Thursday, December 20: Final Thoughts

Mayu Aliva
Our last day! And so much has been achieved: new friendships, renewed commitments, revealing learning, unforgettable hands on experiences.

We all feel so proud to work in an institution that stands for the values and beliefs that motivate us on, that allow us to serve others and strive to make a difference in bettering the lives of those in the communities we serve. HSBC’s five year Climate Partnership will bring out the best in our stakeholders: shareholders, employees, clients, suppliers and all those others related to us.

Earthwatch Institute and the Smithsonian have greatly contributed to a tremendous 10 days in which we have been able to understand the most dramatic impact of this century, climate change, as our Chairman Stephen Green stated it, but most important, they have contributed in guiding us in concrete actions we will do our best to implement throughout LAM in order to contribute to making this a better world.

Wednesday, December 19: Day 10

Emperatriz Mayorga
Hola!!!!
Estamos casi por finalizar la semana, y ha sido una impresionante semana!!!!
Hemos entendido de mejor manera los aspectos relacionados al cambio climatico, es decir nuestro conocimiento se ha incrementado, y tambien hemos aprendido lo detallista que es una investigacion como la que esta desarrollando el Smithsonian Institute. Requiere de paciencia la observacion de los arboles y el comportamiento del bosque; y nos ha surgido la pregunta si tenemos suficiente tiempo para seguir investigando. Adicionalmente, estamos entusiasmados por llegar a poner en practica lo aprendido, la conclusion de todos es que proyectos visibles puden ayudar a cambiar las formas pensar y de actuar de nuestros companeros de trabajo y nuestra comunidad.

Valeria Vivani

Today we did a different task compared with the previous days: we measured dead trees. After that, we had a very beautiful walk around the river. It was a great day!

José Flores
Today in the morning we went to measure trees again, but it was so different because we measured dead trees, I think it is the most difficult, but it is nice too. In the afternoon we went to a nice place at SERC, we saw the river and some ducks, also we saw the sun when it was setting, which was wonderful.

At night we had our session 8, “From Visioning to Vision Statement”, and we talked about the importance of the Climate Champions to HSBC. Also we talked about some issues of the Climate Champions, what motivates us to participate, What difference that we want to make, to HSBC, to our self, to our clients, to the world.

But right now, I have to go bed, because tomorrow at morning we will have a presentation about the movie An Inconvenient Truth.

Tuesday, December 18: Day 9

José Flores

Today is the second day in this week, I got up at 6:45 am and went with Lizbeth to do exercise, she went running and I was on the bike, we came back to the dorms at 7:30 am. At 9:00 am, we had a presentation about Mangroves, it was very interesting because we learned a lot about this issue, my partner Brian is a expert in this issue. After eat lunch, we went again to measure trees at the field, today I participated with Kim and Brian, I think we did a good job.

In the evening, Kim gave us a presentation about The HSBC Climate Partnership and employee engagement journey. Everybody participated with our experiences in each one of our countries. Finally, Shelby asked us about the participation of ONG’s in each one of our countries for local volunteering projects, and we had a brainstorm about the issue.

Is time for bed, see you tomorrow.

Monday, December 17: Day 8

Briant Dominici
The special cold clothes were not enough, as the cold wind felt like a knife cutting through our skin…but we reached the top! These towers are used for science, so have devices to measure wind, CO2, temperature, rain, light, etc. Astonishing is the best word to describe the view from up there. The day was sunny and beautiful in appearance, but the strong winds made it difficult for us to work on the field.

Yes, we did measure trees again, but also performed a new task: litter collection from the buckets located strategically within the different plots. The contents of the buckets will reveal to Dr. Parker which tree is contributing in what proportion to the soil’s leafs coverage. This is very important to understand as it is a piece of the CO2 puzzle. It was very nice to find our that one of my college professors back in the 80’s in Panama was Dr. Parker’s classmate some years before.

I had another new experience today: I finally went inside room 210 in our dorm. And yes! It is the laundry room. I went in there because Catalina offered to wash my towel. Otherwise that would still be an unknown territory for me, since I brought 12 of everything (everything but towels) in order to avoid having to wash any clothes. I am not ashamed to accept that I am not the “house keeping type”, but in my defense I must say that on the field, I try as much as I can to help all the groups with the difficult tasks encountered and also have been translating for a lot of people. So, it is a trade. Of course I would have helped all the groups with everything they needed anyway, but this is something they do not need to know :) Catalina and Valeria keep feeding me. It doesn’t matter if it is here or at a restaurant; they make sure that I get well feed and I love them for that.

So room 210 is off limits again (I just went in for the last time and got my clean towel).

It is late and I’m going to bed. Think I’m gonna dream about the view from the tower…


José Flores
Yesterday we went to Washington DC, we visited three museums of the Smithsonians, The Smithsonian Castle, The National Museum of Natural History and The Donald W. Reynolds Center (the third major government building constructed in the fledgling U.S. capital (after the White House and the Capitol Building). It was a very interesting tour.

Also we went to eat dinner to Café Atlantico, a very good restaurant in the Downtown of Washington. The Smithsonian is a very good host.

Today in the morning we went to the plots to collect the leaves that are inside the buckets of the CI1 and CI2 plots. There were a few leaves.

After lunch, we went to a tower where the scientists take data of the temperature, the air direction, mediation of CO2 and the weather. Was a great experience. At night we had a presentation about the HSBC Climate Partnership by Kim.

Sunday, December 16: Day 7

Valeria Vivani
Today was a great day. It was our free day! We visited Washington DC with people from the Smithsonian Institute for Tropical Research. We enjoyed a tour around the Natural History Museum, we had lunch all together, and I visited the Indian American Museum (while other people were watching a movie about sea creatures at the Natural History Museum). By the evening, we had dinner at Café Atlantico and we visited the main monuments. Thank you very much to the people from the Smithsonian Institute for such as wonderful gift!

Saturday, December 15: Day 6

José Flores
Today in the morning, we went to work to the field at 8:45. Today our team Shelby, Clarissa and I (the best team), made a good and fast job, we finished 4 parts of a plot (10 by 10 meters each ). Today was the last day working with Alana (Earthwatch staff), because she went back to Massachusetts with her family. We will miss her.

In the afternoon we went to shopping to a great mall, and later we ate dinner in a good restaurant. We spend a good time eating very good food. I never was eating that kind of food.
I am so happy to stay here with people of other country’s learning and working for a good cause, to help our environment.

Friday, December 14: Day 5

José Flores
Today was a great day, primarily because we went to the field by the morning and we finished the first plot. Also today we saw the sun and the weather was very good for job in the field.

At noon we have a party with the employees of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Was a great party, because we shared with people who work in the SERC, and we knew the culture of this country. Our partner Mayu, participated in the party, with a beautiful song.

In the afternoon I took a ride in bicycle for all the areas around the SERC. At 6:00 pm we had a good presentation of the HSBC Climate Partnership by Mayu.

Briant Domenici
Today we finished measuring the trees of all the remaining parcels of the plot. This is a special day because the afternoon is free due to SERC’s Christmas party (lunch party I should say). Regarding the food, there were the two main factors that must always be present: abundance and supreme taste!

I feel almost guilty for this satisfaction sensation for finishing the plot, but then I realize that nothing is done yet. Again I start thinking and come to the conclusion that in this fight, we need to celebrate and be proud of the small victories, the small accomplishments; but this must not interfere with our commitment to the main task…

If we want to succeed in this climate change challenge, we must work together and we must do it fast, taking one task at the time, each individual in its own field.

Today’s data will help Dr. Parker to find out about each three species role and behavior in the complicated intake and outtake cycle of Carbon; ultimately this will enable proper forest management aiming to suppress the global warming.

Wednesday, December 12: Day 3

Briant Domenici
Today I made the best possible deal: I traded my English speaking capabilities and my previous biology and field knowledge for not having to cook meals… Now Valeria and Catalina will cook for me the rest of the project :)

Maybe a trade is the key here… can we make a trade with the Earth? Can we stop producing this excess amount of CO2 and in exchange the Earth can allow us (Homo sapiens sapiens) to live in it a little longer? Can we keep our part of the deal (if we get to do the deal). I’m sure the Earth would comply with its part. So it is up to us!

