The Global Classroom

Riding the Wave

At long last, the time had come to enter the forests of Aula Global to begin construction of our research station and dorm. Though we fell short of our fall fundraising goals by almost $2,000, we decided we had enough funds to get the ball rolling. Our Costa Rican helper, Israel Mendez, had already been making the six hour round trip walk from his home to the reserve for several days. He was working frantically in anticipation of Susan Cutting and me arriving to begin construction. Israel and two GCR volunteers, Cheryl Oates and Abigail Clark had already begun hauling 2x4's and planks to the building site but had not gotten too far due to heavy rains. I did not know what to expect when we arrived. All I knew is that after 10 years of waiting for this day, I was ready to build. I even packed in my own tool belt and trusty Estwing hammer, a companion of mine for over 15 years.

On March 28th, under an enormous full moon, Susan and I entered the field in which we intended to build. I was happy to see a few racks of lumber stacked nearby but could tell right away that there was not nearly enough lumber on site to begin building. My hammer would have to sit idle a few days longer. Last year we had arranged for wood cutters to come to our property to cut three fallen trees into lumber for us. I was told they did come but I had no idea how much they had actually cut. For months I had been nervous about there not being enough wood, leaving us with the pain of purchasing wood from town -- old growth wood that may have been illegally cut. I could not bear the thought. We also would be left with the reality that we would have to carry it all the way into the reserve from the road. That in itself would take Susan, Israel and I three months.

I sheepishly asked Israel if there was more wood waiting in the forest and he smiled a slightly maniacal grin and said yes. He then took us to the different sites. We crossed rivers, dropped down into ridiculously steep ravines, climbed over logs and up muddy hillsides. There was no doubt we were in Costa Rica. NO ONE in America would ever entertain the idea of hauling that wood out of there. It would either be lifted out by helicopter or left to rot.

Climbing up steeply we finally broke the crest of a rise. There before us stood mountains and mountains of lumber. Row after row of planks and 2x4's. The sight was both impressive and daunting. Combining the quantity of wood with the distance it needed to be carried, multiplied by the terrain in which we must carry it all and the task seemed down right impossible. After a few minutes of catching our breath, I grabbed a couple 2x4's and start walking. Sixteen minutes later I reached the clearing. I sat down on the ground to do the math.

With a total count of 969 boards, 358 2x4'2 and 35 4x4's that is a total of 1,362 pieces. Multiply that by sixteen for the total minutes in carrying time and you have 363 hours. That means it will take Susan, Israel and me at least 12 days working 10 hours a day to transport all this wood. Add this to the 300 pieces of tongue and groove flooring that must be carried in from the road (30 minutes one way) and it is clear we will never get the building done before the rainy season comes.

In Need of More Volunteers

I make my way into town. Armed with paper and colored marker I begin making posters asking for volunteers. With all the travelers that wander around Santa Elena there has to be someone willing to toil in the mud while carrying ridiculously heavy lumber on their bony shoulders. I return to town each morning to see if there are any takers. The poster stated that if you were interested in volunteering to meet us at 7 am at the Pension Santa Elena, a small hostel that is a popular hang out for travelers. It is always over flowing with folks. I pushed my way through a thick cluster of people in the doorway and entered the lobby, finding another group draped across sofas and chairs. I asked if anyone was there for the volunteer project. No response. My heart sank. I left under the weight of the boards I have yet to carry.

I go to town yet again and enter the throngs of people and ask the same question. To my amazement everyone in the lounge raises their hands. I felt my face tighten as my eyebrows headed North. Seriously? All of you? WOW!

It was clear I had found the right formula; after days of no response I had tried another tactic. Recalling my days of traveling around the world in 1989 on a shoe string budget seeking ways to save money to ensure I could "stay out" as long as possible: i.e. eat every other day, don't wash your cloths, sleep in the jungles etc. I decided to add one sentence more to the poster. Free food and lodging. That's all it took. Little did they know they would be sleeping in a broken down shack that sagged badly and was blessed with an occasional spider, a few resident lizards and the usual rain that makes its way through the holes in the roof. And the food was going to consist entirely of Casado, the typical Costa Rican dish of rice and beans. A little fore-warning did not seem to discourage anyone so we loaded them all up into the back of El Mastodonte, the official GCR vehicle.

