Exploring The Land Before Time

As the plane landed on the tarmac in San Cristobal, the excitement in the air was almost palpable. Once we moved through INGALA, the Galapagos Protection Agency's security point, we met Pablo, our local guide. Born on Isabela, Pablo brought with him a wealth of knowledge and contacts throughout the islands.

After we settled into our hotel and ate lunch, we strolled through town on our way to the Interpretation Center. Walking along the boardwalk was our first glimpse at life on the Galapagos. Sea lions called out as they rolled in the sand just a few feet away, birds flew over head and if we looked close enough we could see marine iguanas resting on the black lava rocks that dotted the seaside. At the center we split into two groups, with one getting an historical background of the islands as the other went on a short hike to a lookout point with an incredible view of a setting sun and the western side of San Cristobal.

The following morning we headed out onto the ocean for a day of snorkeling. Starting out at Los Lobos Island, our team swam with sea lions, stingrays and a mix of fish. As the sea lions twisted, twirled and spun around us, the students looked on in amazement. At the second snorkeling spot, Kicker Rock, the group had a unique opportunity to swim in true open water. Kicker Rock consists of two massive rocks that reach up from the ocean bottom. At a depth of around 45 meters, this spot allowed us to see Galapagos sharks, giant sea turtles and a plethora of sea stars amongst the many fish. Next we headed to a nearby beach and ate lunch on the boat as Blue Footed Boobies fished just off our bow. When we got back to town we broke into On Assignment teams and students continued to work on their projects.

The next day we spent most of our time at one of the many beaches lining San Cristobal. Between practicing Photography, observing marine life and searching for Blue Footed Boobies, our team enjoyed a full day of activities on our last day on the island.

A long boat ride awaited us the following day. The ride to the Island of Floriana seemed to fly by as most of the students fell asleep along the way! Once on Floriana, we grabbed lunch and spent a few hours on the beach. While some students rested in the shade, others took to the ocean for a snorkeling trip.

Before we knew it we were back on the water and heading for the Island of Isabela. We arrived in the late afternoon, with just enough time to check into our hotel, shower and prepare for dinner. The day ahead was going to be a challenge so we all retired to bed early.

The following day we tackled our second volcano hike of the expedition. We climbed up the Sierra Negra Volcano and then walked the a portion of the rim; it was an amazing experience! On the north end of the rim we trekked through massive lava fields as we made our way to the smaller Sierra Chico Volcano. One of the highlights was an impressive view of the east side of Isabela from the top of Sierra Chico. We got back to our hotel in the afternoon, which gave the students some time to work on their projects, catch up on their journals and explore the town.

Our final day on Isabela began with an amazing snorkeling opportunity just off the mainland. The students got the chance to swim with giant sea turtles, marine iguanas and an occasional Galapagos penguin! While half the group was in the water, the other half was exploring a beautiful inlet full of more marine iguanas than we could count. During March and April, the breeding season, it is said that it is almost impossible to walk the paths of the inlet as they are completely full of young iguanas!

That afternoon we split our time between finishing our On Assignment projects, snorkeling and exploring a few beaches outside of town. Our final dinner on Isabela was a celebration-- with the waves crashing in the background and the ocean breeze blowing overhead, dinner on the beach was a perfect culmination of our time on Isabela.

In the morning we jumped onto a pair of speed boats and made our way to Santa Cruz Island, home to the top research location in the world for giant tortoises-- The Charles Darwin Research Center. The students spent the afternoon walking through the massive complex, learning about conservation efforts in the Galapagos and getting a first hand opportunity to take up close photos of these amazing animals. As Santa Cruz is also the commercial capital of the Galapagos, the island gave the students a chance to relax and catch up on souvenir shopping.

In two days our time together will come to an end and we will board a plane heading back to the states. It has been truly amazing to lead this group of students through THE most biological and geographically diverse spots in the world. Ecuador will forever be in all of our hearts!