Today we took data on all the trees located in the pre-set parcels. All this data will then translate into information that can be compared with information from all over the world. What we are doing here is very important; it is the first step toward producing what is needed to alert the world of the global warming reality… I believe we have to keep trying.

Tuesday, December 11: Day 2

Briant Domenici
Today, in preparation for the days to come, we practiced using the compass and it was interesting to find out how many versions of 120 degrees we managed to find; in other words, what we found out is that in this type of research there is nothing 100% accurate. Nevertheless we all became aware of the fact that WE (humans) are producing levels of CO2 NEVER seen before in the atmosphere and CO2 is the main contributor that prevents the heat (taken from the Sun) to be released into the open space. CO2 is actually one of the reasons why the Earth is the only planet in our Solar System that supports life.

The problem is that these increased levels of CO2 are causing the Earth temperature to increase at an accelerated pace and this will have catastrophic consequences.

It is true that the Earth had cycles of heat and cold in the past, but these cycles were 100% natural. Now human activities are interfering with these cycles and we are here with the task of understanding a little more of how, the forest – human interaction actually affects the CO2 and consequently, the climate.

Can we as a species really make a difference to revert this trend? I do not have the answer, but I know this: WE MUST TRY!

Monday, December 10: Day 1 - Team Two

José Flores
Hola mi nombre es Jose Flores y yo vengo de Cd. Juarez, Chih. Mexico. Ayer llegue a Baltimore a la media noche, vole del Paso Texas a Dallas y estuve 6 horas en el aeropuerto de Dallas, ya que mi vuelo se retraso 2 horas. La ciudad de Baltimore es muy bonita, el dia de hoy estuvo nublado y con algo de niebla. Por la manana conoci a una parte de mis companeros que van a estar conmigo estos 12 dias compartiendo esta gran oportunidad que nos da HSBC de conocer mas acerca del cambio climatico y contribuir con nuestro granito de arena. El dia de hoy nos dedicamos a conocernos mejor entre nosotros y platicar sobre nuestras expectativas en este viaje. Mis expectativas son muy amplias, aprender todo lo relativo al cambio climatico para compartirlo con mis colegas y familia en Mexico. Creo que este equipo es maravilloso, ya que somos personas de diferentes paises y culturas, compartiendo un mismo fin, contribuir a mejorar nuestro medio ambiente y evitar en la medida de lo posible el cambio climatico.


Valeria Vivani
Hi. This is Valeria from HSBC Argentina. This was our first day, meeting all of the HSBC colleagues and Earthwatch staff. We gathered all of our expectations and desires in common and we promised each other to have a great time together. SERC is a beautiful place!

Final thoughts: Team One

Steve Dauenhauer
I've had the pleasure of being surrounded by intelligent, inspiring
people--some from HSBC-North America, others from SERC. I've learned an
amazing amount about the environment as well as my coworkers from
throughout America and Canada. Though I wasn't sure what to expect at the
start of the program, I feel very fortunate to have been able to
experience the two weeks. The weather was perfect for the work we had to
perform, and the learning sessions were excellent in presenting the
issues, backed by scientific research.

I would like to thank my HSBC peers for the fun, their hard work and
inspiration, and overall a great experience. Earthwatch also provided
excellent support, great food, and good direction throughout. I recommend
the experience to anyone considering an education in the environmental
sciences. Truly an amazing experience.

Todd Graves
This opportunity is exactly that?an opportunity. In order for it to become
something bigger, it will require a commitment that lasts a lifetime, not
just two weeks. So, I think I will use this entry as a prologue rather
than an epilogue. To move forward, I will ask my family, friends,
neighbors and colleagues to join me on this learning journey. Together, we
will continue to learn, take action and all become Climate Champions.
Also, I would like to thank my co-workers in Virginia Beach for enabling
me to take this journey. The only way that this could happen was for me to
stand on the shoulders of giants.

OK - no word for the day, but rather a quote. To truly understand the
profound potential of this experience, as well as the potential within
each of us, I want all the faithful readers to read the quote from
Margaret Mead that is in Connie's posting.

Lisa Hartnell
This has been an amazing experience that I have thoroughly enjoyed. It has
been very difficult at times and exhausting as well, but the amount I have
learned is amazing. When we arrived, I wasn't sure what to expect, but
after a few days everything fell into place. Our routines seemed second
nature to us all. At times, it would appear that we all had careers in
surveying, scientific research and forestry! I know I will never again be
able to replicate this experience and would encourage all of you at HSBC
to investigate how you too can become a Climate Champion and share this
same experience. It will change the way you think about climate change and
the environment. After this experience, I now see a lot of things
differently. Time is short and we all need to make some changes now!

Julie Isaac
On Day 1, we were asked to complete a questionnaire, and now we will
complete it again, comparing our answers to gauge the field program we've
just done and what we have learned. There has definitely been a lot of
scientific knowledge imparted over the two weeks, now how can I condense
this into something I can share in a half hour or less? Our Mortgage
Broker team is already a very motivated group, with so many employees
involved in all the committees--wellness, health and safety,
environmental committee, holiday party, and the social committee, to name
a few--so I look forward to sharing all of this and working together to
reduce our impact on the environment. The truly frightening part of the
information we have received is that the climate changes may be so
advanced we may not be able to stop it.

The light at the end of the tunnel is the enthusiasm of the individuals
here, the packed lecture hall filled with community members all concerned
with the changes here in the Chesapeake Bay area, these scientists tucked
away painstakingly conducting their research, the upcoming change in
government leadership in the U.S. that may help to put the globe's biggest
user of energy on a new path, and the initiative of businesses like ours
who have taken a leadership role in reducing carbon dioxide. More than any
other time in my career with the Bank, I am proud to be working for HSBC.

Catina Jenkins
Well, well, well - it's time to depart and I have mixed emotions. On one
hand, I have built lasting relationships with my colleagues and have
learned something new about them every day! On the other hand, I am
anxious to return to put my action plan into play. I was away my family,
friends, and dog for 12 long days and I kept asking myself the same
question: "Where did the time go?"

Hmm?I know where--it went to building four hectares (over eight acres),
putting 400 posts at the 100 meter mark, pulling 1,300 meters of tape,
collecting 78 bags of leaves with 60 bags still drying, cutting more than
600 feet of pipes, putting out an additional 300 new posts, measuring 500
trees, fully id'ed 256 trees, and completing 334 data lines. WOW! It is
amazing what being in the forest with 12 other people that have the best
actions lined up to show the company and the world what being a true
Climate Champion means. I am honored to have had the opportunity to
interact with such talented individuals and I thank my manager for giving
me this opportunity. This will be one that I will never forget!

Connie Murphy
It seems so strange now to think that we are at the end of our two weeks
together in the field. There were times when the work was tedious and
physically challenging as we measured, re-measured, and then re-measured
yet again to make sure that the base foundation for other Climate
Champions to follow would be true and accurate. But, then again, each day
also brought new learnings and experiences that could not have been gained
in any other way and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
And I am grateful for the chance to meet these fine, fellow HSBC Champions
that joined me on this magnificent journey, as well as Alana and David
from Earthwatch who shared so much of themselves with us and, of course,
Dr. Jess Parker and Dawn from SERC. I encourage all of our fellow HSBC
employees to take advantage of the upcoming Web-based climate change
learning opportunities, get involved in some local environmental events,
and perhaps think about applying to become a HSBC Climate Champion.
I will part with my favorite memory from this experience, shared with me
during a quiet discussion with Jess where he referred to this quote by
Margaret Mead. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has..."

Nicole Rousseau
It has been a fantastic 12 days. I have really enjoyed the program and am
sad to see it end. I am happy, however, to have met my fellow climate
comrades across the United States, Canada, HSBC businesses and Earthwatch.
The project has been a real journey in our education and evolution as a
group. The time seems neither too long or too short, but just about right
as it took us almost 12 days to catch on to the big picture and bring it
all together. I enjoyed the education, working with scientists, the
project work and daily recreational activities we did during our time off
(hiking to the ruins, etc). If you are chosen as one of the next Climate
Champions, remember this: the property is beautiful, the trailer is the
place to be and watch out for poison ivy.

