Liz Baird (Trip leader)
Director of School Programs
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Wake County
Hobbies: reading, pilates, yoga, trying new things
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Nathan again, meeting new friends at Pooks Hill Lodge, returning to Southwater Caye 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: finding and watching critters, hiking, canoeing and running
What I am looking forward to: Seeing old friends, making new friends and observing the wildlife of Belize.

Kathleen Freeman (Trip leader) Classroom Programming Specialist
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Wake County
Hobbies: gardening, being crafty, and spending time outside
What I am looking forward to: Soaking it all in- every minute! Making new friends with both North Carolinians and Belizeans as we experience this amazing adventure together.

Ashley Bahen
Science Teacher
Dare County Alternate School
Dare County
Hobbies: body-boarding, fishing, metal detecting, watching the Dallas Cowboys
What I am looking forward to: Exploring a beautiful country, meeting new people, and hopefully some time to catch a fish.

Briana Corke
Fourth Grade Teacher, Dual Immersion Program
Carrboro Elementary School 
Orange County
Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, reading, gardening, and being outside
What I am looking forward to: Observing plants and animals in their natural and untouched environments, and meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Waymouth Ira Cumpton, Jr.
6th & 7th Grade Science Teacher
Thomasville Middle School
Davidson County
Hobbies: sports
Looking forward to: Seeing the exotic wildlife, snorkeling, visiting the Mayan ruins, and learning information that I can share with the students at my school.

Amy Davisson
Chemistry and Biology Teacher
West Carteret High School
Carteret County
Hobbies: Writing, collecting artwork, remodeling home interiors, too many athletic activities to list, singing, and teaching
Looking forward to: Standing in the middle of a real tropical rain forest and just listening. Being meters, or even centimeters, away from the crazy little creatures that live there.  Taking pictures to inspire my students to travel.  Laughing and working with the group, while learning about a new culture.

Shannon Hardy
Teacher
Exploris Middle School
Wake County
Hobbies: Hiking, soccer, gardening, and reading
Looking forward to: Touching Mayan ruins, smelling the forests and ocean, and learning how the people of Belize are balancing their economy and ecology.

Anthony Hinton
Curator of the Discovery Room
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Wake County
Hobbies: baking, playing saxophone, sharing nature with young children
Looking forward to: Exploring and observing the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of Belize.  Engaging in hands-on experiences with educators from the US and Central America.  Sharing new experiences with family and friends.

Beverly Leonard
Fourth Grade Teacher
Rural Hall Elementary
Forsyth County
Hobbies: Gardening, enjoying the natural world
Looking forward to: Exploring the sights, sounds, and smells of the rain forest and bringing that experience back to my students. Snorkeling the reef!

Melanie Locklear
Biology Teacher
E.E. Smith High School
Cumberland County
Hobbies: reading, dancing, singing
Looking forward to: Going to the rainforest, learning about the Belizean culture, and making lifelong friends.

Mariel Meadows
8th Grade Math/Science Teacher
Granite Falls Middle School
Caldwell County
Hobbies: outdoor activities, reading, playing with my dog
Looking forward to: Meeting new people and having new experiences. Exploring new places and cultures.

Tom Oppewal
Teaching Associate Professor in Elementary Education
NC State University, College of Education
Orange County
Hobbies: Hiking, gardening, kayaking, and home repair
Looking forward to: Experiencing and learning more about the natural and human history of Belize and learning more about how students are educated in the country.

Beverly Owens
8th Grade Science Teacher
Crest Middle School
Cleveland County
Hobbies: reading, painting, drawing, photography
Looking forward to: seeing a coral reef and Mayan ruins, having an experience with science that I can share with my students.

Cindy Woolery
Science Facilitator
J. H. Gunn Elementary School
Mecklenburg County
Hobbies: Learning new things, spending time with my family and traveling.
Looking forward to: Being totally out of my element, meeting and getting to know new people, experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, feelings and tastes of Belize!

Nathan Forbes
Tour guide and driver
Nathan has been guiding the Museum’s annual Tropical Ecology Institute for more than 12 years. He came to a Museum workshop (Summer Field Institute) in June 2002.