Outline of Internship

Part 1: Wisconsin

            My internship with Latino Earth Partnership (LEP) officially started January 22^nd, 2014. I spent a little less than a month working in the Earth Partnership (EP) offices at the UW Arboretum translating materials, planning the institute, and collecting lesson plans and materials. Although it was a lot of time spent at the computer, which is not my favorite, it was a good introduction to what EP does and who they are.  It was also good for me to practice my Spanish translating skills.

Part 2: Nicaragua:

o   Week # 1: Feb. 17-21: Institute

o   Week # 2: Feb. 24-28: Nandasmo

o   Week # 3: Mar. 3-7: Prep week/meetings at the schools

o   Week # 4: Mar. 10-14: Week #1 in the schools

o   Week # 5: Mar.17-21: Week #2 in the schools

o   Week # 6: Mar.24-28: Week #3 in the schools

o   Week # 7: Mar. 31-Apr. 4: Week #4 in the schools

o   Week # 8: Apr. 7-11: Week #5 in the schools

o   Week # 9: Apr. 14-18: Semana Santa (Schools Closed)

o   Week # 10: Apr. 21-25: Week #6 in the schools

            I left for Nicaragua, with my two supervisors Rick and Maria, on February 13th. Our first week in Nicaragua we held an Institute in which we introduced who we are, what we do, and how we wanted to help the schools. In attendance were teams from each of the 5 schools I was to be working with. Each team consisted of the director, a teacher, a parent, and a student from the school. Throughout the week we worked on various experiments and activities to demonstrate how to incorporate the gardens into the curriculum. We also worked with the teams to brainstorm ideas for their gardens and natural spaces. The overwhelming consensus from all of the schools was that they wanted these gardens to not only be a source of  beautification but a nutritional supplement to the school’s lunches as well.

            My second week in Nicaragua I spent with my supervisor Rick in Nandasmo (Maria had already returned to Madison), prepping for my time in the schools and holding a mini workshop with the school Pio IX. I was able to get some good experience working with and teaching children in Spanish.

            My third week I was back in Granada. Rick had already returned to Madison, so I was on my own except for Lesbia Perez, an agronomist who was my in-country colleague. She and I spent the week meeting with the directors of each school and planning out the next six weeks.

            For the next seven weeks (with the exception of Semana Santa when all the schools were closed) I worked with the students on various activities and experiments.  The activities built upon each other and began the first steps toward developing gardens.

Part 3: Wisconsin

            Although my internship is “officially” over I am planning on continuing to volunteer at EP and LEP to help develop this internship. I have many ideas and suggestions on how to improve and strengthen this internship for the next intern. I feel that I have a lot of valuable experience and knowledge to contribute towards the development of this program and I am excited to work with Maria and Rick to watch it come to life.