Heidy Santizo
Being here for the last two weeks has been a wonderful experience. I
learned information that left a lasting impact and I feel compelled to
share. I am walking away with an experience and knowledge that truly gives
me the opportunity to make a difference. I am grateful for this
opportunity and look forward to using my network of fellow champions for
support and information. I can't wait to hear all the stories of progress
from everyone.

Kristin Savino
Well, after two weeks of being at SERC and being amongst leading
scientists, my fellow coworkers and Earthwatch employees, I've learned a
great deal about climate change and global warming. I've never felt more
compelled in my life to change my consumption patterns and reduce my
carbon footprint and I have already been recycling for years. I have such
a better understanding of the problem (that is unanimously agreed to
within the scientific community) about the devastating effects this planet
will undergo within the next 50 years if present CO2 trends continue.
I feel compelled to stand up and make a difference. And it's not only up
to me to make sure this doesn't happen, it's up to all of us. We have a
moral and ethical obligation to our children and all the children yet to
be born to make sure they live in as beautiful and diverse a world as we
do. My resolution is to reduce my carbon footprint as much as I can, and
to educate my friends, family and co-workers about the extent of the
global issue. Don't underestimate what you can do to make a difference.
Every little bit helps. Just do it!

Kate Schick
I'd like to extend my deepest appreciation to everyone at HSBC who helped
make this experience possible. I am honored to be part of this incredible
organization and work alongside such talented, dedicated and inspiring
colleagues.

The last two weeks have opened my eyes to the stark reality that our world
will dramatically change for the worse in the next 20 years unless we do
something about it. If all 50,000 of us at HSBC - North America made even
small changes to be more green, just imagine what we could accomplish.

Nancy Starke
I have mixed emotions about the expedition coming to an end. Great
experience with an extraordinary group of individuals. I am confident the
group will continue to collaborate and leverage the enthusiasm of the
team. David and Alana from Earthwatch did an excellent job riding herd on
us. The fact that we pulled together to learn and accomplished so much is
a testament to everyone's desire to do more than we do today, as well as
SERC's ability to teach the scientific pieces.

I look forward to going home to see my family and sleep without wool
socks! I am confident I will be a better "green" person both at home and
at work. Watch out my fellow workers and friends--I will try to persuade
you to do simple things like change a light bulb, unplug your cell phone
charger when you are not using it, use less staples, buy locally grown
foods or work from home occasionally, just to name a few.

Bill Thomas
This was one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much
and met other HSBC people who are all dedicated to going back to the
office and getting busy to help continue to make HSBC a leader in
responsible, sustainable business practices that support the environment.
I recommend to everyone: look around and join up and do something to help
your local community. As we learned here at SERC, "little changes
multiplied many times can make a tremendous difference." We all have our
part to do, so let's get started.

Thursday, November 15: Day 10

Steve Dauenhauer
Another beautiful day, although some of my peers disagree that a cloudy,
rainy day about 50 degrees is nice. We saw a presentation by Dr. Bert
Drake about climate change and global warming. It was similar to the film
"An Inconvenient Truth," but delivered by a scientist who knew the data
intimately. It was inspiring to be able to ask questions and have a true
expert provide not only his opinion, but back it up with the studies that
prove it. Though there have been many, it was a highlight of the trip.

Todd Graves
Quite soggy today, but spirits were the usual?sunny and bright. Really, a
very delightful day all together. We headed out to the field this
afternoon for some more tree tagging and identification. Our group, which
consisted of Heidy "High Five" Santizo, Julie "Oh Canada" Isaac and Lisa
"Kittens & Flowers" Hartnell, had BIG fun and even enjoyed a bit of
nature, thanks to an unknown giant green insect and a spotted brown frog.
We took dozens of photos. Unfortunately, the frog failed to sign a photo
release and now his agent is demanding a portion of the profits generated
by using his image.

Word of the day: "hectare." Look it up!

Lisa Hartnell
In the afternoon, we did some more tree tagging and visited with a frog
who was watching us work. Worked with a fun team who made me laugh all
afternoon and into the evening. Met with the group again tonight and
worked on our plans for our return to civilization (tomorrow). We will all
be happy to get back to work and back to our families and friends, whom we
all miss very much. But I will sure miss all of the new friends I have met
on this journey. They have made my time here so interesting, fun and most
of all--very rewarding. I want to thank my boss for encouraging me to
participate in this fantastic journey and allowing me to leave the branch
near year-end, when there is plenty to be done. I am anxious to get back
and make up for lost time and share my experiences with our branch.

Julie Isaac
Seems hard to believe that today is our last day "in the field," though we
started inside with a lecture by one of the scientists affiliated with the
Smithsonian who is known for his lectures on climate change. The afternoon
was a little lighter as the sun came out (or at least the rain stopped)
and we were able to get outside and continue measuring, identifying and
marking the trees in our plots. We're wrapping up our day, and project,
with tonight's evening session--identifying and setting our actions plans
going forward, which is what we've been working toward over the last 11
days.

Catina Jenkins
Oh my gosh! Tomorrow is our last day and I have so much to do. Our group
did an excellent job of designing our PowerPoint presentation to have when
we depart. Today was the day everyone was scheduled to submit their
changes and I was thinking: "who will compile ALL this data?" Being the
dedicated facilitator I am, I felt the need to take care of my
participants by compiling all of our slides. Yes, all 26. I started at 2
p.m. and after four hours, my eyes were red and glassy. I was extremely
close to taking a nap.

But there was no going to sleep right before the evening learning session
that I was facilitating. One of the "resident moms from Florida" gave me a
32-second shoulder massage (guess who that is, she has been to India five
times). I begged Julie to sit with me and she agreed as long as I called
hot dogs "smokies." Nicole burned a bag of popcorn and it practically
burst into flames outside (she put it on 30 minutes instead of 3). Kate
the Great put the icing on the cake when she performed her rendition of
the mashed potato. With all this excitement, do you think I am ready to
come home?

Connie Murphy
It was raining this morning when we arose, so we weren't sure what the day
would bring. It started on a great note, with one of the best lectures
we've had this past two weeks. Dr. Bert Drake, who has been doing field
studies on climate change for the last 20 years, gave us clearer insights
into the issue and the data he provided was right in sync with the data we
have been hearing for the last two weeks. Nancy and I opted to stay in the
lab and enter all of the specific tree data that had been completed over
the last two days. We entered data for more than 250 individual trees that
we measured! Quite a final accomplishment for us.

Nicole Rousseau
What started as a rainy day turned out to be another one of our most
memorable days. We are definitely starting to get sentimental about the
end of our trip and all of the great experiences we shared here. This
morning, we attended a convincing presentation from Dr. Drake covering
climate change and some scary examples and data. Finally, a presentation
we could understand! It was very different than the bio-diesel
presentation from the night before, where I was snoozing and even Dr.
Drake cut out early. When the rain stopped in the afternoon, we
volunteered to continue working on our projects for one last day. I think
the scientists were surprised by our enthusiasm as we ran out into the
field to continue tree hugging and pipe cutting. Toward the end, Dawn had
to literally come out and yell "Stop working!" (We are all such
overachievers, in a good way.) Sad to see this project, outdoor lifestyle
and climate camaraderie end, it has been a great trip.

Heidy Santizo
Today we woke up to rain after a beautiful day on Wednesday. We started
out slow, but got into gear as a scientist shared an in-depth presentation
regarding global warming. It was good to continue to hear the consistent
message at the end as we have heard for the past two weeks, which was "we
need to do something soon."

After the presentation we headed to the great outdoors to do my favorite
task--tree measuring. We all got involved and had a chance to discuss our
findings and put our knowledge to the test, from figuring out the trees by
the bark to using the leaves to identify it. It was a great time, shared
with my TDF friends--fellow "F" Lisa, (wanna be) "T" Todd, "D" or "F" me,
and Julie and Nicole--who are TBD. It was a great day.

