Silent Appreciation Moments

Every time I think back to my Galapagos experiences I think of all our SAMs (Silent Appreciation Moments). One of my first SAMs was walking up the aggressive staircase to the most beautiful open-air classroom and taking in the scenery, noises, and smells at Highland View.




Another moment was walking on the beach on Isabela with Dezii at sunset watching the light change and the birds hunt for dinner. I remember working with the tortoises collecting data and contributing to important fieldwork. Furthermore, I remember sharing memories on the beach with incredible, inspiring people who taught me so much about science, inquiry, conservation, teaching, and life.

I am so thankful I took the opportunity to appreciate these moments and reflect on the impact they had on me. So often I am bustling through life trying to finish something or to get somewhere and not appreciating the present moment. This trip helped me focus on staying in the moment and is something I have shared with numerous people since my return.

I have never been in a place quite like the Galapagos where everywhere I turned I was amazed by the natural beauty, wildlife, and ecology. As I look back through all my pictures I keep remembering more special moments.

I loved watching people conquer their fears of trying new foods and experiencing the lava tunnels. These moments were inspiring and rewarding to witness. I think of the mora clearing and how rewarding eradicating this invasive species was to me. I wanted to make as big of an impact as I could in the allotted time we had there. I think of the invaluable education and information I received from Juanse, Ivan, Grace, and Ann Guezou (to name a few). Seeing how involved locals are in the conservation of the islands and how dedicated they are to educating others was inspiring.

One of my biggest takeaways from this trip was the re-affirmation that I do want to teach, but in a new setting. I want to create experiences for students and people to experience learning the way we did while in the Galapagos. I want hands-on, inquiry-based instruction on Rung 8: Child-initiated, shared decisions with adults of Hart's Ladder of Participation (Hart, 1997). I want children to have a voice in education, in conservation, in life. I do not want students to play a passive role as Freire (1970) discusses in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I want to provide an open environment to share thoughts, ideas, questions, and opinions--where we can connect and learn from each other. A mirror image of the environment we shared in the Galapagos.






I am beyond grateful for the experiences we had and I hope to stayed connected with the amazing people I met. And whenever I find myself focusing too much in the future or past I try to remember to take a SAM and enjoy the present moment.

Peruvian Amazon

Lago Sandoval 

While I greatly enjoyed all our activities and adventures in the rainforest, the excursion to Lago Sandoval stands out as my favorite. As we met to begin our journey I had no idea what expect.

The trek through the insanely muddy pathways was like a game. We had to try to find safe footing without slipping into the vice-like grip of the mud. While the mud was inconvenient and tricky to navigate, it attracted a crazy amount of biodiversity like the Blue Morpho butterfly. It was incredible to watch these stunning creatures right in front of our faces dancing in and out of the nutrient filled mud. So while to some the mud was an encumbrance to our trip, I began to think of it as a blessing. The unpaved path limited human traffic into and out of the area and provided sustenance to species like the Blue Morpho.

I was fascinated by the effort it took to bring resources out to Lago Sandoval. People literally only brought what could be used and everything brought out must be taken back and disposed of elsewhere. It was one of the first times in my life I felt as if Nature was king and humans were doing everything possible to preserve the area and keep it pristine and untouched. More often than not I am used to the opposite, in which humans use nature to bend over backwards to work in their favor. It was refreshing and also mystical to see the reverse in action.

When we arrived at the boats I was thrilled (to finally have a seat) but also slightly wary since they were so narrow. I could not wait to see where we were headed next. Once we were all "gracefully" seated we made our way through the rainforest. It was incredible to be so close to wildlife like Caiman and experience the setting in a new way.

At one point I looked ahead and saw the trees parting to reveal a sunny opening. We drifted through the tunnel towards the opening, the sky opened to unveil a smattering of clouds and a breathtaking lake.  I was amazed at the stillness and tranquility of the surroundings. It was as if the rainforest opened up to unearth this hidden protected gem and this was just the beginning. I was astonished by  all the wildlife and biodiversity we saw as we traveled around the lake in our little boats. The trees, butterflies, turtles, caiman, birds, and mammals were unreal. Where on earth could you experience all that at once so far removed from civilization and in such a peaceful natural space. 

The experience at Lago Sandoval gives me hope that humans can put nature at the center of the universe, instead of themselves. It saddens me to think that if Lago Sandoval were in the U.S. there would be paved roadways and entrance fees. I believe while we can still study and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature, we must work to protect and preserve the natural environment. I think of being more of an observer and visitor who leaves nothing but footprints and gains a greater respect for the natural world.  

Creating Ripples

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples." - Mother Teresa 

Of all the places I have been in my life Baja is one of the most special. In fact, I think it now resides in the #1 spot.  This place full of mystique and intrigue and unique biodiversity. The knowledge I gained from the incredible folks and lifelong friends I shared the experience with has impacted me in a greater way than I can express; it has caused ripples. I think of Baja as the first stone cast and I cannot wait to see the ripples that continue to spread.

As I began this blog I thought of the list of "firsts" a couple of us came up with on our journey home. I am never going to remember them all, but I will name a few. 

• First time swimming with Whale Sharks
• First time taking a stats class (for me)
• First time sleeping outside in the desert
• First time scorpion hunting at night (or ever)
• First time getting Chain-linked cholla in my butt
• First time eating Old Man Fruit

The list could go on and on. I just felt so lucky to be in the presence of such wonderful people from our fearless leaders, to our sage hosts, and to our knowledgable facilitators and classmates. I couldn't imagine a better place to try new things.

I felt like a sponge; I wanted to absorb it all. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the ethnobotany from Rafael. I wanted to hear Rafe, Jan, Meghann, and Rafael talk for hours about what they knew of the land and life around them.  I almost became paralyzed by all the questions I wanted answered and all answers to which I did not even have questions. I had a tough time writing in my journal because the experiences I had were so rich and rewarding and I greedily tried to grab them all. Again ripples. I was placed in Baja, a ripple came from Raphael, from Jan, from Rafe, from Meghann, from the whole family and the other students on the trip. As I write I visualize a rainstorm on a lake. The raindrops were planted (us) and the ripples dispersed from each of us, creating this body of water that will go forth to help the Earth in countless ways.

As I think of the places we traveled in Baja I want to help preserve these locations for future people (especially Dragonfly folks). I want to cast my own stone.  I think of the research and conservation efforts already under way that have the potential to do wonders in creating ripples. I now look at my own community with a new perceptive and drive to do the same. As I explore my surroundings I want to share this new knowledge with others and the specific conservation efforts we can take part in. I think this is a major theme I learned in this course; sharing knowledge and value. I want other to see the value of our surroundings and collaborate to conserve. I want to find same excitement and energy I had in Baja and cast my own stones to create similar ripples. Throughout my search I am creating my own list of "firsts" in a different environment and hope to share my results causing ripples of my own.