Makengue, Here I Come!

When I think about the rainforest, I think about what I learned in AP Environmental Science about the vanishing cloud forest or what I have read in the “The Sixth Extinction” by Elizabeth Kolbert about the disappearing frog species. In this sense, I only have a two dimensional idea of what the rainforest is. Therefore, I cannot say that I have firm expectations for my experience.

The two things I am most excited for are scientific research and personal reflection. As a freshman pursuing a career in biology, Makengue is a stepping-stone to the world of research. This kind of research in the rainforest, so essential to our understanding of global climate change and the effects of humans on the environment, has been something I could only read in books. Now, I have the opportunity to make an impact through cataloguing species found on the Makengue Reserve and creating a database for them. Through gaining knowledge of these species, we can find ways to best help preserve the ecosystems in which they live.

The second thing I am most excited about is the opportunity for personal reflection throughout the project. I don’t often get the chance to just breathe. I spend so much time absorbed in my schedule that there is no chance to sit and enjoy my surroundings or accomplishments. The beauty that constantly surrounds us at Makengue is not something to be taken for granted. It is important to me to feel small against the expansive earth (in this specific case, the rainforest) and to understand that our world is not confined to gray sidewalks and tall buildings, something I do not always do in my daily life. A sense of appreciation, gratitude, and humbleness through this kind of reflection is something I learned at Coastal Studies for Girls, a semester school for high school sophomore girls. Since then, I have lost the reflective part of my life and I hope to regain it through the journey that is Makengue.

In my super structured life, this adventure into the unknown comes as a nice break. I am eager to be immersed in awe-inspiring surroundings and a rich culture. We have a lot of work ahead of us to prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure but I am confident that we will work successfully as a team to meet our goals.

— Brianne

Uncertainty

Today some friends and I explored Washington, DC. One of our many stops was to the botanical gardens. Being in the jungle room made me imagine where I will be in a few months. I have never been to a rainforest so it’s hard for me to imagine what the Makengue rainforest will be like. Will I hear native animals speaking to each other in the night? Will the canopy be too thick to see the sky?

To paint a better image in my mind, I did some research on Makengue. First, I made a visit to the Makengue Reserve Facebook page. I was in complete awe while scrolling through the pictures on the page. The birds were so fascinating and it amazes me that the amount of birds that you can see on the Facebook page doesn’t even make a dent into how many birds live in the rainforest. I could imagine myself learning and experiencing wonderful memories at Makengue until the pictures of the spider stopped me dead in my tracks. In the picture it looked like a big, hairy spider, the kind I don’t enjoy. I’m hoping not to encounter my hairy, creepy crawler friend during my travels! What particularly astonished me was the vibrant colors. The colors on the frogs were so pure and bright. In addition to the wildlife I was able to get a glimpse of what the property and facilities look like. They look absolutely wonderful. Next I took a journey over to Makengue’s website (http://makengue.wix.com/reserve). The website provided more information about the reserve and more pictures! This whole process of trying to learn more about Makengue has been enlightening and has made me more excited for this adventure (I didn’t know that I could be more excited than when I was first accepted into the program).

To find comfort within discomfort, go from the familiar to the unfamiliar, to emerge yourself in a new culture is what creates the thrill of this adventure. This trip is presenting me multiple new opportunities. I can’t wait to see and hear the wildlife. It will also be so much fun to get to know the Nicaraguan students and work on projects that will protect this beautiful area. While there is no way for me to fully understand everything I will experience, one thing is for sure, this will be an experience of a lifetime.

Meet Dorian Kershaw, Program Assistant

Hello! My name is Dorian Kershaw and I am the program assistant, which means I help to plan the laboratory classes for Makengue students, guide them through their semester-long projects, and assist in their travels. I am an environmental studies major at AU and an alum of the Makengue Project from last year. In my previous endeavors I have coordinated environmental science lessons at a Boys and Girls Club as part of a tree-planting community restoration effort, completed a year with Jumpstart (an AmeriCorps program) working in an Anacostia preschool, interned for the Bipartisan Policy Center, and spent my summer with the National Air and Space Museum. When not working on the Makengue Project, I work for the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General as a student trainee. I am originally from Portland, Oregon and have a love for the great outdoors (especially climbing trees). I know that during our time visiting the 190 acres of virgin rainforest at Makengue, students will have a profound connection with nature and develop a stronger sense of their footprint in the global community.

