By Danny Magrans

“A person cannot discover new oceans unless they have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Andre Gide

Today (Saturday) began another journey. Eighteen nervous, excited and eager students plus four adult chaperons boarded a plane with the Dominican Republic as their destination. This destination is a first time for most of us. We studied and prepared for this experience but there is nothing quite like living it. The students responded beautifully to the demands of international travel.

A million thanks for supporting your students’ mission to discover new oceans.

Tomorrow we will tour an ecological site so be prepared for some wonderful pictures.

Follow along here to learn more about our Dominican Republic trip and all our students are doing.  Danny Magrans and his 20+ students and parents leave early Saturday, January 19 for this wonderful adventure!

“I hear, I forget….I see, I remember….I do, I understand.”
– Buddhist Proverb

Some people wait on miracles while others create them. The past two days I witness I miracle in action. A living miracle based on what occurred while we served a small Peruvian village called Chalco.

As stated in a previous post we scheduled this trip not only to tour but also to find real and meaningful ways to serve.

On March 10 a dormitory will open it’s doors to house 20 girls between the ages of 12-16. Many of these girls have been abused, neglected, or simply need a closer place to call home so they can receive a proper education with the hopes to break the chain that currently exists.

Our goal was to destroy a road, lay sewer pipes, and rebuild the road so that the girl’s dormitory can have a sewer system that works. This was no easy task because on the second day we had no heavy machinery and we were limited on the tools we could use: picks, sledge hammers, shovels, and hands.

Before we started we were introduced to the Forman of the group. His name is Alex. He told us about the school’s mission, challenges the girls have to endure and the task we were about to take on.

Let me say for a solid day and a half, a total of 12 hours, we hustled, laughed, and cried. We’re not sure if the tears we shared were because this village has so little or if it is because we have so much. Maybe it was because what we long too have is the wonderful and peaceful balance that the Peruvian people demonstrated. We extended our labor of love, and time for several hours and in return they extended their norms.

During or lunches a Peruvian family opened their home to us and prepared traditional Peruvian dishes. They offered whatever they had so that we could continue offering what we could to support this wonderful project. I wish one could have seen the joy in this family’s faces and their thanksgiving all because each participant left a dollar tip for each meal they prepared.

We worked despite heavy raining conditions and with a very limited amount of supplies. We modified as much as we could. At times we used rocks to dig, feet to push, and our hearts to guide us through this experience.

I must say, and I feel certain my traveling companions would agree, never in our lives have we seen such poverty and never in our lives have we felt so welcomed. Never in our lives have we seen people who have so little but truthfully have it all. Especially those things that matter most.

Not only did we accomplish the mission but we went well beyond the expectations. Let me explain.

Remember me mentioning the introductions with Alex? Well during this time I noticed the mattresses that were stacked in two piles of ten. To put it simply they were disgusting. Many of them were simply a piece of foam and were very dirty. I leaned over to a student and asked him to take a mental picture and to remind me to discuss this with the group. I guess the old saying is true, “great minds think alike.” At our regularly scheduled journal writing and reflections several students and parents noticed the same. By the end of our discussion we had an anonymous donor to purchase 22 mattresses and my students made the commitment to raise the funds to purchase pillows, sheets and blankets. All of the mattresses and bed sheetings have already been paid for and will be delivered to the dormitory in a few short days.

We talked about this opportunity all year. We saw pictures and images about this culture. Students have memorized facts and recited thoughts. They have recalled images and pictures with relative ease. I am so proud of the work we experienced in the classroom. However with the 26 people who committed themselves to following me in the insanity of extending the classroom to the world and making a difference, I feel certain that because “we did, we now understand.”

Be thankful for what you have. Create the balance that we learned and long to have. Remember that those who give are almost always the recipient of the greater gift.

Until next time. Pura Vida.

“The more we learn, the more we learn that we really know very little.”
– Unknown

Today we start a one day descend to the Incan Empire called Machu Picchu. Yes I said that correctly…..descend. By looking at pictures of this amazingly beautiful Empire one might think, how does it get any higher? Believe it or not Machu Picchu stands at over 7,000 feet above sea level. Cusco, often spelled Cuzco, sits at 12,000. So yes our journey will be a descend to witness one of the new wonders of the world.

To see it in pictures is one thing…however to tour this amazing facility leaves one in awe. To have been able to build this empire that normally only housed 600 people leaves one to ask….How? Were the Incan people really that smart, and strong or was it built by aliens? Ask a hundred different natives and they will all give you different reasons. Regardless, so many skills had to be in play to have allowed this civilization to construct this magnificent empire. I can certainly see how Devine intervention was in place.

