Final Entry :)

Entry #20

7/13/2011

This is my last blog and I'd like to thank you Professor Gretchen Hoekenga for the opportunity of being in your class and for all the insightful material you provided for our class.  I learned a great deal about many things, ranging from sustainability to biodiversity.  I also enjoyed the field trips and A Land Remembered very much.  I hope you have a fulfilling and happy teaching career.

Sincerely,

Cesar Tellez

What is Happehatchee’s Goal?

Entry #19

7/13/2011

  



Happehatchee is an environmental and spiritual center that welcomes those that relief from urbanization and their worldly woes.

It is an organization that is run by Ellen Peterson.  She bought the land from a family in 1972, and in 2005 Ellen began to conceive of the land as being worthy of preservation for use by groups who were environmentally and spiritually friendly.

Their main goal is to share their oasis with those that truly want to be part of it, and to give their new visitors a unique experience unlike anything that they’ve ever seen.  They will reach this objective through the profits made from the recreational activates, donations, and investments for Happehatchee.  For example, the gazebo we’ve been working on is going to attract more people and serve a variety of purposes.

What I did on my Service Learning trip.

Entry #18

7/13/2011



I had the opportunity to plant various types of vegetation throughout the property.  It was my first time planting anything and it was a rewarding experience in itself.  I’ll always know I’ve made a long lasting contribution to Happehatchee with the plant life I’ve placed in the ground.

I put on my Bob the Builder hat and provided my mediocre carpentry skills to Happehatchee.  It was fun because I got in touch with my inner handyman, and I was part of creating a beautiful gazebo.  I was in charge of sanding the wood, and filling the holes left by the nails that were screwed into the wood with plugs

I put on my Bob the Builder hat and provided my mediocre carpentry skills to Happehatchee.  It was fun because I got in touch with my inner handyman, and I was part of creating a beautiful gazebo.  I was in charge of sanding the wood, and filling the holes left by the nails that were screwed into the wood with plugs.  I overall had a great time at Happehatchee.

What I liked most about my service learning at Happehatchee!

Entry #17

7/13/2011



       My most gratifying experience by far was working on the gazebo they’re building for yoga, tai-chi, and other outdoor recreational activities.  The gazebo is the biggest one I’ve ever seen and it is surrounded by beautiful trees.  I’ve gained an appreciation and love for working outdoors with my bare hands.  I’m one of those guys that would rather pay to get my oil changed rather than do it myself; still, the tranquilizing foliage made working outside truly relaxing and a great overall experience.

Planet of the Apes (2011 Version)

Entry #16

7/12/2011

I want to take this opportunity to elaborate on the correlations between what I’ve been learning in University Colloquium and the Planet of the Apes reboot.  This is a somewhat original story set in present day San Francisco, where manmade experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.  This movie is a prime example of man’s interference in the natural world.  The implications of such experiments would result in severe damage to the food chain and to all mankind with vengeful intellectual monkeys running amuck.  Did you know chimps are six times stronger than human beings?  I know the human race would be in trouble, but I wonder what would be the impact on the environment?  Food for thought. 

What happened to Smokey the bear?

Entry #15

7/12/2011

No seriously what happened to Smokey the bear?  He was a mascot of the United States Forest Service created to educate the public about the dangers of forest fires for many years.  Did America simply get tired of him and his propaganda of putting the whole responsibility of preventing forest fires on human beings?  Who knows?  Furthermore, what happened to McGruff the crime dog?  He was also a very important spokesman.  He was used for building crime awareness among children.  Did he and Smokey just turn in their badges and return to their previous lives of being ordinary animals?  I think the “green movement” needs one of these guys to really get through to people.  Maybe Gary the "green" gopher.

Why so many blog posts?

Entry #14

7/12/2011

I feel like I'm typing these blog posts for myself.  I think they're a waste of time and I'm not getting much out of them except a deep disdain for blogging in general.  I rather do an extra paper or field trip or novel or anything else really than come up with things to blog about.  For the love of god at least decrease the amount of blog posts we have to do.  I have six blog posts to go and zero interest in completing them.  I love the class but I hate these ridiculous blog posts.

Sincerely,

Cesar