kevin Stiegelmaier has always been a lover of the outdoors and nature. Growing up on Long Island instilled in him a love of the ocean and led to a degree in marine biology. It also led to the purchase of his first kayak and the beginning of what has been a ten-year passion with paddling. In that time Kevin has canoed and kayaked on every type of water in every state along the East Coast, although he prefers exploring the waters of his home state, New York. Kevin currently lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife, Laura, and daughter, AnnaGrace, and teaches middle-school science whenever he isn't paddling. Canoeing & Kayaking New York is his first book.