John Muir (1838-1914) was America's most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist. He founded the Sierra Club in 1892 and is also known as the father of our national parks. Here is an excerpt from his book Our National Parks, published over a hundred years ago in 1901. Amazingly I think the words could have been written today. I hope you’re tempted to read further. If so, you’ll find John Muir’s complete writings on the website of the Sierra Club at http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/
I was in Costa Rica for 15 days in November and among the many things that caused me to pause and wonder, the leaf-cutter ants really left me lingering. Next to humans, they form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth, and I think it's time we stop and learn something from them. These ants march (insert song here) tirelessly from tree to colony carrying pieces of leaves sometimes 10 times (or more!) their body weight. Without a watchful eye, they can go unnoticed. But once one catches your eye and you crouch down to observe…
As you read this, I have headed out on an adventure of a lifetime. I’m spending three months soaking up rays, feeling the sand between my toes, and best of all, absorbing as much culture as possible as I explore the seven countries of Central America. This trip isn’t for work and isn’t with any program—I have only my backpack in tow and my best friend by my side to take the world by storm! The first question I always get when I tell people about my adventure is: “How are you able to do that?!” Well, it’s…
Our goal at Global Explorers has long been to bring our youth educational programs to people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. From urban youth who might never have the opportunity to leave their city to disabled kids seeking transformative adventures, we want to push the envelope on accessible travel. Accomplishing this successfully requires diverse funding partners - and this includes corporations.
(Written by Jordan Robbins & Robert Kavalek) When the AFAR Foundation and Global Explorers created Learning AFAR, we had a shared vision of creating a program where others who believe that travel is the best form of education could join us in providing eye-opening travel opportunities to youth who could not otherwise afford to explore our world. As we begin our fourth year of Learning AFAR, we are pleased to not only have some wonderful corporate sponsors but also some very generous individual donors. Donors like Robert Kavalek, who not only…
When talking about travel experiences, “proud” isn’t often a word that I use to describe past trips. Fun, exhilarating, life-changing, challenging, awesome; these are all adjectives that any trip should be! But for me, my favorite and most memorable trip that I have taken thus far in my twenty-some years has left me with a feeling of pride and accomplishment that I have yet to get out of another trip.
(Written by Maggie Jeffries) I think most people would describe me as a quiet and shy person, when they first meet me. In the past few years I have definitely grown and become much more outgoing than I used to be but I still do not like to be the center of attention. One of things that helped me come out of my shell more than anything else was my 5 month study abroad trip to Fiji. Here I was in a completely different culture and I was the minority for the first time in my life. Like it or not, from time to time I stood out for no other reason than…
(Written by Guest Blogger Jennifer Malchiodi of The Pearson Foundation) The Learning AFAR program promotes cross-cultural exchange by sponsoring international travel for students in the US who cannot otherwise afford to experience another part of the world. The Pearson Foundation has been proud to partner with Learning AFAR by helping to sponsor travel for US students traveling to Peru and Costa Rica. Last year, Learning AFAR supported 78 students and educators from Chicago, New York City, Houston and Oakland. This year, the program will support…
I love to travel. I think travel is so enriching, exciting and inspiring. Among all of the great opportunities travel presents, I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of traveling is buying handicrafts. I find it nearly impossible to turn down an opportunity to buy a work of art directly from the artisan who made it. I have countless beautiful baskets made from woven palm leaves, bright scarves woven on traditional looms, necklaces carved from coconut, bracelets strung with seeds of rainforest plants, an so, so many little trinkets carved…
Unfortunately, the year 2015 is close upon us, and while we have been graced with both Pepsi Max and Nike MAGs (although, not self-lacing, sadly), we still haven’t seen the release of “Jaws 19,” Mattel hover boards, or flying cars, not to mention the construction of a fully loaded DeLorean time machine. Fret not, my friends, we don’t need Doc Brown’s marvelous time traveling contraption to actually travel through time; there’re other ways to do so (and they don’t involve run-ins with Morlocks, either). You’re…
My Everest is the gym. Let me explain. I’ve lived in Colorado for almost three years and I love to hike (at a peaceful stroll), but I have yet to attempt a 14er. The state has an impressive 53 mountains that are 14,000 feet or higher, and a couple weeks ago I decided to climb the highest – Mt. Elbert at 14,440 ft. Which means I am now actually working out at the gym and using equipment that almost everyone else has seemed to know about for years: the Bosu ball, the elliptical, the dreaded StairMaster … The world of working…