Welcome to Blue Heron Nature Tours!

My name is Elena Ulev and I am the owner and your tour guide.

This business has been years in the making and a culmination of a lifetime of working outdoors. Here is my story in a nutshell…

I grew up in Chicago where natural spaces were few and far between but I’ve always had an affinity for nature. When I was 16 my high school teacher suggested that I apply for a scholarship to spend a week at the American Wilderness Leadership School in Jackson, Wyoming. I got the scholarship and my life changed- I saw mountains for the first time, rafted a river for the first time, backpacked for the first time and found out that there was a college degree called “Wildlife Biology” so I decided to get one.

I attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Montana and obtained a B.S. in Wildlife Biology in 1998.

After college, I packed up my Chevy Lumina and went on an epic summer road trip exploring the western U.S. I visited over a dozen national parks (Arches was my favorite), camped every night and scouted out a place to live for the next chapter of my life. My road trip ended here in Missoula, Montana , in 1999.

For the past 2 decades I have worked as a field biologist, technical writer and educator. In my early years as a field biologist my work entailed camping alone 5 nights a week and conducting bird, plant and hydrology surveys on the Bitterroot and Lolo National Forests. After having kids I had to shift gears a bit and I worked as a technical science writer and published 17 literature reviews for the Fire Effects Information System database.

Several years ago I became a Montana Master Naturalist and Certified Interpretive Guide and have been working as an educator for the Montana Natural History Center and the Lifelong Learning Center, where I’ve created naturalist-themed classes. This summer I will be teaching the Montana Master Naturalist course in the Bitterroot Valley and in Glacier National Park.

Up until 5 or so years ago I didn’t really know what the definition of a naturalist was. They are scientists, writers and artists. I guess that I’ve been a naturalist my whole life. I’m so glad that I discovered that I love teaching people about natural history and helping to foster a deeper connection to nature. Life is busy and sometimes overwhelming but I have found that when I stop and mindfully observe what’s around me I feel reverence and gratitude. My goal is to share that feeling with anyone who wants to learn.