Caves Branch Update

The last few days at Caves Branch have been simply spectacular. After an exhilarating adventure in the waterfall caves, Group I spent a day completing a service project in the village of Armenia. Beginning with a trip into Belmopan to buy supplies at the local hardware store and a drive by the U.S. Embassy, we spent the entire day in the village working at the local school, a K-8 school with roughly 380 students. The principal of the school had requested a sidewalk so that the students would not have to walk through the mud, so our students learned how to frame the sidewalk and mix concrete with sand and gravel as there is no Quick-Crete here. We also painted the school and added a flagpole to the front. Everyone participated in numerous ways; I was so pleased with their effort. Another treat for our students was being able to sit in on some classes and read to the younger Armenian students. Overall, it was one of the most rewarding days for me as an educator ever. The cultural interaction was exactly what we hope to accomplish as we continue to define what it means to be a global school. Our students were reading to, teaching, working, and playing with the residents of this tiny village. As the sun set and we finished our final project, every member of our group felt an incredible sense of accomplishment as well as the satisfied exhaustion that comes with a long day’s work. These memories will surely last a lifetime.

Group III rotated to Caves Branch yesterday and successfully ensured that the class of 2010 had 100% participation for the 300 ft. rappel, possibly a first, with Pat celebrating his birthday as he went over the cliff. Today, we head into the caves for the waterfall cave tour and into the village later this afternoon on our final full day in Belize. All is well with everyone. Best, Chris.