Tyler

Tyler is a sophomore at the Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University here in Virginia Beach. He grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania spending most of his time adventuring with his friends and lacrosse teammates in the Appalachian mountains and Susquehanna River. He began his travels with his family to the Dominican Republic and uncovered his passion for the marine world. After graduating from Mechanicsburg Area Senior High he spent part of his Summer volunteering with Global Leadership Adventures (GLA); an international organization that helps teens develop their leadership skills through stewardship abroad. Tyler traveled to the Gulf of Thailand for his GLA experience. He worked closely with a local ocean conservation company to construct artificial reefs, participate in beach clean-ups, and learn how to scuba dive for marine species identification. Tyler also spent time at an Asian Elephant sanctuary and taught English skills at a local elementary school. After Thailand, he began studying marine science and environmental studies at Virginia Wesleyan, where in two years he studied abroad in Puerto Rico, Spain, France, and Morocco. He also works as a Safari Tour Guide at Lake Tobias in Pennsylvania where he operates a modified school bus to give open-air educational tours through the wildlife park. Tyler is extremely passionate about environmental education and is excited to bring his worldly experience to the Nature Bus.