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Tuesday, March 22:

What a way to honor the United Nation's World Water Day today! Doing work in a country that so desperately needs access to safe water! Here's a small sample of the many great questions were asked on both sides today:

American students asked if Guatemalan families boil water that they drink in their home. With a VERY pleasing answer, they all responded that they do.

American students asked- What do you do when you have free time? Guatemalan students responded that the girls have no free time, and the boys help their fathers on the farm or gather firewood.

If you posted a follow-up question to the wiki- we've responded. If anyone has further questions, feel free to post them and we will answer them as soon as we get the answer!

A special shout-out tonight to the students of Roosevelt School and how they added to their AKL expedition. Mrs. Chulew's class spent the day carrying 2 liter bottles of water with them EVERYWHERE they went. We're looking forward to seeing those pictures!

It was quite special to be a part of the connection with McKinley Middle School, with their teacher Ms. Sampedro being a native of Guatemala. Her translations really helped get the Guatemalan students comfortable with coming to the camera answering questions!

All of our sessions have had remarkable moments, too many for us to share, but maybe you could post your favorite moments on the discussion tab!

As for project update, at about 2:30 this afternoon, we were at the bodega forming cement box covers for the meters, when we heard a great deal of firecrackers and very loud explosions. Our mason Pedro smiled and said "El agua llego arriba!" (the water has arrived at the top) This means the pump had been installed AND was working AND water was being sent from the lower tank to the upper SUCCESSFULLY!

This moment always is very emotional for everyone and no matter the language spoken- everyone understands what this means. El Rosario has prepared 4 months for this moment.

As we concluded our work day, we noticed many women picking flowers. We understand these are for the inauguration on Thursday. There is a village-wide fiesta planned to celebrate. We also were told they have butchered 2 bulls for the lunch!

We have 4 connections scheduled tomorrow, and we will be broadcasting from the completed top tank. HOPEFULLY they'll be done lighting off firecrackers by then ;-)

Hasta manana Adventure Kids!

Monday Evening, March 21:

4 connections completed today and only 5 services (homes) remaining to connect! We still have galvanized pipe to connect the spring site to the holding tank- that should be completed tomorrow. We also anticipate the electric and pump to be installed tomorrow. Two days of work left to get water running to the homes.

Adventure Kids has been so impressed with all of our connections so far! We continue to welcome such amazing interaction! The village community is so grateful that our students in the United States are showing interest in their small village. Thank you!

Tomorrow is recognized by the United Nations as Word Water Day. To our US students- think about how we take for granted our fresh water source- Lake Michigan and the water utilities that every day, provide safe, healthy water. Also think about how our Guatemalan counterparts must struggle every day for a basic human need/right. Your awareness of their need holds the key to their access to safe, clean water.

All connections tomorrow will take place from the village school. Please be prepared with questions for the students. How might they be different? How might they be just like you?

Two days left of connections and work on the project. Thank you for joining us on our expedition!

Monday morning, March 21:

Buenos dias Adventure Kids! The sun is out- which means the satellite should perform well today! We're looking forward to meeting with you all and likely from a home in the village.

Welcome back from spring break and get those questions ready!

Sunday, March 20:

We say goodbye today to our first week team: Ed Nevers, Tom & Josh Nennig, Richard & Emily Hope and Bob Carlson. Week 2 team has arrived this morning: Mike & Margaret Rau, Roger & Amanda Field and Al Braun.

We'll arrive back in Los Encuentros by 4pm today and be ready to hit the worksite and do more AKL connections tomorrow morning!

Here are a few photos from the week (uploading them is VERY challenging, wish we could do more!)









Friday, March 18:

A very big thank you to everyone who has participated this week in the AKL connections! Your patience, flexibility and understanding is appreciated, after a pretty hectic and challenging technology week. Inclement weather does not play well with the satellite- we found out the hard way!

Both 2500 gallon tanks are completed- we hope to post pictures when we get to Panajachel, hoping the internet is more readliy available there! All meters and service faucets are assembled and most installed at the homes of the 66 families receiving service from this system. The pump is assembled- just waiting to get water in to the tank (after the cement cures a few days) and electrical service to the lower tank (so the pump can do it's job!)

We have spent an amazing week with the village families! Our primary contact is Miguel, and he is the President of the Water Committee. They have all been so gracious, serving us lunch daily, such as soup, beef patties, chicken and MANY tortillas!

