural world.

As a passionate community worker, grassroots builder, and lifelong learner, Marissa eventually stepped away from her work to see what life could teach her outside the communities she knew. That curiosity led her to van life across the United States and Mexico, followed by living aboard in Thailand, where she immersed herself in new cultures, perspectives, and everyday rhythms.

Some of her greatest inspirations came while traveling throughout Southeast Asia, where she watched locals hike mountains, paddle rivers, and trek through jungles—not because it was an epic weekend adventure, but simply because it was life. And many of them did it in $2 flip-flops.

Today, Marissa sees nature as a place to remember our curiosity, our resilience, and our connection to something larger than ourselves. When she's not working, you'll probably find her surfing somewhere along the Olympic Peninsula, swimming in a lake, or car camping around Washington—still proving that you don't have to fit the "outdoorsy" stereotype to feel at home outside.