First staff workshop of 2011 in Mexico!

26th of March 2011, the different hubs of Mexico descended onto Punta Gruesa base along with representation from Amigos de Sian Ka'an, our main partners in Mexico. It was to be a fully packed weekend of standardization, development and learning of all aspects of the project.

The day started early, well not in comparison to during phase but early non the less, with lectures and discussions on the developments that where to be made by Amigos. All of these captivated the staff, who had the chance to discuss certain aspects and get more connected to our main project partner and each other. Not only this but questions could be answered face to face and with direct feedback. These lectures and talks also allowed the newer staff members and scholars to gain a greater insight into what the projects future was and how we could help that happen.

Many different aspects were covered over the 2 days of talks that we had and over all they all were extremely productive. The new 2012 movement of the project was a hot topic along with some new monitoring methodologies from Amigos. All of which will enable GVI and its volunteers to aid Amigos and our other project partners to be able to do more in the area to conserve the natural beauty that is here and under threat. We also managed to standardize the differing lectures and other science based training that the two bases had managed to accumulate since the last workshop. The Regional office also talked about what really happens in the office and the RCs, regional coordinators, gave everyone and insight into the structure of GVI and answered all the questions that were fired upon them.

It was not all lectures, discussions of the future and getting a greater understanding of all that GVI is doing in Mexico and around the world … no sadly we had to sit on each other in team building games and laugh around trying to figure out what each person’s favorite marine animal was without speaking. The games were short but did bring up some interesting topics of group interaction.

We finished the weekend of with a massive feast of all the goodness that Mexico has to offer; Chorizo, Chicken, Arrachera, Manchego, Mushrooms and lots and lots of Tortillas. This was followed by all the staff getting to know each other better, if not know before, and also allowed more ideas to flow along with general chat.

All in all a great weekend that benefited everyone… by Tom Nuttal-Smith (former Scholar in Punta Gruesa current Scholar in Pez Maya)

First staff workshop of 2011 in Mexico!