http://serviceatsea.org Outreach, Education, Adventure Sun, 11 Jun 2006 20:18:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I made it all the way to Gaborone, Botswana from Cape Town today. I woke early so I could meet with Nadia Smith from Stellenbosch University, in the Western Cape. We met last year at the SCGIS meeting in California. At the time she was with Peace Parks Foundation, now she ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060608/from-cape-town-to-botswana-oceans-to-cheetahs/ I got here almost a week ago for some much needed rest, and to sort out gear, email, and the logistics for the rest of the trip. Two of the days, one on each end, were dedicated to just that, which gave me three days to have a look around… ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060607/june-2-7-cape-town-south-africa-and-vicinity/ What a day. Up at 3:30 am, and in Cape Town by 16:30, one hour time change west. I’ve gone from 3 degrees south, to approximately 33. From the air along the way, a nice view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.   I also saw Harare, Zimbabwe, and a good deal of Kruger National ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060601/june-1-entebbe-%e2%80%93-nairobi-%e2%80%93-johannesburg-%e2%80%93-cape-town/ I made it to Entebbe, Uganda at night, and when a miscue with my pick-up was clear, I jumped into a Sheraton Hotel Van, certain that I would at least have a safe & comfortable landing, with access to phone and email to get connected with the SCGIS member, Fortunate ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060531/may-29-%e2%80%93-june-1-uganda/ So today I have a meeting with The staff of African Conservation Center, which went well, and then off to meet the Kenya ESRI distributor, Willy Simons, of Okar Services Ltd. We discuss the state of GIS in Kenya, and the needs of cooperation with software companies and conservation practitioners ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060529/leaving-kenya-feels-too-soon%e2%80%a6/ Lucy figured I would need a rest (YES!), so she took the liberty of booking two nights at The Masai Lodge, adjacent to “The Park”. This park is literally next to Nairobi… honking horns and traffic for ½ hour, then we turn onto a dirt road, and within 5 minutes, ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060528/day-off-nairobi-national-park/ I’m back at the Gracia Guest House, where I will be walking distance to my next gig, another two-day workshop for several Nairobi-based organizations. My host is Lucy Waruingi, who is an energetic and dedicated GIS guru for the African Conservation Center www.conservationafrica.org Other participants include staff from Save the Elephants ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060525/may-25-back-to-nairobi/ After a wild time getting software installed, and my laptop started (now with no monitor), we began a two-day ArcGIS workshop. I am able to use and external monitor, in this case the projector, to run my laptop and teach the class. The place is filled with 17 eager participants ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060522/may-22-%e2%80%93-23-class-starts-at-the-getty-ruins/ Part of my travel involves seeing the work various groups are undertaking in the field, so I can get a better idea of what to focus on in the GIS workshops I am providing… So, I got a nice tour of the forest visitors center, lunch, and then off to ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060521/arabuko-sokoke-forest-nature-kenya-kenya-wildlife-service/ Now on the ground, under African sky… Paul Simon tunes from 20 years ago drift in my mind…I didn’t have enough cash to get my visa at customs, so while they held my passport, immigration let me walk into the country, through customs to the ATM (man I hope this ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060521/may-21-first-moves-in-kenya-and-off-to-the-coast/ On the plane to Kenya, just had a wonderful shot crossing over the Congo River… I’m on the left side of the plane, window seat, heading east, just over the equator if my internal map & compass is tracking correctly. I’ve had the Congo off my left shoulder for over ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060520/may-20-off-to-kenya/ Friday is Casual Day here in Nigeria. Way different than what you may know in the US... here many people wear the traditional dress from their home village.  Korede and his wife presented me with this Bu-ba, which I jumped into for the day. People I did not know stopped me ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060519/last-night-in-lagos/ What a day here… With all the positive intentions of all those around me, I’ve been doing  circles the last three days, "Simply" trying to pay for my ticket to Kenya/Uganda/Zimbabwe (not part of my ticket to and from the continent). I learned that Nigeria is a cash society – ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060518/thursday-may-18th-resources-and-goodwill/ It caught me off-guard. I almost forgot that when connections are made, the farewell is at the very least meaningful, if not just plain sad. I made some good friends while working with the staff and students of the GCLME (see previous post) Lab at The University of Lagos. After ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060517/the-first-farewelluniversity-of-lagos-project-wraps-up/ I was happy to faciliate this award to NCF, accepted by Ufuoma Alipouwovuo. Outreach on behalf of The Society for Conservation GIS is a major part of why I am doing this work in Africa. http://serviceatsea.org/20060516/esri-conservation-program-donates-arcgis-to-nigerian-conservation-foundation/ All - It's difficult to blog daily with internet access so challenging, and a busy schedule…but I will do my best...  I came in on a Monday night, and got a little rest – woke on local time and found some coffee and a bite to eat... then got a call from ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060512/may-9-12-the-first-few-daysnigeria/ After several days of packing and planning, gathering equipment, software, backing up data, printing, boxing, and shipping, I’m on the way. Why Africa now? I will be attempting to accomplish several things on this trip First, I’ll be lending a hand to conservation groups in six countries, that are using, or ... http://serviceatsea.org/20060509/made-it/ I'm leaving on the start of the next phase of this adventure on Sunday. Flying to Nigeria for the first of a six-country Conservation GIS training and support tour. http://serviceatsea.org/20060502/leaving-for-africa/