STRI Panama - Miraflores Locks, Malambo Orphanage and Farm

Tuesday, June 19, the group went to the Miraflores Locks. We were able to see the history of how the Panam Canal was built, how it affected the communities surrounding the canal, and the biological siginifance of the construction.
The group was able to enjoy a buffet lunch that did NOT consist of rice and beans! We were mesmorized by the enginering of the lock system that is in place and the econimic impact of the ships traveling through the canal.

Wednesday, June 20. A wonderful day at the orphanage!

Maria Virginia...one of our fabulous exchange students from Brader School!!!!

From the Orphanage, we traveled to the Farm portion of the Orphanage.
The farm is a fabulous location to practice sustainable agriculture. The students worked hard contributing to the farm and had a good experience understanding the difficulties involved in maintaining a sustainable farm in rural Panama.
The students conducted soil quality tests on the farm that provided valuable information to the farm director for furture agricultural practices.
The farm is a beautiful location. While the two night rural experience may have been challenging for our students, it provided our group the opportunity to expand their depth of knowledge and understanding of the importance that the farm provides the students at the orphanage.
The farm hosts small groups ranging from school groups, Peace Corps groups and outreach programs approximately three times per month. We hope to offer more services to the farm in the furture through our Panama Ecology- STRI class.

Malambo Orphanage Farm dedicted a tropical tree selection to Cape Henry Collegiate School for the service work the students provided to the farm.

Curtis is a " Fun-gi"! This picture speaks volumes...please know that the students had a FABULOUS time at school today. We were so very proud of them and their excitement with the homestay.

STRI Panama: Portobelo and Scuba Panama

We just returned from a two day adventure to the historic town of Portobelo. We toured the ruins of the town and were told of their historical significance. Legends of pirates, hardship and ancestory that date back to the 1500's made the experience one that the kids will remember for years to come.

Looking good at the look out. It was really cool to see the fort and admire the views of the bay and the ships. I enjoyed climbing and taking lots of photos .- Dylan Plew

Below is a view from the Cabanas at Scuba Panama.

Although it looks unappealing it was very good!....besides the eyeball. -zoe weber
It was very good!....even the eye- trey midgett

Sunset at Scuba Panama.

Besides the room situation, Portobela was a great experience. Clear waters, colorful fish, and great views this has been by far the most fun I have had on this trip -zoe weber

Just by chance saw mrs johnson thru the hole in the portobelo forts ruins. -Alex DeManche.



Drake's Island.

Rewarding nap after a long day of snorkeling! This was seriously one of the most comfortable moments of my life! Haha! Mrs. J just delivered the pillow from my back for supreme comfort.-kj

Photos taken by Kim Johnson

STRI PANAMA: Punta Galeta and Barro Colorado Island

Friday was a great day at Punta Galeta! Galleta sits on the Carribean side of Panama so the students were able to begin comparing and contrasting the waters in the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Panama with the waters of the beautiful Caribbean.

Soooo studious-kj
Our focus of study at Galeta covered coral reef beds, sea grass beds and mangrove forest. The students were able to snorkle on the beautiful coral reefs and grass beds examining the vast variety of corals and seal life that the Carribean has to offer. The marine station prepared for us a traditional Panamanian lunch after snorkle. The visit concluded with a walk in the mangrove forest.

Saturday, we spent the day on Barro Colorado Island (BCI). The island is a biodiversity meca and a dream island for scientific researchers from all over the world.

Photos taken by Kim Johnson

Diving Update

Good Morning! People talk about diving and the great things they see, well our students got to experience it yesterday! The certified group wound up diving two sites (White Sands and the Garden). Coral of all colors, fish of all shapes/sizes/colors surrounded the divers. The highlight by far was the three turtles seen on the second dive, followed by a close second of diving through a coral reef cave. The group, who is finishing their certification, has tripled in their confidence. They were beyond scared initially, and after their second dive had smiles from ear to ear! They hope to be diving White Sands for their final open water dive to see the great things diving has to offer!

Yesterday, besides the diving, we spent the day snorkling, relaxing in hammocks, kayaking, and running around having fun. Today will be much of the same!!

The group has loved the sunrises and sunsets here. The sunrise this morning was unreal as they looked out their doors to see ocean, the sun, and sky. I often feel like we are sitting on the beach of one of those Corona commercials of two people sitting on their beach chairs without a concern in the world. This is the life we are living here. It saddens all of us that we are on our final day here!

Cuba Post MOnday June 18

I received an email from Scott McGraw. All is well. Cubans are complimenting our students on their fine behavior. Kids are having a blast and enjoying Cuban history and Culture. He'll try to email as regular as possible, but internet access is not available or very slow.

