March 2024 – Eye on the Rainforest

by thrity March 20, 2024

A decade of collaboration!

A week to remember: Fountain Valley School’s annual visit to Las Casas de la Selva

Every year, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Fountain Valley School of Colorado to Las Casas de la Selva in Patillas, Puerto Rico. This year marked over a decade of collaboration, learning, and growth—a true testament to the strong bond between our two communities. As we reflect on this past week, our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy for the hard work, laughter, and memories shared.
10-15th March 2024

Unity and achievement: more than just a visit

This week was a blend of effort, enjoyment, and education. Under the warm Puerto Rican sun, we worked alongside an incredible group of teenagers from Fountain Valley School. They showed remarkable enthusiasm and dedication in every task, contributing significantly to our environmental and community projects.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Suzanne Tibbets and Blake Pelton, the dedicated school staff members who guided and cared for these amazing teens throughout their stay. Their leadership and support were pivotal in making this experience a success for everyone involved.

Culinary delights and teamwork

We extend our gratitude to Monique Nieves for providing delicious and nutritious meals that fueled our days. Her culinary skills kept everyone happy, healthy, and ready for the day’s challenges. A special shout-out to Mercury for his invaluable assistance in the kitchen and with various crew-work tasks—your help was indispensable.

Celebrations and learning experiences

One of the week’s highlights was a musical birthday celebration, featuring the talents of guitarist Andrés Rúa, and flautists Nina Assimakopoulous, and Raquel Torres-Arzola. Their beautiful music added a magical touch to our evening, which was also a birthday for two of the students, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for sharing your artistry with us.

We also extend our thanks to Andrés Rúa and Joerge Jahn for their engaging woodworking show and tells. These sessions were not only educational but also inspiring, offering a hands-on experience in craftsmanship and highlighting sustainability.

Environmental impact

Throughout the week, our collective efforts focused on environmental conservation and improvement. Together, we planted trees in various areas, including in an area affected by a landslide, cleared and organized the nursery, potted 250 vetiver slips, cleared invasive vines from a new planting of vetiver, and dug a significant trench for a new retaining wall at the lower homestead. Each of these tasks is vital to our ongoing efforts to protect and enhance the natural beauty of Las Casas de la Selva.

Heartfelt appreciation

As we say goodbye to another memorable visit, we want to express our deepest gratitude to each individual who contributed to this special week. Your hard work, enthusiasm, and spirit of cooperation have left a lasting impact on our community and the environment. To the students and staff of Fountain Valley School of Colorado: thank you for continuing this wonderful tradition. Your visits are a highlight of our year, and we look forward to many more to come. Here’s to the next decade of friendship, growth, and making a difference together!

School Groups Service work Vamanos Tours Volunteer Groups Volunteers

by thrity March 20, 2024

Overnighters! March 2024

Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus (DPAC) students joined us for one day and night and helped with the movement of 300 concrete blocks, an activity that required not only physical strength but also teamwork and coordination. It was a sight to behold as students, teachers, and community volunteers worked side by side, their efforts synchronized in a dance of collaboration. The blocks they moved were heavy and the sun unforgiving, but the spirit of determination and camaraderie among the students made the challenge surmountable.

The other task was to clear up one of the garden areas that received all the clay and broken rubble from a path building earlier this year! This group went at it and transformed the place! Thank you all for your hard work. This garden is being prepared for the planting of some rare endemic species.

Our students ate very well, thanks to Monique Nieves, who delighted us with fine cuisine! Thank you to Mercury, who took the students to the river and made a fire for them to enjoy at night. Thanks to school staff Lesley (who came last year!), Toy, and Armando.

Appreciations to Vamonos staff for getting the group here safely: Mayra, Cruz, and Roberto.

