April 22nd, 2008 - Happy Earth Day. This year we would like to offer you the opportunity to learn more about our carbon offsetting program. We have partnered with ClimateSafe to offer you offsets for your land and air travel. Click here to learn more.
Tom Carr, (front and center) Holbrook Travel’s director of program development, was recently hired as an expert consultant the Inter-American Development Bank to develop eco-tourism in Central America. This photo, taken during a field trip into the lowland forests of Honduras, is of Tom, two of his colleague consultants and a team expert advisors from South and Central America.
Recently Tom Carr (center standing), Director of Program Development at Holbrook Travel was honored to be asked to lunch by Dr. Kenneth Hoadley (second from right) and his lovely wife (far left) on a recent trip they made to the University of Florida. Dr. Hoadley is president of “El Zamonano” The Pan-American School of Agriculture. Zamorano is the premier university of its kind in South and Central America. Pictured to the far right is Dr. Hugh Popenoe. Dr. Popenoe’s father Dr. Wilson Popenoe and Tom’s father Dr. Archie Carr were the founding fathers of El Zamorano.
Tanzania
Slideshow
Holbrook's Lisa Palmese recently traveled to Tanzania. Here are some photos she
wanted to share!
Click here!
Here is a recent Gainesville article written about a school group staying at Selva Verde Lodge and learning through their experiences in the Rainforest. Beyond the free media coverage of this article, we are so pleased that our Lodge could be the staging ground for environmental and cultural education in these children’s lives. Read this article!
We are so proud to have Archie Carr’s son as part of our staff, and here is a PBS special telling why. Archie Carr inspired many people to conserve and appreciate the nature of Florida, and his enthusiasm for it was infectious. Watch for the cameo by our own Tom Carr! Click here to learn more!
June
2006 - To Stem Widespread Extinction, Scientists Airlift Frogs in
Carry-On
Of all the things airport security screeners have discovered as they rifle
through travelers' luggage, the suitcases full of frogs were a first.
Click here to read more!
March 2006
- Chile: The Magic of Torres del Paine
Our Senior Vice President, Frank Richmond, was recently invited to visit the
Torres Del Paine National Park in Southern Chile. The overwhelming beauty of
the region was breathtaking and the towering mountains were spiritually
inspiring. Frank was moved to record some of his thoughts to accompany images
captured with his digital camera.
Click here to see his impressions of the Torres Del Paine and his visit
to the Atacama desert from a travel perspective.
It is a great honor to host Senator Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont) for a discussion on community issues and environmental topics relating to the Chilamate region of Northeastern Costa Rica, shared SCLC Board President Andrea Holbrook. We are honored to have the Senator visit with us on March 17th as he explores the region.
If you would like to know more about the work of Senator Jim Jeffords, you may visit: http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/
For further information on the work of the Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center you may visit: www.learningcentercostarica.org
For further information on the Selva Verde Private Reserve, please visit: www.selvaverde.com
Belize
Slideshow
Holbrook’s COO, Laurie McLaughlin, recently visited Belize.
Here are a few of her favorite moments.
Kenya Selected as one of
the World’s Best Ethical Travel Destinations
In November 2003, Ethical Traveler, a grass-roots alliance uniting adventurers,
tourists, travel agencies and outfitters, selected Kenya as one of thirteen of
the World’s Most Ethical Travel Destinations.
By their definition, Ethical Travel fulfills both individual and collective
ideals: a traveler experiences environmental beauty and cultural immersion
while actually contributing to the ecological preservation and social
development of their host country. This brand of travel combines ecotourism
with broader environmental and social issues. It can even be used as an
economic carrot, to support and reward countries pursuing high standards in
these areas. It’s also more demanding of service providers; hotels and carriers
can’t simply tweak a few ecopolicies, and award themselves gold stars. For a
country to be considered a good ethical travel candidate, the government must
demonstrate a strong commitment not just to the environment, but to the
well-being of its population as well.
Ethical Travelers goal was to formulate a list of “Best Ethical Travel
Destinations,” specifically geared to outbound American leisure travelers. The
idea was not just to come up with a list of countries, but to chose places that
Americans would actually want to visit.
Specifically for Kenya, it was noted that while the country lags a bit in both
environmental and certain social measures, good ecotourism values are the
redemption. Ethical Travelers included Kenya (and South Africa) for their
valiant strides in ecotourism, and in the hope that American travelers will
help support this region.
For more information on Ethical Travel, Ecotourism and Sustainable Travel in
general, please contact Sustainable Travel International at
www.sustainabletravel.com.
Learn about the tallest mountain in Kenya, the average birth rate in Argentina,
the top agricultural export of China and check out all the flags of the world.
Access the CIA
World Fact Book
"Containing more than half of the world's remaining tropical forest, Amazonia teems with life. It supports more than 40,000 plant species, and is more than 80 percent intact. CI recognizes a window of opportunity to save Amazonia today before it becomes a threatened hotspot tomorrow..."(more)
Take a look at this fun link. You can track a flight any time!
Wikipedia's information about Guatemala. Interesting reading for those of you interested in Guatemala. If you are interested in traveling to Guatemala, take a look at some of our Guatemala Programs.
Please don't forget the hurricane victims...and others (of all species!) who need help in all areas of the world. Donate what you can!
Preliminary results from the first large-scale test of specially designed fishing hooks indicate they can reduce the number of endangered sea turtles killed in long line fishing operations by as much as 90 percent...(more)
And here's a link to our Highlights of Birding in Panama