August 2, 2006
Hello from Belize! We are just putting a wrap on an event-filled day at Monkey Bay Nature Preserve. Monkey Bay is owned and operated by American conservationists, with the goal of promoting environmental education and ecotourism. Our group is in great hands, as three in-country guides are planning almost every aspect of our Belizean adventure. If only I had it this easy in the classroom… We’ve managed to slip in some good concepts about watersheds and human impact among the canoeing, swimming, water-fighting, and fig-flinging. The kids are gelling nicely as a group, and are in very good spirits despite our long day of travel yesterday. We have a nice plan for tomorrow, heading out to the mountains, visiting a few waterfalls, and visiting a small village for some dinner and craft shopping.
Now I need to catch some sleep so I can keep up with the kids.
Cheers,
Josh Bookin (teacher)
After breakfast, we listened to about an hour lecture about the watersheds in Belize. We learned how the water and activities up in the mountains effect the organisms living way down in the coral reefs. After that we piled into our trusty, yellow school bus and headed off toward the Sibun River. When the bus came to a halt (about 15 minutes later) we had a short walk down to the river. On the hike we stopped to watch some leaf cutter ants which I found quite fascinating. When we reached the waterfront we all took a quick test to show our swimming abilities and were briefed on how the properly control the canoes. Forty minutes later, after lunch, swimming and some re-application of sunscreen, we began to head down the river. I saw some bats and little fish that try to clean you and pick off ticks and moles (none of us had ticks for them) and the canoeing was very enjoyable. Most of us were able to pluck figs out of the water to throw at fellow canoers and practically everyone jumped out of their boats for a refreshing dip during the straight, mellow stretches of the river. Halfway through the ride we pulled onto a little beach to snack and better learn about the ecology of the river and the organisms dependent on it. We also learned, and saw, how humans were having a negative impact on the river by mining gravel out of it. By the end of the eight mile paddle we were all exhausted and some of us even acquired sunburns. The thing I will most remember is tipping over in the canoe and having to collect my belongings as they floated away! More than half of the boats tipped, although many were intentional.
- Kelsey Corkery
After a long long night, Nika and I squeezed oranges for breakfast, which hopefully everyone enjoyed. After breakfast we all sat for an hour lecture about Monkey Bay and about the Sibun River, in which we went canoeing today.
When the lecture was over, we all got into the bus and drove near the Sibun River. After a short walk to the Sibun River we passed several orange trees, from where Minute Maid gets their oranges. When we got to the river we all had to pass a swimming test. Thankfully, we all passed. We then had a picnic lunch next to our canoes. When lunch was over, we partnered up and started on our 8 mile canoe journey. The first half of the canoe trip was very exciting. Everyone was involved in a fig fight and splashed cool water with our paddles. After a couple of hours everyone paddled onto the shore and learned how to do a rapid ecological assessment by looking at 5 topics; the flora, the fauna, the geology, the hydrology, and the humans’ impact. After we all split up into 5 little groups, we presented each topic. To our surprise we changed partners and started the second half of the canoeing trip. The second half of the trip was relaxing and I was able to really enjoy the scenery.
-Mary Castaneda
I woke up this morning at 6:07 to the gorgeous view of a mosquito net in my face. Once I stepped outside, however, the morning truly was glorious. It was much cooler than the night before (or maybe I was just used to it now).
A cold shower is just the thing for a hot Belizean morning. After the wonderful fresh orange juice made by three of my classmates, it was a small talk about watersheds, and then we were off to the Sibun River. We took our swimming tests in a large pool of water off the river, and then ate lunch.
I managed to get a sunburn, probably because of constantly getting in and out of the canoe into the water. Later after dinner, Oswald (the eleven year old son of the cook, our newest group member) found a tarantula and was showing it around, and Luke found a frog, but it got away. Right now, I’m sitting in the cantina listening to Nika scream. Oswald threw a leaf onto her and everyone thought it was a tarantula. Okay, everyone’s calming down now, and it’s time for me to go to bed.
- Ellie Gold
Nika and Mary squeeze fresh orange juice for breakfast
Allison, Colin and Ellie set up an experiment to figure out how fast the river is running.
Still looking alive after our 8 mile canoe!
Now I need to catch some sleep so I can keep up with the kids.
Cheers,
Josh Bookin (teacher)
After breakfast, we listened to about an hour lecture about the watersheds in Belize. We learned how the water and activities up in the mountains effect the organisms living way down in the coral reefs. After that we piled into our trusty, yellow school bus and headed off toward the Sibun River. When the bus came to a halt (about 15 minutes later) we had a short walk down to the river. On the hike we stopped to watch some leaf cutter ants which I found quite fascinating. When we reached the waterfront we all took a quick test to show our swimming abilities and were briefed on how the properly control the canoes. Forty minutes later, after lunch, swimming and some re-application of sunscreen, we began to head down the river. I saw some bats and little fish that try to clean you and pick off ticks and moles (none of us had ticks for them) and the canoeing was very enjoyable. Most of us were able to pluck figs out of the water to throw at fellow canoers and practically everyone jumped out of their boats for a refreshing dip during the straight, mellow stretches of the river. Halfway through the ride we pulled onto a little beach to snack and better learn about the ecology of the river and the organisms dependent on it. We also learned, and saw, how humans were having a negative impact on the river by mining gravel out of it. By the end of the eight mile paddle we were all exhausted and some of us even acquired sunburns. The thing I will most remember is tipping over in the canoe and having to collect my belongings as they floated away! More than half of the boats tipped, although many were intentional.
- Kelsey Corkery
After a long long night, Nika and I squeezed oranges for breakfast, which hopefully everyone enjoyed. After breakfast we all sat for an hour lecture about Monkey Bay and about the Sibun River, in which we went canoeing today.
When the lecture was over, we all got into the bus and drove near the Sibun River. After a short walk to the Sibun River we passed several orange trees, from where Minute Maid gets their oranges. When we got to the river we all had to pass a swimming test. Thankfully, we all passed. We then had a picnic lunch next to our canoes. When lunch was over, we partnered up and started on our 8 mile canoe journey. The first half of the canoe trip was very exciting. Everyone was involved in a fig fight and splashed cool water with our paddles. After a couple of hours everyone paddled onto the shore and learned how to do a rapid ecological assessment by looking at 5 topics; the flora, the fauna, the geology, the hydrology, and the humans’ impact. After we all split up into 5 little groups, we presented each topic. To our surprise we changed partners and started the second half of the canoeing trip. The second half of the trip was relaxing and I was able to really enjoy the scenery.
-Mary Castaneda
I woke up this morning at 6:07 to the gorgeous view of a mosquito net in my face. Once I stepped outside, however, the morning truly was glorious. It was much cooler than the night before (or maybe I was just used to it now).
A cold shower is just the thing for a hot Belizean morning. After the wonderful fresh orange juice made by three of my classmates, it was a small talk about watersheds, and then we were off to the Sibun River. We took our swimming tests in a large pool of water off the river, and then ate lunch.
I managed to get a sunburn, probably because of constantly getting in and out of the canoe into the water. Later after dinner, Oswald (the eleven year old son of the cook, our newest group member) found a tarantula and was showing it around, and Luke found a frog, but it got away. Right now, I’m sitting in the cantina listening to Nika scream. Oswald threw a leaf onto her and everyone thought it was a tarantula. Okay, everyone’s calming down now, and it’s time for me to go to bed.
- Ellie Gold
Nika and Mary squeeze fresh orange juice for breakfast
Allison, Colin and Ellie set up an experiment to figure out how fast the river is running.
Still looking alive after our 8 mile canoe!
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