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Preparations are in full swing

2009-10-02 21:10:00.0

Greetings! Thanks for joining me on this adventure of a lifetime. I'm hoping to be able to communicate with you here regularly before I leave, when I return, and even on a couple of occasions when I'm in Kenya on the other side of the planet. Technology is amazing.

Preparations are in full swing. In addition to the quality excitement that Spirit Week at Beaver River has offered this week, I have been taking care of fun pre-trip details including pulling together the unique collection of things that one takes to Africa. Anti-malaria medication, jungle pants, insect repellent, and lots of enthusiasm, are among the things that I've gathering. It's time for me to begin learning to identify the wide variety of living things that call the African Savannah home, and to learn simple phrases in Swahili. This is a fun project for sure! I can't believe that I'll probably get to see a real live zebra in the wild...and hundreds of other plants and animals that I've only seen on TV and in zoos. I feel a documentary coming on!

I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to look forward to talking with Jim Albertson, a BRCS alumni who has just returned from Nairobi this week. The insights that he has gained and the contributions that he has made during his years with the Peace Corps and the Carter Foundation are amazing. He has been working on the eradication of a fierce parasite called the Guinea worm, as well as on projects like the construction of wood-less homes. It's exciting to get to travel to where one of my former students has been working so hard to make a difference.

'Until next time... M. Watkins

The Countdown is On!

2009-10-20 21:01:00.0

It's hard to believe that in three short days I'll be on my way to Kenya!

I'm excited to be taking gently used Children's Books with me that have been donated by our students to help learners a world away! Thank you for your thoughtfulness. If you're still eager to participate be sure to bring in your books before noon on Thursday.

During the past week I've had a chance to share our itinerary with students and Science Department colleagues using a Google Earth tour that gives viewers the sense that they're flying from location to location. Students will have a chance to use this technology themselves during this school year. I've also received my Visa to visit Kenya, have been organizing my travel gear, and materials that students will use at Beaver River while I'm away. I'm excited to welcome Mr. Glendon Widrick to my classroom where he'll again be gifting BRCS students with quality education.

Our work will find us at the Mpala Research Center and the Oj Pejeta Conservancy learning everything that we can about linking the work of researchers there, with students in New York State. We'll also meet with the mapping expert at the Green Belt movement. We hope to inspire students to use emerging communication technologies like this blog, and GIS mapping skills to make their study of biodiversity especially meaningful both locally and globally.

So...let me share a few "short and sweet" details...

Kenya is a little bigger than twice the size of Nevada
The official languages of Kenya are Swahili and English, and they drive on the left hand side of the road.
Some of the largest endangered species call this area of Sub-Saharan Africa, home
We'll get to cross the equator several times on this trip. Ask students who will study the Coriolis Effect what that means...

Check back here every couple of days. I hope to be able to keep you updated throughout our experience. M. Watkins

In less than a day....

2009-10-22 16:53:00.0

Greetings Blog Readers....

It's hard to believe that our adventure abroad is about to begin. I thought that you might be interested in this video clip that highlights the work of Wangari Maathai. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, and her work is one of the main catalysts of our trip to Kenya. Wangari inspires us all to do simple things to make a difference right in our own backyard, while also encouraging others who are a world away...

http://www.alternativechannel.tv/blog/en/comments/video_nobel_peace_prize_green_belt/

Greetings from England

2009-10-24 11:10:00.0

We're on our way...but we've been slowed down a little by a missed flight connection. So we're soaking in the great English accents that Heathrow airport in London has to offer. We'll take off at 8 pm and arrive in Nairobi at 6:15 am their time.

We're having a great time and we're learning lots already. My students will be delighted to know that we're knee deep in the new homework assignments that they gave to us when we arrived last night. I'd hate for you to think that you're the only ones that get homework on the weekends.

Thanks again for the books that you donated...we have more than 300 lbs of books with us that were donated by Honeyoye Middle Schoolers and BRCS students. I tucked in a couple of soccer balls in honor of the Orange Crush.

I hope to write to you from Kenya tomorrow! M. Watkins

PS Please forgive my typing..I'm getting used to this wee little keyboard that it's great to have along.

We're Here!

2009-10-25 03:29:00.0

It's official...I'm writing to you from Nairobi, Africa! We've arrived!

We had a fabulous flight that left Heathrow at 8 last night and arrived at 6 am this morning. I'm headed off to my hotel room to catch a little snooze before we head out at 2 pm for the Mpala Research Center. There's nothing like a power nap and a shower after 30+ hours of travel. It's the simple things in life. Meanwhile we're cheering on two of our team members who were rerouted through Qatar...that should be landing at noon.