One of the things that fascinated me the most to learn was that as powerful as the Spanish crown was in their exploration and conquest, they could not find the Incan Empire. It is so hidden in the Andes and blended so perfectly that the Spaniards could not find it. Thank goodness because they probably would have destroyed it due to the different religious believes. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that an American professor from Yale University took a small group to explore these mountains. With the help of a local Incan and days of cutting through tough vegetation with a machete they were able to find the empire.

As we climbed a zig zap staircase to see the Citadel we came across several Llamas and alpacas. Despite that our legs were burning and lungs struggling to breath, some more than others, these creatures captivated us. To be honest they are quite spectacular and they roam along the Andes mountains. While many of these creatures might become angry because someone or something is invading their space. These Llamas are accustomed to seeing 2,500 visitors a day. Thank goodness because we all know what Llamas do when they’re mad. Just in case one does not, they spit a tremendous amount of saliva toward their target. From what I was told they have pretty good aim.

At one point we were asked to form a chain. We were asked to close our eyes and to put our hands on the shoulders of the person in front. We were carefully guided to a particular spot in the mountains and when we were told to open our eyes most of us yelled with excitement due to the sheer beauty that lied beneath us. A perfect view of the empire. To state it was a beautiful view is a huge understatement. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like this.

We learned so much information about this civilization however the one that stands out the most are the 3 principles the Incas used to build this amazing structure: Mita, Minca, and Ayni.

Mita, the willingness to work on behalf of your family and community.

Minca, the willingness to work for others. Especially for those who can’t work for themselves.

Anyi, the willingness to work for other communities in exchange for their service to be reciprocated.

I mention these principals because nothing really has changed in Peru. These three principals became apparent when during our service project we met four men who dedicated themselves to help build a dormitory for a school for young ladies who have been abused in many different ways or who often travel for miles just for the right to attend school. The most incredible thing about these four men is that neither of them have daughters who attend this school. Nor were they getting paid. Just pour sacrifice of love. Mita, Minca, and Ayni, what a wonderful concept to learn and apply. The more I learn the more I realize I have so much more to learn. Time and service really are really the greatest form of giving. This lesson was exactly what my students and I needed to hear.

Until next time. Pura Vida.

Day three was mostly a travel day. It was a crazy day based on very early wake up call, long travel lines, overweighted suitcases (which made for a few good laughs), a couple people not feeling well and a hard travel agenda to fulfill.

We left Lima to fly to Cuzco, Peru’s most popular city for tourism. So that one can fully understand the challenges we had to face we exchanged a desert for the mountains. Warm to cold temperatures. Nice climate to cold and wet climate. An elevation of perhaps 500 feet above sea level to an elevation in the Andes mountains of 12,000 feet. A capital city to villages. A city whose primary language is Spanish to an area of Peru whose native language of the Incas called Quechua still dominates.

The Andes Mountain Range is spectacular. It’s considered the longest mountain range in the world and also the second tallest. Only the Himalayas are taller. Today we will be in a city that is higher in elevation than most have ever explored. Potential issues…..altitude sickness which consists of nausea, splitting head aches, vomiting, shortness of breath and perhaps others as well. Altitude sickness does not discriminate.

After we arrived to Cusco we took a long bus ride to an area called the Sacred Valley. Here we ate lunch and I think before we finished our meal, most people who are keeping up with us through social media knew what was served. Yes….it is true…..most students chose to eat Alpaca and most tried guinea pig which is called Cuy (koo-we) and it happens to be a delicacy here. Regardless of whether the student liked it or not I am so proud they wanted to try things outside their norms.

We also visited a hacienda to learn about native artistic designs made out of clay. While we were all exhausted and a little nervous due to the radical altitude differences, my students were attentive and engaged into the lessons learned about this artistic style. They had the chance to meet and talk with a very famous Peruvian artist called Pablo Seminario who has been featured all around the world for his artistic brilliance. Once the tutorial was completed we all were able to sit and with the proper assistance of some professional artists, we were able to design and paint our own clay tile. For a little more than an hour students sat in complete relaxation and designed a wonderful clay tile based on traditional Native designs and original thoughts.

We finally made it to our hotel which was beautifully hidden in the Andes and sits along a magnificent white water river, called the chocolate river due to the fact that it’s the rainy season here and soil is filling the river giving it a chocolate milk appearance. The sounds of the river relaxed us all and we quickly were able to fall asleep.

