Susan T. Fisher - Botanical Illustration
Susan is the Director of the Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  She is the former Coordinator for the Botanical Illustration Program at Denver Botanic Gardens where she created the Certificate Program in Botanical Art and Illustration known throughout the United States. Susan is on faculty of the Art Institute and Filoli Gardens in California and conducts workshops throughout North America. Her artwork is in many books, journals, and private collections. Susan is the current president of the American Society of Botanical Artists. Her BA degree includes three years of advanced study in art history at the Universite de Bordeaux in France.

Bill Heicher - Colorado Critters
Bill grew up in Colorado and completed his degree in Wildlife Management at Colorado State University. He spent three summers fighting wild fires with the USFS Hot Shot Crew before going to work for the Colorado Division of Wildlife full time. He has played a critical role in managing wildlife and assisting in land use planning decisions throughout this region. Currently, Bill works as the Open Space Coordinator for the Town of Eagle.

Ellen Jacobson - Musing Over Mushrooms
Ellen writes, "I started leading forays for members of the Colorado Mycological Society after I learned to identify about fifty mushrooms (how presumptious); then launched myself in the direction of the Colorado Free University where I taught for several summers. I've been the recorder for CMS for more years than I can count. A recorder labels and records all the specimens brought in to the annual Mushroom Fair at the Botanic Gardens. Since 1996 I've been the instructor at the King Boletus Mushroom Festival in Buena Vista.

Last winter, I started an extremely rewarding and challenging position at DBG Herbarium of Fungi as a volunteer for Vera Evenson. The DBG Herbarium houses approximately 24,000 specimens and is the largest one between Chicago and the West Coast.                                            

Introducing interested students to the absolute joy and wonder of mushrooms seems to be my true calling. When someone opens her eyes to her surroundings in the natural world and finds her first mushroom, I am as thrilled as the student. Even though I unearthed this avocation relatively late in life, I will continue to pursue it as long as I can bend over and pick an interesting specimen."

Nicola Ripley - Wildflowers & Weeds
Nicola has 18 years of experience in the field of alpine ecology. Since graduating with a Masters in Ecology from University College of North Wales, she has specialized in alpine environments, working for the Nature Conservancy Council and the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, UK. While conducting research on endangered British alpine plants, she was solicited to work in the U.S. propagating rare and unusual alpine plants. For five years Nicola was co-owner and director of Montane Environmental Solutions Ltd, an Environmental Consulting Company, conducting rare plant studies, environmental impact analyses and wetland surveys for private and governmental clients. Since 1996, Nicola has worked for the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens on a gradually increasing basis, now a full time staff member overseeing both the plant collection and research projects. She has a unique educational and working experience in the very specialized field of alpine plants.

Donna Robinson - Wildflower Finder
Donna is a third generation professional educator. Her experience ranges from public grade schools to private high school academies to the University level and out in the natural environment with NOLS and the Teton Science School. She has taught ages spanning from kindergarten to elderhostel and presented one hour classes and multi-day workshops. Donna has also developed year-round curricula for both private and public schools. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Wake Forest University in North Carolina and holds Math/Science Professional Teaching Certificates Grades 6-12 in three states. She has a passion for Botany, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge in formal teaching environments as well as informally as she guides trips into the backcountry year round.                                                          

Tom Weisen - Fledgling Birders
Tom is a naturalist guide, nature writer and the founder of TrailWise Guides. Since 1991 Tom and his staff at TrailWise Guides have specialized in backcountry outings on a year-round basis, serving visitors and second homeowners in the Vail Valley. Tom writesk, "While hiking and mountain biking in summer, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter we observe birds and wildlife on a continuous basis which gives us insights into the subtle changes which occur throughout the year." All of Tom's insights as a naturalist come from self-study and seventeen years of continuous field experience and keen observation in natural areas throughout the Vail Valley.