Sunday April 25, 2010
Location: Lagos del Sol, Cancun Mexico
Time: 11 am to 5 pm
Benefits Red Cross
For the full newsletter, go to www.michellesearth.org
Arlington and Cancun Schools
Connecting for Environmental Conservation
by Heather Spence
As part of my continuing collaborative work with MEF and the National Parks office in Quintana Roo, Mexico, I am expanding a communication exchange project for Arlington and Cancun students. During my presentations to Cancun students over the past two years, they often ask where I grew up, are there coral reefs there, what do students there study? In my presentations to classes at HB Woodlawn, students have similarly been interested in the ecosystems and experiences of students in Cancun. Students from both places have expressed their interest in doing something for their environment. They want to know what they can do to help.
The beginning stage of this project is a video song exchange. The idea came from one particular workshop in Cancun, when we did not have funding or supplies for an art project, so we divided the students into groups, gave each group pencil and paper, and told them write a song about environmental conservation (in this case, specifically Wetlands since that was the theme of the workshop). I filmed their performances, and posted them online so others can see their creativity and enthusiasm. The students were so excited and it was such a popular activity that I expanded it to other groups in Mexico and now to Arlington students as well. After viewing the films of the Cancun students, HB students in a fluent speakers class are the first to create their own video song about local ecosystems. This will soon be shown to Cancun classes (most students there do not have access to a computer outside the classroom). We hope to expand the video exchanges (with translations as necessary) to more classes, grades and schools. Possibly we will be able to host real-time video conferences so that students can discuss environmental issues and solutions. We also want to provide online forums for ongoing communication.
To participate in this effort or for more information, please e-mail me at
info (at) heatherspence (dot) net.
Saturday Nov 14
@ Casa de la Cultura
Flamenco show extravaganza
Including Dancing, and Puppets, and Dancing Puppets, and Cello and Cello Puppets and Circus arts….
80p
starts at 8pm
See you there!
Hurricane Ida’s outer bands brought intermittent deluges and gusty winds on Friday and Saturday. Then on Sunday, when the hurricane actually passed, it was less dramatic.
Pictures taken of Bahia de Mujeres, Cancun:
Seagulls face the wind
Huge raindrops
Grey water
Frigate birds gathered - why?
After the wind and rain subsided ….
Rainbow on the water
Double rainbow
Many interesting things had washed up on the beach. If you have any information about the following or others, please let me know!
Octopus
Sponges
???
Shells
Animals came out of hiding:
Ant Hills each one the size of my fist
Iguana, about 3 ft long
Iguana, about 2 ft long
Today, a fairly steady wind began to blow from the North, which is unusual for Cancun.
Water looks green
For the full newsletter, go to www.michellesearth.org
The Mesoamerican Coral Reef
by Heather Spence
With the help of MEF, my work in Cancun is a prime example of “small actions = big changes.” In a region renowned for both natural wonders and massive tourism – which also has a city of almost a million people – for the past two years I have been helping students to become environmental stewards. They learn to consider that what they do makes a difference. Every small action counts. This is especially important in an area with no marine biology programs, no research centers, and a National Park department of educational outreach consisting of two people and no funding.I have been able to begin to address this gap by developing and initiating new programs to be hosted collaboratively by the National Park office. Through presentations and videos, school children on Isla Mujeres and in the city of Cancun now understand that coral is a living animal, and some high school students have taken the initiative to start green clubs. The results that MEF has helped achieve are long term, and I wish I could adequately describe on paper the excitement of students as they learn about their natural world, and the power they have to help others to see the wonders and learn to respect them.
Cancun is situated on the Mesoamerican Reef, second largest coral reef system in the world. Its wonders attract tourists from many countries, yet local people are largely unaware of the natural treasures that surround them. When I talk to school groups, their teachers, and sometimes their parents as well, I explain about the reef, and the way it protects the beach from the force of storms. I tell also how the mangroves around the lagoon are nurseries for fish and other animals. Kids are fascinated to hear about the diversity of life and how everything is interconnected with the reef. We discuss how to turn harmful actions into helpful ones. Students come away excited to talk about it with their friends and family. Sometimes, with the cooperation of local tour operators, it is even possible to take groups of students out to see the reef. They love getting to know more about the special features of the place where they live.
Together with outreach staff from the park service, I teach that appreciation of the natural world begins right where you are. Special things are everywhere. I had to do research to find out about native wildlife and local ecosystems because no one had studied them before. It is exciting giving interactive presentations about local flora and fauna that can be found right under our noses. To reinforce our lessons, I distribute copies of the bilingual activity book I’ve written – “Marine Life of the Mexican Caribbean.” It suggests various activities to try. One of the things I like best is to ask kids to just stop and listen. We so often focus only on the visual, but when we tune in to sounds around us we become aware of a whole other dimension.
My work, fundamentally, is not just training environmental stewards, but motivating spokespeople for the environment. I help students want to learn about their environment, and encourage them to reach out to others. With help from MEF, I designed and made T-shirts with the National Park slogan “Admire, but don’t touch!” which serve as great conversation starters. Although most of the people I work with do not have easy internet access, I do make videos when I can and try to post interesting items on my website. Mexican TV and radio stations have shown some of my videos and invited me to discuss my outreach efforts. I hope to establish a research and cultural center in Cancun to serve as a focus for bringing attention to the need to promote sustainable strategies so people can live in harmony with the natural environment, especially in high-pressure coastal tourist areas.
