On an Earth Explore Adventure the world opens wide for teachers and their students.  Our participating teachers are some of the nation's finest, drawn from schools throughout the country by a love of learning and of sharing that gift with young people.  The Earth Explore experience is both exciting and rewarding.  Seeing students learn and grow, watching other educators in action, and learning new things about the world are just some of the benefits of leadership.  All of our teachers tell us they bring amazing new skills back to the classroom in the fall, skills that help them advance and become more effective educators. 

Let's meet a few of the amazing teachers who have traveled with us recently!

Linda Dailey (at right below) has traveled throughout the west and to Hawaii with Earth Explore.  Her amazing abilities with students as a teacher in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania brought her into the program back in the year 2000.  In the summer of 2006 Linda traveled for the 4th time with Earth Explore, this time on the Big Island Adventure.  Following her first trip to the Rockies, Linda told us "I'm amazed at the things I learned and what I can share with my students.  Everywhere we went we met awesome people who interacted with our students in such a positive manner, making each experience a memorable one."

Pam Hummel is a longtime educator in Fairfax County, Virginia whose interest in experiential learning and amazing abilities with kids brought her into the program.  She has traveled with local students on the Rockies, Golden State and most recently the Big Island Adventure.  "Earth Explore is a great program.  It offers students a chance to explore and experience wonderful places.  The knowledge they walk away with is exceptional."

In the summer of 2006, Pam had the chance to accompany Virginia students to the Big Island.  Says Pam "It was absolutely beyond words.  The experience was a journey I will never forget.  It was so rewarding to watch the kids embrace the Hawaiian culture, and I felt honored to be part of their experience.  This is something they will never forget."

Cass Rufus, of Elmhurst, Illinois, joined us in the summer of 2006 on his second trip with Earth Explore.  In 2005 Cass accompanied students on the Rockies Adventure and in 2006 he came further west for the Golden State Adventure program.  Cass is a favorite with the students for his ability to establish a great rapport, and model respect and personal responsibility.  Cass is also a great photographer, who has a talent for capturing the essence of the student experience.  He took over two thousand pictures on his Golden State Adventure, and Cass told us "I believe Earth Explore is such a great program for learning, and it shows in the pictures I took."  We agree Cass.  Here is one of his great photos from the summer of 2006.

Jon and Kelly Vondrasek (at right below) have traveled as Leaders with Earth Explore since the summer of 2004, twice as a husband and wife team.  Both are teachers in the suburban Detroit area and are passionate about what the Earth Explore experience can mean to students.  After his first trip to the Rockies, Jon told us "we had a tremendous time playing and learning together.  We developed a closeness as a group.  It is an unforgettable and not-to-be-missed opportunity."  Jon and Kelly returned from the Big Island Adventure this past summer with just as much enthusiasm as ever for what the Earth Explore experience offers.  "Thank you for allowing me to be a Leader three summers in a row.  I have been able to travel and learn about places that would have taken years to cover.  It has been such an awesome experience and I have loads of memories that I will cherish."  As you can see, Jon and Kelly are not afraid to show their fun side, which has made them favorites with their Michigan Earth Explore students.

Amber Reue (at left above) called her 2004 Rockies trip "a fabulous adventure."  Amber joined the program from Austin, Texas where parents nominated her highly for her nurturing skills with children.  Amber told us "I was very impressed with each aspect of the trip; from the food to the lodging to the activities.  It far surpassed my expectations.  Way to go!"  Amber was especially impressed with the changes that she saw in her students.  "It was a wonderful hands-on approach that I wish all my students could experience." 

This past summer, Amber accompanied local Austin students on the Big Island Adventure, which she called "amazing."

Ron Derr and Tracy Astheimer teach elementary school in Shillington, Pennsylvania, and came into the program in 2003 through parent recommendations.  Ron has traveled three times with Earth Explore, on the Golden State and Rockies Adventures, while Tracy has participated twice on the same programs.  Both had chaperoned lots of students in overnight settings before joining Earth Explore, but found the experience to be unique and rewarding.  From the heights of Yosemite, to the beaches of Monterey, Ron told us "I loved the Golden State experience.  I feel very close to it since it was my first experience with Earth Explore."  As is typical with with Earth Explore Leaders, both Tracy and Ron developed a close rapport with their students, which continued long after the group returned home.  Ron says "I grew tremendously.  I am excited to share what I learned with my students at school." 

Ellen Harkenrider came into the 2004 program as a 5th grade teacher in Milford, Michigan.  Her love of the out-of-doors, including canoeing and backpacking, made her a natural leader.  However it was what parents said about her that caused us to take special notice, and her co-leaders and students were full of praise as well.  Said Travel Manager Nicole Escobar, "Ellen was always very enthusiastic and helpful.  She had a great rapport and was friendly with all the students, while being quite organized as well." In the picture above, Ellen matches the pose of a rock art figure at Legend Rock Petroglyph Site in Wyoming.

Stefanie Comastro joined us on the Rockies Adventure in the summer of 2006.  Stefanie came highly recommended by parents in the Baltimore area, where she teaches outdoor education and science.  Says Stefanie "this was a wonderful opportunity for all of us.  All of the stops were great!  We were very lucky to be working with such a great group of kids.   I loved the time we spent in the Tetons and Yellowstone.  It was like having a behind-the-scenes tour when we were working with the instructors from the Teton Science School and the Yellowstone Institute."