Kidproj Home Page Sumatra Rainforest Trek Page

Virtual Trek in a Sumatran Rainforest

Being organised by the teachers and students
of Dhahran School, Saudi Arabia

Letters to the students who are going on the Sumatran Rainforest Trek.

Greetings

Questions

Related Information

Challenges

Suggestions

Greetings to Saudi Arabia :-


 Greetings from Negev, Israel :-

Shalom Karen!
We would love being in a rainforest!
Our names are Rina & Tamar, we are 15 years old and we both study in an environmental boarding school in Israel.
We like photography, what about you?
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Greetings from Negev, Israel :-

Hi there, Patricia, we are Noa and Schlomzion and are two 15 years old girls from Israel.
We alike understand that you can't learn everything from books and class studies and that you have to experience and feel all those places and wonderful views and different cultures.
Bye Noa and Schlomzion.
P.S. HAVE LOTS OF FUN.
Reply from Saudi Arabia:-

To: Environment School, Israel
Hey Noa and Schlomzion!
Wow! How neat! Getting you guy's response was so sweet! The total highlight of my day!
Hey, that's totally cool how you guys go to an environmental school.
I'm into alternative music. I can't name one particular group or person that I'm like the best. Just general alternative.
Patricia C.
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Greetings from Negev, Israel :-

Spencer, hello!

Cool name! We come from Israel and also live in the desert. In the place where we live we spend a lot of time hiking. The view here is beautiful.
We are also concerned about the rainforests disappearing for nothing.
Your trip looks really exciting.
We would like to keep in touch.
Lior and Tali
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Greetings from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A. :-

Dear Natalie,
My name is Brad I am 10 years old.
I think forests shouldn't be cut down.
If people keep on cutting down trees animals won't have any place to live.
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Greetings from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A. :-

Dear Natalie,
You're so lucky. I wish I could fly in an airplane in a class trip.
I like wildlife too.
Sincerely,
Hanvi Nguyen
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Questions for Saudi Arabia :-


Questions from Negev, Israel :-

From: Dana Rosen Hello to you all in Saudi Arabia!
The trip that you're are going to, sounds really cool.
What does a rain forest look like?
What kind of animals are there in a rain forest?
and how do they react to one another?
What do you think we should do to stop the deaforestation?
thank you for your help
bye for now!
Dana and Hagai
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Questions from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A. :-

Dear Karen,
You are lucky to go to the rainforest. What will you do there?
How long will it take you to get there?
Your friend,
Stephanie
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Questions from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A. :-

Dear Spencer J.,
What are you planning to do on your trip?
Is it going to be cool stuff?
What kind of people are going on the trip with you?
Your Pen Pal,
Julie H.

Reply from Saudi Arabia:-

Dear Julie H. (Delmar Elementary School, Delmar, Maryland)
I am planning to trek through a rain forest and see volcanoes and stuff.
I will also go white water rafting, which is cool.
I'm going with some other people who go to my school.
Have you ever been to a rainforest?
Your pen pal,
Spencer J.
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Questions from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A. :-

Dear Natalie,
My name is John I am 11 years old. I have some questions for you.
Here they are:

1.Do you know what the maximum weight of an Orangutan can be?
2.How fast can an Orangutan go?
3.What season do they mate?
4.What season do they have babies?
5.How many babies could they have?
Last one.
6. Do you have a computer at your house?
Well gotta go. BYE BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your New Key Pal,
John
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Questions from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A. :-

Dear Karen,
Hi. My name is Elizabeth. I am 10 yrs. old.
So you are going to Sumatra. Have you ever seen an orangutan???
I know I haven't.
Well I have to go now! Bye!!!
Your friend,
Elizabeth T
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Ryan H.,

Hi, Ryan my name is Ryan too. I'm in 8th grade, and I go to Meeker Middle School. I live in Tacoma, Washington. So I heard you were going to the Sumatra Rainforest Trek. Well I have a few questions for you.

