Oakland Zoo Teen Trips

We're still here!

2010-07-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

Now that we are back in Antigua, our internet access has improved. We are still here and having an awesome time in this amazing country. I really think Guatemala has made an impact on all of us here.

Our time in Peten was everything we could have wanted- we cleaned cages, made diets, learned a LOT about how to rehabilitate animals, as well as a lot about conservation. It has hit home how much the choices we make at home affect ecosystems all over the world. And of course, the animals were great to be around- spider monkeys, howler monkeys, parrots galore, coatis and macaws, just to name a few. We were woken up every morning to the sounds of the scarlet macaws in pre-rehab and the wild howler monkeys who liked to hang outside our cabins. We couldn't have asked for a better experience, and many of us are already planning our trips back...

When we moved on to Hawaii a few days ago, we really got to see the spectrum of habitats in Guatemala. There, we were on the beach, instead of deep in the forest, though the conservation issues were just as prevalent. We learned about they types of sea turtles on the beach and went out on patrol with the other volunteers 3 nights in a row looking for nests. We had one olive ridley sea turtle spotting, and were there for the rescue of a sea turtle nest by ARCAS- a really special experience! There may now be a few more sea turtles in the ocean in a few months because of that nest.

All in all, although we haven't been able to update much, we have been having an amazing, life-changing experience. Making new friends, learning new things, and I know that Randi and I have really enjoyed traveling with all your awesome kids and getting to know them better.

We will sadly say goodbye to Guatemala in a few days, but are looking forward to seeing you all again and sharing our experiences. Adios!

--Melinda, Randi, and all the gang!

2010-07-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Dear extended family:
I am using my phone again to type this. We have been out of service so much and unable to have Internet as well. We are now at arcas at the beach. It is amazing. Everyone is doing well and having a magical, learning experience. More on a few days. Love to you all, R and the gang.

Pics

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And more....

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Even more!!!

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More Photos!

2010-07-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Fotos!

2010-07-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hola!

2010-07-16T04:23:00.001-07:00

We are having mucho fun! My giant fingers are trying to type on my itty-bitty keyboard. We have not been able to get online :( we are at ARCAS. We are sleeping right next to a slew of macaws. I can hear all their chatter as I type this. Today we learn all the ropes and start working with all the animals.

Everyone has LOVED all the yummy food! Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! We love and miss you and thank you for your support to have this amazing experience!

Randi & the gang

Guatemala here we come!

2010-07-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

The Oakland Zoo 2010 Teen Trip to Guatemala! Wahoooooooooo! Old friends and new friends are getting ready to embark on an experience of a lifetime! All of you at home can join us by following our adventure via this blog. Of course, we will be taking you with us in our hearts as well.

Stay tuned!

The pool at our hotel

2009-07-23T09:07:00.001-07:00

Popcorn & drinks

2009-07-22T09:40:00.002-07:00

Now Showing

2009-07-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

It us raining buckets.... Sooooo, we are going to see the very Thai movie "Harry Potter." the gang is very excited!

Kho Tao

2009-07-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

2009-07-17T03:01:00.000-07:00

Today has been a lot of traveling. Last night we took the train, then a bus and ferry in the morning. Now we're at Koh Pha-ngan. The scenery is like heaven and the bungalos we're staying in are adorable. Everyone has been exhausted from so much traveling recently, so it's just been chilling and relaxing at the beach. We have two nights to stay here and then it's time for the next island. There's kyaks and soccer on the beach, and some sea lice.. But the water is so refreshing and everyone's having a lot of fun. Keep updated!:]

-Ariana

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, yeah...

2009-07-17T02:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I have been taking loads of fotos on my phone, sending back to the C&E office and then Sarah Powers has been posting them. Sadly, I did not have my handy-dandy phone gadget with me when we were with the elephants, but we have lots-o-great-pictures to show when we get home.

Where are we now? On an island. Yes, life is rough. We will get through it The group has been in the ocean for hours. We have beachfront huts! Yes, even more pity for us.

The group has been getting along great. Relatively little issues for 18 teens! We are happy to be near the ocean and have some down time. We have done so much!

We have internet at the place we are staying and we will be here for two nights so stay tuned for more updates from other group members.

Highlights - Gibbons. Elephants. Thai Food. Amazing Temples. Hornbills. The People. Our Accommodations. Shopping. Our Guide.

I wish I could say more... I am too hot to be witty and poignant. Applogies!

The ocean is calling.