All the Best,
Colby, Hannah and Rachel

From Mindo to the Páramo

When we last wrote, we had just completed a fun filled morning taking photos at the butterfly sanctuary and tubing down the beautiful Mindo River. Next, we were on to further adventures on a canopy tour. Students flew through the air on zip lines as long as 1000ft and got an adrenaline-filled dose of excitement. With a total of 10 zip lines dotting the forest canopy, our team was all smiles as they soared over, through and around these unique cloud forests.

Early the following morning, the students had an incredible opportunity to see first-hand a few of the rarest birds in the world. Waking up at 4 AM, the group headed off into the early morning air to a bird sanctuary not far from the town of Mindo. The highlight of the morning was the chance to see and hear the famous and endangered Gallo De La Pena. With its bright red coat and unique call, the students sat in awe as they watched the bird that people from all over the world travel specifically to Ecuador to see! Other highlights were seeing two species of Antpita, Great and Yellow Breasted, that are endemic to the country, as well as the Tucan Barbette and the Tucanette.

The day was topped off with an afternoon of community service where the students helped renovate the local health clinic as well as clean up Mindo's main park. Working hand in hand with local people, the students got the chance to work on their Spanish, interact with Ecuadorians and give something back to the town that we've all grown to love. That night after dinner the students met up with some active members of a local NGO (non-governmental organization) that has been protesting the oil pipeline that cuts across some of their protected lands as well as the proposed mining plans for the town of Mindo. With an interpreter in hand, they got the chance to ask questions and view a video that was created to show the world about the environmental challenges Mindo is facing.

On our final full day in this tranquil town, we went on a beautiful hike through a private reserve on the outskirts of town. Students got a chance to explore, take photos and learn about the primary and secondary cloud forests of the area. They also had the opportunity to stand on the very ground that was cleared for the pipeline to pass through underground. As National Geographic Expert Dr. David Scott Silverberg demonstrated the importance of understanding structure, the edge effect and the natural disturbance of a particular forest, the students listened intently and interjected their own thoughts and ideas in open discussions as we walked through the cloud forest.

The afternoon was filled with time to focus on On Assignment projects as Colby and Rachel's Photography teams gained a better grasp on their projects as well as spent some time wandering the streets of Mindo taking photos. Hannah's Wildlife and Conservation team got the chance to explore a local rescue and rehabilitation center. Started by a Belgian man and his sister 15 years ago, the center started out with just domesticated animals and now works with endangered birds, monkeys as well as a number of other fascinating species. Dr. David Scott Silverberg topped off our last night in Mindo with a presentation that detailed our time here in the Ecuadorian cloud forests and prepared the students for life in the páramo around Cotopaxi.

We left Mindo early in the morning and arrived at the famous Mitad de Mundo (Middle of the Earth) when it opened at 9AM. The students enjoyed themselves as they took photos of each other jumping, hugging and straddling the Equator line. Although it was recently found out that the monument is actually just slightly off of the actual equator, this didn't deter the students' enthusiasm in the least. Some of them had their passport stamped stating that they had visited the equator.

Next we headed south to the wonder that is the Andean páramo, home to Volcano Cotopaxi. Also known as the Valley of Volcanoes, the area is surrounded by eight massive volcanoes that give the landscape a surreal feeling. With rolling hills, high altitude mountainous terrain and Ecuadorian cowboys running the show, the páramo is different that anything our students have experienced. Our adopted home here is the Hacienda de Porvenier which was built in an Ecuadorian ranch style. From wild horses to sheep, alpacas and cows spotted on the grounds, the students instantly fell in love with the Porvenir and its gorgeous location.

We ate a delicious lunch before breaking into our On Assignment teams. Hannah's Wildlife and Conservation group got a lesson in geographical location by using GPSs, compasses and local topographical maps. Colby's Photography group took to the trails for a short hike and photography lesson-- they were lucky to catch breathtaking vistas of a snow capped Cotopaxi as a backdrop to beautiful golden rolling hills. Rachel's Photography group also explored some of the surrounding area and then settled into a student critique session on photos that they had taken throughout the trip. As the sun set that night, the entire group met up at a look out point to capture the beautiful colors that danced across the sky.

