RINCÓN, PUERTO RICO
JAN 5 - 17, 2026

  • Description text goes here

  • Description text goes here

  • Description text goes here

TRAVEL INFO:

Group Flight Info:

LESLIE WADE

Leslie Wade, Director of Isla Mar’s Youth Education Program, brings over 15 years of experience teaching youth and adults through creative, nature-based learning. With a B.Sc. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University and an M.Sc. in Marine Science from the University of South Florida, Leslie combines her scientific background with a passion for inspiring environmental stewardship. Guided by this quote from Baba Dioum — “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." — she strives to nurture curiosity and connection to the sea through creativity, hands-on exploration, and meaningful learning experiences that empower the next generation of ocean guardians.

JACKIE

VALADEZ

Jackie Valadez is a visual artist and part-time librarian based in Milwaukee, WI. She graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with a BFA in New Studio Practice in 2019, since then her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. Using primarily 2D works on paper and mixed-media sculpture, her practice explores objects of play and the liquid sense of self in an ongoing quest for transfiguration. She is driven by a wide-ranging curiosity, with ongoing interests in books and DIY publishing, blacksmithing, and learning traditional and experimental craft methods.

Noah Canby

Noah has worked as both a teacher and administrator in a wide range of creative educational environments, including a special education microschool and extracurricular arts programs. They are passionate about LGBTQ+ advocacy and co-founded and lead a camp for queer youth in the south. Noah loves facilitating opportunities for young people to explore their passions, take risks, and build supportive, inclusive communities. Noah graduated from Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s in English and spends their free time pursuing eclectic creative projects and attending events around Brooklyn.