I'm traveling with a fabulous group so even our little unplanned delay has been fun. We're already soaking up the beauty of the tropical flowers and differences in birds that we see. I'm hoping that we'll see our first zebra this afternoon...'never hurts to hope! :) 'Type to you soon! M. Watkins

An absolutely amazing day!

2009-10-26 14:13:00.0

Greetings one and all....

I've seen more amazing things in the last 24 hours than ever before. It's hard to know where to start...so I'll try to give you the thumbnail sketch.

Our colleagues joined us right on schedule and traveled through Nairobi and were wowed by the contrasts, the large number of schools and the scenery as we traveled North to Nanyuki. As we left this large town/city we drove down a road that most would call a cow path for about three miles...and just when we were convinced that we were going nowhere, the road improved and we traveled another hour North to the Research Center. My hope came true...we indeed saw a zebra on the way and LOTS of other incredible animals...even though the sunsets promptly at 6 here. Picture a moon and star-lit night with giraffe's lumbering gracefully within 100 feet of where we were. It was great fun to spot glowing eyeballs beside the road and then to shine a light in their direction to identify the animals.

We arrived at the Research Center at 8:30ish and move into our very cool round bandas with thatched rooves. Get this ... on the way to the bathroom you have to be careful not to step in elephant "droppings"...yes, you guessed it, they're HUGE! Elephant dung suggests that they're everywhere! We can't wait to see them...maybe tomorrow!

Today we've had a chance to talk with great researchers studying how raising cattle can happen while also supporting a wide variety of incredible mammals. It seems like we've seen so many birds, and animals that it's hard to start today....Giraffe's,zebras,vervet monkeys, birds galore including eagles, a hyena, a leopard, gazelles, water bucks, ostriches etc.,etc.

It seems that internet connections won't support video skype calls so you'll be without my smiling face for a few more days! Tomorrow promises to be amazing as well...so do check back in for more news! Take care, M.Watkins

From Mpala to Sweetwater

2009-10-28 15:10:00.0

Greetings friends...

Again, I don't know where to start...we've seen SO MANY amazing things during the last two days! Every single sighting is a huge "wow"...there are SO MANY exciting things to share! Yes...you're right, I'm having the time of my life!

We've been hiking as the sun was rising, and have been on game drives until after 11 at night...and have used every moment in between! We're having great conversations about wildlife management in both Kenya and in the US...and have had amazing brainstorming sessions about the cool things that can happen in NY classrooms as a result! We've been meeting with all kinds of researchers and have met amazing people in the midst of it all. It's an incredible honor to be traveling with this team of great people who are at the top of their field, and have incredible senses of humor too.

Yesterday one of the cool opportunities that we had was to visit a school for their Conservation Club class. We got involved with an outdoor exploration that focused on native birds. 'Great kids and real dedicated teachers too!

So...today we saw perhaps THE most beautiful bird on the planet today...the rose breasted roller. In a word SPECTACULAR!!! We also saw wildlife at every turn....elephants, eagles, ostriches, bazzles of giraffes, gazelles, Hartebeasts, Monkeys, rhinos, impala, and tons of really cool birds and so many cool things that only my camera can "remember" at this moment.

I've never learned so much so fast, and our conversations about biodiversity have been incredibly engaging and exciting professional exchanges. My Swahili vocabulary is slowly growing too. Our days are spent hanging out of the top hatches of our Land Cruiser and looking every bit the part of Safari teams.

Internet access is a little sketchy...I'll be in touch ASAP...Take care! MW

This just in

2009-10-28 15:26:00.0

I sent the last blog post and then walked back to our tent...and sure enough there was an elephant just 50 yards away. Oh, have no fear it was on the other side of a moat and an electric safety fence, but what a view. We chuckled while we watched it drink...it swallows with real gusto!

Tomorrow we're off bright and early to meet with the Conservancy director. So...from Africa to you...a world a way! :)

Lions, Crowned Cranes and Wart Hogs

2009-10-30 12:31:00.0

Greetings from Africa....
      I'm nearly speechless (and we all know how rare that is :) so much has happened since I was able to connect with the Internet a couple of days ago.
       Let's have a little fun with this...since I last blogged I've seen at least 100 new species that I've never encountered in my life...from dung beetles to rhinos and from lions to Corey Bustards (the largest birds on the planet that can fly),,,not to mention the hoppe bird, gazelles bouncing, baboons and vultures galore...etc., etc, etc. And if that's not enough...I've bounced down outback roads in a land cruiser, worn enough layers to scare a North Country winter away on night game drives...AND this morning I spent an hour in a little plane flying over the entire conservancy and research center where we've spent our days. We were soaring at about 600 feet, so we could clearly see wildlife as well as the ranching strategies that we've been studying. In a word, SPECTACULAR!!!!
        This region teaches us great lessons about the potential for reducing human/wildlife conflicts. We've focused much of our travel and meetings with researchers/wildlife managers on the use of bomas, where cattle are herded together for the night, as assets for ecosystems where they're located.. The concentration of cattle in this small area, boosts the nutrients present in that area signficantly, making it possible for a more nutritious species of grass to grow. Meanwhile cattle and wildlife are drawn to these “hotspots to graze!” We've also seen marked contrasts between conservancy managed lands and community lands and have identified the great work that is being done to involve local people in environmental improvements. Whether we're in Africa or in New York it's essential that people be encouraged, inspired and supported as they do good things for humanity by making sustainable decisions.

