Our Progress

Earth Train works to achieve its goals and serve its mission through providing educational programs for students and adults from Panama and around the world; prioritizing conservation, preservation, and restoration of our natural resources; and creating opportunities for youth to participate in and contribute to cutting edge research, program development, scientific achievement, and the creation of a future they will be proud to hand to their grandchildren.

Browse our current and future projects for a taste of Earth Train.

Earth Train welcomes Jane Goodall and Roots & Shoots Leaders from 12 countries to Panama

November, 2011

Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots - Official Trailer

A short film for the Jane Goodall Institute / the Earth Train Organization, that will be used to promote her environmental work in Central and South America. The film was shot over five days deep in the Mamoní Valley Preserve. We carried all the gear, including 200 lb. generators, through daily downpours, across rivers, and while walking in knee-deep mud. The humidity was so high that we had to clean and blow dry hundreds of pieces of equipment every night before packing them in boxes of silica to prevent rust from forming overnight.

The film was produced and directed by Pituka Heilbron's company - Hypatia Films.

http://vimeo.com/46110826

First Latin America/Caribbean Rainforest Leadership Conference For Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots First Latin America/Caribbean Rainforest Leadership Conference For Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots

Sony of Latin America has come on board as a sponsor and donated to Earth Train four HD video cameras. Earth Train has sent them off to Roots & Shoots youth groups in Argentina, Boliva, Mexico and Panama. We expect to receive material from these four Roots & Shoots groups which Pituka will edit and incorporate into the final film.

The Panorama Magazine at COPA Airlines covered the conference with this article written by Roberto Quintero with photos of Luis Eduardo Guillén.

First Latin America/Caribbean Rainforest Leadership Conference For Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots - Group Shot

Summary of Earth Train's program for Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, November 2011:

  • The First Latin America/Caribbean Rainforest Leadership Conference For Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Youth and Mentors, a conference with Jane Goodall for 30 Roots & Shoots leaders from 12 countries was held at November 6 to 13, 2011, Centro Mamoní at the Mamoní Valley Preserve, Province of Panama.
  • Una Tarde de Biodiversidad Musical, Sunday, November 13, 2011, a musical presentation in honor of Dr. Jane Goodall produced by Danilo Perez with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. The program was held at the Ateneo, City of Knowledge in Clayton, was opened with the debut in the Americas of the feature documentary Jane's Journey, narrated by Angelina Jolie.
  • Roots & Shoots In The Rainforest: Jane Goodall shared stories with emerging young leaders from the Americas (working title), a 10 to 15 minute documentary produced and directed by Pituka Ortega Heilbron for worldwide distribution is coming soon.

Learn more from our Program.

Earth Train's Junglewood Design Co-opetition

July, 2012

Highlights from the July 2012 session of the Junglewood Design Co-opetition, a three-year program benefiting Earth Train and the Mamoní Valley Preserve in Panama. This program involves engineers, architects and kids collaborating on design challenges such as modular tree house design and aerial photography and mapping. The July program concluded with a trans-Kuna Yala kayak adventure with Kuna leader Giuseppe Villalaz. Featured participants: Verne Harnish and family and friends.

http://youtu.be/cS3m5ey35w0

Have an adventure of a lifetime on a 10,000-acre ecological reserve and in the jungles of Panama while...

  • Field testing a super light and modular tree house designed by an internationally respected architect and an award-winning bicycle designer for use in remote areas by scientists and nature photographers;
  • Working to perfect a micro hydro electric power system combined with electric ATVs for ecological field work;
  • Test the world's lightest and toughest inflatable kayak while hiking and kayaking from the Pacific side of the continental divide across the semi-autonomous territory of the indigenous Kuna to the Atlantic coast of Kuna Yala;
  • Consult on sustainable green design innovation for use in the rural tropics, including in a Kuna village on coastal Kuna Yala;
  • Work on the design of art and craft using locally available materials and on nature publications, toys and games for children in the Americas and worldwide;
  • Discuss possible design collaboration and joint business ventures with other highly accomplished designers; engineers; artists; educators; and business owners;

All while making a lasting contribution to emerging community leaders and to the quality of life in the rural neo tropics.

Click here to get more information about this by-invitation challenge.

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