Eco-service Itinerary - Overview
Here's where you come in............
With all of the places you could visit for your school break and service, you may never have known that there is a tropical rain forest only a few short hours from your home. While it offers so much to all who visit and those who benefit from its natural resources, conservation and preservation efforts are needed to be sure that its beauty, biodiversity and resources are appropriately managed in the years ahead. The United States Forest Service does a great job of managing the Forest day to day and the research that takes place in the Forest helps identify issues which need to be addressed. But, there are many projects which need to be completed in the near term which will help preserve El Yunque Forest for the longer term. An 8-day eco-service itinerary has been built for you, addressing a wide range of environmental problems with creative and practical projects.
Some projects require creativity, some need muscles or artwork, and others need analytical skills. But, they all need your energy and collaboration with like-minded people. Participating in the 8 days of projects places you in the midst of this unique tropical rain forest, allows you to collaborate with your American peers and new friends in Puerto Rico, provides a chance for you to meet experts in different fields, and in all cases, lets you make a difference while having fun. Without question, you will have time to enjoy the rivers and waterfalls, the hiking trails, the diverse animal and plant species, and, yes, enjoy some zip-lines, too.
Details of these projects can be found by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.
Day Pre-1: Arrive in San Juan to be picked up by your 3 group leaders and join your group in the El Yunque Forest. You will settle in to your rooms at the Luquillo Experimental Forest Dormitories. That evening you will enjoy icebreaker activities, and you will be joined by United States Forest Service staff.
Day 1: After a Puerto Rican traditional breakfast you will begin work on You Bring it, You Take it, a project addressing the Forest's water pollution challenge due to litter. This activity will benefit the native animal and plant species that thrive in the rainforest and the visitors who come to the Forest to observe the Forest's natural beauty. After doing some "on the ground" and "in the water" research about the source of the problem, you will create a 5 minute continuous loop video for the Visitors Center which will be used to educate future visitors about the significance of the litter problem, its causes and what they can each do to help solve it. The project addresses water pollution because by reducing the amount of litter entering the water in the Forest, plant and animal species, visitors and Puerto Ricans outside the forest who use the water whose sources, will all benefit.
Day 2: Today you will be joined at breakfast by your new Puerto Rican high school friends, who will share most of the next week with you. They will work with you on a second water pollution project, Build Better Biodegradable Bathrooms (B4). This project addresses the human waste issue infecting the water at Puente Roto, the most popular recreational swim area in the Forest. Animals, plants, visitors and Puerto Ricans outside the Forest will benefit from the new user-friendly biodegradable bathrooms because bacteria from human waste will be reduced or even eliminated in the RIo Mameyes due to the lack of bathrooms currently at that swimming location. This project requires a lot of carpentry and bilingual signage, and you will work side by side with the Puerto RIcan students and local craftsmen to build biodegradable bathrooms.
Day 3: A unique barbeque breakfast is in store for you today. Stay tuned! This day will require a lot of walking through the Forest learning about invasive species along side Forest Service Staff and scientists. Get Dem Dang Pests addresses the invasive species problem in El Yunque by your helping to activate and disperse traps for the Western Indian Mongoose. This activity will benefit the Forest's animals, plants and visitors, in additions to those who live outside the Forest as the mongoose is known to travel and be very adaptive to new environments. You will do some detective work as you search for the best locations to place your traps. By setting traps, the mongoose population will decrease, helping the ecosystem and its food chain, and reducing the possibility for rabies contamination.
Day 4: You will prepare a Puerto Rican breakfast working side-by-dide with the Puerto Rican students. Project Weed Whacker addresses the removal of endangered plant species in the Forest. You will work with research scientists and Forest Service staff to learn about and then create informational pamphlets to be used by future Forest visitors. The pamphlets will describe the plant invasive species, where they typically are found, and have pictures. When future visitors are given the pamphlet they will be able to look for the invasive plants when they move about the Forest, and prepare maps and directions for the Forest Service regarding where they observed them, to enable their removal before they spread further. This will benefit native species and allow them to flourish; visitors will be able to enjoy the Forest's natural beauty, without the invasives taking over more areas of the Forest. This afternoon is time for a zipline through the Cloud Forest, looking down on the Forest's splendor.
Day 5: Everything you eat today will be green, sticking with the theme of the day! Human impacts can start outside the Forest, but impact the Forest, as well. Go Green addresses the urbanization and deforestation in the "buffer zone" around the rainforest. As urbanization moves closer and closer to the Forest, there are fewer habitats for migrating animals and the heat from the urbanization has significant impacts on the Forest. When you work on Go Green, you will plant community gardens at local schools, community centers, office buildings and neighborhoods, which will benefit migrating animals, and create commuinity consciousness about the importance of sustainable plants in local neighborhoods. You will work with local Puerto Rican community groups to plant these gardens. You will have dinner at the homes of your Puerto Rican friends tonight, to celebrate the work you all accomplished for their communities.