The village presented certificates of thanks and recuerdos to our team members that leave on Sunday: Richard Hope, Emily Hope, Ed Nevers, Tom Ninnig, Joshua Nennig and Bob Carlson. The men were given beautiful jackets, and Emily a beaded necklace and messenger bag. As weleft, Miguel said he was very sad to seem them go!

We now leave the village for the weekend to Panajachel, then Antigua for a little R & R. On Sunday, we say goodbye to the week one team, and hello to week two- Roger and Amanda Field, Mike and Margaret Rau and Al Braun. They will have plenty of work yet to do to get piping completed and service started. Three of us are staying the full two weeks, John Andersen, Kate Karow and myself- Joan Roehre.

We are looking forward to more connections next week- and we'll be celebrating World Water Day at the school on Tuesday, March 22. How will YOUR class participate in World Water Day? Please share ideas!

Stay tuned for pictures and feel free to post any you may have taken during your connection!

Tuesday, March 15:

Work Day 2

A great deal of work was accomplished today! Several more layers on each tank and all meters/faucet assemblies completed. Several more layers for each tank- then pump installation, some more distribution line installed and we’re ahead of schedule.

To all of our upcoming AKL connections- We are experiencing a great deal of bandwidth challenges L more than weve ever had before. Not sure why this is- perhaps increased use of cell phones and mobile broadband, but none the less, we’re asking you to be prepared and patient as we start our connections tomorrow.

We ask that you NOT send video immediately. As we initiate your call, we will send video (test the water so to speak) give you an overview of our location and progress, then we’ll likely determine how we’ll communicate with you. It MAY be audio only, we may resort to chat, we’re just not sure.

We kick off our virtual expedition with South Milwaukee and St. Cat’s tomorrow with 3 connections. We’ll be at the top tank.

Gracias in advance for your understanding and patience, and we’re looking forward to sharing our project with you all!

Buenos noches- the AKL team!

Monday, March 14: WE'RE HERE! Arrived in Los Encuentros Sunday night after an overnight fligh, stop in Anitgua and then to the Iximche ruins.

These posts won't be pretty, but will inform!

Day one of work for the Wisconsin Water for the World Team- Lower tank has one layer of exterior cement, upper tank will be ready by tomorrow for first layer! Myself and another team member spent the day with the President of the El Rosario Water COmmittee- Miguel assembling meters- GREAT DAY all around!

We were able to meet with the head of the school, and the following days will be broadcasting from the school with students:

Thursday, March 17 Tuesday, March 22

If you are scheduled for either of those days to connect, BE PREPARED WITH QUESTIONS for Guatemalan students.

We will broadcast from a tank site Wednesday, March 16 and likely Friday, March 18. The rest of the days are to be determined.

Your patience and flexibility are really appreciated!

Pics to come- we're still working out bugs in the broadband and keeping sat time to a minimum!

Looking forward to everyone joining us!

Buenos noches!

Friday, March 11:

(Last post from Kenosha before departure!)

The team is now 24 hours away from departure! As we prepare we'd like to thank everyone for your participation in this years expedition!

We'd also like to thank the [|Kenosha Water Utility] and [|Singlewire Software]for their support of Adventure Kids Learning! Without their support, the technology we bring to make this all happen wouldn't be possible! GRACIAS!

Here's a link to a map of our location, El Rosario:

[|El Rosario, Guatemala]

Stay tuned to the wiki and we'll see you via SKYPE starting next Wednesday!

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 * Monday, March 7th: **


 * Our expedition begins in only 5 days! **


 * Have you tested your SKYPE connection yet? All tests must be completed by Wed 3/9 in order to guarantee your scheduled connection! **


 * Keep checking the wiki for updates and daily activities. We don't know until we get there where we'll be broadcasting from (tank site, school, village, etc.), and this wiki will be your primary resource for information. **


 * All schools are now listed at the left and we encourage ANY collaboration between schools, as well as anyone initiating discussions! We have 22 connections scheduled, with over 800 students participating! Think of what we can accomplish together! **


 * What is YOUR class doing to celebrate World Water Day- March 22nd? Are you doing any related activities to your connection to AKL? Let's get some discussions started! **


 * Stay tuned and WELCOME! **

Welcome to Adventure Kids Learning2011 Expedition!

Once again, AKL will join Wisconsin Water for the world and travel to El Rosario, Guatemala and help construct 2- 2500 gallon water tanks that will service 85 village families.

Expedition dates: March 13-27, 2011

For more information: 2010's expedition wiki [|www.adventurekidslearning.org] email: joinus@adventurekidslearning.org