NimbusStorms 2014

    I am raising money to go on my fourth annual storm chasing trip in the late spring/early summer of 2014. Storm chasing trips are an absolute necessity to furthering my education as a Meteorologist. As a meteorology student, I take many science, math and weather classes. As important as it is to sit in a classroom and master these disciplines, I have always been a firm believer in the fact that field experience is just as important, if not more important, in gaining a well-rounded education. Watching the weather over the years has taught me many things about the way Mother Nature works that I could never learn being lectured to in a classroom. Part of this dream is to start a student-run/professional-supervised storm chasinf educational experience for those in the Meteorology field! During these trips, we will meet at a base location after flying from our hometowns, rent a suitable vehicle and hit the road. We forecast each day thoroughly and race to our target area. An average day may consist of waking up at 8-9 AM, getting on the road after a quick breakfast and briefing of the day's goals, driving between 100-600 miles through the late night hours, then finding a place to stay that benits our next day's target. Following a storm, we send necessary reports to the National Weather Service and teach our chasing students about what they are seeing first hand. Because I believe these trips are a way for me to better my understanding of my passion, I save money all year to go on these trips between a full time job and a over-full time student. Up until now, these trips have been funded solely out of pocket, working all year long, I have felt limited while on the trips because of money restrictions. Here are just a few of the costs we are responsible for while on the trip: airfare to and from a destination that brings all chasers to an area around the same time from different parts of the country; car fees, including gas and insurance (for obvious reasons); breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; nightly hotel room costs. We also try to do to other things while on our trip to give ourselves a more well-rounded, cultured trip. My goal in starting this online fundraising project is to hopefully raise enough money to take a longer and fuller trip to Tornado Alley. Saving enough money on my own has been nearly impossible, and I think that your donation could help me learn and grow as a meteorologist and fufilling my dreams to teach weather in the field! Thanks for your time! Chasing Storms, Chasing Dreams!