Kate Schick
What's the perfect thing to do on a cold, gloomy, rainy day? Head to the
forest to tag some trees! Since this was our last day in the field, we
were anxious to get out into the woods one more time. When the rain
stopped after lunch, most of us rushed outside like kids going to recess.
The leftover raindrops kept splashing on my clipboard and my slowly
freezing hand made it harder to harder to write-but it was wonderful. If
it wasn't for Dawn asking us to help her move some equipment at the lab,
some of us might still be out there.

We spent the evening going over our action plans for what we will do when
we get back to the office. Everyone had such wonderful ideas-I can't wait
to see what will happen next.

Nancy Starke
Our day started with an excellent presentation from Dr. Bert Drake that
paralleled the movie "The Inconvenient Truth," which we watched earlier in
the week. The presentation put the icing on the cake, pulling it all
together and was a great way to end the week. The rain kept us in all
morning and some brave souls ventured out in the afternoon for more tree
hugging. Connie and I decided to assist with data collection,
double-checking each other's data input for accuracy. Jess was thoroughly
impressed with our team's drive and advised that the standard has been
set.

Bill Thomas
My roommate Howard went outside early this morning and locked himself out
of the dorm. I was asleep and then I heard the knocking on the window over
my bed. I thought some animal was trying to break in. It was Howard trying
to get me up. It was raining outside and he was WET.

The first thing on our agenda today was listening to Dr. Drake talk about
climate change. His talk was probably the best we have seen. It really
brought home the impact of global climate change and the causes (all of us
humans, including Howard) and just how hard it's going to be to turn it
around. I wish everyone could see this one-hour presentation because it
really hits you hard. We are bringing some of the slides home to show
everyone.

Tuesday, November 13: Day 9

Steve Dauenhauer
When told we were measuring trees, I prepared for an easy day. Not surprisingly, I'm caught off guard again. The measurements need to be at an exact height of the tree, on the uphill side, and if the tree is leaning, you lean with it. Of course, the poison ivy vines need to be pried loose from the trunk and the tape slipped in between for an accurate measurement. Easy? Not so much.
To end the day, we climbed 12 flights of stairs to the top of the weather station and took in miles of gorgeous reds, yellows, browns, and greens--fall colors at their best. Clear, sunny skies and again I thought a life of science is pretty sweet. Of course, I conveniently forget the leaf sorting, the weighing of paper bags, crawling through thorny deadwood plotting study fields, and working through cold, wet weather. Still, you get a walk in the forest almost every day. What's not to love about that?

Todd Graves
Again, I am reminded of the incredible amount of work required for even the simplest of scientific endeavors. Today, after once again placing poison ivy into a nice neat pile during our debris-sorting exercise (how many times will the scientists need to tell me, "No, Todd, that's NOT a dogwood, that's poison ivy"?), we hit the field for what seemed to be a very simple exercise of measuring trees.

To demonstrate the intricate nature of this type of research, 15 trees were marked. After an intense lesson in how to properly get a consistent measurement on a tree, each one of us was given an opportunity to measure and log these marked trees. We had standard deviation among our measurements as much as more than 3 cm on some of our trees. And it seemed so simple!

We ended our day with a look at the SERC forest from high above the treetops. Upon completing a climb up one of the research towers that took us up more than 120 feet, we were afforded a breathtaking view of this gorgeous countryside. From 12 stories above the forest floor, Lead Scientist Jess helped us identify species using the crowns, colors, and leaf shapes as our guides. Absolutely exhilarating.

Hey, new word, and this time it is a product that I learned about the hard way (if you've been reading this regularly, you'll have an advantage): "Tecnu." Look it up!

Julie Isaac
Kudos to my amazing roommate, Heidy, who challenged herself and made it to the top of the 125-foot tower high above the tree top canopy, despite being afraid of heights. Howard, Bill, Nicole and I spent the morning out in one of the workshops cutting lengths of pipe, after the first half hour, a little pop, rock and jazz (in that order) was added to the mix. We got through most of the pile that originally looked so daunting.

At the end of the day, I couldn't bring myself to head inside on such an amazing, warm, sunny afternoon. Instead, I joined Bill, Steve, Kirstin, and Nicole on a hike. The temperature has warmed up to 65 degrees (that's Fahrenheit, not Celsius) and I actually had to take off my long johns before our hike!

Connie Murphy
Today was one of my favorite days. We learned the scientific way to "hug" a tree! For wider trees, you literally have to put your arms completely around the tree to get the measuring tape around the tree… so you hug the tree!

Like most of what we are learning here, it is not a simple measurement. There is variation that occurs with the interpretation of each person who takes the measurement and there are different ways to measure a tree based on whether the land is slanted, if there is a bump or a split in the tree, or whether the tree is leaning. Each day, we learn more about the forest canopy and the scientific tools needed to measure the biomass that takes place in this wonderful place. And, each day, it all starts to make more and more sense.

Nicole Rousseau
Another busy day in the field, between cutting pipe in the morning, measuring tree diameters in the afternoon and then hiking to a tall observation tower in the last few hours of sunlight. Climbing the tower was challenging both mentally and physically, as we went up 12 flights of shaky stairs to a platform high above the tree canopy. But the view from the top was worth the sweat and rattled nerves. The land around the research center is beautiful from up above and we could see all the way to the bay. Looking forward to savoring our last three days here, I can't believe we are almost at the end of this program.

Heidy Santizo
Today was yet another day full of adventure. We started off at the lab with a familiar task of sorting leaves, which then led to learning to measure trees. We all measured the same 15 trees and discovered the variance between our measurements. This all seemed like all in a day's work and then it led to a 12-flight climb to the top of the tower. It was an amazing view; but the climb up there was far from easy. From sweaty hands to shaky knees and swaying stairs, I made it. This was a personal victory, as it was the highest I have ever been in an unenclosed area. It was with the great support from Kristin and other colleagues that I was able to make it! Tomorrow is another day of discovery and self challenge as we near the end of a journey that in some way, is just beginning.

Kate Schick
We spent part of today learning how to measure the circumference of the tree. All the trees in each plot-even the ones as small as 2 cm in diameter (about the size of your thumb)-will be measured and tagged so that the scientists will be able to track the status of every tree. The larger trees will have a metal tag nailed into the bark (it doesn't damage the tree-we asked), while the smaller trees will have a wire wrapped around them. What never occurred to me before was that as the trees grow wider and taller, the tags will stay at the exact same height the entire time. I can't wait to come back to SERC someday to see how my leafy buddies are doing. At least I know that it will be easy to find the tags…

Nancy Starke
Since we started our day with rain, we split into various groups and worked inside. Steve and I had an exhilarating time weighing dried leaves and dried bags, better known as the "tare" weight of the bag. Thankfully, the weather improved and we moved outside and learned how to take tree diameter readings. Let me tell you: we had some variation throughout the team in our measurements. I'm sure we will practice tomorrow, as we are expected to go out and take real weights on our staked plots. The highlight of the day was going above the tree canopy in the beautiful clear afternoon.

Bill Thomas
Howard, Nicole, Julie and I were cutting PVC pipe for staking future plots. It can be a boring job, so we brought an iPod and played some cool "work" music. This made the work go quicker. It was interesting to try and find music acceptable to the different people in the group.
Later in the morning, we started to learn how to measure the diameter of trees. We will be going out into the field to measure and tag the trees in the plots that we spent the last week staking.
This afternoon, we climbed the canopy observation tower. This tower was about 120-feet tall and is used to conduct various rain, sunlight and forest canopy measurements. I have wanted to do this since the first day we arrived: the forest has a whole different look from 120 feet.

Monday, November 12: Day 8

Steve Dauenhauer
Another fantastic day trying to site straight lines over 100 meters without being able to see from one end to the other. Dead and fallen trees, branches and other assorted debris created a somewhat treacherous job site, but we were up to the task. The weather was fantastic, a cool mid-50 degrees, overcast, and wet from overnight rain created the perfect atmosphere for our hard work. We got the plot finished, and I'm looking forward to learning how to measure trees tomorrow.

