Our first day we spent participating in a river cleanup. We piled kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards high with collected river trash. We then categorized and documented items into the American Canoe Association (ACA) worldwide water cleanup project. We estimated a few hundred pounds were retrieved and everyone had a blast in the collecting effort! Thanks to Omar ‘Bear’ Ramos and Jessica Del Valle for hosting us at their beautiful site Paddle Paradise for the week.
Last year, the Hyde Wilderness spring break program stayed at the Equus Center of Puerto Rico, an equine therapy farm that serves the island. While there, we helped clean up and repair damage from hurricane Maria. This year we returned to extend our gratitude and painted the main house for our gracious host, Edmundo Jimenez. More good things are in the works with our alliance with Edmundo and the Equus Center, stay tuned!
Our third project was painting at the Humacao Community Park, which sits on top of a mountain. We painted the fence around the perimeter as well as the inside of a new building, made some fur friends, Flaco and Sanchez, ate some great food, some of which came from the community garden, enjoyed the gorgeous views, and were treated to a musical performance by the Puerto Rican bomba ensemble Bule’Muraycua. Students and staff also had an opportunity to learn and try local dances and drumming. Many thanks to our very knowledgeable and kind host from the Humacao Community Center, Francisco Nieves.
After spending most of our time on the eastern side of the island in Gurabo and Humacao, our group packed up camp and headed to the south western side to La Parguera to spend a day snorkeling on a coral reef and swimming in the bioluminescent bay at night. We had a chance to see so many neat sea creatures, and the bio bay was incredible. Magical moments were shared by all.
The last volunteer project brought us up the west coast of the island to Rincon to work with rescued horses at Defensa Animal Rincon de Puerto Rico. Everyone enjoyed giving some love and grooming to Bolero and Betty, two horses that were completely emaciated when they were found and are now in much better shape thanks to all the volunteers who continue to love these beautiful beasts. Special thanks to Cynthia Calvin who orchestrates the rescue program.
Some other highlights of the week included an intense game of kickball, music and laughter around the campfire, exploring and swimming in a local river, pick up basketball with local kids, and capturing a sick puppy and taking him to the vet to receive care. The students named him ‘Rico Gurabo’ and there is exciting news that wilderness staff member Megan-Mack Nicholson will be adopting him and bringing him home to Maine once he is better.
On our last day, everyone had a chance to cruise around Old San Juan and do a little souvenir shopping before catching the flight home. Spring break in Puerto Rico has once again been a memorable experience. Of the trip, Lily Huettel ’22 said,
“Doing the service work over the trip was my highlight. I really did enjoy working out there and helping out. Giving back to the community and talking with some of the other volunteers really made me forget my struggles and the hard time I was going through. Seeing the work we did when it was completed was pretty cool. I connected with some of the other students (Cortland, Brian, Robbie) on this trip that I didn’t think I would have. They were there for me and had my back and I was very grateful for that.”
The Hyde Wilderness Program has much gratitude for everyone who has worked hard to make this trip happen, our students who continue to lead with their hearts, and the strengthening of our relationship and alliance with an amazing place and caring people. Puerto Rico has a special place in our hearts and we can’t wait to do it again next year!
To find pictures and videos of the trip go to the Hyde Wilderness page on Facebook.