Earthwatch Adventures: Archeology in New Mexico’s Valles Caldera
Prairie dogs scurried around the entry station; mountain bluebirds, yellow-headed blackbirds and American kestrels perched on fences in the valley; the prairie was colorful with native grasses and wildflowers such as blue penstemon, harebells, gentian, sulphur indian paintbrush, golden aster, sky-blue aster, wild onion and may other forbs; elk bugled in the ponderosa pine, douglas fir and aspen … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Archeology: Origins of Angkor in Thailand
It was almost like an “Indiana Jones” expedition in Ban Non Wat, a small village near Phimai in Northeast Thailand! The main excavation was about 5 by 25 meters and 5 meters deep and a second pit was smaller but deeper so they needed ladders to get in or out! Previous EARTHWATCH teams had gone through the Iron and Bronze Age levels and we were working on burials at the Neolithic level from … [Read more...]
Hunting For Dinosaur Fossils and Footprints
In the urban environment of Arlington, Texas we were excavating the lower part of a ridge within sight of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for fossils of dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles and other life forms that lived about 95 million years ago near the shores of an ancient sea. This was the first full day for the six EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE volunteers and we hadn’t found much in the first hour, when … [Read more...]
Projects Abroad Seeks Senior Volunteers
Projects Abroad is one of the largest volunteer abroad organizations in the world. Founded in 1992, we send over 8,000 people abroad each year on a variety of service projects and internships overseas. All participants receive unparalleled in-country support from our full-time, professional staff to ensure that the experience is safe, worthwhile, and enjoyable. Projects Abroad places a great … [Read more...]
Retirement Work Leads to Running Nonprofit in Nicaragua
Robert and Bev were lucky enough to make a living as professional potters. That passion led them on another journey with Potters for Peace. Acting on an ad in Ceramics Monthly magazine, Bev traveled to Managua, Nicaragua in 1997. While there, she met the visionary Ron Rivera, International Coordinator for Potters for Peace. In 2000, Bev, Ron and daughter Loehrl returned following Hurricane … [Read more...]
Volunteer Overseas with Globe Aware
Globe Aware is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit US and Canadian charity that organizes and leads one week volunteer vacations in 17 countries around the world. The organization caters to adults of all ages. They have no political or religious affiliation. They combine the adventure of traveling with the joy of volunteering in needy communities by working side by side with locals, as equals, on projects … [Read more...]
Recycled Bicycles Have New Life in Guatemala
Many children get their first mechanical experience working on a bicycle. If you have mechanical ability, it can be used to help the people in San Andrés Itzapa, Guatemala. Largely descendents of the Mayans, these people are developing sustainability using pedal power or "Bicimaquinas,” which converts old bicycles to power small appliances, such as a blender, water pump, coffee roaster machine … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Ocean Adventures: Coral Reefs – Part 8
Although no one knows exactly where Columbus made landfall in the New World, it still was thrilling to see the likely site on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas! One of the coral reefs that we were studying was just off the beach near the monument site. We were a group of eleven Earthwatch Institute volunteers doing research on BAHAMIAN REEF SURVEY, a long-term study of the health of the coral … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Ocean Adventures: Penguins – Part 7
We watched closely as a small group of penguins approached the road crossing where we were stationed. They moved rather rapidly along the well-worn trail in the undergrowth, but stopped and piled up behind the leader as they reached the road. The leader stepped out rather tentatively, and then quickly waddled across with the rest of the group following closely behind him! We were doing a census of … [Read more...]
Earthwatch Ocean Adventures: Sea Otters – Part 6
There was a lot of splashing and commotion ahead of our boat and as we got nearer we saw that a bald eagle had a salmon too big to fly with, so was dragging it to shore; we rounded a point and an Alaskan brown bear on the beach whirled and disappeared into the willows; a mother black bear with two cubs stood and watched us from a gravel bank by a small stream; we heard some pitiful cries and saw a … [Read more...]