Finding Meaning in Retirement through Voluntourism with Earthwatch Institute
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What do watching birds in the jungles of Costa Rica, digging for artifacts in islands of the Caribbean and traveling to Australia to reintroduce native animals to the outback have in common?
For Warren Stortroen, these are just three of the fifty-seven (yes, you read correctly – 57) expeditions he’s been on with Earthwatch.org since retiring thirteen years ago.
The Earthwatch Institute hosts expeditions that take place on all seven of the world’s continents. The Institute provides family, community, and alumni programs; these trips provide an excellent opportunity for creating strong bonds with other volunteers, members of local communities, as well as making a valuable contribution to a selected cause. Earthwatch is leading the way in voluntourism which combines leisure travel with volunteering or doing good works.
Warren spent his professional career in insurance. He scheduled his first Earthwatch expedition a couple of months before he retired. His first trip went to Costa Rica to study the unique mating rituals of the Long-tailed Manikin “Dancing Birds” at Monteverde. He went on the same expedition a few years later.
I was amazed as Warren described the various expeditions, his phenomenal recall for detail. Not only could he remember the locations of the trips, but the scientist that was in charge, as well was intricacies of their daily life.
Clearly, this isn’t an activity for everyone. Warren explained he had always enjoyed science, so he was drawn to that aspect of the expeditions. He also enjoys being outdoors, adventure and travel. He knows he is making a contribution to the science of each study. In fact, he went to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico four times to look for mammal fossils from 1.5 to 5 million years ago. He’s most proud of discovering a Glyptodon (large armadillo like mammal) in 2006.
While Warren was excited to share information about the various excursions, he also shared what a wonderful opportunity it is to get to know people from all over the world. Not only has he met other volunteers from many different countries, but there is also interaction with locals from each country he has visited.
Earthwatch rates the physical activity of their trips so you don’t have to be in tip-top shape. Accommodations are varied, but thoroughly explained so you know what to expect. I asked Warren if he had any concerns about getting ill, particularly from the food. He explained that Earthwatch provides explicit instructions for each location and he has never been sick-not once.
Not all expeditions are outside of the United States. One of Warren’s favorites (he’s done it five times) is "Prehistoric Pueblos of the American SW" in southwestern New Mexico where he participated in the archeology of pueblos and pit houses from 800 AD to 1400 AD in Alamosa.
Warren also been to Australia, England and many other countries and is planning a second trip to Nova Scotia in 2010 to study the effects of climate change on animals ranging from mice and voles to porcupines, fishers, snowshoe hares, coyotes, foxes and white-tailed deer - everything from mouse to moose!
We all want to know that our life matters, so I asked Warren about the personal import of the expeditions created in his life. He responded with, “Yes, I do believe that the expeditions create meaning in my life. I'm not a scientist, but I have a great interest in many scientific fields, especially the earth-related, biological and historical fields. Archeology and paleontology give you an opportunity to find things that have been buried for thousands and even millions of years! Working with animals, birds and reptiles is a great learning experience and allows you to maybe make a difference for endangered species and the environment.”
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