A Message from the Executive Director -- David Shurna
Global Explorers Brochure for Sony
Global Explorers Brochure2 for Sony
Global Explorers Folleto Panel A Sony
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The moving words of the students highlighted in this eNewsletter, remind us that few things have a greater impact on a young person's life than an international immersion experience. Whether building a community garden with ribereño peoples in the Amazon Rainforest or collecting data on bird nests in the Arctic, students consistently describe the Global Explorers as "the most beneficial experience I have ever had in my life" or "the greatest thing I have ever done".
Our learning adventures may not be for every teacher or student. Rather, they are designed for those seeking a unique educational experience. Whether you want to study desert ecology in Baja California, tropical ecology in Costa Rica, or Maya history in the Yucatan, we invite you to join us on what educators say is "the ultimate teaching experience" and parents describe as something their children will "treasure and remember forever". Come discover classroom Earth with us!
Through an Arctic Lens -- By Anna Shaull, Age 15, Baltimore, MD
We are often asked what is different and unique about the Global Explorers Program. This story by Anna Shaull, a 2005 high school Arctic traveler describes the kind of educational inspiration we hope we provide to all students.
The Preparation: The fundraising efforts of the Arctic Club at our school began in September of 2004. With the help of a polar bear costume and our own cooking talents, we were able to raise over $6,000 towards the trip. At the same time, we hit the books and gobbled up every morsel of information we could about the Arctic. We also began volunteering at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in the hopes that we would develop a unique educational partnership over time (they have Churchill Polar Bears at our Zoo!).
The International Workshop: June 14th finally came and our dream of traveling to the North was upon us. Churchill turned out to be much more than any of us could have imagined. Every day was as packed with data collection and analysis as it was with sunshine. Our science project researched the factors that affect the success of a Canada goose nest. The eggs on over 300 nests were in their last stages of incubation the week we were in Churchill. We visited over 50 nests and created a system to assess whether the eggs were safely hatched or not.
Part of our data collection on the nests involved assessing the habitats where the nests were found. The diversity of plant life we found ourselves studying was mystifying. Were we in a rainforest? The sheer quantity of unique plants that grow no taller than your ankle and come to life 90 days out of the year was so vast it was comical. Just the different species of lichen alone were enough to fill your brain for the day. While eating lunch in the field, we saw graceful caribou, kangaroo-sized Arctic hares and many birds.
The day before we left Churchill, we presented our project to an audience of scientists and other students that were also researching in Churchill. The data we collected is now part of the information available to scientists trying to understand what makes life so unique in the Arctic
Away from the tundra, we saw over 200 beluga whales playing with our boat on the Churchill River where upwards of 50,000 migrate each year. We also drifted by the colorful icebergs of the Hudson Bay; there were at least as many colors of ice as there are words for snow in Inuit (27). Interestingly, there is no word in Inuit for war ... note to self.
As a way of giving back to the community, we performed a service project at the Scouts' headquarters in Churchill. Using our newly gained knowledge of the tundra, we landscaped the area in front of the hall to make it more visually appealing. We had the opportunity to work alongside and become friendly with some of the local children, which was deeply moving. We learned how kids living in totally different cultures from our own live and grow up.
The Follow-Up: One of the reasons to go to the Arctic is because it's not a premiere vacation spot. The science, service and culture we saw in Churchill expanded our view of the world and reminded us just how many places we have yet to visit. It also pushed us to see Baltimore with a different lens as we explored the connections we have at home to Churchill and in what ways Churchill is different than Maryland. Over the summer and in the beginning of the next school year, we will be sharing our Arctic experiences with our community, through movies, slideshows, and interactive activities. We will present to students at our own school as well as public schools in the area. We want to help as many people as possible go to the Arctic in the upcoming years. So far we are the lucky ones, but we won't be the only students who will have traveled to the Arctic for long...
Leadership in the Amazon: Summer 2005
At Global Explorers, we teach that leadership is about building self-awareness and serving others. Through a partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), youth leaders from JGI's Roots & Shoots Program traveled to the Peruvian Amazon this summer to explore the interconnections between leadership, service, science and culture. Here's what they said about their experiences.
Chase, Age 16
"I learned the skills of a leader, I gained understanding of a culture, and I took action to benefit one community. And I will never forget the difference we made."
Kate, Age 16
"On this trip, I learned so much, and not just about Amazonian animals and habitats. I also learned a lot about leadership, including my own leadership style. After gaining a better understanding of how I lead, I could then compare that style to the styles of my companions, enabling me to work better with these people. This is something I will be able to use for the rest of my life."
Emily, Age 16
"Through this experience and through the meetings we had as a group, I learned to always be open to new things and ideas. I have more of a realization now that judging something before learning more about it or actually doing it can prevent you from having the time of your life or gaining a new perspective. I was nervous about this trip before leaving, but I had a blast and learned so much. I am extremely thankful for this experience."
Mary, Age 18
"All the activities we did, even those involving 5:00 am alarms, were enriching and rewarding. I learned so much about the rainforest and about relationships among different organisms, among different people and among the different sides of myself."
Alyse, Age 16
"The quiet but warm people of Peru taught me two important lessons that I shall never forget. The first: people everywhere are the same at heart. The second: all you truly need in life is love. My trip to Amazonian Peru was unlike any other trip I've ever experienced and I hope that I keep the lessons I learned there with me forever."
Hans Cole, Roots & Shoots, Director of Outreach and Leadership
"Having completed the Peru experience, I take so many highlights home with me: the thrill of walking hundreds of feet up in the rainforest canopy, the humbling feeling gazing up at a night sky crowded with stars, the pride in seeing our youth leaders working hard to squeeze the most out of their time and experience on the program. Global Explorers does an amazing job of facilitating a rich and complete experience--somehow orchestrating the details with finesse without losing the excitement, spontaneity, and challenge that are the reason we choose to travel in the first place."