Day 6: The litter problem is also in the "buffer zone" or the "belt" around the Forest, in the increasing urbanized areas. Clean up the Belt builds upon an already successful "cleanup day" taking place in the Forest. For this project, you will kick off what will hopefully be once a month "Clean up days" outside the Forest, working with community groups, local politicians, and local businesses. Plants and animals will benefit by their habitats having less trash, and they will be able to grow and utilize the habitats. Your activity will get you in the midst of the Puerto Rican communities, and they will see that they, too, can make a difference by keeping their own environments clean. Cleaning up the buffer zone impacts the habitats of the migrating animals, and keeps the ecosystem functioning properly.
Day 7: You will head up to the captive breeding aviary right after breakfast to work with scientists to Help the Endangered. Working with them on their daily activities to monitor and help the parrots in the captive breeding area, you will be prepared to create a video later that day. The video will be used to educate local Puerto Ricans and future visitors about the current endangered species problem, specifically the Puerto Rican parrot. The video will be placed at the Visitors Center and it will also have a fundraising link so those who are interested can contribute directly to the Forest's captive breeding program. Tonight you will sing and dance the night away, learning local dances, and enjoying local community bands. Don't tell mom how late you stay out!
Day 8: Your last day of eco-service will be used to create a program for youth addressing the endangered species problem. Classroom Nature Discovery is an Audubon program which you will tailor to include information you believe is important to help the endangered animals in El Yunque Forest. You will work with Audubon staff to research and create an educational template to be used in third grade Puerto Rican classrooms. The purpose of this program is to educate the youngsters about the endangered animal problem and what they can do to help the ecosystem in general, and endangered animals specifically. You will design a "hands-on" program which will be taught in the classrooms. Animals and Puerto Ricans will benefit by the increased awareness and actions that the younger generation learns about and then adapts for themselves. Tonight you will party with your new Puerto Rican friends and Forest Service staff who you worked with this week.
Day Post 8: You will head out to the San Juan airport after an early breakfast, taking memories, new skills, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment. This was a week in which you didn't just learn, but you created outcomes that will help to preserve El Yunque Forest, its ecosystem, and benefit the animals and plants, Visitors and local Puerto Ricans.
Links for Project Detail: (Click for complete detail)
Some projects require creativity, some need muscles or artwork, and others need analytical skills. But, they all need your energy and collaboration with like-minded people. Participating in the 8 days of projects places you in the midst of this unique tropical rain forest, allows you to collaborate with your American peers and new friends in Puerto Rico, provides a chance for you to meet experts in different fields, and in all cases, lets you make a difference while having fun. Without question, you will have time to enjoy the rivers and waterfalls, the hiking trails, the diverse animal and plant species, and, yes, enjoy some zip-lines, too.
Details of these projects can be found by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.
Day Pre-1: Arrive in San Juan to be picked up by your 3 group leaders and join your group in the El Yunque Forest. You will settle in to your rooms at the Luquillo Experimental Forest Dormitories. That evening you will enjoy icebreaker activities, and you will be joined by United States Forest Service staff.
Day 1: After a Puerto Rican traditional breakfast you will begin work on You Bring it, You Take it, a project addressing the Forest's water pollution challenge due to litter. This activity will benefit the native animal and plant species that thrive in the rainforest and the visitors who come to the Forest to observe the Forest's natural beauty. After doing some "on the ground" and "in the water" research about the source of the problem, you will create a 5 minute continuous loop video for the Visitors Center which will be used to educate future visitors about the significance of the litter problem, its causes and what they can each do to help solve it. The project addresses water pollution because by reducing the amount of litter entering the water in the Forest, plant and animal species, visitors and Puerto Ricans outside the forest who use the water whose sources, will all benefit.
Day 2: Today you will be joined at breakfast by your new Puerto Rican high school friends, who will share most of the next week with you. They will work with you on a second water pollution project, Build Better Biodegradable Bathrooms (B4). This project addresses the human waste issue infecting the water at Puente Roto, the most popular recreational swim area in the Forest. Animals, plants, visitors and Puerto Ricans outside the Forest will benefit from the new user-friendly biodegradable bathrooms because bacteria from human waste will be reduced or even eliminated in the RIo Mameyes due to the lack of bathrooms currently at that swimming location. This project requires a lot of carpentry and bilingual signage, and you will work side by side with the Puerto RIcan students and local craftsmen to build biodegradable bathrooms.
