Summit Day
The heat was oppressive when I met the students arriving at the airport just south of the border of
Nicaragua. The intense heat waves rising from the tarmac turned them into writhing serpents as they
walked across the pavement. I had already been in Costa Rica a month when the students arrived, but
I had been high in the mountains where cool mists swirled around me as I slept. Here, in the furnace
of this parched landscape, tree stumps still smoldered from recent fires. Denuded of the cooling tropical
dry forest by annual burnings to make way for beef cows, the lowlands have become hotter than the gates
of hell. To add insult to injury, people have intentionally set fire to the remaining forests in hopes of
taking it over, regardless of its national park status. With only 2% of tropical dry forest left on the
earth, this is a tragedy beyond measure.
Dazed by the heat, and their long flights, the students slowly spilled out into the parking
area. They looked bedraggled but it was clear these adventurers were ready for anything.
The van squatted low as bags were tied on the roof. I then broke the news that I needed
two people to ride in the tiny cab of our Nissan pick up. I expected resistance, but immediately
two smiling faces appeared (if only they knew how squished and hot they were going to be for
the next 6 hours). No sooner had I climbed into the cab when two hands appeared from the
passenger's seat, ready to be shaken. "Hi, I'm Kristia."
"Hi, I'm Sam."
They smiled at me with warmth, excitement and sincerity. I took their welcoming gestures to be a good omen.
Two minutes later I was driving down the road with Kristia and Sam singing to my mixed tape of 80's rock
music. No doubt about it, this was going to be an awesome trip. The three of us chatted and sang our way
over some pretty brutal roads, finally reaching the coolness of the rain forest many hours later.
Part of the beauty of traveling in foreign countries is that the only thing you can really predict is that
things will be unpredictable. We normally offer family home stays as part of the program, so I was sad to
announce that this would not happen. Israel Mendez, our Costa Rican worker and home stay organizer, has been
caring for his wife who had just undergone a bone marrow transplant. We felt it was too much to ask of him at
that time.
The upside to this was that we would have more time to spend in our reserve and attempt a summit in the north
before going home. I say attempt because like all high mountains, they have a life of their own. It is not
uncommon on a picture perfect day to see a cloud draped over the summit like a silk scarf. It is an innocent
looking cloud from below, but one that can contain a raging tempest inside. Deadly winds and rain can take the
visibility from miles to meters in seconds. With precipitous drops all around and risk of getting severe
hypothermia, I take no chances on this summit. It takes brains, resolve, and fighting back your ego to turn
back just meters from the top, especially when you have worked so hard to get that close. For me, it is a
non-negotiable. Keep your head on straight and don't let summit fever cloud your brain. The nice thing about
the ascent is that you can still have a wonderful hike through miles of pristine rain forest, even if the
weather has gone sour up high. But before I go too far into the climbing aspect of the trip, let me share
some other highlights of our trip.
Our group of twelve travelers met up with Katie Effler, the winner of our Costa Rican adventure trip raffle
that was held during our Arias for the Rain Forest concert tour. After a check- in to see how everyone was
faring, we got ready for the journey to our reserve. Mountains of food were purchased and packed and we were
off to Aula Global Reserve. Though the ride up from the lowlands is brutally hot, it is a great way to discover
first hand the cooling properties of a rain forest. The hike into the reserve is cool, misty and lush.
Our days at the reserve were filled with amazing sights and sounds. And not only jungle sounds either.
On our last night in the reserve, bathed in the last few lumens of a setting sun, the students joined hands
and treated the leaders to a song. It was a very moving moment for me.
Another highlight was the quetzal and Three-wattled bellbird sightings. It is not unusual for a few folks
(who are able to be quiet and still) to see a quetzal now and again. But a huge group of 15! They were so
good at being quiet that sometimes I had to turn around while hiking to be sure I had everyone. Because of
this, we had the most wonderful time with two quetzals. They landed just above our heads, displaying and
showing off their incredible plumage. These two gems of the forest stayed with us long enough for everyone
to snap photos and stare in amazement.
Each night brought us to a sharing circle before dinner. On every trip we aspire to create a safe forum for
students to share what is on their minds. There are no rules, aside from respecting the person who is speaking.
Though we offer suggestions and questions pertaining to the trip, we encourage them to share anything that is on their minds. The topics are as diverse as each student is unique. The sharing circles help create a critical foundation on which openness and trust can evolve. It is understood that what ever is shared is kept between us and is never shared outside the circle without the group's permission. Of course all circles are different, with some being silly, some serious, some sad and some steeped in anger. All emotions and opinions are welcome. I stress to them that having feelings is not a problem. It is what we do with those feelings that matter.
