REGARDING MY TOURS
"Thank you for an extraordinary tour! We loved it all! It was well planned and executed--all your preparation for it was very evident. The informative booklet that came with the tour was great. I can continue to remember and study what was a totally great weekend of geology!"
- Ann Thompson
"All the stops were educational and enjoyable. I thought a tour group of this size is great! We were all very well coordinated and, of course, choreographed by a master!"
- Nicole Williams, President, Nicklin Capital Group
" The E-mails with checklists you sent ahead of time were very useful and got me into the spirit of the trip. The guidebook and maps you put together for the trip, including the concise geological chronology, enriched the experience and will serve as a useful reminder of what we saw."
- Lawrence Becker, Ph. D.
" I had a great time! On each trip I learn something new, and I hope to do another trip next year. There are so many places I haven't been, and these trips are a great opportunity to see them."
- Karen Sherman
" The tour was very interesting; a good mix of people; good communication between cars and on walks; nice collecting sites."
- Michael Bill
"Thank you so much for your great organization and the learning experience. I learned SO MUCH! It was a fun, interesting, beautiful journey. I look forward to another exploration in the near future."
- Mary Jo Mulcahy
REGARDING MY LECTURES
"Once again you have delighted us with such an interesting, informative program. I was very pleased with the size of the audience last night. You have a wonderful way of relating to the public and always keep the listener spellbound. I always look forward to your programs here at the library."
- Shorewood, IL Public Library
"We have had rave reviews from all those attending; they felt fortunate to have you as a speaker. You are considered the authority; it's always a pleasure to hear from one who knows. Thank you for being an important part of our convention and assisting in creating a success."
- National Council of State Garden Clubs
"Your presentation last Thursday evening was wonderful! Members of the audience commented on how much they enjoyed your slides and your discussion of how Chicago's architecture is influenced by geology. The program was well organized, smoothly presented, informative and entertaining; we could not ask for more!"
- Morton Grove, IL Public Library
"Thank you so very much for your most informative and interesting lecture. Feedback from my fellow members was very positive and they want you to return. It was certainly the perfect program for a group like ours."
- Chicago Rocks and Minerals Society
REGARDING MY COURSES & TEACHING SKILLS
"Thanks for another great class. You are a great encourager to those of us 'nonscience' people who learn way after ninth-grade biology that the world is a fascinating place, from soil to stars."
- Phyllis Ladd
"Ray's interpretive skill are models of excellent communication skills. His easy-going nature allows him to work well with individuals of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. [He has] inspired the curiosity of those attending his programs. Ray is very creative, continually augmenting his programs."
-U.S. National Park Service evaluation, Indiana Dunes Nat'l Lakeshore
And here's a smattering of comments from other students, as taken from course evaluations and notes of appreciation. Each quote below is from a different adult-education or college student.
"Thanks for sharing your knowledge and humor this past year. Your classes are great."
"Ray knows his subject matter, is well organized, gives extremely practical material, and is animated, articulate, and friendly!"
"Very informative and encouraging."
"I learned a ton!"
"Even with all his knowledge he presents the information at a level we can comprehend."
"I learned a lot from your course and looked forward to each class. I plan on continuing my studies. I hope you continue to introduce and educate more people with your special teaching skills."
"Mr. Wiggers is the best! He really knows the subject and really wants others to learn. He teaches so that the student can understand and teach the subject later on. This course was interesting and fun. Mr. Wiggers is FAB!"
"Many thanks for all that you did during our class. The same goes for all that you are. The course stands out in my memory."
"I've taken two other [science-] writing courses, and yours was the most 'meaty'."
"Many varied activities. Field trips were great. I learned so, so much from this class."
"I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the botany course you taught at the Botanic Gardens. . . . This class was a real beginning for me. It has given me a sense of accomplishment and an eagerness to learn more. Thanks for being a great teacher and sharing your knowledge and love of plants."
"Thanks for being so much fun and knowledgeable, too."
"I want to thank you for the time and enthusiasm you put into your class. I've just begun my study in horticulture and found this first class fascinating."
"Every lecture Ray gives is very helpful."
"Thanks again for all your hard work and enthusiasm, and for sharing your very extensive knowledge with us in such an understandable and enjoyable way. . . . You're a great teacher, naturalist and author. Please keep doing what you are doing."
REGARDING MY BOOK,
GEOLOGY UNDERFOOT IN ILLINOIS
(To order a copy of Geology Underfoot in Illinois, go to the BOOKS AND ARTICLES section of my links page by clicking here.)
"Tour de force would be a fair way to describe this book. . . . Who should have this book on their shelf? Anyone who is, has ever been, or ever will be in Illinois and enjoys exploring new, beautiful, and interesting places. And anyone else who wants to be able to claim that their knowledge of Illinois is much more complete . . ." (Legacy, May/June 1998)
"The plentiful diversity of the Illinois terrain tells a fascinating story of dramatic transformations . . . .Wiggers relates details from that story in vivid and understandable essays. . ." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 12 May 1997)
"The author notes, 'the reconstruction of the vast span of life's history seethes with poetic content.' So, too, Wiggers' book. It's full of overview and local maps, geological cutaways, and photos--a delight to read for anyone interested in Illinois' fascinating geologic history." (Chicago Books in Review, Summer 1997)
"Reading Geology Underfoot in Illinois and its field-trip essays made me want to jump in the car and undertake at least one of the adventures it describes. Wiggers' enthusiasm is infectious . . . (Illinois Times, 20 November 1997)
[To the author:] "I am just amazed at how you are able to make interesting--indeed fascinating--stories out of the seemingly modest geological features of Illinois. [Illinois geologist] Maurice Leighton capitalized on your state's geologic subtlety, as you do in your book. I stand in deep admiration of you both." (Robert Sharp, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus of Geology, Caltech, 30 March 1997)