The only way to ride El Mastodonte is to stand up, hold onto the metal roll bar and let your legs take the brunt of the thrashing. To sit flat on the metal floor is asking for a seriously sore rear end. I was sure to drive especially slow in transporting our precious cargo as I knew these folks were what would make or break this project right now. If I damage the goods and they all go home, we are in big trouble. With the truck squatting under the weight of people and packs we bounced our way out of town and into the depths of the mountains. The main road is so rough that I can never shift out of second gear anyway, but when I turned off onto the "bad road" I heard a bunch of hoots and hollers and giggles. I even heard one person say, "is he lost?" After driving into and across the second river I think they got the message that I was not lost.

Volunteers Arrive to Lend a Helping Hand

The property was transformed into a beehive of activity as people gathered to hear what needed to be done. We suggested breaking up into relay teams, each team taking a load of lumber a short distance to the next team. I found this much easier than carrying one load all the way through to the end. It gave us "unpadded" folks a chance to rest our exposed shoulder bones. A rolled up shirt or jacket took the sting out of carrying, but have no illusions, it was hard, painful work. It is hard to explain to someone who has never lifted a piece of rain forest wood just how heavy a simple 2x4 can be. 4x4's required two people to transport safely.

Hour after hour the teams worked like a line of ants. Wood was slowly emerging from the forest, snacks and water containers back along the line to those way out in the bush. We were certainly riding the wave. I found I no longer had to delegate. People took it upon themselves to ensure food was prepared, water was available for the workers, etc. It really hit home how much work was getting done when I would no sooner construct a rack to store the incoming wood and another would need to be built. I could not keep up with the volume that was flowing in. At one point I heard a loud CRACK then a low rumble as a rack collapsed under the weight of the wood. I had been so occupied with building another rack that I failed to tell the carriers to stop loading that one rack. Thankfully there was no one there at the time and the boards just slid into a tangled heap on the hillside.

The only breaks people took were when the food bell rang and people gathered en mass to refuel. We all gathered to show our bruises and laugh about how difficult the job was. You had to laugh. It was just too ludicrous a task to take too seriously. It was during one of our meal breaks that I realized I could count no less than 4 languages being spoken. Here in the middle of the rain forest I was listening to Spanish, Dutch, German and English. This is what the Global Classroom is all about.

Each trip to town brought new volunteers. Some stayed for weeks, others just for a day. Day after day we trundled under heavy loads. Covered in muck and sweating under an unusually bright and intense sun, people just kept going. Occasionally you could hear distant cheers as yet another rack deep in the forest was emptied. The group would gather momentarily before heading off in search of another pile. The wood had been cut and stacked over a year ago, so many piles were over taken with vines and brush. A brilliant yellow orchid clung to one board, a tarantula made his home under another. All around us hummingbirds zipped, bell birds called and quetzals flew. In the distance howler monkeys rumbled a warning for other troops to stay away.

A week into carrying lumber I was itching to get started on the building part of the project. Grabbing a few of the workers who had grown weary of carrying lumber we started cutting floor joists and laying the floor. Energized by the excitement to be finally building, Susan and I had worked well into the night and carried all the flooring from the road to the site in one day! I knew we were racing against time. Cumulus clouds were building higher and higher each day. If the floor gets too wet it will buckle. California volunteer Serena Haller and I hammered away hour after hour, her with her silly wit, me with one eye on the heavens. I was not quite sure if my gaze skyward was to ask for heavenly help or to fend off the clouds that were sneaking up on us from the Atlantic coast. Blind nailing 44,000 linear inches of flooring with a hammer and a pin punch takes time. Lots of time. Fearing we would loose all our volunteers before the floor was done we took advantage of the people on site and decided to get one wall up before the floor was done. We were crawling along at a snails pace and needed a morale booster anyway!

I had no idea how we would actually lift the 32 foot long wall when it was done but I knew one thing for sure, driving 4 inch nails into these studs took some steam! This wood is HARD! I got a good laugh when I looked over and saw Serena driving home a nail. Her tongue was literally hanging out of her mouth. She had been pounding at the same nail for several minutes. I can usually sink a 4 inch nail in 5-6 hits. It was taking me double that in this wood. Even so, in less than two hours we had the first wall framed and ready to stand up. We sent word to the folks still hauling to come be a part of this exciting moment. We all gathered ceremoniously around the wall that lay on the floor. We made a game plan, complete with how to safely bail out if it proved to be too heavy! Gathering shoulder to shoulder we prepared to lift. Some stood to the side with pre-nailed braces ready to secure the wall in a vertical position. After a few minutes of fussing we were finally ready.