The next day, we built a pair of compost piles and helped to clear some trails, and later ventured high into the páramo by horseback. The horseback ride offered a unique opportunity to see first hand the beauty of the high altitude páramo region. From rolling hills to active volcanoes, the students learned about the important biodiversity of the area and just how vital the páramo regions are to the rest of Ecuador. These threatened ecosystems provide water to a vast majority of the population of Ecuador, on both sides of the Andes.

That night, Dr. David Scott Silverberg gave a presentation on ' Evolution and the Galapagos' in preparation for our next destination. Talking about the differences between natural and sexual selection, Dr. Silverberg taught the students how a species form is directly linked to its niche or 'job' in the animal world.

On our last day in the páramo, our group left for the Cotopaxi Volcano after an early breakfast. With packed lunches in hand, we headed to the Cotopaxi National Park for an amazing hike up to the volcano's base camp. We arrived at the parking lot (a height of 4600m) and the students made their way up to the high refuge, a cozy wooden house located near the foot of the glaciers. At an altitude of 4900 meters we paused as a group to take a photo with the National Geographic Society flag and a beautiful view of the summit of the volcano.

After our decent, we hopped back on the bus and made our way to an amazing lagoon in the Cotopaxi National Park. We spent the next hour helping pick up trash in the area before we spotted a large group of wild horses that offered our students some very special photography opportunities.

We headed back into Quito exhausted. Our students poured over photography shots, talked about the experiences of the day and even found some solace in catching some shut eye on the bus. Charles Darwin said in Origin of Species that, "There is a grandeur in this view of life…that whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." Soon our last and final adventure of this expedition will commence and we will be walking in the footsteps of some of the great biological minds of the past in the Islands of the Galapagos.

¡Saludos!
Colby, Hannah, and Rachel

The Adventure Begins. . .

Below is a recap of the first days of our expedition.

Following a late arrival into Quito, our group of young explorers got a chance to get to know each other over a few delicious slices of pizza at our home away from home, Hostal Arupo.

Our first morning began with a much anticipated orientation. With a mixture of ice breakers, itinerary dissection, and health and safety discussions, everyone came out with a better sense of the expedition ahead.

Afterwards we broke into our On Assignment groups. Hannah's Wildlife and Conservation team discussed some of the many problems facing the country of Ecuador. From governmental corruption to oil pipelines, the students talked about possible ideas for their On Assignment projects. Colby and Rachel's Photography students had their first informational talks on travel photography. They learned everything from the basics of Photography to exposure to how to connect to their photos.

Next we had the opportunity to wander through a beautiful weekend artisan market. Held in one of the many public parks in Quito, the group took in the surrounding Ecuadorian culture as locals played soccer, sold handicrafts and strolled through the park.

After an early dinner the group headed into the "Old Town" of Quito (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) for a unique evening tour of the city. The students learned much about the history of the city through art, architecture and the undeniable influence of women.

We began our second day in Quito with an early desayuno (breakfast) and a walk through another open air weekend market. From Panama Hats to locally grown coffee beans and paintings to local handicrafts the students experienced the thrill of a Latin American market and many picked up a few memorable items.

That afternoon we boarded a pair of buses and took off for the tranquil town of Mindo, home to one of Ecuador's renowned cloud forests. When we arrived we were greeted by overcast skies and light rain; as you can imagine, this weather is quite typical for a cloudforest! After checking into our hotel, the students ventured out in groups of three to explore the forests of Mindo. National Geogrpahic Expert Dr. David Silverberg joined us that evening and gave an amazing lecture on the geographical diversity of Ecuador.

Our second day in Mindo began with a morning hike through a part of the Nambio Protected Reserve. Our guides Niki and Danny pointed out endemic flora and many birds as we made our way down to a spectacular waterfall. After swimming in the pools beneath the waterfall, we trekked out of the reserve and back into town. In the afternoon the students broke into their On Assignment teams where they brainstormed ideas for upcoming On Assignment projects.