Always something new to learn, and a fantastic group to learn with. We plan to bring our lessons home to share, so you can expect more info to follow once I return to the office.

Todd Graves
I have heard a phrase repeated throughout the past week that has given me an occasion to do a bit of reflecting. At 41, with a personal life that brings me nothing but joy, and a professional life that is consistently rewarding, the phrase "life-altering experience" is not met with the level of enthusiasm it might have been met with when I was in my 20s. However, I have heard it from every member of the Climate Champion team. So, what does it mean for someone that doesn't necessarily look forward to their life being altered?

Well, in this context, it is absolutely a true and positive statement. I will never walk through a forest the same in the same way; I will incorporate the lessons, both big and small, into my daily life. I will have a dozen new friends that are nothing short of inspiring and unique; and I will live with a heightened sense of purpose. Yeah, that's pretty life altering!

Today began with a chilly rain, thus transforming the forest floor into an obstacle course. Wait, make that an obstacle course slathered in oil! But, as always, the HSBC - North America team clamored over, under and through an assorted maze of twisted limbs, fallen trees, the occasional pile of raccoon droppings, and the requisite tangle of thorns and brambles. At the end of the day, yet another 1,000 square meters of forest "graphed" for research.

I did have one epiphany moment I would like to share. Today I found a turtle. It was tucked under a fallen log, its head and legs pulled under its caramel and blacked mottled shell. "Kate," I whispered. I motioned for her to come and take a look. The entire team (Todd's Angels: Kate, Catina and Julie) came to look at the sleeping turtle. I walked away, breathless and exhilarated with my find. Sadly, I was to learn that what I had found was simply a turtle's shell. Alas, the turtle likely met his natural demise weeks before I found him. In this moment, I remembered that this forest is not a plot of land standing for SERC research. It is, after all, a living, breathing ecosystem with predators and a rhythm of life all its own. Sometimes I forget that…

Anyway, here's a good new word: "isotope." Look it up, I had to!

Lisa Hartnell
Heidy, Connie, Nicole, Jess and Nancy and I all worked together out in the forest measuring various plots in the rain. Then, we went into the laboratory to sort dried leaves and weigh them. Jess spent a lot of time helping us to identify the numerous species. A very productive interactive presentation this evening involving teams greatly helped us all to summarize the data we have been collecting/researching to date. We finished the learning session with a plethora of information, which we will be presenting at our workplaces. Following our meeting, Howard graciously invited us all back to the kitchen for apple pie. Who could resist?

Julie Isaac
Out in the field today, our team had a flashback to our first day when Lead Scientist Jess warned us that "it can be tricky to lay a grid onto nature." With two teams starting from two different ends of the forest plots, we discovered that when the teams met in the middle, somehow the grid measurements were slightly off. And tomorrow, we will have to fix them.
Maybe we should have joined the team that was counting the 10,000 aluminum tree tags behind the lab or the team that was learning how to weigh dried leaves. Serves me right for always choosing the "outside" team, but figure the fringe benefit will be coming home in better shape than when I left.

Given the full days outside and learning sessions after dinner, it's making for long days. The group voted to start dinner and the learning sessions a half an hour earlier at 6 p.m. In theory, we should be finishing up around 8:30 instead of 9 p.m. But once we got started, there was a huge surge in energy in the room. We split into pairs to ask each other which of our pre-project goals (and learning objectives set with our line managers) we have achieved to date and what we hope to accomplish in the remaining days. Next, it was onto brainstorming on what can be done at home, in our communities and in the workplace. A lot of good information, which will be compiled and then sent to us in "soft copy" (reduce that paper use).

By the time we were done, it was after 9 p.m., so the start early, finish early didn't quite work out as planned. But it was well worth it as all of the "learning" and fieldwork is coming together to the point where we can lay out some concrete plans. All of the partners involved in the HSBC Climate Partnership (reps from the Climate Group, Earthwatch, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, World Wildlife Fund and HSBC) will be on-site Wednesday for a partnership meeting and to check out what this "pioneer" team has been up to.

Connie Murphy
I'm starting to lose count of the days and the days of the week! We had quite a bit of rain last evening, so this morning was a pleasant mix of a cool mist in the air and the smell of damp leaves in the forest. The first assignment for my group was to help lead-scientist Jess map out one of our completed plot transects to the survey that had been done years ago. With the measurements and directions from our plot to the survey, SERC will be able to place and locate our plot within the context of the SERC world. It will be interesting to see our plot on the SERC map.

Alana (one of our Earthwatch friends) and I spent another part of the morning logging and organizing boxes of tree tags for Jess. When all was said and done, there are 10,000 tree tags designated for the eight designated research plots. While not all the tags will be used, and some will be used in the future as new trees are born, it is mind-boggling to think about tagging that many trees. It is more mind-boggling that we will be able trace the lives and fate of the individual trees in our plots for years to come to see how they will respond to climate change.

Heidy Santizo
Right after lunch, a brief performance by Kate of the mashed potato definitely got me energized. We then moved to a new project where I had a great opportunity to work with new fellows. I think this is important because it presents an opportunity to adjust to different personalities and work styles. We also had a great discussion tonight and we all came up with great ideas to take back to our other HSBC colleagues.

Kate Schick
I had a bit of trouble sleeping on Saturday night. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see were measuring tapes, white stakes and hammers. I figured that this experience would touch my heart, but I didn't expect it to creep into my subconscious.

Big congratulations to Nicole for venturing back to the lab for more leaf sorting (with gloves, of course). More poison ivy was found in a pile of leaves today, but luckily Nicole and her nose were far away from it.

We tried again to conquer the cut-forest plot. Despite all the measuring, measuring, re-measuring and "hey, should we measure that again?" that went on, the fantastic synergy within our team made the day fly by. Todd's singing helped, too.

Despite our jam-packed schedule, people are still spending their limited free time sharing ideas about how to help HSBC combat climate change. Our days are pretty long--we start in the field at 8:30 a.m., break for lunch, go back in the field until sunset and then have a 1-1.5 hour learning session after dinner. But from morning coffee to snack time after the evening session, there is a tremendous energy and passion around making a difference in our environment.

Nancy Starke
Today was a difficult day to get out of bed. After raining all night, it was one of those mornings that would have been great to stay curled in bed. However, my dorm has not been too warm, so staying in bed is not always the best option.

We broke off into two different teams. One team finished staking our fourth and final plot. Our team spent the morning taking coordinates, whereby we could plot two of the four plots on SERC's geographic survey of their land to get very exact measurements. Every day is a learning day with Jess in the field. The afternoon we went back to the lab to sort and weigh gathered leaves.

The interesting thing I learned today when asking Jess how long it would take to completely baseline the entire eight plots was that it should be done by next summer. I went on to ask how he would accomplish this daunting task of tagging all the trees, measuring the ground debris and measuring the diameter of every tree over 2 centimeters with only two expeditions. He informed me there will be many more HSBC expedition teams in next year. So if you like what you hear on our blogs, start to get involved in environmental projects at your site and ask to participate in a future expedition. The HSBC Climate Partnership is looking for individuals who are engaged in environmental projects at work.

Bill Thomas
Today was a very tough day. It rained all night and the forest floor was slippery and wet. We were climbing and crawling all over one of our research plots getting it measured out and ready for Jess to start the research.

We have learned so much about climate change and what we as individuals and a company can do to support reducing our CO2 footprint. It's really amazing the amount of change and impact just one individual can make. It's our challenge to help educate our friends, family and co-workers about how they can help save our planet and support our business.

Friday and Saturday, November 9-10: Days 5 and 6

Steve Dauenhauer
Friday: Best day yet for me. We worked on a piece of land, scarred by a recent clear cut, covered with logs, branches and other waste from the process. Our project was to run lines along the perimeter, over, under, and around all the debris--all the while keeping a straight line. I am sure I will feel it tomorrow, as I was using muscles I didn't know I had, but it was a challenging task, and the team came through with flying colors.
This process will allow Jess and his team the ability to study the natural decay of the forest, the CO2 impact to the atmosphere, and determine the time it will take to turn into a productive forest again. Important work and I loved making a contribution, albeit minor. We hope to return tomorrow to complete staking the plot. That's assuming I can actually walk in the morning.

