Kevin and Jennie are husband-wife team based in Hendersonville, North Carolina. In 2023, after years of combined experience in the parks industry, they launched their own family enterprise. Jennie shares, “we are both passionate about the rich biodiversity found here in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.” Kevin specializes in birding and Jennie has an extensive knowledge of plants and community ecology. Together, they offer guided walks and day trips primarily in Western North Carolina.
Our Mission
To help you experience and love nature. We want you to feel comfortable outdoors, seeing and hearing nature you never noticed before.
Extraordinary Experiences
Small groups, personalized experiences.
Our Core Values
Conservation and Sustainability are important values we uphold.
Carolina Nature Tours believes in good communication and ethical, responsible business practices.
We support environmental conservation, reduced ecological footprint, and foster sustainable practices.
Kevin Burke
Originally from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Kevin grew up exploring the woods and trails, and turning over rocks in rivers, earning him the nickname “Hellgrammite Kid.” He spent many summers camping and hiking with his family in nearby Shenandoah National Park. This early exposure to the natural world has vaulted into a lifelong obsession with the outdoors.
Kevin’s grandmother introduced him to birding at her home in Rhode Island where they would identify feeder birds together. These early encounters helped foster a love for birds. An Ornithology class at Hocking College in Ohio enhanced his love for birds and he has been birding every day since. Kevin went on to get a Bachelor of Science in Ecotourism and Conservation Ecology from the University of Idaho. He’s had a variety of cool jobs including leading overnight kayak trips in Washington’s San Juan Islands, environmental education on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and fish surveys for the Forest Service in North Dakota.
Kevin has led birding trips for almost 20 years, throughout the United States, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. One of his favorite birding destinations is Western North Carolina one of the best places to find warblers! His birding journeys have also taken him to some spectacular locations such as Portugal, Colombia, The Bahamas, and Canada. This is truly a lifelong obsession.
He currently resides in Hendersonville, North Carolina with his wife and two kids who also enjoy birding. They have fun kayaking, hiking, and camping in the mountains surrounding their home.
While the focus of Carolina Nature Tours is on day trips and private tours in Western North Carolina, Kevin also leads multi-day tours throughout the US for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours.
Jennie Burke
Jennie is originally from Medway, Massachusetts and grew up spending summers exploring the forests and beaches of Maine and Cape Cod. She currently lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina with her husband Kevin, children Owen and Kelsey, dog, cats, and chickens. She has a BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine and also studied at Oregon State University. She has worked with Piping Plovers on Cape Cod, MA, Burrowing Owls in Central Washington and as a forestry technician treating Hemlocks and removing invasive plants at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
Originally more interested in wildlife, her love of plants grew gradually over time. While birding she discovered that wildflowers were much easier to see and just as interesting! Her passion for wildflowers really exploded when she moved to Tennessee and experienced the wonder of spring in the Smokies.
Jennie loves gardening, especially planting natives and attracting pollinators to her yard and exploring native plant communities while hiking. She is passionate about conservation and sustainable living.
Cancellation Policy
If we cancel for any reason at any time before the start of your tour, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel you will receive a credit to be used on a future tour. If you prefer to receive a full refund you must contact us directly by email or phone at least 72 hours before the start of your scheduled private tour or 48 hours before the start of your public tour.
No credit or refund will be issued to no-shows or cancellations made after the start of the tour.