Skärgårdens Kanotcenter began in 1994 with a deep passion for kayaking and the Stockholm Archipelago—thousands of islands and granite skerries scattered across the Baltic Sea. Based right here on the coast, we share this place with the pride of calling it home, and we love helping people experience the archipelago from the water in a fun, safe, and sustainable way.
Take a moment to meet the team behind the adventures:
In 2018, adventure lovers Milena and Jedrzej became the owners of Skärgårdens Kanotcenter, taking over from Kenneth and Christina Larsson and continuing the commitment to fun, safe, and sustainable kayaking and outdoor experiences in the Stockholm Archipelago. Originally from northern Poland, they grew up with the Baltic Sea close-so ending up on the other side of it felt like the right kind of adventure.
They started by creating small “micro-adventures” close to the city, and after paddling in many countries, they fell in love with the Stockholm Archipelago and its endless sea-kayaking routes.
In 2021, at the far edge of the archipelago, they got engaged. In 2022, they welcomed their son Feliks-the youngest member of the paddling family. When they’re not out guiding or developing new ideas, you’ll find them chasing summer micro-adventures, travelling in autumn, and gliding over frozen bays on skates in winter.
Theresa is one of those people who simply makes everything work-while keeping the vibe friendly and the standards high. She joined us a few years ago and worked her way through pretty much every role, so she knows Skärgårdens Kanotcenter inside out.
Today she keeps the kayak center running smoothly, supports the team, and makes sure every trip meets our safety and quality standards. She’s also very much a guide at heart-often out on the water with guests (and sometimes with journalists and TV crews too), guiding in English as well as German and French.
Theresa has a great instinct for people, which is why she helps recruit our guides and seasonal staff-because the right humans really matter in what we do. She also loves turning new ideas into real experiences, and if she’s not in the office, she’s probably out kayaking or in the forest testing a new tour concept.
Theresa is tough and steady-she’ll lead a group in pretty much any conditions… though she’ll happily admit she has a soft spot for Swedish summer and water warm enough that your hands don’t try to freeze to the paddle😉 And yes-if there’s great food involved, even better: her favourite trip is “Paddle to the Table.”
Maëli is the friendly voice behind your emails and booking enquiries. She keeps our daily schedules running smoothly, supports the seasonal team, and makes sure every detail-from admin to supplies-is taken care of with calm efficiency.
Every year, she also heads out on a solo kayaking trip in the Stockholm Archipelago-and last summer she even convinced her boyfriend to join for a paddle, despite him being a complete beginner.
When she’s not at the kayak center, you’ll likely find her hiking in northern Sweden-possibly somewhere along the Kungsleden trail. Those trips have made her a true packing pro: she’s great at advising guests on what to bring (and what to leave behind) for a kayaking adventure. On Kungsleden-unlike kayaking-you have to carry everything on your own back, so she really knows what matters when packing light.
Marcin is our friendly ghost behind the screen. He creates the stories, visuals, and little moments that show what it feels like to explore the Stockholm Archipelago with us. Whether it’s inspiring someone to take their very first paddle stroke or encouraging people to reconnect with nature, Marcin captures the magic of this place and shares it with the world.
You might also spot him out on the water with a camera (and sometimes a drone), joining trips to catch truly unique shots from your adventure. An adventurer at heart and always in motion, he bikes year-round-no matter the weather-and switches from two wheels to a kayak in the blink of an eye. When winter arrives, he’s just as happy on långfärdsskridskor (long-distance skates).
Originally from Ireland, Rowan is a sea kayak guide and a natural storyteller on the water. You’ll often meet him around the center, getting guests ready and making sure everyone feels prepared before heading out. After guiding with us through two seriously cold winters, Rowan has become one of our go-to people when conditions get challenging-calm, steady, and reassuring in the kayak. Rowan combines strong skills with local insight and a great sense of humour (yes, very Irish).
What he loves most about guiding is seeing people finish a trip feeling more comfortable and confident than when they started-knowing he’s helped create holiday memories that last. His favourite sound in nature? A good sea swell crashing against a rocky coastline. He holds Canoeing Ireland Level 2 Instructor and Level 3 Sea Kayak Skills certifications, and his “craziest adventure” is a pretty great one: turning a kayaking course he joined at 17 (with almost no experience) into a career that’s taken him to new countries, climates, and countless paddling stories—shared with guests along the way.
Aske is a kayak guide from Denmark with a big love for the outdoors and years of experience in dramatic coastal environments. He’s guided in places like Lofoten, Milford Sound (New Zealand) and Vancouver Island (Canada), and brings that steady “read the water, read the weather” confidence to every trip. Aske holds IPP3, Paddle Canada Level 2, and SKGABC A.O.G. certifications, and enjoys helping guests build solid paddling technique while feeling safe and relaxed on the water.
When he’s not guiding, Aske is usually hiking, climbing, surfing – or fixing and building things around base (he’s famously handy and great at getting things done). He also thrives in small communities and team settings, which fits our archipelago life perfectly. Fun fact: Aske is 202 cm tall – which tends to surprise people the first time they meet him on the dock.
You’ll meet Sam at Skärgårdens Kanotcenter—and you’ll probably know it’s him right away, because he’s already talking about what’s for lunch. 😄 Warm, energetic, and people-focused, Sam loves sharing in a group’s joy—especially when a trip becomes a highlight of their time in Sweden.
Sam brings a rare mix of guiding, racing, and coaching experience from Canada. He grew up paddling in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, raced sprint kayaks for years, and still trains whenever the water isn’t frozen. He’s also an ice canoe racer (canot à glace), so cold conditions don’t scare him.
He’s coached paracanoe programmes, supported racing teams, and helped deliver learn-to-kayak initiatives across British Columbia and the Yukon, alongside years in scouting and outdoor education.
For Sam, the outdoors is about balance—reflection, challenge, and shared adventures. His favourite soundtrack? Archipelago birdsong and the soft sound of heavy snow falling. Sam speaks English and French, with a bit of Swedish too.
Lucie supports our kayak rental and activity operations, helping guests with bookings, questions, and all the practical details that make a day on the water feel easy. Calm, detail-oriented, and friendly, she’s often the person you’ll meet during check-in, while changing into gear, or when you’re enjoying a cozy fika.
She loves helping guests feel comfortable and relaxed, and she’s always happy to answer questions-about our tours, the archipelago, or Sweden in general. Lucie speaks English and also German and Swedish at an intermediate level, making it even easier for international visitors to feel welcome at the kayak center.
Her love for nature goes back to childhood picnics along the Appalachian Trail in the US. She’s happiest outdoors, especially near flowing water and waterfalls. Fun fact: she plays the flute, and she’ll always recommend one underrated essential for any trip-extra socks.
You’ll find Jonas all around the kayak center-mostly on land-making sure everything runs smoothly before you head out: check-in, gear, and all the practical steps that set you up for a great day on the water. He’s also the one behind the wheel of our pickup, greeting guests with a smile and getting everyone where they need to be.
With his military background, Jonas has a talent for keeping things running like clockwork-calm, organised, and always one step ahead. He loves the outdoors for the chance to disconnect from everyday noise and reset your inner clock. His favourite sound in nature is small waves tapping against the hull of a kayak when everything is quiet.
Fun fact: Jonas is a reserve officer in the German Navy (and still gets a bit seasick on the first days at sea). His wildest adventure? Nearly getting struck by lightning at 6000 meters in Bolivia during an off-season summit attempt—an experience that reinforced his love for preparation, calm thinking, and safety first. Jonas speaks German (native) and is fluent in English and Spanish, with strong French too.