  1. What is the annual rainfall in the Sumatra Rainforest?
  2. How many babies do Orangutans have?
  3. How long is the Orangutan mating season?
  4. How big does the male Orangutan get?
  5. How many different kinds monkeys live in the Sumatran Rainforest?
So, Ryan if you know, will you please answer.

From,
Ryan H.
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Here are some questions I would like to know.
1. Could you possibly be eaten by a wild animal in the rainforest?
2. How long will you be on the raft?
3. Have you ever been in a rainforest?
Well, I have to go.
Your Friend,
Andy H
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Hi Chris,
1. What is the annual rainfall in the Sumatra Rainforest?
2. How long is the Orangutans mating season?
3. On an average how big do the males get?(on an average height and weight)
4. How many different kinds of monkeys live in the Sumatra Rainforest?
So, Chris I hope you have fun there and you write me back. How did you get to your school in Saudi Arabia?
How did you get the money to go to Sumatra and do your parents get a chance to go too?
from Jack W.
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Spencer,
Your trip to Sumatra sounds really interesting and exciting. It looks like you'll be visiting some really neat places and that you'll be seeing some really exciting things.
How is this trip being payed for? Are your parents paying for all of it or is the school paying for the trip?
Why did you decide to go on the trek?
The trip sounds really exciting and the places you are visiting sound exotic. The climate over in Sumatra looks hot and humid. How do you think the natives stand the climate?
How will you be able to stay cool during the hot weather?
Sincerely,
Stephen G.
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Julia N.,
Hello, my name is Jack Walker. I'm 13 years old and live about 30 miles south of Seattle on Puget Sound.
So tell me about Saudia Arabia. What is there to do around there, and what do YOU do around there?
Do you guys go on any field trips? If so, where to?
From,
Jack W.
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Jessica
1.How big is the rainforest you are going to?
2.How big can the biggest orangutan get?
3.What is the river you will be going on?
4.What are some of the other animals in the forest?
5.How long is the trip to there?
6.What is the fiercest animal there?
7.Are your lives in danger?
Sincerely,
Andrew Hosford
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Patricia C,
Are you going to float down the river ? If you are, will you be fishing ?
What other types of animals live in the rain forest ?
Where will you be pitching camp?
That sounds really exciting going down the river and all. How long are you going to be rafting?
Write back soon,
John M
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Ryan,
My name is Ronald P. I am in eighth grade and I go to school at Meeker Middle School.
Will you answer some questions for me?
Do you think the Samatra Rain Forest will be fun?
Have you ever been to the United States?
How much rain does Saudia Arabia get?
What color are Orangutans?
How long do Orangutans live?
Here in Washington we have big malls and arcades. Do you have any malls or arcades over there?
Write back,
Ronald P.
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Questions from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A. :-

Dear Jessica W,

I found an article in the June 1980 National Geographic about orangutans in Borneo. Several were raised from babies and then released with wild orangutans. Some were brought up like humans. Do you think that should have been done?

I also noticed that the swampy areas of the rainforest look pretty dangerous. What kind of dangers will you face?

Our school can't even go on a field trip to a lake without a lifeguard along.

The orangutans in the National Geographic all had names. Will you find out about the names from the rehabilitation center in Bukit Lawang?

And last, a picture showed an orangutan baby taking a bath with a human. Would you want to do that?

If you could play with one, what would you do?

Keep writing,

Mr. D. Richard Turnbull, Internet class teacher
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Questions from California, U.S.A. :-

Hi Ryan!
I'm Matt. I read your letter. I am also in seventh grade.
You can't mean sixty degrees is a cold winter!
Here in California, USA it is 35 degrees!
Then again, our Summer only gets in the 90's.
You know what, I like rollerblading,too.
What kinds of things do you see and do in the rainforest?
Sincerely,
Matt
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Questions from California, U.S.A. :-

Hello,
I really liked the essay the Sumatran kids wrote about the poachers they ran into in the rainforest on their trip.
Are the poachers dangerous?
I was wondering if these poachers would kill anybody for the animals.
Does this make you mad?
Are you looking forward to catching these people?
Why don't cops go to the markets to catch the people that they sell to?
How do the people who buy from them smuggle it out of the airport?
Please write back,
Erik D
Reply from International School of LhokSeumawe, Indonesia:-