Todd Graves
Friday: OK, so I'm probably the most spoiled of the bunch because I work in Virginia Beach with the most amazing team of people in the world. As a result, my team here at SERC has had some pretty big shoes to fill. However, I have to give a huge hand to my team today, Julie "Oh, Canada" Isaac, Connie "Annie Liebowitz" Murphy, and Bill "Master of the Compass" Thomas. Together, this plucky team, small in numbers, but big in heart and determination, completed the 50 x 200 meter plot that we have been struggling with since Wednesday! Like a well-oiled (but carbon neutral) machine, we tamed the beast!

My week here has reinforced what we should all remember. We all have a shared goal, we all care passionately about the things that mean the most, and we all are at the top of our game when we work together. Whether in the bank, the branch, or standing among the fallen trees of a forested plot of land in Maryland studying climate change and our environment, the HSBC - North America team is pretty kick-butt!

Hey, a new word for today: "weir." Look it up, I had to!

Lisa Hartnell
Saturday: Today was another very productive day in the forest. I worked with Heidy, David, Nancy, Howard and Kristin. After several hours of plotting we finally finished at 1 p.m. At one point in the morning, I was knee deep in poison ivy and felt I was surrounded! I finally made it out alive, but every time I have an itch, I think back to earlier in the day. We are all looking forward to going into Annapolis tomorrow on our recreation day. We are halfway through our "learning journey" and I cannot believe the information I have been exposed to. I know when we get home we are all very committed to making a real difference at work and at home. This team is certainly a great team to work with and very knowledgeable, too.

Julie Isaac
Saturday: Catina and Julie sitting on a tree… A Kodak moment that turned out to be Connie's best picture of the day. Connie has become the unofficial photographer and is taking some amazing photos.

This morning found Heidy and I comparing war wounds--the terrain has definitely been more challenging, large fallen trees to scramble over, and the ground slippery from the rain fall. Every time I fall over a tree or measure a tape and it's dead-on, I think of my colleague Mark. With his geologist background and inquisitive mind, this would be right up his alley. We're getting into the groove now (halfway into the project) and despite Jess needing to leave to attend Veterans' Day events (Remembrance Day for us in Canada) everyone elected to stay out a little longer before lunch to get as much done as possible. Tonight's evening session started earlier (6:30, versus 7:30) and still went till 8:30 p.m., with lots of ideas and discussion around HSBC's Climate Partnership program and employee engagement.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity to get out and explore a little more of this SERC research facility, Nicole and I are going to meet bright and early for a hike out to the pier before we all head off to Annapolis at 10 a.m. on our recreational day.

Catina Jenkins
Saturday: Things are really coming together. The entire group has a more thorough understanding of the group's objective. Yeah! It was a bit scary going out because the ground was wet. I had a chance to work with Todd, Bill, Julie, Kate and Connie, and we had an excellent time. It feels so good to work with individuals that all have something in common. Our commitment to the success of this project is remarkable and I am looking forward to sharing this experience with my colleagues.

Connie Murphy
Saturday: Today was a real challenge, for me in particular. Being the oldest member of our team, I questioned myself and whether I could keep up with the team and contribute my share to the workload today. We headed out to the far-distant plot, which was a partially cut forest. One end of the transect was up a very steep incline. Our team for this mission included Kate, Bill, Todd, Catina, Julie and me. We had to tape out some of the 10-meter sections within the 1,000 meter transect, often climbing over, through, or under deeply cut sections of trees. And to those who know me, yes, even I climbed over and under these difficult cut trees. Todd, bless him, just trudged on through when no one else could get over or under.

The other team working the other plot radioed that they were staying later to finish what they were working on. My team did, too; no one wanted to quit until the job was done. I cannot speak highly enough of the dedication and commitment demonstrated by team. We have really grown as a team, and as friends. Today was a complete sense of accomplishment for the work effort and a personal sense of achievement for myself. More postings to come on Monday!

Nicole Rousseau
Friday: Woke up this morning with no sign of poison ivy--feel happy and like I dodged something.

Today was the best day yet. We spent the morning surveying an impressive, clear-cut, logged field with Jess. Along the way, he gave us a few biology lessons on the watershed, stream run off, how trees protect water systems and stories on how scientists sometimes just happen upon findings when they are studying something else. He shared with us his common, humorous response when asked why he is studying something: "I don't know, something might happen." I might start using this phrase when I return to work.

The afternoon was spent surveying and staking the logged field. The landscape is amazing: all black, gray and twisted--with a few areas of new growth. Surveying this field was like training on a massive agility course, climbing over felled logs, twisted branches, around marshes and through tall grass. We are all tired.

Heidy Santizo
Saturday: So on Saturday we went deep--deeper than ever. We had to plot a perimeter on a recently logged area. Not sure if it seemed that we were deep in the woods because most of the grasses and plant life were taller than me, or because it was quite challenging to get through all the tree trunks and plant life to hammer in the posts. It was tough, but with a great team we were able to get multiple gridline posts hammered in. I worked on a team with Lisa, Kristin and Howard. It was great to get the positive reinforcement and guidance on maneuvering with the compass from Lisa, the measurement that I was actually doing it right from Kristin and the humor from Howard to lighten up the moments when we realized we had to re-measure 100 meters all over again.

This trip has been great so far--from learning more about HSBC's engagement and partnership, to how our work here can impact climate change for the next five years. I can honestly say that in the last two days, I have learned how to communicate details to the average person that will help them improve their carbon footprint. I think this is a big accomplishment, as each one of us will make a change.

Kate Schick
Friday: As we walked through the forest today to get to our survey plot, I could have been admiring the expansive canopy of the trees, looking for animals such as deer and quail, or just enjoying a wonderful stroll in the woods.

Instead, I'm staring at the ground and identifying leaves. The constant conversation in my head consists of "tulip popular, sweet gum, sweet gum, hickory-no, beech-another tulip, maple, hmm…poison ivy, maybe?" I've become a leaf-identifying monster.

Today, we visited a nearby forest that SERC is in the process of purchasing. The current owners decided to cut down a lot of the trees before they sold the land. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see such devastation. Jess was able to find a silver lining in the situation, though. Surveying a cut forest provides an opportunity to learn how a forest rebuilds itself over time.

In the morning, Jess walked us through the tree remains and answered our seemingly hundreds of questions about forests. We returned to the site in the afternoon to stake one of the plots and found that all of the fallen branches everywhere made surveying the cut forest a tall order. As luck would have it, the measurements were not taking us through the vast open areas of the site, but through the gigantic clusters of branches. Making it through the branches was tough and time consuming, but because of the amazing folks on the team, we made great progress.

Nancy Starke
I was happy that Jess decided to show us the clear-logged plot on Friday morning. The site of a 100-by-100 meter plot with cut trees lying all over the forest floor was daunting, to say the least. Spending the afternoon setting the perimeter was the most exhilarating afternoon for me thus far. We managed to set the perimeter and our first 10-meter row by the end of the day. Thankfully, the weather permitted us another full day outside, so I didn't have to spend a day sorting leaves in the lab.

Saturday morning and sleeping-in kind of goes hand in hand after a long work week. But not for us. It was back out to the work site for a long-filled morning. We finished staking our third plot with great triumph and positive words from Howard throughout the morning. The other half of the team set the perimeter for the fourth and final plot for our expedition.

By the time the next team from HSBC's Latin America offices finishes their two-week expedition (in December, of all months) we will have established eight baseline plots. We spent the afternoon collaborating on a presentation of learnings and opportunities to help our coworkers take an active role in reducing CO2 emissions. We moved the evening lesson up an hour and completed the day by 8:30 p.m. We then settled into movies and cards, as we wound down the week. Tomorrow, we are off to Annapolis as we enjoy the local area on our recreation day.

