Apr. 2024 - Panterra Young Naturalist Expeditions (YNE)
Our first official YNE program encompassing both marine and desert environments. Cochrane High School from Alberta, Canada participated in the Panterra Young Naturalist Expeditions which introduced the desert camp. Students explored an old seabed chocked full of fossilized shark teeth, learned about medicinal botany from the desert flora and visited a self-sustaining ranch in the middle of the desert. During this interaction, students learned the importance of adapting to a changing environment through food security while maintaining a sustainable, traditional lifestyle.
Transferring to the boat on the marine side, students visited an area where a new species of sea lions (Guadalupe Fur Seals) have recently started to migrate to the Sea of Cortez due to environmental change from their once endemic home. Response to environmental change.
Feb. 2024 - Panterra Desert Camp for Research and Educational Tourism
A camp has been constructed in the region of San Hilario to conduct desert research in the fields of biodiversity, culture, and climate change. The first project will be working in partnership with the Mexican government agency of INAH and two projects will be carried out. The first will start later next week with an initial investigation, in and around the camp area, to determine the extent of the fossil beds and archaeological lithic remains leading to a documentation project within the 1800 hectares of Ejido San Hilario. The second project is in the documentation, preservation, and guidance in presenting rock art in the Comundu area for tourism purposes.
A third project is the development of a food security program with the Ejido San Hilario community.
Sept. 2023 - Panterra Young Naturalist Expeditions
In our first effort to meet the community of San Hilario, Oak Bay High School from Victoria, Canada participated in the Panterra Young Naturalist Expeditions which had a gift-giving component to the trip. Members of San Hilario were the recipients of these gifts. It included over 100 bags of groceries (staples), clothes, shoes, backpacks and school supplies, allowing 25 families to receive the gifts.
It was a valuable opportunity to introduce the community to the students and teachers involved in the Panterra school programs and to speak with community members. During this interaction, we learned a lot about the community's needs and wishes.
2010 - 2021 - Journey of Giving Medical and Community Projects Expedition
Started in 2010, Panterra has organized medical/dental expeditions taking doctors, nurses, dentists and optometrists from Caravanas de Salud, the Mexican government agency dealing with social services causes.on an 8-day journey of giving to the remote communities we visit on our expeditions.
On the medical/dental trips healthcare is administered free of charge and the community members are invited back to the office of Salud de Caravanas in La Paz for cost-free follow up medical care.
In 2021, we organized a healthcare and well-being, humanitarian trip during the COVID-19 pandemic. We delivered thousands of dollars worth of food and healthcare supplies to the community by dropping them off on the beaches. This was necessary as most community members, at the time, had chosen not to be vaccinated while waiting out the pandemic.