Executive Corner: The Staff Advantage
By David Shurna, Executive Director, Global Explorers
As I travel around the country, one of the most commonly asked questions I receive is "What do you think makes Global Explorers different than all the other travel companies?" My common responses include:
- We are a nonprofit organization
- We provide strong pre-trip support from fundraising to preparatory curriculum and textbooks
- We use international travel to spark responsible global citizenship back home through a required follow-up service project
- We build and support long-term relationships with the communities we visit
- We live our values as an organization
But none of these things would matter to the students and teachers with whom we work if it were not for the incredible staff members who deliver our programs. They provide the knowledge, motivation and confidence that in turn, inspire our participants. Regardless of background, they are first and foremost, educators at heart; people who love sharing the joy of learning about other cultures and environments. This year's International Field Workshop Coordinators have undergraduate and graduate degrees in diverse disciplines including: Anthropology, Community-Based Conservation, Human Biology, Latin American Studies, Environmental Management, Conservation Biology, Law, Rural Sociology, Education, Marine Biology and Geography. We know they will inspire you too! To meet our staff for 2007, please visit: www.globalexplorers.org/site/main/staff.
Teacher Perspectives: Rewards beyond Compare
Written by Marcia Schmidlin, Group Sponsor from Palestine, IL
Palestine Rainforest Project has been a dream of mine for several years. We are not a large group, 13 students, 2 parents, and me, but we are a mighty force in the small community of Palestine, Illinois. I receive comments and questions from people everyday regarding our progress.
Because we live in a smaller community, fundraising has been both challenging and rewarding. I know "rewarding" sounds a bit odd, but we have found it so because we have been earning money in unique and demanding ways. For example, we are currently painting the fencing at the Palestine Pioneer Rodeo Arena. We are scraping and painting many miles of fencing. We are sore, tired, and appreciative of back-breaking labor. I believe "earning the way" for something is a primary key to the success of the program.
Despite our hours spent on fundraising, we have found time to read, study, and discuss Global Explorers' provided curriculum. The students take great pride in their books, and they often read pages that have not been assigned. It does my teacher's heart good to have the students bringing articles to me to read that they have found on their own.
The participants in the Palestine Rainforest Project have little idea what is in store for them when we finally step on the plane in July. I remember my first trip to the Amazon in June 1996, and nothing prepared me for the overwhelming awe I'd feel. I hope they feel it as well, and I hope the experience is more than rewarding. I hope it is one that cannot be compared.
From the Field: Rocky Mountains Prepare Blind & Sighted Students for Journey
By Rob, Blind Student Participant in 2007 Leading the Way Program
From April 13-15, 2007, I experienced one of the most enjoyable weekends of my life. Global Explorers has offered my blind peers and me the opportunity to embark on a journey to the Peruvian Andes. In preparation we met in Colorado for our weekend retreat.
We all left our homes at different times and from different places but we came together for a common goal: to experience an array of activities and practice for our trip as a team. On the first day, I discovered that my teammates were just as excited and full of anticipation as I was. We started the first full day of the retreat off with meeting one of the most talented blind climbers: Erik Weihenmayer. Erik showed the sighted team members how blind people can navigate through normal and abnormal obstacles that are encountered in the mountains. He then blindfolded the sighted so that they could live through a blind person's view.
After these training exercises we took the long awaited trek through the Rocky Mountains to prepare for the Peruvian Andes. This part of the weekend I thought was the most influential and exciting. During the trek we got to interact and learn more about each other and how to rely on each other. When we returned, we had a discourse about our itinerary and about our hopes and fears. This was my second favorite part of the weekend. For our conversation, we divided into smaller groups and had a plethora of sensational ideas about what would be expected of the trek through the Andes. Some hoped that we would all make it through as a stronger team and others hoped to gain leadership skills and greater knowledge of the cultures we visit.
Besides the electrifying activities in the mountains and vast talents of the participants I also enjoyed seeing a new area and a new state of the country. I have never been out west before and I thought the scenery was awesome even though I couldn't see it that well. For myself I have never flown before this retreat and it was a thrilling experience. To me, every experience whether good or a little worrisome is still an experience I wouldn't pass up.
I am astounded at how the Global Explorers staff came together and coordinated this weekend retreat of twenty-four teenagers from different backgrounds. This is the first organization that I know of that has been able to accommodate all different kinds of people and varying levels of sight. Some of the participants had total blindness and others had complete sight. This diversity seemed to pose no problem for the leaders of Global Explorers. They are also the first to have people from all corners of the contiguous United States and Canada meet as a team and work together.
Through the weekend I got to meet my fascinating team leaders and team and got to experience flying and navigating through the airports. Most of all I enjoyed working with my team to reach that goal of hiking the mountain. The biggest challenge we overcame was not the mountain itself but reaching that mountain together as the 2007 Global Explorers Leading the Way team.
The Travel Channel & Global Explorers
On May 30th at 8PM and 11PM EDT, The Travel Channel will show a one-hour program called Accessible Adventures that will include a feature on the 2006 Global Explorers' Leading the Way expedition to Peru. The program features journeys with some very special disabled travelers; adventurers who are hell-bent on enjoying the full experience of life. They believe the disabled can and should have every opportunity to travel and see the world in the same ways that others do. Be sure to check your local listings for exact times!