Randi

Wat pho - 46 meters long!

2009-07-16T08:10:00.002-07:00

Reclining budah 46 meters long

Wat Pho

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Wat Pho

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We bought a tile and put our names on it

The floating market

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At the Market

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Insects at the market

Grand palace

2009-07-15T08:45:00.001-07:00

Our guide, Terry

2009-07-15T08:43:00.003-07:00

Grand palace

2009-07-15T08:43:00.001-07:00

Wat Arun

2009-07-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Elephants!!!

2009-07-15T01:18:00.000-07:00

We just got back from an amazing experience at the Elephant Nature Park and are safely back in Bangkok. At the Park we got to feed and bathe the beautiful giants up close. We also had the opportunity to meet Lek, the lady who started the entire project. Her dedication to the injured working elephants was very inspirational and we gave her an Oakland Zoo t-shirt, which she put on right away. We got to see the one day old baby elephant named Chang Yim, who was adorable!! Chang Yim walked down to the river to bathe for the first time, which we also got to witness. The rest of the elephants at the Park were awesome to meet and we listened to the horrible things they had been through before they were rescued. Overall, the elepants were incredible and the experience was unforgettable.
We took the overnight train to Bangkok, which most of us had never done before. Once we arrived, we ate breakfast and went straight to the stunning Grand Palace. The architecture, decoration, and design were jaw-dropping. There was gold and brightly colored glass covering everything! We then went across the river and visited Wat Arun or the Temple of the Dawn. It's tower was amazingly tall and adorned with broken ceramics. Although it was sweltering, it was a great day!

-Erin, Elise, Ariana

Football with local kids

2009-07-13T08:11:00.001-07:00

Sukothai

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Blake

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Sukothai

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Sukothai is situated between Bangkok (430kms from Bangkok) and Chiang Mai. It was the first capital of Thailand and is famous for the extensive historical ruins.

the local fare

2009-07-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

Some of the group are being quite adventurous by trying the local fare. This quaint donut shop is located in the Bangkok train station.

2009-07-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Thai boxing! Eeek!!

Hornbills!!!!!

2009-07-09T02:45:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is Ariana writing. We've just got back to Bangkok after staying at a lodge at the Khao Yai National Park. We learned about hornbills and got to go on a couple hikes infested with leeches.... Hecka cute. I think I liked the first hike more than the second though..... Lot's of bugs. But staying at the resort was cool, we saw lots of monkeys:]
Oh yeah, and the flights.. were BRUTAL. Very long. But I think the second one was easier because I slept through most of it. Siiiigning off, Ariana out!<3

Sa waat di kha! C'est Sika/Sophie. We are here, and, wow, what a flight. I really don't know if I'm ready for the flight back. It was traumatizingly long. But I do have to say the first hike at the Khao Yai National Park was definitely worth it. The views were amazing and it was inspiring to hear and learn and be led by Dr. Poonswad and her team. We learned a lot about the hornbills, particularly their plight, and the areas in which they've been forced to center around, i.e. Hueng Ka Kheng and Budo Mountain. Very cool. Somebody has new information for her campers! =) On our second hike, we also got to see and hear gibbons and their morning calls. That.was.freaking.awesome. Oh yes. And now I know why Indian Muntjac are called "Barking Deer". More information for campers!! =)
<3 Love, Sika Deer/Sophie

Hello all! It's Melinda here, and I concur with all of Sophie and Ariana's thoughts on KYNP- it was truly amazing. Hearing the wild gibbon calls was a personal dream come true, and Prof. Poonswad and her team were amazingly generous with us, and it was a once in a lifetime experience. So few people have gone to the parts of the park that we have now been to, much less with such an esteemed researcher. For the hornbill enthusiasts out there, we have now seen wild Wreathed, Great and Oriental Pied Hornbills! Next stop: Sukhothai!

We are all having a fantastic time! More info and updates to come along the way! Signing off for now!

2009-07-08T09:07:00.003-07:00

First Thai meal for five of the teens!

2009-07-08T09:07:00.001-07:00

Pad Thai

2009-07-08T09:06:00.001-07:00

Here we are with our fancy schmancy leech guards on. We are getting ready to trek and see hornbills... More pics in a bit!

Safe and sound in BKK!

2009-07-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

We are safe and sound in BKK! It is around 1:30 am and we are all bushed but excited for what awaits us! Love from all of us!

Randi

Yoda rules!

This is us at immigration in BKK

Thailand, here we come!!!

