Posted by Kasey | 02.13.2020 | Sea Turtle Camp News

Meet the Sea Turtle Camp 2020 Staff! Pt. 4

Each year, we are so excited to meet, hire, and train our amazingly diverse and talented staff.  Take a look at our Sea Turtle Camp Travel staff!

Meet Tara, a teen mentor and ocean seeker.

Tara Dixon is originally from the mid-West, but has always had a love for the ocean and marine life. Tara’s education background is psychology for her undergraduate work and social work for her Master’s degree. Tara’s interest for marine life and the ocean continued to grow through experiences and travels. This led Tara to move to Hawaii after college gaining work experience overseeing an education department at a Hawaiian aquarium. Through this experience Tara worked with youth doing turtle releases, beach clean ups, and leading educational camps. In addition, Tara has experience leading study abroad programs for college students and youth. Tara recently worked as a teen facilitator in the Cayman Islands on a project focused on helping endangered coral reef. Tara currently resides in Nashville and is enjoying working with Big Brothers Big Sisters overseeing teen mentoring programs. Tara is missing the ocean and feeling eager to join Sea Turtle Camp to be surrounded by the ocean and conservation work soon. Tara loves learning by doing and is excited to encourage youth to pursue their passions.

Meet Eric, an experienced diver and adventure seeker.

Eric is a returning staff member who hails from the landlocked state of Kentucky. He grew up surrounded by the outdoors on the outskirts of Louisville, but frequent beach vacations growing up made him realized that the sea was where he belonged. For the last 7 years he has traveled around the country and internationally to observe parks and ecosystems, working his passions. In 2019 with Sea Turtle Camp Hawaii he was able to reach his 50th state visited! Eric is an avid snorkeler as well as a NAUI Advanced and Rescue diver who has had the wonderful opportunity to dive in the Bahamas, Channel Islands, Florida Keys, Cozumel, and Similan Islands in Thailand.
He received his Bachelor degree in Bioengineering from the University of Louisville, focusing on biotech with renewable energy and sustainability. With work experience in renewable energy labs, sustainability driven resource research, and outdoor education in marine science he has been able to let his passion for sustainability and nature flourish and share it with others.  Eric enjoys inspiring other to care about the ocean and has done so by working in education facilities around the country. In his free time, Eric can be found snorkeling, hiking, reading a good book outdoors, playing video games, or getting excited about biology.