My first movie! - by Louis

This is my first movie.  I learnt how to make movies on I-Movie at Apple Summer Camp before we left.  Its based on the first place we went to called REGUA.  I will make some other movies along with this one later in the trip.

By Louis

Our time at REGUA

We have just spent 11 lovely days at REGUA (Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu).  We arrived to a very warm welcome and the children instantly bonded with the young volunteers, guides and other staff here by going out on trail walks and learning about the wildlife and playing table tennis with them.  They’ve even been given rides on pick-up trucks and motorbikes which, for two young boys, is the coolest thing ever!  

We had been slightly concerned when we arranged this trip that, whilst the children have a passion for wildlife, it had tended to be for the larger animals like lions, tigers and rhinos, so we weren’t sure if this would extend to birds, reptiles and insects.  We have been very pleased to find that this visit has aroused a real interest in the smaller species though and Louis and Frankie, have been very content to rummage around in the leaves on guided walks to find the smallest of insects and walk long trails to the location of a moth light at dawn to find out which moths were attracted to it. 

From the busy city of Rio to the tranquil setting of REGUA the boys have enjoyed a sense of freedom and independence here at the reserve which feels reminiscent of England when you used to be able to leave your door open and kids could play outside on the street. (not that I'm that old!)  The Brazilians are very family-oriented and extremely welcoming to children and like to involve them in all activities.

Aside from nature walks both in the day and at night (see Animals we have seen tab) we’ve experienced all sorts of other fun things, including a night ride in a little rowing boat to hunt for caimen; picnics and swims in local rivers and waterfalls; visits to local villages and the local school (see Guapiacu school visit) and a lot of football and table tennis. 

The photos give a flavour of our time there, and also show a few of the animals, moths and butterflies that we photographed, including a Wolf Spider, White Moth, Humming Bird, red bananas and orange lemons, trees that know how to protect themselves against other strangler vines, a beautiful stripey owl that we rescued after it inadvertantly flew into the lab and couldn't get out, as well as lots of the boys' friends.

If we are lucky enough to get out to Rio again for the World Cup or Olympics, then a visit back here will be high on the agenda!

Guapiacu school visit pictures

We spent 11 days at REGUA, an ecological conservation area in the severely depleted Atlantic Rainforest, 80 kilometres north east of Rio de Janeiro.   It's managed by Nicholas and Raquel Locke, and while we were there, we enjoyed a couple of afternoons at the local school that Raquel helped to establish when her children, now in their twenties, were at primary school age, so that they could get a good education locally.

Louis and Frankie were a little overawed by all the attention at first, but quickly settled, helped no doubt by the very warm reception from the children there.  Quite frankly getting them to attend school in August in the first place was quite an achievement!  We started off in a classroom of children aged between seven and nine where Louis and Frankie told the other children their names and ages, and then repeated in Portuguese, as best they could, the other children's names as they went around the room.

We showed a few slides that gave the children there a picture of life for the boys back home - their school, their friends, the sorts of activities they do - and this gave Louis and Frankie a chance to briefly share a little about their lives (fortunately all translated by Raquel as their English was about as non-existent as our Portuguese!)

There was plenty of time in the playground on the first afternoon and then after a healthy school lunch, they shared a game of dodgeball together, which Louis and Frankie picked up pretty quickly even if Jules and I, although we watched, couldn't quite grasp.

The second afternoon was back to back games for our boys, playing with two separate classes in the playing field - a large garden belonging to a kind neighbour 100 yards down the road.

The Brazilian children were absolutely lovely, and it was amazing even though they couldn't speak a word to each other, you saw camaraderie and friendship emerging even in that short time.  You also witnessed at grass roots level why Brazil have won five World Cups and we've only won one......

Here are a few of the pictures from the school visits.