2009-07-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

In five days, Melinda Sievert and I, Randi Meyer, will be heading to Thailand with 18 awesome teens on our annual Oakland Zoo Eco-Trip! We leave July 6th 2009 and return July 26th, 2009. Who knows what kinds of wonders await us. We will learn a lot, live a lot and love a lot!

Melinda and I will try to add pictures and information to the blog to keep you up-to-date.

I am very fortunate to get this chance to spend time with your young adults. I look forward to an experience much like the one we had in East Africa last summer – Moving, educational, creating bonds that will last a lifetime and positive, life-altering encounters.

The fact that you have chosen to send these teens on a trip of this magnitude shows your dedication and love for them. I look forward to growing up in this world with them!

Stay tuned for details from the magical and enchanting country known as Thailand! Same Hornbill time, same Hornbill station!

Randi & Melinda

Flying the friendly skies to home sweet home!

2008-07-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

Goodness gracious, we have not had much time and the Internet has been down. We are all getting ready... packing our bags and memories. Both excited and sad to be going home. Our group has become family. We have experienced magic and life changing moments together.

Yesterday we went to the genocide museum. After walking through, we all sat outside in silence. We know that although we have trials and tribulations in life, our seemingly piddly issues do not compare to what many others face in this world. We are all humbled and grateful for what we have. If you're bored, google the word 'interahamwe.' I think that's how you spell it. Things are not finished here.

We will return home different... but in a good way. We will also return dirty and bug bitten but the dirt and bites will go away, the changed attitudes will not. Thank you all for allowing, and working so hard, to let your kids come on this trip. The people, the animals, our group and all the experiences have made us stronger, smarter, more empathetic, grateful, and humbled. The intensity of this trip on so many levels has enlightened us even more and we all thank you for this opportunity.

I again will say that knowing your kids and traveling with them has been wonderful for me too. For those of you who do not know, I had breast cancer last year - went through chemo and radiation and then broke my leg in three places. Last year taught me to always live life to the fullest and that life is short. Although I was a champ all last year, I have struggled with the aftermath. It was not until this trip with your kids that I feel I broke through and can move on. They are all so amazing in such different ways. I spend a lot of my time in an office, doing all the administrative hoo-haw... I do not get as many opportunities to be around youth as much as I did back in the day. Now I have spent more than 14 days with your gentle, caring, funny, honest, strong, vulnerable kids and they have taught me so much. Again, thank you for raising such amazing beings. Young adults that I feel good about holding our future in their hands. Young adults that have become part of my family now too. Wish you all could see this and I hope you're doing well.

We will see you soon!

Love from us all!

Sorry for the brevity... more to come later...

2008-07-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Wow... Rwanda is more amazing and welcoming than I remember. Yesterday we hiked to see the gorillas... all had a magical experience. All were also so very tired, full of dirt, grime and mud and full of stinging nettles. Thins gang is really a great group of troopers!

Today most of us hiked to see Dian Fossys grave along with the gorilla graveyard. It was so moving. A few stayed behind to rest as trekking to see the gorilla groups they saw was quite a feat! They are the two hardest groups to get to.

Tomorrow we are heading to the Genocide Memorial.

I will say more manana. I am oh so tired and need to catch some much needed zzzzzzzzz's. i just wanted to let you all know we are still safe and still living out a dream that has changed all of us.

Love,
Randi

So long Uganda... It's been real! Real fun!!!

2008-07-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a quickie update as I have little time....

We went out with the lion expert again yesterday and it was AWESOME! The Vet/Professor found three male lions that he does not see often. We all watched them for a while and then the vet darted the male so he could put a radio collar on him. After the lion was down (and the other two boys were scared off), we all got out and watched the vet do his magic... taking samples and putting the collar on the lion. We were just feet away! Then we went away to a safe distance to watch the lion come out of the anesthesia and walk off into the sunset. The researcher said our group gets to name the lion too! We are pumped! On the night game drive, we went out with him again and they played hyena distress calls which attracted several hyenas to us. Since we are with a researcher, we have been allowed to go "off track" and drive through places that tourists are not allowed. The opportunities we have had are just amazing and mind boggling!

We went on another game drive this morning and we ended our last full day in Uganda with me splurging again... We went back to the pool and we had a fancy-schmancy (you know, the kind with so many utensils you are not sure what to use what with) lunch at the same place. We even got ice cream which was a huge treat for all of us. Not only is the pool great fun, it helps get the days of dirt and grime off our bodies. I know, very classy, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

I brought my phone/iPod along with some portable speakers on this journey. Today we played music for some kids that were gawking at us crazies... before you knew it, we had a mob of all the kids around and we danced and had fun for a good 1/2 an hour.