OK, Uno, Dos, Tres. The wall rises up like a dream. Like they say, "many hands make light work! It never ceases to amaze me how true this is. Working alone most of my life, I have been forced to rig pulleys, levers and other gadgets. Here was an entire wall up and standing, elevated by a mish-mash of volunteers from all over the globe.

After the wall was secured, Serena and I went back into a stoop to finish the floor. Finally, four full days after starting, we stood up straight and stepped back to admire our handiwork. It was a work of art. The colors in the wood were extraordinary. Swirling Purples, reds, yellows and browns.
Over the next 5 weeks many more people came to help, including 1992 GCR alumna Ann Radeloff who returned a decade later to offer her muscles and radiant smile. Together walls were raised and even a roof was installed -- and just in the nick of time. The very day that the roof was completed the rains came. They had miraculously held off for two entire months but now were unleashing all that built up energy. Winds howled, and the rain came in horizontal sheets. It did not let up for three days. It hammered down on the metal roof sounding like a train bearing down on us. Our tiny little river raged, brown with debris. All across the country bridges were swept away and houses were flooded. I knew we were witnessing an annual event that so many dreaded yet all people depended on. The seasonal drought was over.

A Personal Symbol of Hope

When that first wall went up my emotions ran deep. It was a standing symbol for me, a tribute to all the volunteers, donors and supporters who offered their help. All because they believe in the Global Classroom vision and wanted to be a part. I silently thanked the hundreds of people who have sent donations, making this all possible: many I do not know and most I may never meet. Countless supporters gave their money, time and sweat freely, trusting that I would do what I promised. And there it was, standing before me. It was not just a wall, it was a symbol of trust, faith, respect and love.

I have always felt that trust was something that had to be absolute and unyielding if we are to ever fully love someone or something. When I speak to people about the Global Classroom I cannot help but show my deep love and belief that this project is worthy. I have always felt that this project is not about me. It is about the students that come and find something deep within themselves; it's about the adults whose lives are changed so deeply that they start a new life when they get home. It is about the farmer with a second grade education who is a walking library of knowledge, happily sharing his passion for the trees and animals of his homeland, and it is for the jaguar and the quetzals that have a voice so soft, so subtle that their pleas go unheard.

We live in world where political figures squander our taxes, where the military spends millions on secret weapons that kill people that "don't exist," where even priests, who are empowered with the role of being living symbols of trust and faith, have shattered and violated the very foundations of trust in those who trusted in them. By the complex nature of who we are as human beings, the rubble and impacts of this violation rarely come to rest neatly at the feet of those who did the violating. It spreads like wildfire, scorching many areas of our lives, punishing those who are innocent of such violations and who are worthy of our deepest trust and love. How many of us have not trusted someone fully because of the painful memories and wreckage left over from the actions of others. It is a deep rut we must all emerge from if there is ever to be world peace and domestic harmony among families, lovers and nature. I honestly believe all citizens, especially myself, must begin looking deep within and ask how we can find our own truth, walk our own path and trust with unwavering faith in those around us. The only way to begin that process is to set the wheels of absolute integrity and truth in motion deep within ourselves. From there it will trickle out to the scorched and thirsty world and one day we may all be collectively known as human beings instead of Christians, Muslims, Arabs and Jews, or Germans, Iraqis, Americans and Mexicans.

Sitting around the table after that wall went up I was listening to folks share their thoughts on everything from favorite foods, to God, from favorite movies to worst fears. It is clear to me where the powers of change lie. It is not found in the greasy cogs of military machines, lurking behind the closed doors of slick politicians nor gained through the economic twisting of international arms. It is found in all these bruised, mud stained wood carriers working beside me as we raised that wall, and in all of you who have given your trust and financial support to the GCR. Thank you all so much.