Day 3: A unique barbeque breakfast is in store for you today. Stay tuned! This day will require a lot of walking through the Forest learning about invasive species along side Forest Service Staff and scientists. Get Dem Dang Pests addresses the invasive species problem in El Yunque by your helping to activate and disperse traps for the Western Indian Mongoose. This activity will benefit the Forest's animals, plants and visitors, in additions to those who live outside the Forest as the mongoose is known to travel and be very adaptive to new environments. You will do some detective work as you search for the best locations to place your traps. By setting traps, the mongoose population will decrease, helping the ecosystem and its food chain, and reducing the possibility for rabies contamination.
Day 4: You will prepare a Puerto Rican breakfast working side-by-dide with the Puerto Rican students. Project Weed Whacker addresses the removal of endangered plant species in the Forest. You will work with research scientists and Forest Service staff to learn about and then create informational pamphlets to be used by future Forest visitors. The pamphlets will describe the plant invasive species, where they typically are found, and have pictures. When future visitors are given the pamphlet they will be able to look for the invasive plants when they move about the Forest, and prepare maps and directions for the Forest Service regarding where they observed them, to enable their removal before they spread further. This will benefit native species and allow them to flourish; visitors will be able to enjoy the Forest's natural beauty, without the invasives taking over more areas of the Forest. This afternoon is time for a zipline through the Cloud Forest, looking down on the Forest's splendor.
Day 5: Everything you eat today will be green, sticking with the theme of the day! Human impacts can start outside the Forest, but impact the Forest, as well. Go Green addresses the urbanization and deforestation in the "buffer zone" around the rainforest. As urbanization moves closer and closer to the Forest, there are fewer habitats for migrating animals and the heat from the urbanization has significant impacts on the Forest. When you work on Go Green, you will plant community gardens at local schools, community centers, office buildings and neighborhoods, which will benefit migrating animals, and create commuinity consciousness about the importance of sustainable plants in local neighborhoods. You will work with local Puerto Rican community groups to plant these gardens. You will have dinner at the homes of your Puerto Rican friends tonight, to celebrate the work you all accomplished for their communities.
Day 6: The litter problem is also in the "buffer zone" or the "belt" around the Forest, in the increasing urbanized areas. Clean up the Belt builds upon an already successful "cleanup day" taking place in the Forest. For this project, you will kick off what will hopefully be once a month "Clean up days" outside the Forest, working with community groups, local politicians, and local businesses. Plants and animals will benefit by their habitats having less trash, and they will be able to grow and utilize the habitats. Your activity will get you in the midst of the Puerto Rican communities, and they will see that they, too, can make a difference by keeping their own environments clean. Cleaning up the buffer zone impacts the habitats of the migrating animals, and keeps the ecosystem functioning properly.
Day 7: You will head up to the captive breeding aviary right after breakfast to work with scientists to Help the Endangered. Working with them on their daily activities to monitor and help the parrots in the captive breeding area, you will be prepared to create a video later that day. The video will be used to educate local Puerto Ricans and future visitors about the current endangered species problem, specifically the Puerto Rican parrot. The video will be placed at the Visitors Center and it will also have a fundraising link so those who are interested can contribute directly to the Forest's captive breeding program. Tonight you will sing and dance the night away, learning local dances, and enjoying local community bands. Don't tell mom how late you stay out!
Day 8: Your last day of eco-service will be used to create a program for youth addressing the endangered species problem. Classroom Nature Discovery is an Audubon program which you will tailor to include information you believe is important to help the endangered animals in El Yunque Forest. You will work with Audubon staff to research and create an educational template to be used in third grade Puerto Rican classrooms. The purpose of this program is to educate the youngsters about the endangered animal problem and what they can do to help the ecosystem in general, and endangered animals specifically. You will design a "hands-on" program which will be taught in the classrooms. Animals and Puerto Ricans will benefit by the increased awareness and actions that the younger generation learns about and then adapts for themselves. Tonight you will party with your new Puerto Rican friends and Forest Service staff who you worked with this week.
Day Post 8: You will head out to the San Juan airport after an early breakfast, taking memories, new skills, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment. This was a week in which you didn't just learn, but you created outcomes that will help to preserve El Yunque Forest, its ecosystem, and benefit the animals and plants, Visitors and local Puerto Ricans.
Links for Project Detail: (Click for complete detail)
- Day 1 - Water Pollution: You Bring it, You Take it
- Day 2 - Water Pollution: B4 - Build Better Bigodegradable Bathrooms
- Day 3 - Invasive Species: Get Dem Dang Pests
- Day 4 - Invasive Species: Project Weed-Whacker
- Day 5 - Land Development: Go Green
- Day 6 - Land Development: Clean up the Belt
- Day 7 - Endangered Species: Help the Endangered
- Day 8 - Endangered Species: Classroom Nature Discovery