Debbie Hadley, About.com's Guide to Insects, is a naturalist, writer and photographer. She has participated in six Earthwatch Institute expeditions – so far. Debbie is also a field representative for Earthwatch; she gives presentations about the organization and its expeditions and provides expedition information to interested volunteers. I asked Debbie about her Earthwatch experiences and about senior-friendly Earthwatch expeditions.
Senior Travel Guide Nancy Parode: I understand that you’ve been on several Earthwatch Insitute expeditions. What made you decide to volunteer for Earthwatch?
Insects Guide Debbie Hadley: Earthwatch offers many fellowship opportunities for teachers, and I saw a presentation at a science conference by another teacher who went on an expedition. I decided to apply for a fellowship myself, and was thrilled when I got an award letter saying I would be headed to the South Pacific to help study coral reef health in Tonga. I spent two weeks in Vava'u, one of the more remote island groups in Tonga. Our expedition team traveled to different reefs each day in the researcher's sailboat, and did timed snorkel surveys of the reef. My job was to count giant clams. I loved it. Since then, I've done five more expeditions.
Guide Nancy: What types of projects did you work on for Earthwatch? Would you consider them senior-friendly?
Debbie Hadley: In addition to the expedition to Tonga, I've volunteered on three different sea turtle expeditions. I helped tag and measure hawksbill sea turtles in Barbados, and did the same for leatherback turtles in St. Croix and Trinidad. I also volunteered on another coral reef study, this one monitoring damselfish in Barbados. A few years ago, I was awarded a second teacher fellowship to travel to the Pantanal wetlands in Brazil, where I helped do biological and chemical monitoring of different bodies of water, and also collected and measured frogs and snakes.
All of the expeditions I've done so far would be senior-friendly, provided the senior is in reasonably good health. The sea turtle expeditions usually require walking on sandy beaches for miles each night, so you need to be fit. The reef expeditions required a level of comfort in the water, of course, and the ability to snorkel well. The Pantanal expedition was not too tough physically, although we did a little canoeing and some hiking. When you contact Earthwatch about an expedition, they can tell you what the physical demands are before you sign up for the trip. And you are always required to have a physical exam form signed by a physician.
Guide Nancy: According to the Earthwatch website, the Institute has accepted volunteers as old as 80. Did you meet many senior volunteers on your expeditions? Did they enjoy the Earthwatch experience?
Debbie Hadley: I have had a few expedition team members who were seniors on my trips, yes. None as old as 80 in my own experience, but a few other volunteers were retirees. I also volunteer as a field representative for Earthwatch, doing public presentations and helping recruit other volunteers. Two other field representatives in my area, with whom I work quite often, are seniors who've been retired for quite a while. They've each done over 20 expeditions so far, including some really rigorous ones. So yes, the senior Earthwatch volunteers I've met tend to be enthusiastic, and often do more than one expedition.