Scholarship Recipients Come to Aula Global

Two students were awarded $500 scholarships to take part in activities of their choice. As you may recall in our last newsletter, Mohawk High School student Noah Richardson was awarded his scholarship after correctly identifying several species of butterfly that had been part of a collection gathered several years ago by a friends great grandfather. They had come from all over the world, making identification difficult. This was no obstacle for Noah, whose passion for butterflies became apparent in our first meeting. On his second day in Costa Rica he went directly to the source of his passion by becoming a volunteer for the Butterfly Garden in Santa Elena, a conservation facility that raises butterflies and educates people about the importance of conservation and preservation of habitat. The second half of his work in Costa Rica was in the field, where we put him to work collecting, identifying and releasing butterfly species found in the Aula Global reserve. His findings have been cataloged to be used in future studies regarding the stability of butterfly populations within the reserve. It was a rare occasion to see Noah without a net in his hands. I am sure we will see Noah again in Aula Global.

Our second scholarship went to Lyric Morgan O'Connor. Lyric put her computer and filming experience to use filming a documentary on the construction of our new research station. Lyric already had a few years under her belt with digital technologies. She is an avid ice skater who competed internationally and decided to combine her love of skating and music by creating digitally mastered music for other skaters. Lyric and her filming partner, Cormac Cummane McBride were rarely seen without a video camera rolling in their hands. Not a single volunteer escaped the property without getting interviewed by the film crew. They even managed to get some up close and personal footage of things like tarantulas, lizards, birds and even made a new spider friend, (which must have known how excited Lyric was to see it because it appeared daily in her part of the sleeping area). We all look forward to seeing what they create out of the hours and hours of footage they took. Look for video clips and slide shows on our web site in the near future.

Western Mass Meets Western Mexico

The endless enthusiasm and support of my brother Norman Garland and his collection of volunteers proved that a little help can go a long way. Calling on his co-workers at Mole Hollow candle, his family, and many other people from my home town of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, Norman convinced scores of people to make donations to our sister school program in Baja Mexico. Thanks to their efforts we were able to deliver several boxes of supplies to some very remote schools in Baja. We would like to give special thanks to all those who contributed to the mountains of pencils, crayons, books, paper and even a photo copier cartridge. Though these items may sound trivial to us, when they arrive at schools that have a shortage of even the most basic materials it is cause for celebration: when classes stopped, children gathered to shower us with smiling, excited faces. The children of Baja, Mexico have asked me to personally extend a warm "Gracias" to all of you for your support.

GCR volunteers also managed to squeeze in the construction of yet another composting toilet and a field station in Agua Verde, to be used by anti poaching teams and educational groups committed to saving endangered seas turtles.

What is in the Future for the GCR

The Global Classroom has enjoyed many successes to date. We have been providing unique and exciting educational opportunities for youth for over a decade. We have successfully purchased and protected 100 acres of endangered habit that is now registered with the Costa Rican government as a biological reserve and we have constructed a beautiful research station to be used by students, researchers, travelers and volunteers. So where do we go from here?

As noted in the previous articles, I have just returned from Costa Rica after two months of being immersed in some of the most beautiful and remote rain forests left in Costa Rica. One of the most memorable moments for me each day was the constant call of the three-wattled bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata). The male bellbird is a fascinating creature with three long worm like growths that hang down like a mustache from it's face. The bellbird migrates up and down the mountain slopes each year as do many bird species in Costa Rica. They usually return to the very same tree and often to the very same branch year after year.

Every day I would begin work at sunrise to the sound of the bellbird. I would look north to see the same male sitting on his perch, calling out day after day - hour after hour. It was so wonderful to hear it's two part call, sounding like an old squeaky gate and finishing with it's bizarre and incredibly loud BONK! It was a treat to actually see him every day as they are extremely difficult to find due to the fact that they stay very high in the canopy. We just happen to have a birds eye view of this one because this particular bird chose a dead branch straight out from the hillside where we stand to observe him: an excellent and rare opportunity to see the bellbird in action. It was quite a treat but also very sad as well. Through all the weeks he called out he never got a response from a female that we heard or saw. The bellbird is very endangered of becoming extinct due to habitat loss on the unprotected lower slopes (some experts say it will be extinct by 2008 if its habitat is not preserved and expanded).

