Liz Baird (Trip leader)
Director of School Programs
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Wake County
Hobbies: reading, traveling with my family and canoeing
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Nathan again and sharing the Belize experience with a new group of educators

Bill Hasse (Trip leader)
Coordinator of the Living Conservatory
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Wake County
Hobbies: bird watching, hiking, canoeing and running
What I am looking forward to: Seeing old friends and observing the wildlife of Belize.

Jan Weems (Trip leader)
Coordinator of the Discovery Room
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Wake County
Hobbies: gardening, bird watching, stream watching and canoeing
What I am looking forward to: Seeing the people and wildlife of Belize, sharing the experience with others.

Anne Beavan
Art Teacher
Southwest Elementary School
Guilford County
Hobbies: photography, painting and swimming
What I am looking forward to: Capturing wonderful photographs of rainforest animals, exploring the coast of Belize and returning with wonderful memories which I will share with my family, friends and students.

Vicki Corporon
Librarian
Brassfield Road Elementary School
Wake County
Hobbies: photography, gardening, exploring, traveling, publishing, reading, dancing, singing and playing with grandkids
What I am looking forward to: Discovering the tropical beauty of Belize, establishing friendships with Belizeans and fellow nature lovers of NC, and learning about the opportunities to connect cultures and share learning experiences with my students.

Tanya Grady
6th Grade Science Teacher
Spring Creek High
Wayne County
Hobbies: reading, gardening and going to the beach
What I am looking forward to: Meeting new people from a different culture and seeing the beauty of Belize.

Lindsay Green
Regional Education Specialist
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
Transylvania County
Hobbies: running, hiking, biking, gardening and just about anything outdoors
What I am looking forward to: I’m looking forward to learning about the ecology and culture of Belize.

Leslie Haines
Science Teacher
Walter Williams High School
Alamance County
Hobbies: cooking, reading, gardening and watching movies
What I am looking forward to: Humidity! Also, my first sample of Belizean culture and Belizean foods; my first taste of the rain forest, my first sight of mangroves and my first swim over a coral reef.

Sarah Kuszaj
Biology and Marine Ecology Teacher
SE Raleigh Magnet High School
Wake County
Hobbies: playing soccer, crafts, reading, ballroom dancing, running and baking
What I am looking forward to: Exploring a coral reef for the first time, meeting new people, learning about a different culture and bringing the whole experience back to my students.

Carla Lopez
Kindergarten Teacher
Gregory Elementary School
New Hanover County
Hobbies: going to the beach, playing with my dog, bike rides and enjoying newlywed life
What I am looking forward to: Trying the food, seeing a Belizean sunset, observing the wildlife, sharing my love of teaching with teachers and students from another culture.

Frank McKay
8th Grade Teacher
Exploris Middle School
Wake County
Hobbies: exploring the outdoors by foot, boat and even rope when I get the chance; playing guitar and planning my up-coming wedding
What I am looking forward to: Visiting this unique part of the world and discovering what we have in common with its people and natural environments. I am also looking forward to sharing the experience with my students and teaching team.

Jeannie Noble
2nd Grade Teacher
B.H. Tharrington Primary
Surry County
Hobbies: water sports, beach combing, reading, art, puzzles, test-driving cars and trying new things
What I am looking forward to: Learning about a new culture, snorkeling, visiting Mayan ruins, tasting new foods, meeting new people and being part of a teaching and learning community. Returning to share the experience with my new community.

April Pace
2nd Grade Teacher
Weddington Elementary School
Union County
Hobbies: running, water sports, camping, hiking and anything else I can do outside
What I am looking forward to: The experience of snorkeling in the second largest barrier reef in the world. Coming back from my Central America adventure with stories to share with my students.

Erin Van de Veer
7th Grade Math/Science Teacher
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry
New Hanover County
Hobbies: reading, activism, gardening, walking my dogs and spending afternoons at the beach
What I am looking forward to: Absorbing all the greatness of a different culture and ecology, and seeing for myself the raw beauty of the rainforest.

Libby Withrow
Science Teacher and Department Chair
E.E. Waddell High School
Mecklenburg County
Hobbies: hiking, biking, anything outdoors, and my family
What I am looking forward to: Making the world smaller in my realm of learning. Connecting with a new area so that I can relate better with my students.

Nathan Forbes
Tour guide and driver
Nathan has been guiding the Museum’s annual Tropical Ecology Institute for more than 10 years. He came to a Museum workshop (Summer Field Institute) in June 2002.