Hi Erik!
My name is Patrick and I am 11 years old. I tried to answer all the questions you asked. I've been living here in Indonesia almost all of my life. Here are the answers.
I don't really think the poachers are dangerous because they respond to the rangers honestly.
The police don't catch the buyers because they practically never see them going by.
They would smuggle these turtles by ship to Malaysia and so on.
This is all the questions I could really understand and remember to write back. Oh by the way, my name is Patrick M from Switzerland.
See ya later!
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Questions from California, U.S.A. :-

Hi,
well we found out that you are going on a trip to the rain forest to see how the rain forest is.
Well we want to know a few things.
Okay, will you have to carry your own stuff or do you have people carry it for you?
Are there tents there for you?
How long are you going to be there for?
How many of you will be going?
Does the school pay your insurance or do your parents have to pay it?
Are you a little scared?
Did you have to or will you have to get special shots for this trip?
Hope to hear from one of you that will be going.
From: Michelle F. and Nicole L.
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Questions from California, U.S.A. :-

Dear Ryan
Aren't you afraid of geting malaria ?
Tell me how bad the cutting of trees really is (if you can find out) .
Are you going with anybody else besides your class and teacher?
What are you going to take on that journey in the way of supplies?
Did someone give you a list of what you have to bring with you?
How much will it all weigh?
If you see any poachers please tell me.
Are there any worries about getting sick?
P.S. please Write back
Erik.
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Questions from Taeby, Sweden :-

1. We would like to know what it feels like, being in a rainforest?
2. How does it affect your minds and health?
3. What is the average temperature in March in Sumatra?
4. What will be / has been the most important knowledge after this trip?
5. Do you know that there are solar panels to buy so you can recharge batteries on laptops and mobilephones? (But of course you have already solved that problem..?)
Class 6, Taeby, Sweden
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Challenges from Saudi Arabia :-


New Year's Greetings to all Sumatra Trekkies!

There are only two and a half months to go until our departure for Sumatra!
We are incredibly excited and can't wait for the adventure to finally begin!

Here are some ideas for you to guide your responses to our group.
1. Send us a packing list with your Top 20 items that should be in every trekker's pack in preparing for the rainforest. Be practical, but creative and funny are preferred.
2. Send us two or three questions that you would ask any of the following people that we are planning to interview (this would be really useful to us- remember we want to find out about the impact of humans on the rainforest and the orangutan!): local farmer, park ranger, tour guide, local or foreign tourist, village chief, local government official, hotel clerk, shopkeeper, middle school student and teacher, scientist, plantation worker or manager, rafting guides, orangutan caretaker, Batak musician, and any others you can think of!
3. We challenge you to guess the identities of "the stinking giant" and "the old man of the forest." If you are stuck, ask us for a clue.
4. Ask our "experts" to find out about some rainforest animal, plant, or the Batak culture. We can take some photos to send you via the Internet (or maybe by snail mail) and we'll do our best to get information for you first hand.
5. We will be donating some money we raised to help the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, perhaps by adopting a baby orangutan by contributing money for its upbringing. Can you suggest a name for a baby orangutan, male or female? Why would you choose that name? We may pick yours as a name for our baby!

Stay tuned for more from the Sumatran Trekkers! Salaam and peace!
Ranger Bill
Reply from Delmar, Maryland, U.S.A.:-

Dear kids in Saudi Arabia,
Hi!!! How are you?
My name is Gene we're looking up the stuff you gave to us to look for.
We found who the Old Man Of The Forest was - it is the Orangutan.
We're still looking for your other stuff. Bye-Bye
PS: Looking & Writing!!!!
Your Keypal,
Gene T
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Information for Saudi Arabia :-


Information from Arloev, Sweden :-

Dear participants of Sumatra-project!
This is Varboschool in Sweden writing to you. We just want tell all of you that our community is called Burloev but our village where we live is Arloev. Burloev doesn't exist on maps because it isn't a town or anything.
Can you find us on a map? If you don't we'll tell you nearest city. Ok?
Bye,
Jenny Olsson with my class 8a Varboschool
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Information from Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A.:-