Yesterday morning we woke up early to check out the famous butterfly sancuatary just outside of town. Students enjoyed learning about the butterflies and many students shot photos of fellow group members as butterflies landed on most everyone! Next we headed straight to the Mindo River where we boarded intertubes that were tied together for an intense ride down the river (see photos below!).

As you can tell from this update, all is well here. Enjoy the photos and until soon.

Saludos,

Colby, Hannah, and Rachel

The group has arrived

We've received word from the expedition leaders that the group has arrived in Quito.

Meet the Expedition Leaders

2008 Ecuador and the Galapagos Expedition Leaders, left to right: Rachel Langosch, Colby Brown, Hannah Gilkenson

Wildlife & Conservation
Hannah Gilkenson. University of Michigan, B.S. Hannah graduated with honors in Anthropology-Zoology from the University of Michigan, where she studied chimpanzee behavior as a research assistant in a primatology lab. She worked with bats at University of Maryland and was an exhibit interpreter at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. before moving to the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica to study the social behavior of the white-faced capuchin monkey. Hannah remained in Costa Rica for six years working as the biological field station manager for the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. In Costa Rica she worked closely with the community where she lived and succeeded in bringing conservation education to local schoolchildren. In addition to visiting local schools, she coordinated field trips for participants of all ages and enabled them to take an active role in conserving their environment. In the summer of 2007 Hannah taught wildlife and ecology in Putney Student Travel's Costa Rica Foundations program, and finished out the year working for an environmental advocacy group in Chicago. In addition to her professional activities she is passionate about travel, photography, languages, music and anything she can make with her own two hands. Hannah is fluent in Spanish and proficient in German.

Photography
Rachel Langosch. Bard College, B.A. Pratt Institute, M.F.A. candidate. Rachel is a New York-based photographer and personal trainer. She majored in Anthropology and Photography at Bard, where she was a starting center for the varsity women’s basketball team. Rachel volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Nicoya, Costa Rica, served as a publication photographer at the Sigihara House Museum in Kaunus, Lithuania, and spent four months as an eco-tourism and reforestation volunteer for ProPeru Service Corps in Urubamba, Peru. She was and Americorps Youth Corps leader in San Jose, California and a head-shot and special events photographer for The Executive Source and The Simplicity Group in New York. Rachel currently lives in New York, where she works as a personal trainer for the New York Sports Club as she pursues her Master of Fine Arts in photography at the Pratt Institute. She plays piano in a band and is a volunteer photographer for The B-Girl Project, an ethnographic study of female break dancers.

Colby Brown. University of North Texas, B.S. Colby is an independent photographer and world traveler with dual bases in Dallas and Vancouver. In high school he participated in Young Life, a community service program in Costa Rica. He majored in Emergency Administration at the University of North Texas and spent a semester in Australia and New Zealand with Pacific Challenge, a three-month wilderness adventure course similar to Outward Bound. After graduating he embarked on a year-long photography trip to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal and India, where, in addition to building an impressive portfolio of travel photographs, he volunteered at schools and orphanages throughout the region and spent three months trekking Annapurna and Everest. Colby’s articles and photos have appeared at Realtravel.com and the Sierra Club International Activist newsletter. Colby is a PADI-certified master diver and rock-climbing instructor. He recently completed a National Geographic Adventure Photography seminar in Seattle. Some of his work can be viewed on-line at www.colbybrownphotography.com.

Welcome!

Welcome family and friends of National Geographic Student Expeditions participants!

We have created this blog in order to keep you updated on the progress of your child’s National Geographic Student Expedition this summer. We hope that occasional updates throughout the expedition will help keep you informed about the activities, projects and successes of the program.

The expedition leaders will post entries approximately once per week during the program. The leaders’ first priority is the students and the program. If updates are infrequent, it is likely due to the group’s very busy schedule and inconsistent internet access. Please know that any important issues that arise during the program will be discussed and resolved with leaders and parents by phone, not through the blog.

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Best wishes from us all at National Geographic Student Expeditions