The Dean of Travel

Morton Elementary School visit-Omaha NE

It was a magical day at Morton Elementary as we learned about mountain gorillas and more!

 

One of the students at Morton Elementary made sure I felt very welcome at school! 

Mrs Boukal prepares the students for our day together! 

 

Ready to go explore Africa in search of mountain gorillas.

Some of my new friends at Morton Elementary School!

 

Future scientists writing about their animals!

 

Writers talking about their adventures!

 

Learning how to create gorilla nose prints!

 

My sincere thanks to Morton Elementary for having me visit for the day, it was fun!

Thank you for caring about the animals of the world! Your heart and your passion will make a positive impact on making the world a better place for the wild creatures of the world!

 

Have a great summer!

Cheers,

Dean

 

 

Fremont Middle School 8th grade - Mountain Gorilla Papers

Recently I visited with the Fremont Middle School, Fremont NE, 8th grade teams about the Mt Gorilla gorillas if Rwanda.   Following those programs I proposed a question to the students, "should we protect the last remaining mountain gorillas, why or why not?

Over the next few days I will be posting the video created by the students, please offer some positive support to these students who were willing to be so much work and heart into answering this question.  There is no rhyme or reason for the order the videos will be posted, they were all selected to be published for their quality work. 

 

 

 

The first video to view is from Allie Gamache.

 

The next video is by Amber Voegler

 

 

Here's Joe Giesselmann

  

Here's Amy!

 

Here's Zach. 

 

 

Here's Kelsey

 

Here's Bertha,

 

 

Here's Avery! 

 

 

Some pretty cool students we have here in Fremont Nebraska! 

New footage of mountain gorillas.

Going through some footage that my friend Bosco took of me when I was photographing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda.  I thought you might like to take a peek at what I was doing there. 

 

To exchange a glance with a mountain gorilla is a moment that changes your life. 

The Kingdom of Mountain Gorillas

The mountain gorillas are amazing animals.  Recently a United Nations report stated it is possible the mountain might be extinct in 20 years.  This would be a tragic loss and is not acceptable in my book. Below is a recent movie I created about the gorillas, please take a look and leave comments.  Share the video with the people in your lives.  Through awareness we can help them stake out a claim for survival. 

Cheers,

Dean  

Mountain gorilla presentation- Omaha Zoo

Saturday afternoon a nice crowd gathered to listen and learn about mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

 

 
 
 A special thank you to Linda Sutherland for championing the idea to bring me to the Omaha Zoo!

 

Visiting with some of the crowd before the presentation.

 

A special thanks to Amy Tharp for helping me man the books and photos.  Thanks to Tom Goc and Don Bowen for taking photos and for all the people who helped me carry stuff.  WIthout all your help and support the logistics would be much harder and not near as much fun.   

One last thing, a thank you to all who took materials to adopt a gorilla with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Your support will go a long way to supporting their effort to help protect the mountain gorillas.

Cheers,

Dean
 

Mountain Gorilla Presentation - "G is for Gorillas and for Giving"

Below you will find a short video that talks about the upcoming program about mountain gorillas set at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo on Saturday, Jan. 23rd, 1:30 pm.  Please share it with all your friends!

I hope to see you at the Omaha Zoo!

Cheers,

Dean

10-11 News to air interview on Monday, Nov. 16th

Photo by Don Bowen

Lance Schwartz from 10-11 News interviews me at the Blue Bottle Thursday before the Midland College presentation. 

Proceeds from Thursday's presentation went to Rebuilding Together;  http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/  who offer a helping hand to those in our community with a need. 

I received a email today from Lance, informing me the program will air this Monday in Lincoln.  

Originally it was to air after Thanksgiving, but what they had scheduled for Monday fell through, so in goes Dean.

Lance said it would be posted online after 9 pm. http://www.1011now.com/

Here's a direct link to the story: http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/70245352.html

Cheers,

Dean

"G is for Gorilla and Giving," presentation Nov.12th-Fremont NE

On Thursday, November 12th at 7 pm, on Midland campus at Kimmel theater, I will be presenting about my 7 months working for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International in Rwanda and the DRC Africa.

 

The program will offer a chance to see and learn about the amazing mountain gorillas of Africa through images and stories, along with insights into the people and culture of this region. 

It is free and open to the public.  A free will donation will be asked to support the non-profit organization Rebuilding Together who will use the money to help poor families with challenging living situations.

The presentation will be followed by Q&A.  You will have the chance to satisfy your curiosities. It is my first public presentation in Fremont about the gorillas and cultures of Rwanda and the DRC.   Please come and bring a friend.  

Come explore the world of mountain gorillas!

I wish to thank the major sponsors who are making this evening available;

Rebuilding Together

Midland Lutheran College

Fremont Tribune

KHUB radio 

To learn more about the activities of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, please visit their web site at www.gorillafund.org

Tribute to Titus

Titus was given his name by US primatologist Dian Fossey, who came to the Mikeno chain of volcanoes in the 1970s to conduct a census of the great apes. Over two decades in Rwanda, she followed a group led by a male she had named "Uncle Bert" after a relative.

In 1974, Fossey gave one of Bert's offspring the name Titus. 

The average length of tenure of the lead silver back gorilla of a group is five years.  Titus lead his group a remarkable 15 years, a testament to the type of leader he was in being able to protect and provide. 

 

Titus became possibly the most photographed and studied gorilla in history.

One of the first of a generation of apes whose lives have been documented since birth, Titus left a remarkable record that has demonstrated how far human understanding of gorilla behaviour has come. For Titus, fame first came with his part in the film of Fossey's life, Gorillas In The Mist and latterly as the star of a recent BBC documentary The Gorilla King.

 

The few times I was able to spend observing Titus were special, he had a gentle and wise presence. His contribution to our understanding of mountain gorillas was remarkable. 

Titus died of natural causes in September. 

Dean

2009 Spirit of Littleton Celebration

Technology can do amazing things for the learning process.  But as in most things, it is the passion for life that comes alive through teachers who use this technology to educate and inspire.  Ms. Tharp and the elementary school of Highland in Littleton CO have demonstrated this very thing in connecting students to the other side of the world in Africa. 

 

Bringing Africa right into the library of Highland Elementary school.

Offering the opportunity to learn that students are students no matter where they live. 

To learn about other cultures!

To appreciate the value of conserving nature. 

To be in awe of life!

To experience the joy of giving to others. (The Bisate School project in Rwanda)

Congratulations to Ms. Tharp and all of the staff and students at Highland Elementary for creating something magical.