Masonry Magazine October 1997 Page. 45
Housing for participants has been arranged in the National Park Service Research dormitory on the island, a 100 year old structure once used to house some of Thomas Carnegie's 300 servants. Carnegie's former country estate, also in ruins from fire, sits adjacent to Dungeness on the south- west section of the island. The interior of the dormitory has been modernized and now contains single and double bedrooms, a kitchen, full bathrooms and a public sitting/eating room. The dorm has hot water, air conditioning, ceiling fans and wall sockets for those with hair drying concerns. Bed linens and pillows are provided, but you have to bring your own towels. The kitchen will be stocked, and include electric stoves and a microwave oven. A washing machine is available; bring your own soap.
All meals will be prepared in the dorm's kitchen, with the task of preparing the meals rotated amongst the team members. There are no stores (or trash cans) of any kind on the island. All shopping is done at St. Mary's.
On an Earthwatch expedition everyone shares more than the cooking; each participant also shares the cost of the project, which amounts to $1,345 per person. It works like this. Participants on each expedition pay their own way, including food, shelter and transportation. Expedition costs range from $595 to help U.S. National Park Service rangers find ways of protecting Oregon Caves from careless visitors and thoughtless vandals to $3,695 to spend 35 days aboard a Woods Hole Oceanographic research vessel in the Antarctic Ocean scrutinizing a huge volcanic vent.
Participant contributions cover all expenses to organize and support the expedition, which includes costs of science staff, field camp, vehicles, accommodations, equipment, food, fuel and freight. The cost isn't much different than spending 10 days at a resort hotel on the Intercoastal Waterway, except with EarthCorps you have to make your own bed.
It's a way to get involved while you get away. The idea has caught on. In 22 years Earthwatch has mobilized nearly 2,000 of these kinds of projects in over 150 countries and 36 states. This year volunteers are being dispatched to expeditions at 138 sites from Alaska to Argentina and Utah to the Ukraine.
Who volunteers? What kind of person would choose a vacation that is neither affordable, relaxing nor glamorous? "These volunteers love people, they love wildlife, they love a challenge and they love learning," said biologist James Paruk, a scientist working with EarthCorps. "They get to contribute to something larger than themselves." Expedition dates, housing information and other expedition details on these tax-deductible projects are available by calling Earthwatch at (800) 776-0188 or visiting their web site at http:// gaia.earthwatch.org.
Douglas Page writes about science from Redondo Beach, California.
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MASONRY-SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1997 45