About Us
Blackwing Kayaks is owned and operated by Charlotte Annie and Jason Stueve, owners of the Bird’s Nest Bed & Breakfast, a creative space for aspiring artists and outdoor enthusiasts in the heart of Muscongus Bay. Home to Lighthouse Running and the writing workshop series, On the Edge, the Bird’s Nest is located on Main Street in Friendship—where, along with their children, Alice (10), and Wendell (7), they are active members of the community, directing the Friendship Day 5K and volunteering at the Hahn Center, where Annie is the Director of Recreation and an active member of the Friendship Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Charlotte Annie is a writer from Maine. She studied political science at the University of Maine and worked as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. where she wrote and published non-fiction articles for various journals, magazines, and university presses. She later received her MA in English from Trinity College, before moving to Boulder, Colorado where she worked as a professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Colorado and the Community College of Denver.
Jason is a QA engineer and amateur woodworker from Colorado. He likes to run, ski, and play ice hockey, and when he’s not delivering kayaks or working at the bed and breakfast, he enjoys spending time with his family—building forts and collecting sea glass. And from kitchen cabinets to pencil boxes, he can build just about anything, a dollhouse or a bird’s nest made of wire.
A former Cross Country State Champion and All American, Annie has always loved to run. In high school, she excelled in both track and cross country, leading her team to four Class A state championships before going on to run for the University of Maine where she became a five-time Division I. Scholar Athlete. In 2010, she began training for the Olympic Marathon Trials with coaches Darren DeReuck and his wife, four time olympian, Colleen DeReuck. She currently runs for Athletics Boulder, coached by Dr. Rick Bruess, and is a Team Ambassador at Spandits®
Jason is a seasoned distance runner who once trained for the Olympic trials as both a marathoner and triathlete. He has also been coached by Darren and Colleen DeReuck as a member of the Running Republic of Boulder. He has been a member of Athletics Boulder since 2013.
Alice Jane
Alice is thoughtful and creative—a switch hitter who loves to run, swim, and paint. She takes acting classes and makes bird houses, writes us letters and borrows our clothes; and when it’s cold, she does gymnastics in our office, rides her bike in the snow. She has the heart of a hummingbird, and a courage that’s disarming.
Wendell Fern
Wendell is kind and smart, and quietly makes everyone laugh. He likes to ride his bike and play in the sand; he’s loyal and shy and has an incredible memory and the best taste in music. He will find your keys if you lose them, dance if he trusts you. He’s an albatross and an old soul, the son we never knew we needed.
Blackwing Kayaks
Blackwing Kayaks at the Bird’s Nest Bed and Breakfast © is a family-owned company located in the town of Friendship in beautiful Mid-Coast Maine. The owners, Jason and Annie are active members of the Friendship community, hosting local running events, teaching writing workshops, and renting kayaks from their home at the Bird’s Nest, and along with their children, Alice and Wendell, they hope to inspire others to get outside and enjoy the beautiful coast of Maine!
