Winter Retreat 2025

John Koch

Mary Beth Bradberry

Chris Mohr Grenier

Mindy Furrer

After graduating with a BS in Elementary Education from the University of WI Milwaukee, Mindy joined the Peace Corps. For two years she lived on an island roughly the size of Bogue Banks, except that she was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, rather than a few miles from the coast. As a Peace Corps Volunteer to the island nation of Kiribati, Mindy spent her time teaching at the Junior High School. One afternoon while swinging in her hammock in her stick house Mindy came across an announcement for the Sound to Sea Environmental Education Program; she somehow knew this would be her next adventure. She didn't know at the time that it would also become her home. Mindy has worked at Trinity Center since 2002, first as an instructor and then as the Sound to Sea Program Coordinator. As an instructor, Mindy enjoyed the unique atmosphere of teaching hands-on in an outdoor setting. As program coordinator, she found herself drawn to curriculum design and program development. She now enjoys doing both in her position as Trinity Center Program Director. In her free time you can find Mindy driving children to their sport practices and cheering them on from the sidelines. After adopting three wonderful kids several years ago, Mindy continues to welcome foster children into her life.

Buddy Payne

Meghan Dinneen

Meghan grew up in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. She chose to travel south for college to the University of Maryland. After graduating with a degree in zoology, Meghan went on a study abroad near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya, studying wildlife management and ecology. She discovered her love of learning in nature amongst the elephants, wildebeest, and hyenas. She came to Sound to Sea in 2005 and taught as an instructor for 2 years. Meghan then moved to Washington State to be closer to family. There she worked as a naturalist at a wildlife park, teaching people about native northwestern animals like moose, wolves, and banana slugs. The sun, sand, and waves lured Meghan back to North Carolina and Sound to Sea in 2011, where she is now Program Coordinator. Meghan loves sharing her love of the natural world, especially mollusks, with anyone who would like to know. In her free time, you can find her collecting shells, playing outside, or sleeping.

Nancy Reynolds