Jace is an award-winning science communicator, Member National of the Explorer's Club, and founder of the Global Entomology Coalition. Jace has been flipping rocks and climbing trees to find insects since he was old enough to walk. He’s worked as a research technician and collaborator on many entomological research projects and as an informal entomology educator for over a decade. Jace is also the leader of our Expedition Entomology program, bringing people into the world of insect science and making sure we have a great time in the process!

Raquel Wojceshonek works in Marketing and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of New Hampshire, where she actively engaged in community action initiatives. A dedicated advocate for poverty alleviation and supporting local New Hampshire communities, Raquel is also passionate about removing education barriers on a global scale. She previously served as Board Chair of the YWCA New Hampshire and  Treasurer/Secretary for FEEDNH.org.

Christie is an enthusiastic naturalist and educator with a deep passion for the natural world, especially the misunderstood creepy crawlies. With a background in biology and marketing, Christie combines scientific knowledge and communication expertise to inspire others to appreciate the beauty and importance of biodiversity. Whether hiking through forests or observing pollinators in a garden, Christie is dedicated to connecting people with nature, emphasizing the essential roles that insects and arachnids play in our ecosystems.

Having spent much of her life between countries and cultures, Anissa eventually settled in NY’s Hudson Valley, where she lives with two dogs, two goldfish, and an aviary of rescue pigeons. She holds master’s degrees in Anthrozoology and Environmental Science, and is the founder of The Dovecote Initiative, an emerging project dedicated to reimagining human relationships with liminal animals.

A writer and keen observer of the natural world, Anissa has always been drawn to natural history, not only as a way of learning about the world, but as a practice of kinship. She believes that from acts of noticing come acts of caring. Her interests are rooted in multispecies affinity, unloved others, and the idea that insects and other animals are culturally situated beings whose stories are shaped, inherited, and open to change.

Andrea is a longtime conservation advocate with a Master’s degree in Education and a focus on native plants and pollinators. She has served on the boards of several environmental nonprofits, most recently as President of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Her professional experience includes teaching environmental education as an adjunct at Eckerd College and overseeing environmental education programming and volunteer coordination as a supervisor at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, FL. Andrea enjoys gardening, exploring the beach, and visiting art museums. 

Originally from Chicago, IL, Caitlin is a lifelong nature lover and conservation professional. She has a B.A. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology from Beloit College, a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University, and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Public Policy from Northwestern University. She currently serves as the Director of Strategic Operations with Audubon Delta, a three state region of the National Audubon Society covering Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi; prior to that she was the Audubon Delta Senior Program Manager of Coastal Stewardship. She has also previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Urbana Park District, and the Champaign County Forest Preserve District.  Her free time is spent outside in her garden, where she grows exclusively US native plants and food-producing plants. On breaks during work she likes to spend her time hunting for insects, arachnids, and other tiny friends that may be visiting the garden. 

Kira has worked with a variety of animals in her career, but her favorites were always insects, and she specialized in aquatic invertebrates after receiving her Master's Degree in Zoology.  She finds beauty in the fine balance of nature and is passionate about using experiential learning to help people appreciate the smallest of creatures.  She lives in the mountains of Asheville, NC with her husband, Roy, and her cats, Avett and Freddie Purrcury.  She spends much of her time exploring the diversity of the Appalachian wilderness through hiking and splashing in waterfalls.

Keya is an artist and nonprofit marketing and communications professional. Her passion for conservation, curiosity about the natural world, and love of things perceived as strange led to a late life interest in insects. She wants everyone to experience the awe that comes with getting to know them.

Patrick Casto is a biologist, educator and natural history professional with a Ph.D. In Biological Sciences. His research spans arachnid biology, including functional morphology, navigation and sensory ecology, systematics and field ecology. His doctoral research focused on the sensory mechanisms of navigational behavior in whip spiders, and his broader experience includes studies of camel spiders, orb-weaving spiders and honey bees. He pursues research in systematics and functional morphology while sharing his passion for lesser-known arthropods through outreach and science education. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys hiking, camping, cycling, gardening, martial arts, birding, fishing and exploring the outdoors in search of insects and other invertebrates.

Cara is a passionate outdoorswoman and a legendary hiker. When she’s not co-leading our expeditions, she's climbing the Appalachian Mountains, exploring the forests of New England, volunteering in citizen science programs, or grooming dogs. She’s a lover of all things nature, an advocate for environmental protection and policy, and a champion for the “ugly” animals.