Sheryl Christy Gilmore, the Executive Director and Owner of AIO, is beginning her 29th season. For 15 years, Sherry taught and directed environmental education programs in southern Maine. She received her B.A. & teaching certification from Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Other experiences include classroom teaching, teacher training and teaching marine biology, navigation and sailing on Puget Sound. Sherry has taught marine science in the local schools, written curriculum for classroom teachers and taught the NWF’s CLASS Project. She is PADI certified and runs AIO’s Jamaica, Belize, Bermuda and Florida programs. Her interests include marine mammals, coastal ecology, music and her family.

 

Jim Gilmore, Associate Director/Owner of AIO, is Associate Professor of Screen Studies at the University of Michigan- Dearborn. Jim works mostly behind the scenes in the summer with advertising & administration. He holds a B.A. from Kalamazoo College and M.A. from the University of Iowa in Film. Jim is an award winning documentary filmmaker and the President of Acadia Pictures. He recently completed a documentary project focusing on Detroit’s alternative economy titled, “Men at Work: Voices from Detroit’s Underground Economy.” It has shown in New York City and with upcoming screenings in Berlin, Las Vegas and Detroit.

 

Kathy Dubbs returns as the AIO Co-Director for her 24th summer. With a B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College in Michigan and a M.S. in Geology from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, Kathy is currently teaching Geology and Oceanography at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. She has spent several years teaching marine studies and env. education in a variety of ecosystems. Previously a teacher/ program director for an environmental center in New England as well as an instructor of tropical marine ecology in Florida, Kathy also teaches in the Jamaica, Belize, Bermuda and Florida programs. She is also PADI & Life Guard certified. Her interests include hiking, running, birding and wildlife conservation. Each spring, she and her husband, Tim, volunteer for the National Park Service patrolling for nesting sea turtles along the Texas Gulf Coast.

 

Timothy Dubbs is joining us for his 18th summer as the Co-Director. He has a B.S. in Environmental Geology from the U. of Mississippi, a M.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Anthropology from the U. of Texas, Dallas. Tim has taught and directed in science field programs in New York and Texas. He is currently a core teacher at Houston's ISD's Outdoor Education Center where he has spent more than 20 years. Additionally, he has been a classroom science teacher within the Texas public school system. Tim devotes much time and effort to environmental issues including sea turtle conservation and wilderness preservation. He has research experience in alpine ecology at UTD field camp in Colorado, habitat survey and restoration in Wyoming and has studied at the Black Hills geology field camp. With an interest in mountaineering, he has completed successful ascents of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Aconcagua in the Argentine Andes. He is a PADI certified scuba diver and a YMCA trained lifeguard. Tim is a blues music aficionado, has skydiving experience, and also has interest in flying in historic aircraft and auto racing.

 

Peter Mortensen has a Masters Degree in Anthropology and Quaternary Paleoecology from the Univ. of Minnesota. In addition to teaching at AIO for 13 summers, he is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Earth Science at Richland Community College in Decatur, IL. Between graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1992 and entering graduate school at the University of Minnesota in 2000, Peter worked at organizations such as the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve in Minnesota, the Dahlem Env. Ed. Center in Michigan, the Desert Sun Science Center in California and the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School in Oregon. Peter has an extensive background in emergency medicine and rescue, having worked as an EMT and as on-site medic for outdoor education programs, where he also trained wilderness trip leaders in first aid and emergency care. Peter has participated in archaeological excavations in both the U.S. and the Czech Republic and spent several weeks in Siberia. His next adventure will take him to Iceland in pursuit of another advanced degree.

Matt Lubicky will return for his 9th summer after spending the last two years working for Houston ISD Outdoor Education Center where he has recently been promoted to a Program Leader. Matt has a B.A. and B.S. from UNH with degrees in English and Marine/Freshwater Biology, respectively. He has conducted research on the Atlantic Cod stock in the Gulf of Maine and studied at SEA Semester, sailing from Honolulu to San Francisco while completing research on phytoplankton in the Pacific. Matt has worked for the AIO Florida Career Seminar, as a substitute teacher and a volunteer/tutor at 826 NYC’s Superhero Supply Co. In his free time, Matt enjoys just about everything from Ultimate Frisbee to photography. But he’s an avid ping-pong player and has played in at least one tournament.

 

Becky Reese will be joining us for her 7th summer at AIO. Becky is a graduate of Texas A & M with a degree in Recreation Park and Tourism Sciences. During the school year, she is a science lab teacher at Mark Twain IB World School in Houston. Becky spent several years in environmental education with middle and high school students, four of those at Houston ISD Outdoor Education Center. Becky recently traveled to Peru because she loves to backpack, hike, bike and paddle. She’s looking forward to escaping the Texas heat for the Maine coast!

 

Megan Begley returns for her 3rd summer at AIO and is a graduate of the University of Maine, Machias with a B.S. in Marine Biology. For the past two years, Meg has been working for the ISD Houston Outdoor Education center during the school year. She has also worked as an instructor at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute where she taught school groups about the ecology of southern Florida. During college, Megan spent a couple of summers working in Alaska as an Interpreter at the Alaska SeaLife Center and collecting data for the National Marine Fishery Service and NOAA on fishing vessels. Megan is also a certified PADI diver and Lifeguard, and her outside interests include the theatre and belly dancing!

