SHREVEPORT, La., August 5, 2004 --  Amanda Lee Yarbrough, Samuel R. Ziegler and Sheryl Thomas were among  the six students and eight teachers who participated in the “Environmental Learning and Adventure in Belize Program” (E-LAB) sponsored by American Electric Power, parent company of Southwestern Electric Power Company (AEP SWEPCO).
The group, along with two AEP representatives, spent nine days in Belize at three field research stations.  While there, they learned the concepts of storing, or sequestering, carbon to help reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.  The participants learned about the delicate balance of ecosystems in three completely different environmental settings, and about ancient Mayan culture and current Belizean culture.  They also snorkeled the Western Hemisphere’s longest coral reef while spending two days on a tiny island 14 miles off the Caribbean coast of Belize. 
  Students and teachers are sponsored by an AEP power plant or mining facility in their respective area and are selected to participate by their individual schools.  The 2004 E-LAB experience marks the fourth year for the program.
   During the trip, students and teachers learn about the inter-relationships between energy, the economy and the environment.  They study environmental issues such as climate change, tropical rain forest ecology and biodiversity, as well as local culture.  They also learn how local residents are now learning to earn a living without cutting down the rain forest.  The group also has an opportunity to visit a local community, joining in local customs and sharing a meal.
AEP has been working with other, like-minded organizations to preserve tropical rain forests in a number of locations.   The goal of these projects is to demonstrate the benefits of preserving trees that absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.  By “soaking up” this greenhouse gas, the potential for global climate change is reduced.
Experienced AEP environmental specialists and K-12 resource teachers accompany the students and teachers selected for the E-LAB program.  AEP pays all of the expenses for the trip.  Teachers who participate in the program are encouraged to incorporate “lessons learned” from the program into their curriculum.  Students who participate in the program typically have just completed their junior year in high school; they are encouraged to make presentations about the trip to their school and local community groups.
Thomas, a science teacher at Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, was recruited as a resource counselor for AEP who will help coordinate lesson plans for the classroom. Yarbrough, a 12^th grader this fall at Mansfield High School and Ziegler, a science teacher at Mansfield, were chosen based an essay and application both submitted to that school’s superintendent.   AEP chose Mansfield High School because of its close proximity to the Dolet Hills mining operations.  Also, all participants previously had demonstrated their commitment to the environment. 
Yarbrough and Ziegler were nominated as candidates to participate by Gary Dimmerling, AEP director of Lignite Mines at the nearby Dolet Hills mining operations.   “I knew that both would learn a lot by being a part of this program,” Dimmerling said.  “Given the proximity to our mining operations, I believed that both would find many of the environmental topics covered in this program very informative and interesting.”
Now that they have returned from the trip, the teachers will develop lesson plans focused on climate change, sustainable energy development, tropical forest ecology and biodiversity topics.  The lesson plans will be posted on AEP’s E-LAB website.  Each participant also will make at least three presentations to community or school groups. 
The teachers and students were encouraged to enter observations about the trip in a journal.  Zeigler wrote the following at the close of the trip:
 
“It is fitting that as our fantastic journey comes to fruition I finally take a moment to reflect. As we sit here waiting to get a gate at the Houston airport, I have that moment.
To be in the company of such a great group is first! All of you involved made this experience the special time it has been….Seeing and experiencing the natural side of Belize was incredible -- from the Poison Black Wood, tarantulas, Fer-de-Lances, and Oropendulas in the rainforest to the sights on the New River, La Milpa, Ramgoat Creek and finally South Water Caye.
Should I finally take the time to put on paper all of my impressions it will be a major accomplishment that will go down in history.”
 
SWEPCO is an operating unit of American Electric Power, which owns more than 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and is the nation´s largest electricity generator.  AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with more than 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid.  The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP SWEPCO serves over 169,000 customers in Northwest Louisiana.
 
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