Let's celebrate Dr. Jane Goodall!

It's April 3, and Dr. Goodall is celebrating her 86th birthday!  I have posted about her before, but this year is special.  A few months ago on a quick trip home to Texas, I was able to visit the Grapevine High School Ecology Center, which we originally built during my senior year of '88-'89.  The dedicated teachers recently assigned to the Center have great things planned to restore the space to the primary purpose of outdoor, experiential learning. 

During my trip, I was able to locate, scan, and share most of the original pictures and documents from our work in the early years of the project.  These can now be accessed by the current set of students who will continue our efforts.

I am grateful for the influence of my parents who made it possible for me to meet Dr. Goodall in 1985.   After the tireless work of my mentor teacher, Sherri Steward, we were honored to have Dr. Goodall dedicate the Ecology Center in 1989.  She returned to support our school again in 1992 when the students were ready to celebrate an expansion. 

Dr. Goodall is a global influence today, even as she remains safely isolated at her home in England during the COVID 19 pandemic.  She remains active, passionate, and driven in much the same way that led her to Africa in the 1960s to change the world!

Seek out the people that have made a difference in the world.  They are real, and sometimes you get to meet them!   Sometimes they are the heroes in your own community.  Reach out, say thank you, and commit to making your little corner of the world a better place too!

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/science/jane-goodall-coronavirus.html

Jane Goodall's 80th Birthday

Well, what a fun day to remember one of my mentors in life!!

 

This picture was taken in 1992 when I returned to Grapevine High School to attend a fundraiser and school assembly where we again honored Dr. Goodall and the work of my other major mentor, Sherri Steward-Ganz.   I think my mom still has the videotape of my speech during the assembly.  I am sure I said what every college student says, "When I was in high school..."  even though it had just been 3 years. 

Happy Birthday Dr. Goodall!  What a timely message you still share about global conservation and the power of ONE!  You are wonderful!!

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/02/happy-80th-birthday-and-thanks-jane-goodall/

Dian Fossey Google Doodle

This was a beautiful reminder of the life and work of Dian Fossey.  Her movie came out in 1989, and my high school Ecology Club went to see it as a reminder that the little tiny impact we were trying to have in our community could have a ripple effect.  Little did we know that soon her colleague, Dr. Goodall, would visit our high school and dedicate the Ecology Center in April 1989.  The connections and memories made that day have affected hundreds of lives in our community, and it helped shape my life.  I am no where near the mountains of Africa, but I know these women were real and dedicated and determined.  We can show those same qualities where ever our lives lead us.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/16/dian-fossey-google-doodle_n_4609978.html

On a petty side note, I do not believe celebrities should be included with the likes of Fossey, Carson, Goodall, Maathai, Earle, and other conservation and exploration pioneers.  Being arrested for a protest is a far cry from dedicating your life to a different world.   Just my two cents.

Trip down Memory Trail

I had the opportunity to visit my High School here in Texas this week.  My goal was to meet the Science Department Chair and Ecology Center Director, Deanna Showalter, so I could visit my old stomping grounds behind the school.  Once upon a time, in 1988-89, my Science teacher and mentor, Sherri Steward, decided we needed an Ecology Center.  Hundreds of hours and several poison ivy outbreaks later, we dedicated the center with the help of Dr. Jane Goodall in April 1989.  Since then (22 years!???) the center has grown and continues to provide an area for environmental education at GHS.  So I was very excited to take my kids to see how the center was doing.  Thanks to Deanna for all her work, since taking over the Center after Sherri's retirement.  I am grateful for passionate teachers everywhere who do all the extraordinary things that provide lifelong lessons for their students.

Small mammal habitat with the resident possum

I can still remember the hours we took to dig out the pond...wonderful volunteers still help with maintanence and expansion.

Oldest "Mustang Grapevine" in the area