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The Outdoor Recreation Program at Kalu Yala is unique in that it allows interns to provide the Kalu Yala Valley with sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that will ultimately shape how people recreate in the valley for years to come. Our program is built on the belief that high quality experiences in nature lead to higher quality of life in general, and the understanding that it is imperative to plan and manage the outlets we provide to preserve the area’s natural beauty and the ecosystems within it.

Summer 2011 Accomplishments:

Minimal Impact Education:

Before moving out to the Valley, Outdoor Rec prepared a brief presentation on the principles of “Leave No Trace” for all Valley Crew members. The Leave No Trace principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts on how to make decisions that will reduce the amount of impact they cause while engaging in a variety of outdoor activities, including camping. We made many decisions as far as the layout, waste management, and general practices of our BaseCamp based on many applicable LNT guidelines.

Building Paths:
We built two main paths at BaseCamp, one from our main camping area to our communal/kitchen area, and  one from the communal kitchen area to our latrine. Designating paths helps concentrate traffic in certain areas so that multiple paths don’t form, and so that minimal impact results.  These paths also made it much easier to get from point A to point B, especially at night.

Waste Management:

One of the fist big endeavors of  our program was to make decisions on what waste management  procedures would work best in the Valley.  Our first big project was to build a functioning compost.  We chose a spot that was far enough away from camp to not attract insects or  rodents, but that was close enough to our kitchen to be easily accessible. The spot we chose has a large root that acts as a natural protectant  from flooding, and has proven to be a great location.  We first dug the compost hole and then layered a sturdy wall at the top with an adobe like mixture made up of sand, soil and water in order to avoid erosion. We then folded a mosquito net and lined the bottom of the compost because we decided we would eventually want to move the organic matter when we build a bigger compost. We covered the compost with chicken wire to keep animals out, dug a small drainage ditch, and covered with a an up-cycled piece of roofing left over from the San Miguel house. So far the compost has been completely functional.

After washing dishes at camp it’s important to have a designated place to put the waste water that collects. For this we dug a small hole near our compost,  in which we also put chicken wire to collect food particles and to keep wildlife out.

After two weeks of digging cat holes to do our business, we finally began working on the start of our finest luxury at camp, the latrine. Latrines are a good option for groups as large as ours who are camping for long periods of time.  We decided to put the latrine in a location that was as far away from the Pacora River as possible, as well as far enough away from our camp and communal area for sanitary purposes. We chose a location that offers a good amount of privacy and began digging the hole for our new bathroom. After digging the hole, we joined forces with the Biology and Deign/Build groups in building the rest of our luxurious temporary  bathroom.  My favorite part about the bathroom is the flag we made for the tree directly behind the latrine. When the bathroom is occupied you can see the flag from almost anywhere at camp.

Volley Ball Court

Our biggest accomplishment thus far has been the completion of a regulation size volley ball court, with a quality hand made net.  We had a lot of help from all groups when it came to toting sand up from the river to sand the floor, and we made sure the sand on the river bank replenished quickly enough after a heavy rain before taking large quantities. “Valley Ball” has quickly become one of the most popular past times for Valley interns.

We are in the process of establishing the first real hiking trail in the valley, as well as allocating the first few geo-caches in the area!  We have had a great first semester in the Valley, thanks to all of our hard working interns.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” – John Muir