The topic and the mood of the circle is not important. What is important is that everyone knows they have a
voice. A voice that is valued. A voice amounts to nothing unless it is given life. That goes for inner as
well as outer voices. A bond is created during these trips that has long lasting effects on everyone. Someone
coming to the realization that things at home have been terrible and they now own their part in that struggle,
vowing to return home with a bigger heart and more love, is pretty huge. The healing that can go on in this
setting is powerful.
Leaving the reserve is always bittersweet for me. Aula Global is a refuge for more than jaguars and birds.
Coming out and entering the real world can be quite a shock. But, I cannot keep the students hostage here,
so we prepare to climb a volcano.
Knowing they would have to rise at 3 am, hike non-stop until 7pm, with no more than an hours rest on the
summit did not deter this motivated group. The night before the hike did bring some nervous energy to the
sharing circle though. This hike would demand some serious endurance. I had no idea what to expect of them.
They seemed fit and full of energy, but it rarely has to do with size, strength or gender. It almost always
comes down to attitude. The mind is a powerful thing. It can create and destroy with ease. My hunch was that
this group would go all the way to the top. If mother nature allowed.
The light of day was still three hours off when we began our hike. We had to negotiate nearly 8 km of rough
trails before stepping foot on the volcano we hoped to summit. From there, we would push on (and up) for another
8km to the summit. All together we would cover over 32 kms in a single day. This is a lot to ask of a seasoned
hiker, so the jury was out on if this group would make it.
Aside from a few spooky night sounds just beyond the probing beams of our headlamps, the first part of the
journey was uneventful. Around daybreak we entered a clearing at the base of the mountain and could see the
summit. There was not a cloud in the sky.
Onward we pushed. The terrain was a lot steeper now. The forests that once towered above us were shrinking.
Just before hitting tree line, the forest was a mere two feet tall. But these were not saplings at our feet.
These trees could be a hundred years old. With ferocious winds sheering off anything that attempts to go
vertical, it was likely to be an old growth forest brushing against our knees.
A moonscape of ash and rock towered above us for another 2 kms. It is here the trail becomes quite steep,
in some places requiring hands and feet working together. Though the route is near vertical, erosion has
been kind enough to carve out deep trenches that keep us safely adhered to the mountain. At one point, we
linked arms to cross an exposed saddle between two craters. The views behind us are stunning, though I might
add there were a few folks that refused to look back until they were absolutely sure they were on something a
bit more horizontal.
Here, as with most mountains, a false summit lulls you into thinking you are almost there. There is nothing
worse than clearing "the top," only to see another summit, steeper and taller than the one you had just
conquered. This is where I expected a mutiny, but everyone made that final push. One by one they broke the
summit. A huge group hug was waiting every time a new person would crest the crater rim. Eventually all of us
were on top of the world. I took a step back to look at the colorful faces. A few folks were off by themselves
for a celebratory cry, while others were leaping for joy. I am awash in pride and wonder if they know what they
have accomplished. I am also salivating over the dripping mango that Katie hauled to the summit, but there is
no way I am sticking my hands anywhere near it! I silently watch her savoring every dripping piece. I slather
peanut butter on smashed bread and I too savor every bite.
I personally want to congratulate Amasa Smith, Laura Turner, Kristia Grandison, Samantha Marsh, Lydia Mead,
Jenna Kuklinski, Tim McCormick, Miranda Nichols, Jamie Greenberg, Isaac Henry, Tom Willis and Ruth Avis
Ayers for a such a fantastic trip. I also extend a congratulations and special thanks to Katie Effler,
especially for offering me a taste of that mango. I even have all my digits still. Thanks Katie
- By Colin Garland, GCR Founder
Un-Happy Valentines Day
I had to laugh. Not because it was funny, but because I was in Mexico and when the
bottom is falling out of the barrel and all your plans and hard work are about to go
down the drain, this is what you do down here. It was mid-February of 2007, and from
what I had been told, snow was as plentiful in Massachusetts as ice cream in the Namib
desert. So, I was stunned to be on the phone with a parent who was trying her best to
keep the whole Baja adventure trip from collapsing due to a Valentines day mega-storm.
The students were at their wits end. They had endured a roller coaster ride of news that
planes were grounded, then flying, then grounded again. All the while the blizzard continued
to hammer New England. In the end, the entire East Coast shut down. After months
(years for some) of waiting, these students were ready for sunny Baja, not frozen Siberia.