Our Beginning

Ever since I read abut the University College and its delightful programs in January 2014, I have had my sight set on the Makengue Project. I knew coming into the University College program that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct research as a freshmen, while working in a living-learning community and traveling to Nicaragua, a country of interest to me. I am an International Studies major with a Spanish minor and so this trip is right up my alley. I also took the Visual Literacy class this semester, so I am excited to use my new skills to capture and edit images and video.

However, more than anything, I am eager to work with a team of determined, creative, and adventurous people to gain multiple perspectives and reach our mission together. The mission of Makengue is “to conserve rainforest biodiversity through environmental research, international education, and engaging the local community.” I have no doubt that we can continue the project that began a few years ago and reach the 3 year project goals.

I am also thrilled to hear that we will be visiting schools in Nicaragua as education matters are very close to my heart. I have been working with kids for over 6 years now and this will truly be the so called “cherry on top” of this trip. Moreover, it will be an opportunity for me to increase my Spanish-speaking skills which is also exciting because I have not had as much time this year to study Spanish beyond homework.

Undoubtedly, we will all come together, choose our projects, implement them, and report on our efforts upon arrival to the U.S. during our Research Symposium presentation. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn, serve, and have an adventure with my fellow team members. Now, let us see who takes responsibility for which project and how we come together as one. Nicaragua……here we come!!!

Pre Makengue Experience

We have not begun to do any major preparations for the trip what so ever.  Our first class was last Wednesday, and our next class will begin tomorrow.  The only real preparations I think anyone has made in regards to the trip has been obtaining a passport.  Having never left the country before, this was a very big deal for me.  I hope this will be the first of many expeditions into the great unknown for me.  In fact, adventure was a majority of the reason I signed on for the trip, and after going over the itinerary, I am not disappointed.

Of course, the main mission of our trip to Makengue is to learn from the isolated habitat and use our special skills to help it grow into something even more beautiful.  Though the copious amount of walking and surviving in the wild may seem daunting at first, I expect that it will morph me into a stronger human being as a whole.  But besides normal difficulties of living in the wilderness, the trip seems to be a most excellent time.  The soccer game we play with the locals will be a legend to speak of decades from now in both Nicaragua and America.  Side note, it still amuses me that American University is representing America in an international match of feet and fury.  Also, the Salsa dancing towards the end of the trip seems to hold some great potential as well.  Although I am not quite the aficionado (already learning Spanish) of the art of the Salsa, I plan to surprise the locals by practicing Salsa a few Tuesdays before we leave with the help of fellow Makengueian Oksana.  Not only that, but with the help of the other Spanish speakers in our group, I plan on at least speaking a few sentences to the locals.

The trip includes other exotic foods, places, not to mention a zip line across a volcano.  But it is also a beautiful way to understand and appreciate  new people in other countries and at AU.  Though I still need to get my vaccinations and decide what we are going to be doing there academically, Makengue will be calling my name throughout the whole experience.

The Makengue Project 3.0

Here we go again!  Twelve new students have been selected for American University’s third offering of The Makengue Project.  Meet those students on the Who We Are page.

Students write their bio’s for the Makengue wordpress site

This year students will be working on a few new and exciting projects including developing an environmental training day for primary and secondary teachers, producing educational videos about the rain forest as well as a little bit of ethnozoology and ethnobotany.  We will conduct another bioblitz — this time expanding it into the Pocosolito River. Check back during the course of the semester to read more about it.

Are you curious to see where last year’s group left off?  Then check out their Prezi presentation.

 

Meet Professor Chris Tudge

Hi! I am the keeper of the Makengue crew, along with Angela and Dorian. Having been once last year we have the unique perspective to help the current Makengue crew get the most out of this class and their visit to Nicaragua. I teach biology at AU and am an avid naturalist, bird watcher, hiker, and identifier of all things natural. I am excited to do this all again at Makengue in 2015. I have a wife and two adopted Chinese daughters (11 and 13) who are all jealous that I get to go to Nicaragua again, but I promise to take them all there sometime. I am a native born Australian but I also have British and US citizenship. I have traveled extensively in the world, but still have to get to the continents of Antarctica and Africa. I have previously visited and birded in Costa Rica, Panama and Belize in Central America and so have already seen much of the wildlife we will encounter on our trip. I hope I can enthuse all of the current Makengue crew with my contagious love of all things wild, but also get them to appreciate how fragile the natural world is, and instill in them an ethos of stewardship, that is essential for humanity’s survival. Start packing, and start getting excited!!!