Our Dreamland Guides

Sunny’s love for the desert began when she was a kid, and it has only grown since. In addition to managing Dreamland Safari Tour together with her husband Paul, Sunny is also a professional endurance athlete as well as a prolific adventurer and accomplished outdoor photographer.  Sunny has established speed records across the great ranges of the world; her images have been published in National Geographic, Outside Magazine, Forbes, and many others. Originally from Germany, Sunny spent formative years on the East Coast where she obtained two degrees from Harvard University and worked in strategy consulting before turning her back on the corporate world in order to pursue her true passion: outdoor adventure.  She loves sharing her favorite places with guests, and is always up for a big day in the backcountry. Sunny is a commercial drone operator and a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Paul has spent more than four decades exploring, adventuring, and putting up first ascents on rock across the US and internationally. While Paul’s first outdoor love was Yosemite, he is proud to call the Utah desert ‘home’ and is excited to be managing Dreamland Safari Tours together with his wife Sunny.  Beyond his adventurous outdoor pursuits, Paul brings long years of outdoor industry executive management experience to Dreamland Safari Tours.  Prior to moving to Kanab, Paul led the outdoor division of Nite Ize after serving as president of Sierra Designs for several years. Back in the 1980s Paul spent seven seasons as a climbing ranger in Grand Teton National Park, where he participated in upwards of 200 rescues and was among the first National Park Service employees to be certified for helicopter-rappel rescues.   Paul’s ‘can-do’ attitude and unshakeable calm make him a favorite of guests and guides alike. Paul is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Bret has spent more than 20 years hiking the trails, driving the backroads and fishing the rivers of the Colorado Plateau. His love of exploration has given him a knowledge of the the mountains and deserts of the Western United States and Central and South America. After a few years living in Mexico, Bret has returned to Southern Utah, where his heart resides and is now managing and guiding for Dreamland Safari Tours. Bret is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

“I have never met a dirt road I didn’t love.”

Marjorie was born and raised in Namur, Belgium. In addition to guiding a myriad of tours for Dreamland since 2014, she is also responsible for planning and organizing the full complexity of logistics, supplies, and gear for each overnight and multi-day camping excursion that Dreamland leads to out-of-the-way locations such as White Pocket and Toroweap.  Her conscientious attention to detail ensures that guests have everything they need to explore the backcountry wilds in style. Marjorie is an Emergency Medical Technician. 

Brent came to Southern Utah with an explorer’s heart. After completing the Appalachian Trail in 2011, he completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013. In 2014 he hiked across the Continental Divide. Since arriving in Utah he has continued his pursuits into the wild. Brent continues to cover ground experiencing the endless lands of the southwest. In addition to guiding, Brent also runs point on Dreamland’s guide training program.

“It has been incredible realizing that my job is a love that I get to share. There is a level of awe that never goes away out here. We go to some true gems.”

Orion was born in the mountains of western North Carolina and grew up with a love of the outdoors. After studying forestry he became passionate about the trees, creeks, and trails all around him. Orion became enchanted with the west after a family trip and always wanted to return to the wonder and mystery of the Utah deserts. He has lived in Kanab for 5 years and worked previously in the Grand Staircase National Monument with troubled teens teaching, hiking, and camping for a total of over 250 nights. This experience gave him a unique and very personal connection with the desert land. He has been guiding for Dreamland since May 2017, and has never been more excited to be part of this amazing place. Orion is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” – Edward Abbey

Andrea grew up with a passion for the outdoors. As a child her parents could hardly get her to come inside for dinner, and frankly, not much has changed. Andrea has spent most of her adult life in Hawaii, and first visited Kanab in 2006 to do a Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike. After several subsequent trips to Utah, Andrea and her husband moved permanently. Andrea is energetic and fun and also loves sharing the story of Utah’s incredible landscapes, wildlife and history. She has a journalism degree and newspaper experience, which has taught her how to gather and interpret information to make it interesting and relevant. Andrea is a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Shawn Turner is a Floridian who loved taking friends and family out to enjoy the wild lands. He served in the military as a helicopter mechanic, and during this time met his incredible wife Christiane.  Shawn has traveled the world, with some favorites being Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He speaks fluent German. Shawn moved with his family to Utah roughly 20 years ago, and his love for the outdoors followed him here. Shawn is a rock hound, bird watcher, and flash flood chaser, and an avid adventurer with many years of experience in our incredible backyard.