National Zoo Sends Student to Study Polar Bears in Arctic
Follow Along in His Daily Journal
In early fall 2007, Cesar Ruano, a senior at a Washington, D.C., high school and a participant in the National Zoo’s Community Science Workshop, traveled to Canada to study climate change and observe polar bears in the wild.
On September 28, 2007, Cesar went to Churchill, Manitoba, to take part in the Polar Bear International Leadership Camp, where he traversed permafrost in a Tundra Buggy, journeyed into polar bear dens, and met with local native tribes. He was one of 15 students from around the world who participated in this project, which aims to equip young people with leadership skills while learning about the effects of global warming and wildlife conservation.
“I hope that I can learn more about a part of the world that few people I know have ever seen,” he says. “I never heard of climate change until I moved to this country. In Guatemala, it isn’t something that is talked about or taught in schools. I think that it is so important for people to learn about this issue—we have a responsibility to take care of the earth and I hope that my generation will be more concerned about our planet’s future.”
Read his daily journal about his amazing trip.
How Did Cesar Get Chosen for This Trip?
Cesar immigrated to the United States with his family from Guatemala in 2004. In addition to being part of the Zoo's Communuty Science Workshop, an educational outreach program based in D.C.'s Columbia Heights neighborhood, Cesar is also involved in the Latin American Youth Center’s college bridge program Upward Bound.
The Community Science Workshop worked closely with the Latin American Youth Center to identify students with leadership skills and an interest in science. Cesar was selected for his interest in biodiversity and commitment to help conserve species.
Future Leaders in Conservation
The Polar Bear International Leadership Camp program represents the Zoo’s commitment to engaging our next generation in conservation of wild places and wild animals, said Donald Moore, the Zoo’s associate director of animal care. “We hope we can equip these young people with the skills necessary to be the future leaders in conservation policy in the United States or abroad.”
For three months prior to his trip, Cesar and two other students have been working with Zoo staff to learn about different aspects of wildlife and environmental change, as well as discussing global warming and other conservation issues with professional mentors. Upon his return, Cesar will develop a project to help educate his peers about arctic wildlife and conservation.
