Exploring the Monteverde Campus!

Our Global Navigators are now settling into their new homes! They began their Tuesday with an introduction to Climate Change. Many students shared what they would like to take away from the course. All of our students were on the same page: “How can we become advocates for change and take part in creating a more sustainable world for future generations?”

One major focus for Tuesday’s class was looking into the impacts of glacial melting. Students created little animals out of clay and placed them in trays of ice, simulating animals living on frozen glaciers. By the end of class, the ice had melted and their creations had sunk to the bottom. This was a small, but incredibly powerful message for what is to come unless the world works hard to reverse global warming.

While the ice melted, students were taken on a hike by their teacher, Luis Dumani. Luis showed them a beautiful section of the Monteverde campus filled with mandarin oranges and greenhouses. While on the hike, Luis pulled out two ballon’s; one filled with air and the other filled with water. He held a flame to each balloon. The one filled with air popped while the one filled with water did not. The message: the ocean can store a lot of heat, adding complications to anti-global warming efforts.

Following class, students were treated to their first Spanish lesson. Our Global Navigators were divided into three different class based on skill and comfort levels. They had the privilege of being combined with another CIEE program on campus: Women for Environmental Action. Not only did this class sharpen their Spanish skills, but they also had the opportunity to foster even more friendships.

On Wednesday, early in the morning, six of our Global Entrepreneurs made their way to the CIEE Monteverde farm to assist in milking Mocha the cow. This was a fabulous experience that will be offered to all of our students over the course of the next three weeks.

Class on Wednesday centered around analyzing the Global Navigators’ own carbon footprints. Using data estimations from their daily lives, they were able to estimate the amount of Carbon emissions they emitted within the last year. This was a great way to create strategies to not only help limit their own carbon footprints back in the states, but those of their friends and families as well.

Now that our Global Navigators have had three full days under their belts, they are beginning to establish their new daily routines living in this beautiful jungle.