Before I dismissed the students for bed checks we discussed that many times in life in order to find true moments of peace and relaxation one must first go through the chaos. The difference between those who succeed and fail is often left up to a decision and their determination to succeed. No doubt about it….today was a mental challenge and I am so glad to have experienced it with 25 other champions.

Until next time. Pura Vida

An Ocean of Dreams

Every two years, our 7th & 8th grade students travel
to Washington, D.C. to experience our nation’s capital.

This year 100 students, teachers, and parents will embark on the six day adventure. Students have been reviewing the sites they will visit over the past week during their social studies class.  They will visit many of the monuments, have a private capital tour with Marsha Blackburn’s office, drop by the Pentagon and maybe even pop in and visit the President’s home. Stay tuned here for updates on their adventure!

Sunday, April 30

A hundred of Clarksville Academy’s finest embarked on a trip of lifetime today! We will spend 7 days in the Washington, D.C. area. Each day will be filled with learning opportunities and events. Today we spent the day traveling.  We made a few stops along the way to stop and stretch our legs.  In VA we made fun photos with the infamous LOVE sign.  The day ended with a quick bite to eat before heading to our hotel.  We look forward to sharing our experiences and memories with you throughout the week.

Monday, May 1

Day two in our adventure dawned bright and early!  Our travel time was brief today as we made our way into downtown D.C. Students were excited as we made our way into town to begin a jam packed day.  We went to the National Archives to experience the historical documents that tell the stories of our nation’s history. Our students were in awe at seeing these famous documents.   Then, we strolled through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on our way to the Museum of Natural History. The students had a great time experiencing all the wonderful exhibits, competing in learning challenges, and enjoying time with friends. The students loved looking at Hope Diamond. Many selfies were taken with this magnificent piece of history! The T-Rex was also a fan favorite.  After this museum, we moved on to the Museum of American History. The variety of exhibits was overwhelming, but wonderful. A favorite of the students was the original Star Spangled banner and Lincoln’s hat.  The time flew by so quickly, but fun was had by all! Our students are learning and experiencing so much.  Stay tuned as we continue our travels tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 2

Our third day was a huge success! We began our day the Iwo Jima Memorial. While there, several Marine Corp troops were practicing for a weekly Sunset Ceremony that would take place in the evening. The soldiers spoke with our students, joined in our photos, and allowed them to handle their ceremonial rifles while explaining the ceremony.
We then made our way to the Air and Space Museum. Of course, the flight simulators were a hit. The students loved the interactive exhibits about the science of flight and all the space shuttle items.

Once at the Capitol building, we had our appointment with Congressman Marsha Blackburn on the House steps. She was so gracious in explaining her most current work in the House and answering questions from the 7th and 8th graders. They were most impressed and a little shocked by her answer to the question of how do you prepare for your meetings and work. She told us that she typically reads 3-4 hours a day as prep for her day’s work. She, in turn, ask our students many civics-related questions and they knew the answers to all of them (way to go Coach Trent!). Next, we began our tour of the Capitol building. Statuary Hall was a favorite place among the groups while touring.
We were able to fit in a few of the monuments before going to the Nationals game. Touring the Jefferson, FDR, and MLK, Jr Memorials was quite impressive. While at the FDR Memorial, our groups were able to visit with veterans of World War II and Korean wars who are in DC on Honor Flights. There were several proud and emotional moments as our students took it upon themselves to shake the hands of these men and thank them for their service. Many photos were requested and sweet conversations between them.
We ended our evening at Nationals Park watching the Washington Nationals take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was a great, close game with some impressive pitching and hits. Of course, our students loved cheering on the Nats and partaking of the ballpark food and goodies. Loads of Dipping Dots were consumed and everyone cheered loudly, sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, and even danced along to the “Carlton!”

We’re so proud of our students and how well they are representing themselves, their families, and CA!

Wednesday, May 3

We began our day in Arlington National Cemetery touring JFK’s gravesite, watching the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers changing of the guard, and honoring those that have served our great nation. Once again, we had another special event happen for us at Arlington. We were fortunate to be able to have a question and answer session with two members of the Tomb of the Unknown Honor Guard! A big thanks to Mr. Thrash for making that happen for us!
After our morning at Arlington and lunch at Pentagon City Mall, we began our tours of the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Korean War Memorial. Our students were amazed at the size of Lincoln’s statue, the emotion involved in finding a loved one’s name on the Vietnam Wall, and the detailed artistry of the Korean War statues and wall.
We spent our evening enjoying the jousting and merriment at Medieval Times! A special knighting ceremony for birthday boy, Arman Latefi occurred for all to see. Our Lords and Ladies feasted on a great meal and cheered for our Knights. Our own Mrs. Lisa Wilson was crowned Queen of Love and Beauty by the winning Knight! Our students are having a wonderful, educational, fun filled trip.

