Page 6 - Knights_Impact_Dominican

ing for students. It’s ‘learning beyond the classroom’ in At the site, Klingler and the others listened as a rep-
several senses of the phrase.” resentative of the Dominican’s Ministry of Environment,
which arranges indigenous tree-planting projects with
Leaving a Touch private landowners, expressed his gratitude through an
interpreter. Indigenous trees such as mahogany absorb less
Klingler’s learning experiences in Dominican hill water and therefore help conserve that precious resource
country went well beyond planting mahogany trees. for the country.

The driver of the bus that transported her and other “It’s not everyone who is willing to come to a land
impact activity participants skillfully navigated a series of that is not their own to help us,” the ministry representa-
rut-filled dirt roads and deposited his passengers in the tive said.
middle of a small enclave of humble but brightly painted
homes. A few children played about or looked curiously As the work ended, Klingler looked down the
at the visitors from front porches. Laundry hung on lines slope at the newly planted tree seedlings, feeling warmly
strung between some houses, but there was no breeze. wrapped in the deep, rich green all around.
Mud-covered hogs cordoned off in a pen intermittently
grunted. Chickens roamed freely. A reddish haired dog “This is definitely something I’ll always remember,”
took a siesta next to a parked motorbike. she said. “It’s like I’m leaving my touch here.”

Through an arrangement with the activity guide, a MGA’s Pioneering Knights Impact Participants: Jamia Orange,
local woman allowed the visitors to use her toilet before Stevanie Lester, Charlita Wynn, Esmeralda Labra, Sidney Clark,
walking to the planting site. It failed to flush, at least on Garrett Steve Stone, Chanel Dominique Rhodes , Jasmine K.
that day. None of MGA students freaked out about it, Collier, Cassidy Laurin Bass, Kelitha Silien, LaTrina Hill, Lenora
perhaps a demonstration of their adventure-reinforced Rozier, Victoria Klingler, Tasha Gordon, Edson Silva, LeeZa
adaptability skills. Solomon, Keiah Williams, Corjenay Denise Stuart, Chandre’ Leon
Mells, Moreh Joy Jackson, Shanquel Lashae Askew, Constance E.
Jamison, William Joseph Campbell IV, Moriah Grace Jackson.

Page design by Patrick Rule

Here are most of the MGA students, along with faculty/staff leaders, who visited the Dominican Republic in May 2017 as part of
the first Knights Impact international experience. They are aboard the Adonia, a Fathom cruise line ship specifically designated for
“social impact” travel. SHERON SMITH