Profesor Ken with one of his new students

Profesor Ken with one of his new students

With the trips over for the season, we have just a few final reflections to share…an important one being how we perceive our role in river management in guest countries.  We cannot “tell” folks in Costa Rica or Ecuador what they should/should not do with their rivers, but we can express our appreciation for the treasures they have in their backyard. We have learned over the years that giving something back in exchange for enjoying such amazing rivers is a small price!

For our community involvement t-shirt project in Ecuador this season, we spread out and tried to play a role in two community schools: the El Reten School and the Colegio Borja.

ESCUELA EL RETEN, ORIENTE, ECUADOR

We started with a visit to the school of El Reten, located on river-right on the Upper Misahaulli. Many of the kids that attend the El Reten school have grown up watching us paddle the Upper Misahaulli, oft times sharing lunch left overs and floating down rapids with us (in inner tubes or recycled bottle flotations!). For a second year, our t-shirt program was given an additional infusion of supplies compliments of our friends Dawn and Brent. Brent brought a suitcase full of extra supplies and we took time out to share the contents of the suitcase with the school.

Bringing a suitcase of supplies to the El Reten school was a two-person job!

Bringing a suitcase of supplies to the El Reten school was a two-person job!

Brent and Dawn took care in packing up a suitcase full of school supplies to share with the kids at the El Reten School

Brent and Dawn took care in packing up a suitcase full of school supplies to share with the kids at the El Reten School

Interacting with the students at El Reten as we gave out a collection of t-shirts we had made up in Ecuador for the 2009 project.

Interacting with the students at El Reten as we gave out a collection of t-shirts we had made up in Ecuador for the 2009 project.

Group photo with new school supplies and t-shirts

Group photo with new school supplies and t-shirts

Many of the schools in the Oriente are bilingual–quichua and spanish, but learning english is highly desirable.  Before departing, one of the teachers at the El Reten school asked if we would be willing to come back and teach the kids some english. When Ken returned to spend two afternoons in the role of english teacher, the students and teachers all scribbled away (in their new notebooks) trying to remember every word.

Ken playing the role of english teacher to the students and teachers at the El Reten School on the Upper Mishaulli

Ken playing the role of english teacher to the students and teachers at the El Reten School on the Upper Misahaulli

COLEGIO BORJA KAYAK INSTRUCTION

Because of the quality time we spend in the Quijos Valley, it was decided that some of our t-shirt program needed to benefit students in the Borja region.  Loaded up with more of the custom shirts we printed for the students, as well as gear for a day of kayak instruction, Ken took the high school class out for a day of kayak instruction in a pool on the Quijos River.

While at first reluctant, the students of the Colegio Borja soon stood in line for a turn to experience kayaking.

While at first reluctant, the students of the Colegio Borja soon stood in line for a turn to experience kayaking.

boys and girls alike were enthusiastic to take a turn kayaking

boys and girls alike were enthusiastic to take a turn kayaking

Potential future ERA Ecuador guide mastering a day of kayaking with Ken

Potential future ERA Ecuador guide mastering a day of kayaking with Ken

A special thanks to all the paddlers that helped donate to the 2009 t-shirt program.  It should be gratifying to know that you not only have a custom shirt to commemorate your trip this season, but your donation helped touch the lives of a lot of smiling students in the Oriente of Ecuador!

For more information on the history of our community support projects, see our website.

You can also keep in touch with river management projects being addressed by the Ecuadorian River Institute (ERI)–an organization that has been on the forefront of environmental issues in Ecuador.