Eco Tours International Staff

Nicole Apelian is a researcher, expeditionary leader, safari guide, Southern Africa specialist, mother, scientist, and educator. Nicole's experience abroad, specifically her research and guiding, has been an intensive conversation with the land and the people she visits. She is especially interested in the ways Indigenous cultures identify themselves in the modern world and is currently studying and learning from the Naro Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. She also is one of the primary guides for her company Eco Tours International, and specializes in tracking and wildlife safaris in Southern Africa.

Nicole received a BS in Biology from McGill University in Canada and a Masters of Science in Biology from the University of Oregon in 1993. Nicole has been an educator for many years. She has taught biology at a number of different high schools, community colleges, and universities and received teacher of the year two-years running when she taught high school biology. As an adult educator for the Audubon Society of Portland, leading Eco Tours International expeditions and working at other leading conservation education programs, Nicole is recognized as bringing a vibrant energy and passion into her work.

Nicole's experience in scientific research is distinguished. She was a research associate at the Okavango Lion Research Project, a 10-year study focused on ecology, reproduction, disease and genetics of these large cats. Through key grants she has also done marine research on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Alaska, studied toxic diatoms and phytoplankton populations, and done studies on genetic diversity.
She has worked as a game warden for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and the US Peace Corps in Botswana, as a shellfish observer for the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, and other diverse career paths in the field of biology, education and ecology.

Her extensive background in biology and real-world experience with global issues adds an unparalleled legitimacy to how she works with workshop and safari participants. Currently Nicole is working on her Doctorate in Sustainability Education at Prescott College. Her research topic is titled: "Concepts and causations of shifting self-identity in a community of Naro Bushmen…wisdom from the elders". Through her past and on-going experiences Nicole is always working on becoming a more effective leader in the field of transformative nature education.

Jon received his BS in Environmental Science in 1983 from Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, with particular emphasis on natural history and anthropology and focusing on how native cultures helped their children to understand and connect with the natural world consistently, from generation to generation and to a highly refined degree.

Inspired by his mentoring with Tom Brown, Jr., fueled by his studies in natural history and anthropology, and guided by the elder Ingwe, Jon has pioneered blending Native mentoring and cultural techniques from around the world with a broad array of tools for connecting with nature and developing refined and holistic tracking skills. Out of the Wilderness Awareness School, which was originally founded as a high school nature club and which helps people reconnect with their native environments, Jon developed a system that is now called "8 Shields Cultural Mentoring". This system tracks processes and mentoring techniques that are built into the design of one-on-one mentoring programs, family mentoring practices, community-based mentoring and more traditional modes of education. The 8 Shields Cultural Mentoring model has now influenced well over 100 nature and eco-community programs in the United States, Canada and Europe, and is also used in his consulting for organizations, government agencies and communities worldwide.

Anna Breytenbach is a South African-based professional animal communicator who has received advanced training through the Assisi International Animal Institute in California, USA. She's been practising for ten years in South Africa, Canada and the USA with both domestic and wild animals.

Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, she holds a degree in Psychology, Economics and Marketing from the University of Cape Town. During her international corporate career that took her to Australia and then Silicon Valley and Seattle in the USA, she lived out her passion for wildlife and conservation by volunteering at various rehabilitation and educational centers.

Amongst other things she has been a cheetah handler for ten years, served on volunteer committees for wolf, snow leopard, cheetah and mountain lion conservation, worked at wildlife and horse sanctuaries and is director of a wild cat rescue non-profit organisation in the USA. Trained in tracking and mentoring at the Wilderness Awareness School, she has also participated in wild wolf tracking expeditions in the Rocky Mountains and has mentored children and adults in nature awareness programs based on the ways of the San Bushmen peoples.

Anna's goal is to raise awareness and advance the relationships among human and non-human animals, on both the personal and spiritual levels. In her communication and conservation work, she guides people to deepen their connection with all species in an honouring manner, and is inspired by living her personal mission of raising consciousness by being a voice for the animals and wild places. Learn more about Anna at her organization Animal Spirit

Tony has studied outdoor skills and concepts of sustainability since a very young age. As a teenager he cultivated a 3/4 acre market garden based on principles of permaculture design and the study of ecology through tracking. The extensive Italian family Tony grew up with was one of the greatest influences on his core philosophy of the value of community and family. At the Evergreen State College his focus was how humans connect to the land around them through participatory experiences.

This, coupled with 17 years of extensive work and cutting edge development as a contractor and consultant in the field of environmental education, lead him to found Trackers Earth and Eco Tours International. Based on his work, research and experience in survival, bushcraft, traditional skills and tracking, Tony also taught extensively for the graduate sustainability program at Portland State University, including founding their Naturalist Training Program. He has facilitated wildlife tracking, outdoor entrepreneurial and adventure education workshops for the Forest Service, Audubon Society of Portland, countless parks and interpretation agencies, universities, colleges and much more. He is also a high end consultant for other outdoor education organizations concerning their safety, organizational and outreach policies. In his free time, Tony enjoys exploring the wilderness near his home, tracking bobcat, bear, elk and deer with his new son, Robin, strapped in his snuggly pack.