Glovers Atoll

Good Morning from Belize! This is the first chance I have had to get in front of a computer to give you an update on the trip. Over the past few days, we were at the Manatee Lodge on Gales Point. Gales Point is a 5 mile long finger on land no wider than 50 yards wide, and often just wide enough for the road. At the very tip of the point was the Manatee Lodge. We had a great three days there learning about Creol culture through their dance, food, culture, and interacting with the children and adults. On our last night at the Lodge, we were involved in a custom dance, called a ponta. Kids from the village were drumming and chanting as we mixed with the villagers and danced around a fire. In this custom, all of the attention is focused on the one individual in the center of the circle dancing. Everyone from Madyln to Ford participated and really got involved in the dance. The kids insight to the village and culture was really something special. Just hearing them talk, you could sense they just wanted more.

Yesterday, was a travel day that was supposed to be a quick 2 hour drive, which turned into an ALL day adventure. Over the past few days prior to departing, we were in a tropical depression with rain dumping down on us at times. As we left Gales point on the Coastal highway, which is more like a bumpy dirtroad that floods easily, we wound up driving through knee high water. But things were going well for 45minutes until we got to the river that washed out the bridge. Absolutely no way to get through. We wound up turning around, and going out the other way, again driving through knee high deep water. After the 2 hour drive on bumpy roads, which in places was like driving through a lake, we eventually made it out. We were making up a lot of lost time until two of our tires blew out from rocks being in the tires from our lake drives.

This unfortunate event, may have turned into one of the highlights of the trip. We ended up making it to a village consisting of Guatamalans and Salvadorians who were refugees from their native countries. They lived as farmers, had a plot of land, and became a self sustaining community. As we waited for the tire to be fixed, local kids came out and started playing with our students. In an situation that was gray, the kids made the best out of the situation. In fact, they did better than that. We were there close to 2 hours getting the tire fixed, and not one kid complained the entire time. The kids appreciated where they were and made the best out of the situation.

We made it to the boat doc just as the boat was pulling away to Glovers Atoll! We are here and had a great conversation about culture that night!

Overall, these kids are amazing! I am so proud of how much they support eachother and have come together as a group!

STRI Panama: Happy Father's Day Shout Out!

Happy Father's day! Love, Maria Virginia Paredes
Happy Father's Day Daddy, hope you have a great day!! Love B
Happy Fathers Day Pops! Love you Big Guy. Love Dylan Plew
happy fathers day padre!! Love you . Cya soon! Love trey
Happy fathers day dad, love you! Daniel
Happy fathers dayy daddd, love you!! I hope you liked your card <3-zoe
I love you Dad! I miss yOu! heaT is going to be fine. -kj. and read all the caps :)
Happy Fathers day dad love you and miss you alot!! -brooke
Happy Fathers Day padré. Love you and miss you!!!! - Alex
Buenos dia de padres! The soccer is so fun and miss you dawg-- curtis
Happy fathers day dad, hope its a good one and ill see you soon!---niko
Salutations!!! American dads i hope yall have a good father's day!!! - Adrian

STRI Saturday June 16

Hello!

Please take a moment to see the most recent blog posting, titled STRI Panama: Wednesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 14.  It cam be found under the archives in the NEXUS Blog.  I have uploaded some photos and a few of the students posted some of their own personal comments as well.

We have an amazing group of students with us!  A funny, caring and inquisitive group.  They have welcomed the two Brader School students to the CHCS family and are excited about making new friends at Brader School next week.

We had a wonderful time snorkeling at Punta Culebra today and we head to Barro Colorado Island tomorrow.  

We will try to update the blog with more pictures and messages tomorrow.

I am proud to be traveling with your children in Panama. 

Enjoy your weekend and please let me know if you need anything.
Kim Johnson 

STRI Panama: Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, June 13

Fun at the Miami Airport

The bros are strait chillin in MIA. The excitment was palpable for everyone in the airport (even though we are all running on adrenaline due to the minimal sleep from the previous night). The trip has been amazing so far, as well as one of the most fun experiences I have ever had. Daniel said it best; "This is it dude! We are in PANAMA!"-KJ

Canopy Tower watching the sunrise at 6am Wednesday morning.

It was rough getting up this morning after a long day of traveling but the view was amazing! This was a good start to the trip and has been fun so far hanging out with the guys on this trip.- Trey

FACT; Reguardless of the bugs and the time of morning it was, we were still looking beautiful just as the landscape, birds, and howler monkeys we were watching. And yes, this does describe how much all the girls down here get along and work together nicely out of our normal comfort zones. -McKenna

Plantation trail hike, Wednesday!

Flower species at the Canopy Tower.

Frog species in the jungle.

Afternoon lecture by Dr. Sunshine Van Bael on Chocolate, Fungi and Leaf-cutter ants.

Dr. VanBael's laboratory.

Thursday, June 14:
Punta Culebra

Paleontology lecture and hands- on fossil activity.





















Today we went snorkling and saw some truly amazing things. One creature we came across was a small octopus. It was really cool and changed colors.

Little Nexus Snorkeling update

Hello this is lily grant here to tell you about our snorkeling trip. We saw many beautiful sites and funny looking fish! Everyone seemed to have enjoyed this fun day. The boat ride was fun too. Bye y'all!!!!!!!!

Little nexus boat pics

On the way to snorkelingOn the way to snorkeling!