The first of our Venturers have arrived: meet 13As Fabulous Ticos and Nicas

The HCVs met the Volunteer Manager Team with a conga line

En cada expedicion de Raleigh Internacional, sea en Borneo, India, Tanzania, o aqui en Costa Rica & Nicaragua, estamos privilegiados a tener Ventureros de los Paises Anfitriones (Host Country Venturers/HCVs). Durante la Expedicion 13A, estamos emocionados de tener 14 Costarricences y 4 Nicaraguenses. Keiner, el coordinador de los HCVs, era el mismo un HCV hace un par de anos, y trabaja sin parar para encontrar gente joven de America Central quien quiere hacer una diferencia en su medioambiente y conocer mucha gente de muchos paises diferentes.

On every Raleigh International expedition whether Borneo, India, Tanzania or here in Costa Rica & Nicaragua, we are privileged to have Host Country Venturers (HCVs). During Expedition 13A we are excited to be welcoming 14 Costa Ricans and 4 Nicaraguans. Keiner the HCV Co-ordinator who himself was an HCV a couple of years ago, works tirelessly to find young people from Central America wanting to make a difference to their environment, challenge themselves and meet many new people from many different places in the world.

Nuestros HCVs han llegado, y son/Our HCVs have arrived and they are:

Ignacio, Alejandra, Job, Luis, Adriana D, Adelina, Daniela, Berny, Jeannina, Esteban, Roger, Henry, Victor, Adriana C, Nathalia, Gina, Maikel and Nelson

Introducing the HCVs

An incredible entrance singing and dancing

El equipo entero de los Ventureros estaran llegando a Fieldbase el miercoles 30 de enero - les avisaremos tan pronto como hayan llegado, pero con la diferencia de la hora, puede ser el miercoles por la noche para ustedes si estan en europa. Estamos con muchas ganas de comenzar la Expedicion 13A!

The entire team of Venturers will be arriving at Fieldbase on Wednesday 30th January - we'll let you know as soon as they have arrived, although with the time difference it may be Wednesday evening for you if you are in Europe - we can't wait for 13A to get underway.

Trek by name, trek by nature

The Volunteer Managers have been training hard over the last few days and we thought you would like to see pictures of them trekking through the foothills of Turrialba, looking calm, collected and without a drop of sweat anywhere - oh the dream! Encompassing some challenging terrain, camping 4 to a tent and learning the finer points of cooking on trangias, it was a fantastic few days, although everyone was pretty glad of a nice cold shower upon return Fieldbase.

First of all we were put into our 5 teams, so here they are:

Whiskey 1: Rich, Liz, Sacha, Victoria, Angie, Claire, Marisa and Colin

Whiskey 2 (I think they were asked which way they unanimously decided to go?): Sally, Denise, Sarah, Shane, Alice, Dav, Antonio and Holly

Whiskey 3: Kate, Zoe, Lou, Lady Glynn, Gemma, Paul and Simon

Whiskey 4 (bloggers team - I have the power to say we were the best): Katharine, Gabby, Sarita, Greg, Emma, Chris and Marie 

Whiskey 5: Clive, James, Helena, Lena, Sarah, Jess and Pauline

So off we went trekking with our maps, tents, trangias, 3 bowls, spades, medical kits, radios, gadgets and gizmos a plenty.

Chilvalry at the stream

Dr Katharine, the height of stability

We were privileged to trek through stunning scenery

Risk assessment training - don't worry we didn't cross that rickety bridge

We put our radio training into practice with an evening sitrep and morning radio check back to Fieldbase:

Dr.Marisa making the evening sitrep radio call-in

We were taught navigation and how to read a map - we were sent off with our compasses and our end point. A few groups got a little lost, but all a learning curve!

Where to go?

Sarah, Holly learning navigation from expert Denise

Kate, Gemma and Zoe planning their next move

Tomorrow jungle camp - stay tuned for basher beds, basher hammocks and long drops...

Radios, Casevacs and Medical Training

We thought you would like to see what our fantastic staff team have been doing for their first full day of training. After a good nights rest in their new homes (sponge mattresses on the floor, hardcore PMs) the team were at Fieldbase for their induction. Radio training, Raleigh's Health & Safety, what to do in an emergency and how to employ a Casevac procedure were among the topics discussed.

However, before we show the Volunteer Managers (VMs) concentrating and being learned, we will start this blog as we start most of our days... with a Raleigh Energizer:

A game of Caballos

Training begun with how to set up and use Raleigh Comms - the radio. There was a lot of words like ionesphere, co-ax and waves flying around.

You can see here Pedro demonstrating how the T-junction for our di-poles works

Putting our theory into practice on a tree outside Fieldbase

We then had our Health & Safety briefing

A delicious lunch was followed by an afternoon of medical training by our Medic PMs James, Marisa, Sarah, Dav, Katharine, Zoe and Lena. Covering expedition and emergency medecine, the PMs are now trained and ready for every eventuality.

Marisa, Medic PM, helping our patient with his asthma

James, Medic PM, showing us how to use a sam-splint to deal with fractures and sprains

DrABC: Holly placing Katharine, Medic PM, in the recovery position

Our evening session was a discussion and briefing on Jungle Camp. Thursday, Friday and Saturday is spent training and trekking in and around the hills of Turrialba. Lukily we had a very informative session on how to pack your rucksack from the CEM Simon.  

Simon's essential trekking kit

All of the PMs are trekking for a few days but we will all be back and will update you on Sunday about our new jungle skills and our photographer Liz will be providing some brilliant trekking photos.

Pura Vida!