This adventure is so incredibly motivating...I cant wait to start implementing cool ideas that we've been developing, and sharing this AMAZING experience with learners one and all! See you soon! M.Watkins

Nairobi for the Night

2009-10-31 12:15:00.0

We made it! To Nairobi that is....and you must understand that that's a huge accomplishment! Traffiic here is like none other with people jumping on and off vehicles, weaving in and out of vehicles & pedestrians and all without any road signs to aide with navigation. Our pilot and co-pilot are amazing.

Traffic eliminated a meeting with the Greenbelt Movement that we were all incredibly excited about. I'm real hopeful about what is learned in follow-up conversations as I expect this to be a real highlight among many.

On arrival at the airport we learned that our flight had been cancelled but we waited until after midnight in hopes that we'd get on a stand by flight to no avail We stayed in a beautiful hotel compliments of Kenya Air and had a great flight today.

Night in Nairobi

2009-10-31 15:35:00.0

Hello ESF'ers

2009-10-31 15:49:00.0

This blog entry goes out to the great Global Environment crew who are busy studying biomes and great environmental science on the home front. Thanks for your great blog commentary and the hard work that I'm sure that you're keeping up with! Be good to Mr. Widrick and at least pretend that you're cheering for the Yankees...it'll ease your days! See you soon! M. Watkins

Greetings from Paris

2009-11-01 11:46:00.0

Another great vantage point....

I'm writing to you from 32000 feet in the air (though I'll have to wait to send this to you for about 4 hours when we land in Paris). This and all of these posts are thanks to the cute little Mini Dell computer that Mr. Freed lent to me for this trip.

The cool view out my window is worthy of sharing. It's been a bright clear day for flying and it has a wonderful chance to admire the diverse African landscape. We're currently flying over the vast Sahara desert that looks like a barren brown moonscape with interesting windblown sand dune like contours and occasional rock outcroppings popping up out of nowhere.

When we left Nairobi this morning at about 8:30 am, the view was very different. The green landscape afforded us additional views of the savannah and rivers running through it. I think I even saw the Nile River from the air, but I'm not positive.

We've been incredibly fortunate to be in Kenya in the midst of the first rains that some areas have experienced in more than a year. What a difference a little water makes. During most years, the region gets 20 inches of rain, but this year less than 2 inches have fallen. Loss of life due to the drought was evident (both by sight and smell) as we passed the carcasses of large mammals along the road and out in the conservancy. We also saw immense amounts of erosion in the region that was especially pronounced where overgrazing and desertification were evident.

Meanwhile, we could literally see the region get greener by the day as the water from recent rains soaked into the ground. Flowers bloomed overnight, the vast plains became vibrantly green and perhaps the coolest thing we saw was that termite larva emerged as flying insects. I'm eager to learn more about their life cycle on return, but the larva wait until it rains to emerge as flying insects because the birds that would find them a tasty treat, are less active when it rains. After flying a bit, the larva shed their wings, mate and begin the work of adult termites in the massive termite mounds that we've seen.

So...as you can see even our travel days have been packed with great opportunities. Last night during our stint in the airport we met people involved in international relations and others working in US Food Aid. Who knows what Paris will bring. Due to the cancellation of our flight yesterday, we're due into Paris at about 3:30 pm their time today, and we'll spend the night in Paris before flying back to the States on Monday arriving in Rochester at about dinner time.

Have you ever wished for extra hours in a day?

2009-11-02 07:35:00.0

Greetings...

I arrived home from our incredible adventure at about 9:30 pm and smiled widely at the reality that often I wish for more hours in a day....and today it really happened. We got up at 6 am in a hotel near the massive airport in Paris and lost 6 hours in the process of flying across the Atlantic. So...long story short, when I pulled in my driveway last night it was 3:30 am Paris time. My internal clock is spinning...but the upside is that adjusting to standard time will be no difficulty at all this year!

So...I'm excited to look at the pictures that I've taken and to share all kinds of great stories with you in the classroom and beyond today! I'll continue to provide updates here as well! Thanks for traveling with me! M. Watkins