Dispatches From The Field

16 June, 2003 -- Luke Dollar

Our project received one of its most meaningful gifts today. Back at Duke, Dean Schlesinger received a check for $85.50 from Mrs. Baumgarten's third grade class. That may not sound like a huge amount of money, but it will plant 171 trees in Madagsacar. That's a big deal.

A few months ago, I received an email from young Sarah Crawley, a student in Mrs. Baumgarten's third grade class in Highland Lakes, New Jersey. I was busy packing in North Carolina, preparing to leave for Madagascar when Sarah's first emails and questions came through. I replied quickly before heading to the airport. There were more questions and ideas waiting for me online after I arrived in Madagascar.

Sara shared our conversations with her classmates, and they were all anxious to help our conservation and research activites here in Madagascar. After many emails, we concluded that our reforestation project was the best way they could make a difference.

Over the last two years, we've planted nearly 8000 trees in a forest called Ankaratra, near the town of Ambatolampy. The project is run by Radosoa Adonaiarivelo ("Rado" for short) and fifty of his classmates from the University of Antananarivo and from the local public schools near Ambatolampy. It costs about 50 cents per tree.

Sarah Crawley and Mrs. Baumgarten's class collected their quarters for weeks and weeks before the end of the school year. Finally, they had enough to help us plant 171 trees! Thank you Sarah! Thank you Mrs. Baumgarten's class!

If you want to find out how you can be like Sarah's class and help out over here, check out tomorrow's dispatch!