But things are looking pretty grim.
Meggie and I had no idea what was going on back home. Thankfully, we had decided to go to
town early to check in on the students before they departed from Boston. I am so glad we did.
A barrage of emails had already assaulted my laptop. Though the text did not show it, I could
sense that some students were ready to crack. In one message (a bit confrontational) a
student stressed they should not lose their money because of a blizzard and that I should do
something about this mess. I figured in her frustrations she forgot that I was not God and
could not turn off the snowstorm. I did not take it personally of course. Instead, I picked
up the phone and dialed.
I reached a mom who was frazzled but in control. In a matter of minutes the situation went from hopeless,
to cautiously hopeful. I stated right off that Meggie and I would be more than willing to stay longer in
Baja (a no brainer for us) if the students could somehow get on another plane at a later date. I knew
the entire East Coast would be trying to do the same thing, so we had to act fast to find plan B.
Getting twelve people on a plane was going to take a miracle. Luckily, in the miracle department I have
some connections. When it seems all hope is lost trying to get from point A to point B, call Lisa at
Greater Falls travel. Lisa has pulled more rabbits out of a hat than Bullwinkle the moose. I will not
bore you with the details, but I will say that in a matter of hours, some amazingly dedicated parents
worked with Lisa and pulled it off. It meant the trip would be postponed and the students would miss
some school (funny how I received no upset emails from students about that part) but in the end, they
would arrive.
I often wonder if students and parents know how invested Meggie and I are in each trip, and in each
student. For us, seeing them gathered under the grass roof of the airport terminal filled us with
relief and excitement. And to their credit, the students left their pre-trip travel traumas behind and
were wearing smiles so infectious it made us giddy. Minutes later, we were on our way to base camp where
sparkling blue waters and swaying palms awaited our weary travelers.
The Baja trip has a certain magic to it that cannot be out into words. Year after year people arrive,
experience and go home deeply changed. This trip was no different. For Meggie and I, being able to offer
these experiences is really meaningful. What I suspect is not noticed so clearly, is the impact the students
have on us. We too learn and grow from them. I know I can speak for Meggie when I say we both experience
deep and profound moments with the students. Proof of the pudding lies in the pangs later on, when they
leave us to step back into the world of family, college, work, and basically, the rest of their lives.
Seeing each of them grow and find a bit of that inner self is a pretty special thing. It is not a stretch
to say that we grow to love each and every one of these students. Sadly, these days, that is a pretty bold
and risky thing to say. There is no denying it though, when they go home, a part of us goes with them.
The Baja trip of 2006-2007 brought far too many magic moments to list here. Some were full of adventure,
others full of heart. How does one describe the moment when a mother whale escorts her newborn babe to your
tiny boat to be patted and caressed? Or when an entire school of Mexican children flood from their
classrooms to greet you when you drive up. It changes you. There was a particularly poignant moment
when I was standing on the bow of our boat and I looked down to see my entire group lovingly greeting a
grey whale. Mind you, this is an animal once called a devilfish due to its propensity to smash any boat
that came near its young. The smiles, laughter, and frenzied joy was electric. Then, seconds later I was
touched when I saw our boat driver smiling down upon my students, literally with tears in his eyes. My eyes
met his and we shared a glance of understanding before we both looked away. Here was a hardened old man,
tough and leathered from years of struggle on the sea, weeping over these young people touching his whales.
The icing on the cake came when the students asked to have their photo taken with the boatman. They
surrounded him, hugging and smiling. I will never forget his proud stance and radiant smile. Pearl white
teeth set against sun bronzed skin.
But the pendulum swings. Saying goodbye to them at the airport is tough. We know that the outside world will
suck them in and they will be insanely busy and frantic. We only hope that in the middle of all the chaos,
they will find some peace, or a sweet memory that will ease the burden of life in the manic mainstream. Tears
flow as they enter airport security and disappear into the depths of the airport. Rising above us, their plane
lifts off, shining in the afternoon sun. Once again a mega-storm hits the students, though this time it is a
blizzard of tears all the way to L.A. Sheepishly, flight attendants ask many of our departing adventurers if
everything is OK. A plane full of sobbing teens surely raises some concerns. Yes, everything is OK. More than
OK. Life is beautiful! Journey wisely into your new lives friends, and thank you for being you. Baja, 07- Apryl
Green, Corey Cusson, Tyler Pless, Hannah Oldenburg,Ursula Munn,Nene Tomi,Sara Jacobson,Laura Sacco, Redyn
Keller, Suzi Longval, Garrett Loomis, and Shannon Almeida.