Taking Direct Action

This is where the Global Classroom comes in. We have the perfect habitat for bellbirds, jaguars, ocelots and quetzals and want to keep it that way. We are beginning a very intense, non-stop fundraising campaign to purchase the unprotected property between us and the Children's Eternal Forest, the Monteverde reserve and the Santa Elena reserve. When we purchase this land we will have successfully created a "green corridor" of protected land between two very critical habitats. Not only will this be directly helping keep the bellbird from extinction, we will be preserving an ancient stand of old growth rain forest critical to so many species. If this land is sold to developers we will be cut off and we could become a small green "island" in the middle of clear-cut lands. Protecting it will ensure we are connected to the last remaining rain forests forever. Being connected by forest is not only critical for the bellbirds, but hundreds of other rain forest species that depend on the canopy for food and travel.

Our neighbors property is owned by three brothers, all of whom want to sell. Two are interested only in the money it will bring them, and one is concerned about conservation. If we can show them we have supporters and are serious, they will work with us. An added surprise: we have been notified by the newly elected environmental minister of Costa Rica that he wholly supports our efforts and will help us in any way he can. The new administration in Costa Rica is finally, once again, concerned about the environment and willing to look at conservation issues. The last 4 years have had a devastating effect on the remaining rain forests of Costa Rica, but there is a wave of new hope, and we intend to RIDE IT! Our goal is to raise $200,000 in the next 12 months. This may seem like an insurmountable obstacle.. But when I teach survival courses the very first thing we do in the face of an emergency situation is to look at the resources at hand, make a plan, and manifest the solution. As I pull together our list of GCR contributors, I see we have an incredible pool of resources. Just as we found with our generous volunteers in Costa Rica, each person carrying one board at a time can move mountains of lumber across very rough terrain.

Here is how you can help. Remember 100% of all donations will go to land preservation and all donations are tax deductible. Please note on your check "Phase 4".

• Send your tax deductible donation today. Ask if your employer offers a matching donation program.

• Put us in contact with schools, bird watching societies, land conservation groups, large and small companies etc. You never know who may be willing to help!

• Introduce us to any friends or acquaintances who are grant writers or professional fund raisers.

• Help us spread the word through newspaper articles, radio spots, by arranging lectures etc.

We have a very informative slide show presentation, complete with rain forest artifacts, and we are willing to come to any school, college, church meeting, company gathering, etc. to give a free presentation. This presentation is very educational and inspiring. Please help us meet this challenge. Remember. Many hands make light work!

A Special Note on Homestays

Over the years we have received many letters from students (and parents) stating how valuable the GCR trips and home stay programs have been. They speak of how it helped them create a strong "inner foundation" as they gained self confidence, a deeper understanding of themselves and others, an appreciation for the environment and a new perspective on the issues and concerns of living in today's world. I believe that if we are to ever reach peace on earth, we must walk to our own thresholds of fear and take the leap of faith. We must learn to not fear different political views, distant cultures, strange foods, other lifestyles and environments. We must accept there is good and bad in all of them. We must all work together to separate the chaff from the grain. We are a global economy and we live in a global community. More than ever, all nations are neighbors. It is our choice to act. We cannot rely on governments to pave the way to global peace and understanding. It is up to us as individuals.

School Groups Invited to Aula Global

EXCITING NEWS!! Aula Global research station and reserve is now ready to receive school groups and other visitors. After two full months of non stop construction we are ready to accept groups to the site. The research station has two separate loft areas and can easily sleep 20 people with plenty of space below for group activities, gatherings and education programs. In addition to the main building we have a small "rustic" cabin that is set up for food preparation and cooking.
We do not have an extensive system of established trails on our property; we feel constant use by visitors disrupts the animals natural habitats and behavior. We do have a few small foot paths that lead into various ecological zones, allowing you excellent opportunities to see quetzals, bellbirds, monkeys and other species. Our Costa Rican assistant Israel Mendez is also available to guide you into the deeper parts of our reserve. He is very passionate and knowledgeable about the forest: Israel can help you see the forest through a new set of eyes.
If you are interested in birds or butterflies this is an excellent place to visit and study. We have several species of warbler, tanager, trogon and even the brilliantly colored dacnis and honey creepers. Butterflies you can expect to see on site include blue morphos, heliconius and many swallowtails.
If you would like to reserve the facility for yourself or your group, or would like more details please feel free to call or email us any time.