 

Nathaniel Jillette is returning for his 3rd year after taking a year off to work in a cancer research laboratory at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Oregon. He is a graduate of the University of Maine with a BA in biology and a BS in Marine Biology and a minor in chemistry. Nate spent three summers at the prestigious Mt. Desert Island Biological Lab as an undergraduate molecular biomedical research assistant in Salisbury Cove, Maine. On top of his research, he enjoys tutoring high school and undergraduate students in chemistry and the biological sciences. Nate is a certified Lifeguard, in advanced open water SCUBA and has been trained in marine mammal rescue. In his free time, Nate enjoys photography, hiking, swimming and beating Matt Lubicky in ping-pong.

 

Jennifer Garrett will be joining our staff for the first time this year having just completed her Master’s in Biology from West Chester University. The research for her thesis was studying the movements of grey seals and harbor seals. While a student at Oklahoma State University for her Bachelor’s degree, Jennifer taught in a classroom and worked as a veterinary assistant. The latter experience has influenced her decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine someday. We’re looking forward to hearing about her work!

 

Casey Franklin joins us this summer after living for six months in Cusco, Peru. A graduate of Hobart and William Smith College, Casey is a certified teacher who majored in Biology and environmental studies. Prior to her trip to Peru, Casey worked for the YMCA Camp Colman in Washington where she worked with middle school students in science, challenge and outdoor skills. She has studied in the Finger Lakes of New York and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and is now looking forward to adding Maine to her experience. Welcome, Casey!

 

Jason Jones has his BS in Biology and Env. Studies from Kutztown University of Penn and has been teaching Biology and Environmental Science for 8 years at the Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville, PA. Prior to his classroom work, Jason spent time teaching at the Carbon Country Env. Ed Center in PA. He is particularly interested in insects, parasites, comb jellies and freshwater ecology. During his freetime, Jason likes to hike, swim, play tennis, camp and generally travel (especially to the beach!). Jason will be return for his 3rd summer during the last session of the summer.

 

Chris Cayo returns to us for his 4th summer as a Recreation Staff member. Chris (or CJ as many of us call him) has attended more of the outside Maine AIO programs than anyone. He lives in Miami, Florida in the summer and sometimes winters in Colorado so he can partake in two of his favorite past times: diving and skiing. He has worked with injured youth for several years.

 

Lottie Broadway also returns to work in the kitchen this summer as the assistant cook. Lottie is a sophomore at Western Michigan University studying law and psychology. Her favorite color is purple and she loves to laugh!

 

David Wells RN returns to AIO for his 3rd summer after taking a summer off last year to settle with his wife, Jody, in North Carolina. He currently is on the nursing faculty at Mayland Community College and is beginning a Master’s program this summer (you’ll see him on his online classes during his free time). David spent several years as an Occupational Health nurse and as the coordinator of the Emergency Medical Technology in Colorado Springs before he and his wife decided to travel the country. During that time, he was an instructor, nurse and support staff at Camp Robin Hood in Maine, Walt Disney World in Florida, Webster College in Florida and at the Mt. Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor. His hobbies include genealogy and gravestones. We’re so happy he’s back!

Dotty Bates, RN will join us in the middle of the summer for her first visit (though we hope it’s not her last). Dotty is a “Maine” girl who left full time nursing to become a traveling nurse. She officially retired in 2009 but has worked with Operation Smile Medical Missions as a flight nurse since that time in Hawaii. That job has given her the chance to travel to places life Africa, Japan and the Philippines. She has relocated by to the east coast to be closer to family and is looking forward to getting back to some “camp” nursing. Welcome back!

 

Ann Martin, RN is a Temple University graduate and has been a nurse for 20 years. She was an Army nurse stationed in cold war Berlin. She even worked as an agent for the Dept. of defense because she is fluent in German and Danish. She is presently a certified school nurse working in Princeton, NJ. Ann is the mother of 2 teenage daughters and is passionate about scrapbooking. We’re looking forward to Ann working as our nurse during from the end of July through August. Your lobster is waiting for you, Ann!

 

We also welcome Forrest Davis as our cook this summer. Forrest has been cooking in restaurants all over the country for over 30 years but has spent the past 5 years as the Head Cook for the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School. A father and grandfather, Forrest is a man of many talents: he can dive into the ocean to catch the fish, build the kitchen and then cook you a fabulous meal! He’s looking forward to preparing some great meals for you this summer!

 

We have 3 former students who will be the staff interns this year. First, Grace Gilmore will join us for her 5th year but her first as a staff intern. She is a sophomore at Kalamazoo College in Michigan majoring in theatre and minoring in religion. Kaleigh Miller, who has attended our summer and Belize programs, has completed her freshman year at Mass Maritime Academy but considering a move to URI for Marine Affairs. She is also a lifeguard and swim instructor for the YMCA. Alejandro Navárez-Diaz is from San Juan, Puerto Rico but has just completed his sophomore year at Maine Maritime Academy studying marine biology. Alejandro has done a great deal of volunteer work with children and is fluent in English and Spanish.