-By Colin Garland, GCR Founder
Timing Is Everything
“
For thousands of years, many cultures around the globe used intense initiations and ceremonies to mark a clear moment in time when children became adults. Today's youth live in a very fast paced society filled with pressures we can't even imagine. I know this all sounds old hat, with many saying that every generation has had this situation to contend with, but I beg to differ. Having been in this field for over two decades, I can attest to the changes and I see the gravity of those changes. There was a time when the talk around the campfire coming from adventurous teens, boasted of things like snatching a few beers from the old mans fridge, driving fast cars, or sneaking a cigarette. What I did not hear back then, which is so common now, is the blasé tone and frequency to which today's youth discuss the levels of casual, unprotected sex and the wide spread use of cocaine and heroine (in an age of HIV and AIDS to boot). The adventurous teenage energy of a decade ago is being replaced by deep despair, anger and frustration. Sadly, many are turning to violence (self inflicted or against others) in an effort to be heard. Add to this the easy access to guns, cars, and gangs and you have a recipe for disaster. It is so easy to think about all this as someone else's problem, something inner city and far away. But it is here among us, even in rural Massachusetts.
I firmly believe that youth today still seek those on the edge experiences, and they will take them in whatever form avails itself to them. The difference now is that there are so few elders and mentors to guide the process. We need more places for young adults to experience deep, intense and meaningful connections while learning and growing in a safe, but powerful way.
Year after year our students return from very transformative trips, but once in America, they thirst for an outlet, a place to go to use their new skills, gain more experiences, and share their open hearts, minds and ideas with those that will understand them. Some return feeling lost or alienated from family and friend. They realize they have changed so deeply inside that no one knows them any longer. On many occasions, sometimes weeks and months after returning from a trip, students contact us saying they are having difficulty re-entering their old lives (which is not always a bad thing), but it sure can feel bad). Of course we discuss this possibility before they leave for home, reassuring them that this is normal and is to be expected. But that is as far as we can go, outside the occasional email or phone call. Once they leave the trip, we have very little contact with the students. When the trip leaders do return home at the end of the season, we try to arrange a reunion somewhere to process and reflect on these changes and challenges.
It might sound a bit sappy, or grandstanding even, but I have to say it. When these young people open themselves up raw before their peers to share deeply, or push their edges far beyond their wildest dreams, a transformation happens. They find an entirely new person underneath. They discover their true self. They shed layers and peel off masks that have been worn to fit in, or to protect or distract. Suddenly they find themselves truly revealed to themselves and to others. In that moment, care must be taken. It is a delicate moment. Trust and respect must be present. In the blink of an eye, the person can begin to blossom, or retreat so deeply they will resist any attempt to go there again. It's real and it's palpable. Lasting transformations come when they discover that deep down inside themselves, they carry a reservoir of confidence, self respect, and purpose.
How many of us wish we could access this place inside ourselves on a regular basis. For all of us, finding and living true to ourselves can mean the difference between choosing poorly, often with regrets, or staying true to our paths and achieving our goals. Even with us wise adults, having the strength and confidence to listen to our true calling, instead of taking a job we will hate for the next forty years, can be a rare thing. On a more extreme level, lacking those skills can mean the difference between picking up the phone, or a bottle of pills, or even a weapon. This may sound harsh, but I have spent a lot of time volunteering with young people who did not have those life skills and never found that strength or confidence to choose wisely. They ended up in the juvenile court system, in the hospital, or worse yet, in the ground. I see this connection on many levels and on a daily basis. I no longer work with the court appointed population of our youth, but the lessons and memories are engrained in me. Self confidence and inner courage to do what is best for our true selves, is not something that is freely handed out. We learn it through example and we earn it through doing. Our society is seriously lacking in opportunities for young adults to gain those skills in a safe environment. We are seriously short on mentors and heroes that are worthy of following.
I can't say for sure, but I suspect that who and what we see in our students while on a trip, is often very different from what they show at home and in school. It is the nature of the beast. Peer pressure, societal pressure and self-inflicted pressures are rampant in our society, with the possible outcome more dangerous than ever before. When a student joins us on a trip and they find themselves standing on top of a volcano, or playing with a child who has had next to nothing to eat for days, something clicks inside. A door is unlocked. As I told one mother who was thanking me profusely for such a radical transformation in her child; all we do is show them the doors. They must be willing to open them and step through. The students do all the work. We just offer a safe place for them to do it.
