Sheryl Christy Gilmore is the Executive Director and Owner of AIO and is beginning her 24th 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, taught the NWF’s CLASS Project and Project Shark through UF.  She 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 Communication at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. Jim works mostly behind the scenes in the summer with bookkeeping and advertising. He holds a B.A. from Kalamazoo College and M.A. from the University of Iowa in Film Production. Jim is an award winning documentary filmmaker and the President of Acadia Pictures. Recent projects have included videos for Tamoka State Park, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, a documentary film about the civil rights movement in Saint Augustine and a recently completed film entitled “Happy Talk.”  Jim just returned from 2 weeks at the Cannes Film Festival in France and plans to begin work on a new documentary this August.

Kathy Dubbs returns as the AIO Program Director for her 19th summer.  She brings extensive field experience and a strong biology background.  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 at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. She has spent several years teaching marine studies and environmental 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 completing her teacher certification training in Texas.  Kathy is also PADI & Life Guard certified.  Her interests are varied but particularly involve ecology, geology and anything outdoors.

Timothy Dubbs is joining us for his 13th summer as the Assistant Director. He has a B.A. in Anthropology from the U. of Texas, a B.S. in Environmental Geology from the U. of Mississippi and a Masters. in Env. Science from the Univ.  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 Cullen where he has spent 16 years. Additionally, he has been a classroom science teacher within the Texas public school system. Tim devotes much time and effort to environmental and wilderness preservation issues.  With an interest in mountaineering, he has completed successful ascents of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Aconcagua in the Argentine Andes. He has research experience in alpine ecology at UTD field camp and studied at the Black Hills geology field camp. Tim is a PADI certified scuba diver and a YMCA trained lifeguard. A man with diverse interests, 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 (say that ten times fast!). In addition to teaching at AIO for 8 summers, he teaches both Anthropology and Earth Science at Richland Community College in Decatur, IL during the school year. 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 Environmental Education 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.

Chandra Arendall-Salvetti is joining us for her 14th summer. She has been with us every summer but once since she was a student here! She is a graduate of John A. Logan College in Il., where she majored in Sociology and Biology. Besides teaching environmental education in New England for three years, she also taught special education in Northeast Harbor and managed a childcare room in a Roseville, MI facility. Chandra has worked in the Florida Career Seminar and teaches the school groups that visit in the fall. She taught in the Delta Co-op school system in Indiana before Chandra and her husband, Tom (also an AIO alum), moved to Maryland where she is taking a break from the classroom to be a nanny. Chandra has first-aid, CPR and Life Guard certifications.

Elizabeth McClafferty is joining us for her 7th summer. If you’re returning, you will remember her as Liz Pesce... she was married a year ago. She now teaches physical and forensic science at Emerson Jr.-Sr. High in New Jersey but previously worked at the Key West Aquarium and taught dance in Florida. Liz graduated from Richard Stockton State College with a B.S. in marine biology and a B.A. in dance. Liz has been involved in a number of  local environmental organizations, including volunteering at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center. She has been a counselor in summer camps and is currently volunteering at her local animal shelter. At her current school, Liz directs the middle school plays and runs the jr. science club. 

Becky Reese will be joining us for her 3rd summer at AIO. Becky is a graduate of Texas A & M with a degree in Recreation Park and Tourism Sciences. She is currently a science lab teacher at Browning Elementary School in Houston. Becky spent several years in environmental education with students from 5th-12th grades and four years at Houston ISD Outdoor Education Center. She loves to travel, backpack, hike, bike, paddle:  anything that has to do with the outdoors and is looking forward to escaping the Texas heat for another summer in Maine!

Alison Kelly is also joining us for her 3rd year as a teaching staff member when previously she was a student  at AIO and participated in our outside trips to Bermuda and Jamaica. She has her BS in biology from the University of Maine Orono and has just completed her first year towards a Masters in science education at Hofstra University. To say Alison loves to travel is an understatement! Alison has been to France, New Zealand, Hawaii and Peru on an Ecological Field Studies program. She’ll be joining us as staff for the upcoming Belize trip.

Kenneth Pyle is also joining us for the 3rd summer as a teaching staff member. He has his degree from Sam Houston State University in Texas in Education and has been teaching at the Houston ISD Outdoor Education Center and plans to return as a Program Leader. Kenneth taught high school biology for two years but also spent 5 summers during college working at the YMCA Camp Cullen. Kenneth spends a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, kayaking, taking photographs and participating in other recreational activities. 

Joshua Gillman returns for his 2nd summer with AIO.  He is a graduate of UNE (University of New England) with a BS in Environmental Science and Elementary Education. During college he worked as a research assistant at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wells, ME. Josh spent this past year working at the HISD Outdoor Ed Center in Texas with Houston public school students. He is an SCUBA diver, avid sea kayaker, hiker and rock climber. He has just completed recertification for Wilderness First Aid and is taking courses in black and white photography. Josh is planning to begin his graduate work in the fall of 2008.

Matt Lubicky will return for a short time in this his 4th summer  because he will be spending June & July with SEA Semester where he will spend one month in coursework and one month sailing from Honolulu to San Francisco. Matt is double majoring in Marine/Freshwater Biology and English at the Univ. of New Hampshire. Matt is currently conducting research on the Atlantic Cod stock in the Gulf of Maine and is very interested in freshwater zooplankton. He is a member of school improvisation troupe and plays ultimate frisbee for the UNH team. In his free time, Matt enjoys running, reading, writing, and listening to music.

David Uminski will join us for his first summer in two very different capacities.  David went to St. Phillips College in San Antonio, TX where he studied culinary arts. He has also been an Associate Camp Leader for the past 4 years at the Houston Independent School District. This summer, David will be the assistant cook and also help with the recreational activities of the program. He plans to return to school this fall and continue with his culinary arts training. David enjoys being physically active in every way imaginable (aerobics, hiking, running, biking, snowboarding) and loves music and dance.  He is a member of the San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers.

David Wells, RN, returns this summer as the AIO nurse.  David spent  several years as an Occupational Health nurse and as the Coordinator for the Emergency Medical Technology in Colorado Springs, CO before he and his wife, Jody, decided to travel around the country. During these past 3 years, he has worked as 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. Dave will also be posting regular photographic updates of the sessions this summer (Thank you, Dave!).

Pat LaVoie joins us as our Head Cook. She is a replanted “local.” Pat grew up in Seal Harbor but moved to Hawaii and then Mass. until 1998, when she returned.  She has cooked for other “locals” (Eleanor, Josephine and Alfred Ford) and was the assistant cook the for the Mt. Desert Elementary school meal program. She is a Witton cake decorating instructor and teaches cake decorating at the MDI High School. We are pleased to have her wonderful cooking this summer!