Bill Thomas
This morning we visited a clear-cut forest that is going to be the focus of some new experiments/observations Jess is going to conduct. The purpose of these measurements is to see how the various types of forest (clear cut, juvenile or mature) behave and interact with the environment and in the case of the clear-cut area, how fast it will recover and in what way it will recover. What strikes me is how patient you have to be to run these experiments. Many have been going on for decades here at SERC. Many times, the scientists don’t know exactly what they are going to find while running these experiments. But as Jess said this morning: "Something surprising might happen."

On Saturday we had a very challenging day of work in the field laying out two research plots about the size of football fields that will help Jess study an area of the forest that has just been clear cut. This was very difficult work because we have to climb under, over and around very large, slippery chunks of fallen trees.

It’s amazing how many new kinds of new growth you can see in this area, even though it was only cut down a few months ago. As Jess said: "it’s all about the light." Many new and cut trees are trying to take hold and use the light to gain an advantage before their neighbors can take over. Nature seems to have a very strong ability to survive our human presence. Imagine how wonderful it would be if we just helped her a LITTLE.

Thursday, November 8: Day 4

Todd Graves
Dawn, the scientist assisting in our canopy research project here at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, mentioned that sometimes leaves can carry a distinctive odor that will help you with identification. So, while working with my group today, I was stumped. Was the leaf a spice bush or from a flowering dogwood? I crushed the leaf a bit, sniffed it and passed it to Nicole. Likewise, Nicole took in a big whiff of the mystery leaf. Still puzzled, Nicole passed the leaf back. I gave it one last shot. Inhaling deeply, I said, "I'm not sure, but it smells nice…" As a result, we set the leaf aside.

Dawn makes her way over to our study group, reviews our mystery leaf and picks up a huge magnifying glass. She then states, rather scientifically, "Poison Ivy. You may want to grab the Tecnu." (Tecnu is a skin cleanser for poison ivy.) Nothing in the world prepares a person to hear that the greenery you have been jamming into your face is poison ivy! But, so far so good--no bumps or rashes!


Hey, here's another environmental glossary item: "riparian" forest. Look it up, I had to!

Julie Isaac
Frost on the cars parked in front of our dorms in the early morning = long johns, wool socks, long-sleeved shirt, fleece vest, fleece jacket, jacket, hat and gloves, and it's still cold out in the forest this morning. The afternoon finds us in Jess's lab sorting leaves: now the forest doesn't seem so bad, as sorting twigs, leaves, seeds and fragments quickly becomes tedious.

Last night's discussion on cultural perceptions of climate change produced quite a debate, tonight's session on socioeconomic impacts shouldn't be quite so entertaining. When we're done with our "learning," Kristen and Nicole are hosting a viewing of "The Planet in Peril." Hopefully, there will be popcorn…

Nicole Rousseau
News today: I am on poison ivy watch for the next 24 hours. While sorting leaves in the lab, Todd and I came across an unidentifiable leaf and decided to try to identify it by smell. After handling it, sniffing it and even crumbling it to release some of the flakes so we could smell it better, we gave up. David came over to check on us and touched and sniffed the mystery leaf with equal curiosity and abandon. We asked Dawn, one of the scientists, to help us identify it.

When she looked at it, her ever-smiling face fell into a frown. "I think it is poison ivy," she said, and pulled out a massive magnifying glass to confirm. I think Todd and I, and the entire group around us, collectively held our breaths as we awaited the verdict. "It is poison ivy," she said, and we immediately hit the sinks and smeared our hands and faces with Tecnu (a skin cleanser for poison ivy) . I spent the next few minutes panicking (inside) and am trying not to think about it too much tonight.

P.I. (as I know call it) on your hands and face might be bad, but having it inside your nose, mouth and lungs would be a lot worse! Now… all leaves look like P.I. leaves to me.

Heidy Santizo
So the first day we were all worried about the ticks. By now it's progressed to "what is that?" But regardless of what bug is where or who it's on, we are all learning about the trees and leaves. Today, we brought in the leaves we collected and started feeling them and smelling them. Occasionally there was a spider, but I think we are acquainted now and no one is jumping at the sight of a spider. We got all the leaves sorted and began taking the moisture out, what exactly the next step or the expected result will be is to be determined. Now it's on to dinner. Hmm… wonder what's for dinner.

Kristin Savino
Today was probably my favorite day so far. We had a variety of activities going on. I'm definitely a Type A personality. I'm used to doing five things at once. We've spent the past two full days identifying and measuring plot lines. Very detailed, very specific, very mathematical and a little boring (no offense, Jess and Dawn!). Today we whizzed through our last plot measurement and afterwards, Steve and I volunteered to gather leaves (from various plots) that had fallen into buckets placed throughout the plots to catch a sample of leaves and debris.

We visited several plots throughout the facility, giving us exposure to other research sites within SERC. We collected whatever was in the buckets, and we took the samples back to the lab for sorting and drying. We had a bit of excitement when someone came across a leaf they didn't know, and sure enough after it had been passed around from person to person, it was determined to be poison ivy! Thank goodness the lab has a chemical wash that neutralizes the effect!

Tonight is cooking duty for me, and we're having tacos and burritos. I have to say the food on this expedition surely beats my Belarus Wetland adventure! My trailer mate Nicole and I are hosting a get together in our trailer after our evening session tonight. We're watching the CNN expose: "Planet in Peril." I think its official that we've all become tree huggers! Tomorrow night it's "The Inconvenient Truth." Maybe we'll get in a round or two of Texas Hold 'em or 5- or 7-card stud to keep it real. Hey, my new motto is "Live fully, tread lightly!"

Kate Schick
I was part of the "poison ivy team" during this afternoon's leaf sorting, but my poor sense of smell kept me from even attempting to sniff the infamous leaf. I've never been so relieved to have a dysfunctional nose. Aside from the poison ivy encounter, I thought that sorting the leaves was fun. It was like trying to solve a giant puzzle--with many, many similar pieces.

Before we started sorting, Dawn carefully took us through the different kinds of leaves we should expect to find in the collection bags. She pointed out the typical leaf pattern, vein structure, edging and texture for each kind. I thought the exercise would be a breeze until we were faced with an entire table of leaves that suddenly looked the same. So one by one, we'd examine the leaf, compare it to others and consult the books.

It is supposed to be a cold, rainy day tomorrow, so we will probably be back in the lab for part of the day. This time, I'm betting that a few folks will opt for gloves during the sorting process...

Nancy Starke
If you know me at all, you know I hate the word "redo." Well we had to "redo" the plot we thought we squared off yesterday as we squeezed what was supposed to be 10 x 10 into a 10 x 7 plot. The first thing Jess said as he walked out to check on us was "that's not 10 meters." So we pulled up stakes and started over. By lunch time we re-staked 60 percent of half of the plot. We moved into the lab for an exhilarating afternoon sorting leaves… Sign me up for 12-hour work day in the financial services arena any day of the week. At least I can say I know what several leaves look like, including several species of oak, tulip poplar, iron wood and beech to name a few.

We had some excitement in the lab as Todd and Nicole were trying to identify a leaf through the smell test, only to find out it was poison ivy. Lots of ruckus as they frantically washed it off with a special soap.

Photos

Howard and David (Earthwatch Coordinator) collect leaf debris.

Kate, Nicole and Todd sort leaves.

Dawn identifies the mystery leaf, with Alana from Earthwatch looking on.

Wednesday, November 7: Day 3

Steve Dauenhauer
Crawling through thorn bushes may not seem like fun, but when the end result is the "perfectly square" corner of a plot, the slight scratches and bumps are completely worth it! Getting ready to actually conduct the experiments involved in our project seems as much or more effort than completing the scientific part. I'll know for sure in a few days when our plots are set.

During our evening learning session, we all realized that HSBC-North America has a great story to tell, and most of us are working on interesting and beneficial green projects in our own locations. One big task for us is to "join up" and share those successes and stop reinventing the wheel. I'm convinced this first batch of Climate Champions (HSBC employees who have demonstrated their dedication to taking action on climate change and have committed to become leaders in HSBC's effort to address the causes and effects of climate change) is going to bring back some great projects for our various sites to further build on the HSBC green story.