Hello all Sumatra Trekies,
This is Meeker Middle School eighth grade Internet class writing.
On 11/27/96 Jenny Olsson from Varboschool in Sweden wrote that they are a small village called Arlov near the community of Burloev. We couldn't find you on a map as you said. We started looking for you on the Internet with Search. We found many messages when entering "Arloev, Sweden".
Part of Elisabeth's message said, "My name is Elisabeth and I am 14 years old. I am a girl. I live in a little village called Arlov, one mile outside Malmo." - this told us where you are in Sweden. We can easily find Malmo on the map.

The new Meeker Middle School is only seven years old. It is on a hill across Commencement Bay from downtown Tacoma, WA. Tacoma is on the Puget Sound about 30 miles south of Seattle, WA.

Bye for now,
Meeker Middle School eighth grade Internet class
Dick Turnbull, teacher
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Suggestions for Saudi Arabia :-


Suggestions from Perth, Western Australia :-

Dear Bill,

I enjoyed your web site describing the proposed tour of a Sumatran Rain Forest,and wish you all the best. The whole exercise appears to be very thorough and well thought out. I have a few comments which may be of interest.

Firstly, a very brief background - I am a zoologist/biologist who has spent about 16 years working in forests of South Western Australia, dealing with issues such as flora and fauna conservation, tourism, mining, logging and other land uses. I have worked in these areas from both a research and management perspective. I have only recently became interested in Indonesia after a visit to Kalimantan.

My main suggestion would be for the school group to approach the project from a balanced viewpoint, ie. try and understand the need for integrating conservation needs with the culture, development stage and politics of Indonesia. Solutions will not be simple, lateral thinking will be required, and quick-fix answers are unlikely to work. You will be doing the students a favour by teaching them this.

You may also like to try and assess the degree of concern the average Indonesian has for nature conservation, ie. is there sufficient motivation and understanding amongst the local people to get them involved in creating change? If not, why not? How can education help change their thinking?

Involvement of industry could also be addressed. Money is often the limiting factor. Large companies operating in developing countries are beginning to seek a greener image. Thus, a mining or petroleum company which only impacts a relatively small area might be interested in contributing funds towards the development and implementation of a park management plan, a baseline flora and fauna survey or whatever.

Other more controversial issues you may want to address are illegal logging and poaching, but you will probably find that people are not particularly open in discussing these subjects.

Good luck with any surveys you might undertake. Make sure you get hold of as much current information as possible eg. Sumatran bird and mammal lists are available on the net (I can suggest some Web sites, or just search under birds and Indonesia), and try and obtain good bird and mammal field guides. Carefully document location and habitat details of all records.

That's about all I can think of now, it's getting rather late here. All the best and I look forward to hearing about your progress.

(Dr.) Owen Nichols
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PLEASE NOTE:

To participate in this project you need to do two things :-

1. Contact Bill Cason to tell him you are joining.
2. Register with Patti Weeg at Kidlink so that you can join.

In order to take part in any KIDLINK activity, students have to
answer the four KIDLINK QUESTIONS
and send the answers to: RESPONSE@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU

It is estimated that

an acre of rainforest is destroyed every second!

We hope you will join us to find out why!

The contact for this project is Bill Cason, Dhahran School, Saudi Arabia.

There are also many schools studying Trees and Forests during 1996 and 1997 and you can link to their progress reports or join their project by looking at :
The International Trees and Forests Project

Information Contact: Patti Weeg, Title 1 Computer Teacher, Delmar El. School, Delmar, Maryland, USA. Home Page: http://www.intercom.net/local/weeg

KIDPROJ WWW Contact: Grant Dougall, Educational Consultant: Technologies, Saskatoon Board of Education, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CANADA. Web Site: http://198.169.140.21/

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HTML Coder for this page : Judith Bennett, Sydney, Australia

This page was last modified 19th Jan, 1997