What Do Educators Say?
Blake Mazurek Educator
What Global Explorers destinations have you visited?
Amazon: Tambopata and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Why do you believe international travel is important for students?
I have had the privilege to travel internationally with students (both middle school and high school) since 1998. Each of these opportunities has provided me with more evidence that an international travel experience for young people is a unique and critical component to their growth as a global citizen. I have heard many stories from past participants and their parents about how their trip(s) have changed their view of the world and their place within it. Students gain a broader view of how people live, in some cases, very different lifestyles than they do. They are able to make connections with stories they hear in the media about environmental crisis, cultural conflicts and economic disparities with eyes and ears of an aware citizen. They can more identify with the untold stories behind the headlines, the people living in critical ecosystems and their viewpoints and share their experiences with others to help them to better understand the world.
What do you believe were the favorite parts of the Global Explorers experience for the group of students you brought to Peru?
There are so many portions of the trip that the group enjoyed, that it’s difficult to narrow it down! The Tambopata Reserve is one of the most biologically diverse regions on earth, and we experienced that to the greatest extent! The wildlife sightings were definitely on the top of many travelers’ list. We spotted a jaguar swimming across the bow of our boat as we cruised to TRC along the Tambopata River, witnessed a soaring Harpy Eagle, glanced upon a 5 ft. long electric eel as is slithered by our feet on the dock, absorbed the guttural roars of Red Howler Monkeys, the cackle of Blue and Yellow Macaws, and chatter of squirrel monkeys over our heads while hiking in the forest around TRC … a symphony like of which we will never forget! The portion of our group that participated in the Inca Trail Extension had an experience that will last for a lifetime. Probably one of the favorite parts of the trail was the arrival at the Sun Gate, the “entrance” to the citadel in the clouds, Machu Picchu. After three days, 45 km. and overcoming the challenges of high altitude hiking, the arrival at the sun gate signaled the end of the trail and a great sense of accomplishment – capped off by a fantastic view of Machu Picchu!
What were the favorite parts of the trip for you??
I would say my favorite parts for me were the opportunities to see the sense of wonder and excitement on the faces of my students as we encountered a culture and environment, which are so different from our homes. The wildlife sightings were also very rewarding.
What were the most important things you believe participants learned from the Global Explorers program?
On our particular workshop, we experienced some unexpected departures from our schedule due to airline delays. We “lost” 3 days of our workshop time on site in Tambopata. This presented our group with a challenge and I believe our group met that challenge and then some. We learned a valuable lesson on how life is not always predictable… in fact, it never is. We learned how to turn disappointment into positive and turn the unexpected into unbelievable!
Did you notice a change in any of the students from the beginning of the adventure to the end?
The students in our group amazed me. We began our journey with a vision of how we imagined the trip would play out, and found ourselves re-imagining and learning to take every minute in – to maximize the time given to us and not take for granted the opportunities presented to us. The students who participated in this workshop learned so much more than any textbook or lecture could provide.