Thursday, May 4

Day 5 of our D.C. trip began with a visit to the Udvar- Hazy Air and Space Museum near Dulles airport.   The observation tower allowed us to observe planes taking off and landing at Dulles. We were able to be up close to the Space Shuttle Discovery and so many other unique aircraft! The students enjoyed their time here, and of course, the flight simulators were a favorite.

From there we traveled to Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. Students enjoyed the interactive museum and even had snow falling on them as they viewed a movie of Revolutionary War battles!  The immaculately preserved mansion was another favorite of the day. Walking the grounds, viewing the farm animals, visiting the working farm, walking alongside the Potomac, and honoring the tomb of the Washingtons rounded out our afternoon at Mount Vernon.
We spent our evening experiencing the National Harbor. It’s a great little village area built along the harbor. The Awakening sculpture was enjoyed and climbed on by all! We also visited plenty of the unique shops in the area. The Peeps Store was definitely a hit!

Day 6 will be packed with many exciting events including a tour of the Pentagon, the White House and the Spy Museum. Our students are having fun, learning so much and enjoying their time with their classmates.

Friday, May 5

There really are no words to adequately describe our adventure today.
All of us were up and eating breakfast at 6:00 a.m. in order to fight the traffic to make our early appointment for the Pentagon. Yes, the Pentagon! (Thank you to Mr. Thrash for making this happen). We had wonderful, military tour guides that showed us many of the areas within  the massive complex of floors, rings, corridors, and rooms. The golden AK47 and the Pentagon 9-11 memorial and chapel were some of the favorite spots of our tour. We were also offered the opportunity to eat our lunch within the Pentagon and do a little souvenir shopping as well. It was an honor to visit and experience such an astounding area which is the hallmark of our nation’s defense.

Our amazing day continued with a tour of the White House!  The architecture and detail in every aspect of the rooms was remarkable. We were able to view the Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room, East Room, and the State Dining Room. The original painting of George Washington from 1796 was amazing and the view of the South Lawn was certainly breathtaking.
We ended our day visiting the Spy Museum and having dinner at Union Station. The students found out if they have what it takes to be a spy! They enjoyed the fun interactive activities throughout the museum.  Union Station provided a fun, unique spot to both shop and eat.
The 2017 DC group was the first to ever experience the Pentagon and the White House tours! What a way to end our stay in DC!

Saturday, May 6

Our students have had a wonderful experience this week.  This trip allowed them to experience not only Washington, D.C., but to bond with fellow students.  This trip would not have been possible without the tireless work of all our chaperones, Tracy Burkhart, Christie Burger, Mike Trent, Denise Walker, Adam Welch, Billy Daniels, Sal Herrera, Jennie Beth Johnston, Jon King, Randy & Tammy Thrash, John Wallace, and Lisa Wilson. We truly appreciate each of these teachers and parents giving up their week to allow our students to experience this once in a lifetime trip.

After a successful week away, everyone returned safely at 7:30P.M. on Saturday evening.

Hard work should be rewarded at the end.

Today was probably, from an adventurous point of view, the highlight of the trip. In one day we did a canopy tour (zip line) of the rain forest, hiked down to the tallest waterfall in Costa Rica, rode horses through the rain forest and then relaxed at one of the most beautiful and most renowned hot springs in the world called Tabacon Hot Springs (definitely worth the google search).

Zip lining was created for many reasons and has been around for hundreds of years. Some believe it was first used by ancient and Native tribes to travel through very difficult terrain. Later, scientist decided to incorporate these methods of traveling to improve efficiency and effectiveness in their studies. Scientist used and still use this method to track the amazing creatures they have dedicated their lives to studying. It’s was also an effective way of transporting goods. Today it is an adventure that attracts millions of dollars to Costa Rica. Many businesses have created lines for people of all skill.
Our goal was to meet in the middle of intensity. Some extreme and some simple. To put things in perspective some lines are long, almost a half a mile long, and some are extremely fast allowing one to travel at speeds of fifty miles or more an hour. Technique is critical. So is courage.

Deep in the rain forest of the northern region of Costa Rica exists one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It is called Arenal and it’s majestic and powerful beauty leaves all who are fortunate enough to see it in awe. When the skies are clear one can see the peak of the volcanoes expelling smoke. At night, If lucky and with clarity one might see lava seeping. Oh yeah! One more piece of information. The volcano heats the rivers with its thermo energy. More on this later.

