Eric truly enjoys the beauty of nature. He has always had an affinity for the study of dinosaurs and other wondrous creatures. The 16-year-old was volunteering at a museum in Bozeman, Montana, giving tours and designing displays when he decided on his wish. To no one's surprise, Eric wanted to travel to the Galapagos Islands, a biological wonder unlike any other on earth.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Utah organized a vacation for Eric and his family to the islands off the coast of Ecuador. To say Eric was in his element would be an understatement. During their stay, Eric and his family went on many hikes and saw sally lightfoot crabs, sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, sea rays, and flightless cormorants, in addition to the amazing plant life.

While snorkeling, Eric saw schools of thousands of fish, many of which cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Other memorable sights included lava lizards, a Galapagos hawk and even a penguin.

Eric was deeply moved by his wish, and very thankful for the experience. In a letter to the Foundation, Eric said, "I could never in a million years say thank you enough to everybody who helped make this trip possible for me. It was a true dream come true."