School Groups Vamanos Tours Volunteer Groups Volunteers

by thrity March 13, 2024

Many Hands! March 2024

In early March 2024, a group of twenty-nine students, aged 13 to 14, from the Principia School in Missouri, joined us for a few days. They actively participated in our projects under favorable dry weather conditions, allowing us to make significant progress. The Principia School is a private, coeducational institution focused on college preparatory education, offering innovative programs from early childhood through twelfth grade.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks for the wonderful time we had together and for all the help provided.

Special appreciation goes to John, Ben, Lauren, and Lyndsey from the Principia staff, who expertly and kindly supervised the students. Their fair and effective management made our collaboration smooth and productive. Additionally, we’re grateful to Vamonos staff members Cruz, Mayra, and Roberto for their enjoyable and energetic participation.

In just one afternoon and a day, the team accomplished numerous tasks:

What a great group!!

3t led the work crew, with assistance from Mercury.

Mercury also supported Monique Nieves in preparing meals, contributing to the delightful dining experiences.

Our sincere thanks to Monique Stauder for capturing and sharing the final images of our time together.

This collective effort and the spirit of cooperation made our time together not only productive but also memorable. Thank you to everyone involved! 5th-7th March 2024

Globalworks Globalworks Teams School Groups Service work Tree planting Volunteers

by thrity March 1, 2024

Tree-planting! Feb 2024

In February 2024, we were fortunate to host a vibrant group of thirteen-year-olds from Cathedral Middle School for Boys in San Francisco. Under the dedicated guidance of Chris Corrigan, Maddie, and Steve, these young students embarked on an enlightening journey into the world of environmental stewardship.

Their invaluable contribution to planting mahogany saplings, cacao, coffee, and vetiver has made a significant positive impact on our environment.

Tree-planting on landslide caused by Hurricane Fiona

They worked in the rain and saw first-hand the impact of Hurricane Fiona’s devasting dump of water in September 2022, which caused the landslides that we worked on. We planted Mahogany (Swietenia aubrevilleana) saplings, grown from our own seeds, in June 2022.

Among the many activities, one aspect that stood out was their engagement with our compost toilets! This experience was more than just a lesson in sustainability; it became a source of inspiration for these young minds. The students quickly adapted to this eco-friendly practice, understanding the importance of water conservation and waste reduction. Their enthusiasm and willingness to embrace such sustainable living practices were both impressive and heartwarming. The use of compost toilets served as a practical introduction to the principles of ecological responsibility and closed-loop systems.

It was inspiring to see the students not only accept but also appreciate the value of these sustainable practices. They learned firsthand how such small changes in daily habits can significantly impact our environment. Thanks to Thomas for his note.

Special thanks are due not only to the ever-supportive Chris Corrigan but also to the dedicated school staff—Chris, Steve, Maddie—and Globalworks Leader Rebe, who all played pivotal roles in facilitating this transformative experience. Their collective efforts have undoubtedly sown the seeds of environmental consciousness in the hearts of these young individuals.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in making this experience a reality. The students of Cathedral Middle School for Boys have left our community richer, not just through their physical contributions to our reforestation efforts but also by reinforcing our hope for a more sustainable and conscious future.

The Cathedral School for Boys prioritizes diversity in ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status, along with an experiential education focused on service. This ethos of diversity and experiential learning is integral to their curriculum and is bolstered by their tuition assistance program. It is this foundation that facilitated the recent educational trip to Las Casas. The excursion included students from various economic backgrounds, including those on reduced or subsidized tuition, reflecting the school community’s shared commitment to its values. This commitment enables students, particularly those from urban backgrounds, to experience and learn about conservation in the rainforest firsthand, thereby broadening their perspectives and potential life paths.

Huge gratitude to Monique Nieves whose culinary expertise provided us with delicious meals, fueling our days with energy and warmth. Additionally, a big thank you to the talented artist Mercury, whose volunteer efforts and all-around assistance have been invaluable to our cause.

Here’s to more visits, more learning, and more inspiration. Together, we are cultivating a greener, more sustainable world, one young heart at a time. 27-29 Feb 2024

Monthly Archives: March 2024