La Fortuna, the fortunate one, is one of the tallest and most powerful waterfalls in Costa Rica. To reach the bottom of the waterfall one must march down a very steep mountain. 450 steps to be exact. Not so bad when one is counting the steps on the way down. The students were cautious with every step and knew that a tremendous reward waited for them at the bottom: the ability to jump in the freezing pool of this glorious waterfall. And indeed they did. In fact it was here that my students and I shared one of our most powerful moments but I will leave it up to them to share.

What goes down must go up. Funny how students think. At first the trek back up the mountain didn’t seem so bad. In fact, I think I heard some ask why I was climbing so slowly. Somewhere around step 250 my students understood why. The good thing was we only had 200 painful steps to go. And painful it was. I am proud to report we all made it back to the top, huffing, puffing, and perhaps with a few choice words.

Life is better when one establishes goals and rewards await. Through all the exhilarating, endurance filled and exhausting activities we accomplished today, we had to keep our eyes on the prize. Tabacon Hot springs. This is personally one of my favorite excursions. The students now know why.

The natural springs are heated by the energy of the volcano. Each spring is heated at a different temperature. I’m sure one could provide a scientific reason as to why and how, but usually when we arrive to Tabacon I am lost after the first word, welcome, in my imagination and desperate need to simply allow the beauty of each spring to take over. And take over they did. For over two hours my students, chaperones and I celebrated the day’s accomplishments by spoiling ourselves. Moving at our own pace and relaxing as much as needed in each spring.

If one were to ask my students about the greatest lesson of today’s busy agenda, I would have to assume it could be answered in one word: BALANCE. Hard work should be rewarded in the end.

The giver is often the recipient of the greater gift.

Today, Monday, February 20, we had to part ways from a gorgeous village and its people. The culture here is so different. To watch my students blend in so perfectly made me proud for what I am. A teacher.

While it was hard to leave Tortuguero, I knew we would leave with a tremendous impact. This morning we visited an elementary/middle school whose kids had to wear blue khakis and a white shirt. In other words uniforms. Whose kids had no air conditioning, barely any school supplies, and hardly the facilities one would image as a thriving educational institution. One can only image the impact we made by donating 25 back packs each full of school supplies and 21 soccer balls. It was like celebrating Christmas in February.

While I spoke to many native kids the dreams of some resonated so profoundly. Danny wants to be a soccer player. Alejandra an English teacher, and Julia who simply wanted to meet an American girl. The biggest dream came from the director of the school who would simply like three things: a roof that desperately needs to be repaired, ceiling fans due to the fact that the classes can get so very hot, and the biggest of his dreams is to provide soccer uniforms for his students who currently play in their school uniforms: blue khakis, white shirts and most of them barefoot.

While we came baring gifts the smiles on my students’ faces when they were playing soccer or sharing a snack with the Costa Rican students assured me of one thing. “Sometimes the secret of having it all is knowing that you ready do.” I think my students now understand it doesn’t take much to make one happy and how much more we can do to make a difference. Our mission now is to share what we have with others. We do this not only because they have needs but also because when we give we also receive.

The journey of a thousand miles begins
with one step: Lao tzu

What a day it has been! Twenty five students and three amazing chaperones joined me today on a quest to experience life changing opportunities in a country that I simply adore. Costa Rica!

The day started early. Very early. In fact it started at 1:00 am. Did I say it started early? Why so early? Because our flight was scheduled to leave at 5:50 am, and by international travel norms, passengers are required to check in three hours in advance.

The minute I spotted my students at the airport, at a little before three, I felt the positive energy, or as we say in my class the positive juju. It was impressive. I must confess and I would like to think that so much of the energy demonstrated this morning was earned. My students have worked so hard to prepare for this trip and the hour has come for them to reap the benefits.

After arriving in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, we trekked through customs, ate a typical cultural meal at a typical cultural restaurant, and shopped at a local grocery store. Now for those who may not fully understand. This is huge. Why? Because everything around them is in Spanish. Miles to kilometers. Pounds to kilos. Prices had to be converted. Dollars to colones. Proper change, currency, returned for the transactions made. And they did it alone with remarkable success.

We closed the night with journal entries, and despite the fatigue, everyone was so eager to write. In fact many kept asking for more time to capture their words. I’m such a proud teacher.

I closed with a word of gratitude and a quote. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” I needed my students to understand how thankful I am that they had to courage to walk alongside me for what promises to be a trip that will change our lives forever.

Pura Vida!