It is funny to camp or eat at a place and the common scenery is warthogs cruising around, perhaps an elephant passing through, several marabou storks hanging out, mongooses scurrying about under your chairs and gobs of other Dr Seuss like reptiles and birds and insects galore.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we have seen a bunch of giraffes too.

Tomorrow we head off for a looooong drive down to Rwanda!

Again, thanks for the great comments! We have soooo many great pictures and stories to share.

Love to you all!

post script - I adore each and every one of your kids. They are all so great in different ways. Thank you for raising such smart, polite and really cool Homo sapiens!

Still here having a great time!!!!

2008-07-16T02:13:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

This is only the second time I could get to a pc. I sent pictures via my phone and had another OZ staff member download. I do not have much time so I will make this snappy!

First I would like to say that we love to see your comments so keep ‘em coming!

We have seen – Lions with a fresh kill, a ton of hippos (including ones walking right by our tents at night!) 20 or so crocks, a plethora of warthogs, water buck, cape buffalo, kob, jackals, hornbills, bee eaters, hawks, bush pigs, chimps (including a cute baby), king fishers, bustards, heartabeasts, baboons, patos, blue & red tailed and vervet monkeys… Gosh, I know I am forgetting some biggies here.

When we went to Budongo (the place the Zoo supports), we were given the royal treatment. We got to trek where only researchers are allowed and that is where we saw our first group of wild chimps. They also had a special high-school group come who study conservation and agriculture. The group sang to us and we all hung out and exchanged stories and email addresses. The snare removal folks took us out to remove snares and we found 9! One snare even had a fresh duiker kill in it!

Now we are at Queen Elizabeth park and I splurged to let the kids go swimming in a pool that hoity-toity folks use. It cost $10 per person but it is well worth it. We are all so sweaty and dirty. Tonight we are going on a special night game drive where a lion specialist will be taking us out. Yet another golden opportunity that other tourists do not get a chance to do.

The kids, and Felicia and I too, are having the time of our lives! We are all still getting along great and really enjoying Uganda and each other. This has been a trip of a lifetime and I say that for myself too!

Love and thanks to you all!

Randi and the rest of the Gang!

Finally some fotos!

2008-07-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Jambo from Budongo!

2008-07-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all. I do not have much time... Just a quick update to let you all know we are having a blast! Today and yesterday we spent time in Budongo.. We have seen baboons, chimps, hornbills, millipedes, rollers, vervets, blue, red-tailed and patos monkeys, a ton of butterflies, hawks, kingfishers.... the list goes on and on.

All the people have been very welcoming and so very nice. The teens are having the time of their lives and learning so much. Tomorrow we are heading to Murchison Falls where we will see bigger game. We are all healthy and happy and getting along great.

I did want to mention that you all have done a great job raising these kids as they are all very polite and respectful and so very smart to boot. More later.

cheers from London, heathrow airport!

2008-07-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

our time here is a 7 hour layover. blimey! i am writing from my phone and it is not cooperating. we are all great! more later. cheerio!

Just 8 days to an adventure of a lifetime!

2008-06-30T09:55:00.001-07:00

At 7:20 pm on July 8, 2008 teens Arianne Olarig, Michael Horgan, Olivia Brown, Maddy Zamora, Sabrina Lovato, Karin Petrites, Marissa Betts, Donovan Allen, Karin Nguyen, Cameron Jones and two staff from the Oakland Zoo - Felicia Walker and Randi Meyer will be flying the friendly skies on their way to Uganda and Rwanda. Why on Earth are you going there, you ask? Because on this experience of a lifetime we will see hippos, chimpanzees, gorillas, hornbills, warthogs, elephants, giraffes and much, much more. We will not just be armchair travelers either because that is not how we roll! We will be visiting, and even helping, some of the projects that the Zoo supports such as the Budongo Snare Removal Project http://www.budongo.org/. We are certain this journey will change the way the teens see the world and their place in it!

Our seventeen day adventure takes us to a plethora of spots in Uganda that is teaming with wildlife and we end our trip visiting the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Stay tuned as we hope to get some updates on this site throughout our journey, though as it is Africa and we will be busy little bees, we only promise to do our best!