Explorer Awards Past Winners

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2008 Winners

Sue Johannsen teaches seventh grade geography and eighth grade civics at West Middle School. 

As I traveled, I learned of the many wonders of Iceland: its black volcanic beaches and frozen glaciers, green pastures full of sheep and barren highlands, boiling hot springs, geysers, and mineral baths and cold ocean waters, and densely populated Reykjavik to miles of unpopulated spaces. I learned that Iceland’s location on the plate boundary between the North American and Euro-Asian plates produces volcanic activity and earthquakes. The geothermal and hydroelectric resources challenge Icelanders to be leaders in reducing the use of carbon-based fuels. My wonderful trip to Iceland exposed the many wonders of this peaceful nation.

2007 Winners

Kathy Haltmeyer teaches special education and horticulture at Muscatine High School. Kathy spent two months in Rome studying urban landscape design. Her graduate course was through Iowa State University.

Rachelle Schneider teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at Madison Elementary School. Rachelle chose an eco-volunteer tour to Tanzania, where she taught English in several settings, planted fruit trees, and enjoyed the wildlife on safari. Rachelle also visited the island of Zanzibar.

2006 Winners

Karen Hartman teaches fourth and fifth grades at Colorado Elementary. She explored the beauty of Tanzania, and also visited a Maasai village in Kenya. Karen's students integrated research skills, writing/editing techniques, and technology applications into presentations about Tanzania in preparation for their teacher's trip.

Africa is truly a land of contrasts. I toured only a small portion of two countries and was continually amazed. Every day, we were introduced to something new in Africa's landscape, customs, language, religion, or wildlife. Out of everything I saw, the view of the Serengeti Plains from the hot air balloon was the most spectacular! Now I can honestly say I understand why the Maasai people named this land "the endless plain."

Carol M. Kula teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) and Chinese at Muscatine High School. She participated in an Earthwatch Institute archaeological expedition in the Huaro Valley of southern Peru. Carol enjoyed residing in the city of Cusco, with its diversity of people, architecture, and cultural activities.

Traveling always provides for valuable experiences. However, traveling to Peru, staying in the historical city of Cusco, and working as part of an archaeological expedition in the beautiful Andean countryside has been an absolutely invaluable experience. Although my visit to Peru was brief, the experience will impact me for a lifetime.

2005 Winners

Robin Fields teaches language arts at Muscatine High School. Her curriculum includes Greek drama, and it has always been a wish of Robin's to visit Greece. The two-week study tour that she chose made the historical stories come alive for Robin. She also was able to interact with enough people to get a sense of what modern Greek life is like.

Learning about the culture, people, and history of Greece has greatly impacted me both personally and professionally. It is my goal to become more globally conscious and to share that awareness with others. (Update: Robin Fields now teaches at City High in Iowa City.)

Betty Wood is a special education instructor at Central Middle School. She chose to go to Ecuador and the Galapagos because of the unique ecosystem of the islands. Betty acquired a great deal of new information that will add to her social studies and science classes. She was also able to brush up on her Spanish!

Each day was incredible in all that we did and saw, and each day was equally amazing and different. Just when we didn't think something could be topped, it was—in a completely unpredictable way.