I certainly do not mean to be blowing only the Global Classroom's horn. There are many programs, projects and people who offer this kind of experience. Sadly, these types of programs, as well as sports, arts and music are under attack, under funded and forgotten under the present No child left behind scheme. I have no doubt there are good things about this program academically. However the program is often measured in terms of the students success in memorizing the mandatory tests answers, with a huge toll on individual development and personal growth. More than ever we hear students saying they are starving on a personal level in school. I guess what I am driving at is that we must all be aware of the creeping viruses of negativity, self deprecation, fear and worse yet, the robotification (if this is not a word, it should be) of our lives. Our youth need space and time to feel, to grow, and to share deeply. To challenge their limits and be vulnerable, while being safe. When I say safe, I do not mean protected from feeling, from struggles and kept from testing their limits. These experiences matter, and what they learn is invaluable. These skills are an insurance policy that will pay for itself many times over the years. They are powerful tools to toss into the trunk of life.
It is so easy to look at our lives, hate where we are, and then just stay there. In most cases, it takes more energy in the long run to stay put, than to put the wheels in motion to change the situation. We have been duped into thinking we do not deserve what we truly seek, or that it is unattainable. On our trips, we suggest other ideas, other ways of looking at the future, and the present. We remind them that we all have capabilities beyond our wildest dreams. We just have to access them. A recent encounter in South Africa drove home that fact to me once more.
Last week I found myself talking with a young man from Zimbabwe. He was a jovial lad, smiling and joking with friends. It was an awkward conversation, not because we were shy, but because we were standing side by side at a very exposed urinal in the African bushveld. So exposed that an elephant was peering in at us while we, (ahem), "chatted." The boy's face and torso was badly scarred. He had one arm, and walked with a terrible limp. In just those short minutes I learned he was a refugee and that his arm had been hacked off with a machete. He was then dowsed with petrol and set afire and left to die. His mother and sisters were killed. He some how survived but knew he had to leave, or he too would be killed. So, he walked 150km (in his condition) through the bush of Kruger Park in search of safety. Miraculously he was not eaten by lions, (which happens frequently), nor did he die of thirst or shock. I asked him how he found the courage and the strength to do this. He replied . "Because I wanted to live."
I know it's a cliché, but if there is a will, there is a way. Our life experiences make us who we are. Until we try, we never truly know our full potential. Let us pray our children never experience that sort of trauma, or reach such a level of despair to do such a thing to another being. It is easy to say this sort of thing is someone else's problem, but as Columbine and Virginia tech have shown us, our youth are being seriously affected by the world around them. We need to encourage our youth to find their voice, and then, we adults must listen.
-Colin Garland, GCR Founder
Lifetime Achievement Award
A surprise telephone call from Colorado made our day when Global Classroom was informed it is in the final
stages of judging for the Etown Lifetime Achievement Award. Etown is a national, weekly radio broadcast
that is taped in front of a live audience. The show includes great music and conversation and is aired on
over 230 stations across the United States. This award goes to a worthy individual who is working to make
a positive difference in his or her community or the world. Nominated by an Etown listener, the Global
Classroom is very excited and honored to be considered for this award.
-Global classroom staff
A Reality Check for Global Classroom
When I received the call from Etown informing me that I was being considered for a lifetime
achievement award, I was taken aback. Firstly, though I was being singled out because I was
the founder, I knew I never would have been considered without the scores of volunteers, students
and donors who have lifted us up from the vapors of a dream to make Global Classroom a reality.
It was not until I was asked specific questions that the gravity of what Global Classroom has
accomplished set in. They wanted to know how many students have been introduced to Global
Classroom? How many donations have we delivered? How much money have we given out for
scholarships, programs and supplies, Slightly embarrassed, I confessed that I would have to sit
down and look over past records.
A week later I had a ballpark figure and I was amazed. Even using rough estimations, the Global
Classroom/Raven Adventures and it's volunteers have raised over three quarters of a million dollars,
protected 500+ acres of rain forest, donated over $80,000 to various causes, hand delivered at least
eight tons of clothing, school and medical supplies, and have reached out in one way or another to
thousands of students all over the world. Not bad for a small group of dedicated volunteers doing what
we love to do. We know we could not do it without all of our supporters. Thanks everyone. By Colin Garland, GCR Founder