Todd Graves
OK, first of all, for all the times I said of math or geometry while in school, "When will I ever even USE this?" I am SO using those rusty, dusty skills! The day consisted of measuring, measuring again, mathematic calculations, scrambling through underbrush, and then measuring again!

Then there was the compass issue. Did you know that there are two Norths? Who even knows that? Well, the HSBC Climate Champions all know now. One is true North, the other is magnetic North. So, to add to the mix some calculations to account for magnetic North while measuring…wow, a bit overwhelming! That's the technical piece.

Then, there's the practical piece. Imagine trying to lay a 1,000-square meter sheet of graph paper on the floor of a forest. That is the concept. So, we are like human graph paper, marking out perfect squares on a very imperfect forest floor. Exhausting, exhilarating, and so much fun! Oh, and can you say, "Tick Check?"

Learn a new word with me today…"anthropogenic." Look it up, I had to!

Lisa Hartnell
Another amazing day in Chesapeake Bay. Our team (#1) completed mapping out our area this a.m. with few problems. This afternoon was quite a bit more challenging. We joined Team #2 and worked together mapping out another plot that definitely tested our patience. It can be a long painstaking process when you think it will be a "piece of cake!"

Just when you think you got it, someone approaches you with a compass, which tells the true story! We are learning a great deal here about many things. The people here are all very committed and really want to make a difference in HSBC and in the world. Tonight, we are going to have a discussion about various newspaper articles about global warming that we all brought with us. Gumbo for dinner, so must go for now…

Julie Isaac
"..Just to recap, what we're trying to do is make sure our plot is square. So, as a right-hand triangle is 40 on one side and 30 on the other, then the last side would be 50, correct?"

This from David Morse, our fearless Earthwatch co-ordinator for this project. Hmmm, I'll take your word on that as it's been awhile since I've had to use that, and even longer since I learned it in school. And if that's been a long time, it's been even longer since I learned to use a compass in Girl Guides (Scouts). A compass proves to be crucial to Team 2 who have been given the task today of taping off a square of 120 x 80. In the end, we opt for 200 x 50, as we have a stream on one side, road on the other and other miscellaneous detours.

How many HSBC employees does it take to make a plot in the forest? Thirteen, plus two NGO's (nongovernment agencies) and two scientists! Wonder what skills we'll be putting to the test tomorrow…

Catina Jenkins
Branches and thorns and trees... "Oh MY!" What an amazing experience! Day 3 has come and gone and I'm still excited. I have to admit, I didn't expect to be so closely involved in such crucial data. This was our first day being outside ALL day and it wasn't that bad. Steve has been my best friend today walking behind me making sure I'm accurate with my tape measurements and all.

Being the facilitator for the evening sessions, I appreciate the candid, but respectful debates that have taken place. We are generating excellent discussions, so let's keep it up!

If we didn't learn anything else, we definitely learned four things:
1. Woodpeckers will only eat the sap from dying trees
2. How to measure a 90-degree angle
3. How to identify poison ivy
4. How to carefully step on vines that have those darn thorns on them!

Connie Murphy
Day 3 found us once again in the woods, trying to plot out a 1,000-meter transect with as much precision as 13 HSBC employees can accomplish. It is not easy traipsing around the forest, with its thorny and deep crevices, let alone trying to measure out a very exacting square.

During the morning, Jess (our resident scientist) led us through the necessary paces and, as a pleasant surprise, would stop suddenly to point out certain trees and carefully describe the events that may have lead the tree to meander up to the sky the way it did, or point out where a sapsucker diligently pecked away in a very specific pattern on a waning tree. This is the stuff that Thoreau wrote about! OK, off to tonight's learning lesson. More to follow tomorrow…

Nicole Rousseau
If a plot is not square in a forest, and nobody sees it, is it really crooked? This was one of the issues we struggled with today as 13 perfectly capable HSBC employees proved that we are not exactly compass champions. We had another beautiful day in the woods with lots of sunshine and an interesting history lesson on the land from our lead scientist, Jess. The forest seems more alive now after following his footsteps around the field (sometimes running after him--he is so fast) and seeing the forest through a scientist's eyes.

Kate Schick
There is a reason that I failed Map Skills in 3rd grade. There is a reason that when we needed to make a straight line across 200 meters through a dense forest, giving me a compass was a very bad idea. Between my poor navigation skills and the thorny bush that trapped me momentarily (and stole the hat right off my head), I'm lucky that I made my way out of the woods today.

Special note to friends/family of Nicole: If you ever need to navigate cross-country, Nicole is your gal. Just don't try to take the compass away from her...

While setting up the plot today was definitely a challenge, it is so rewarding to know that our work during these two weeks will used by scientists for years to come to help understand how climate change is impacting our forests. We have two more plots to set up--both in older forests. Jess told us today that the underbrush in those forests is even thicker than where we surveying today. My hat and I don't stand a chance...

Nancy Starke
Day 2 in the field was a great experience. We split into two teams; Team 1 finished staking the 1st plot while my team went off to forge new ground. Why two plots? For repeatability, of course. While the 1st plot was originally surveyed and had metal post at the four corners, the 2nd plot was unchartered. After walking the area several times, we had limitation of a ravine, dump, and a couple of roads. The area did not allow for 100 by 100 meters, so we had to compromise with 50 by 200 hectacre.

After establishing the initial perimeter the difficult task of "squaring" the corners took over. After a quick geometry refresher, we took to the task. I think I crawled through the same thorn bush three different times to finally declare a square corner! The two teams joined forces in the afternoon and together we squared and staked 50 percent of the perimeter and made a good dent on the remaining half perimeter. Jess taught us to read the forest, pointed out species and mankind's impact on the forest growth patterns, don't think I will look at a forest the same way again. All and all, a great day.

We are now sitting down to dinner, followed by our evening session. Last night's scientific discussion at 8 p.m. after a long day in fresh air required a couple cups of coffee. Hoping tonight's session brings it down a degree.

Tuesday, November 6: Day 2

These posts are from Tuesday, November 6, Climate Champions first full day at the Regional Climate Center and their initial day of work. The day comprised morning presentations by the project's Principal Investigator (lead scientist), Jeffrey "Jess" Parker, and SERC's Director Anson "Tuck" Hines, describing the science goals and methods of the project; and an afternoon of field work laying out 100 square meter research plots in the forest.














Steve Dauenhauer
The first few days were spent meeting our peers from HSBC-North America. They came from B.C. to Florida, and several places in between, and work in a variety of business units. We also met the scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and got an overview of the wide range of research done here. After all the introductions, I realized I was among many experts in their fields, and the scientists from SERC were pretty bright, too! Hearing about the scope of research conducted at the center left me a bit in awe of the impact their research could have on the world. It is very exciting to play a small part, and I'm looking forward to the next two weeks.

Todd Graves
Wow, what an amazing group of people! The first 24 hours of this amazing adventure have been dedicated to understanding our role as Climate Champions, a lot of education, and some fast and fantastic relationship building! The morning was an introduction from some of our amazing scientific partners. We visited the lab and reviewed some safety information. We're all looking forward to our first "real" field expedition into the forest this afternoon so we can harness this energy and enthusiasm! Stay tuned!

Learn along with me... Today's new word is: "estuary." Look it up!

Julie Isaac
A motivated and passionate group of people, with a common theme echoing: how can we take this back to share with our colleagues and friends, and how can we help them to see how important our changing climate is? I'm inspired that this group cares so much. Tough questions are asked of the scientists in our first "briefing" in the lab this morning. Many of us are anxious to know how this scientific research/project will relate to what we can do at HSBC and in our jobs. Our Principal Investigator throws it back to us: "we're just the scientists, providing the science, measuring, examining, recording--you need to figure out what to do with the information." Bill asks how we can make people care about what will be happening in 200 years, "200 years, it's more like 20" is the reply from the lead scientist, Jess. That sentence reverberates... 20 years... That's not a couple of generations from now, that's us, that's my parents, that's me and that's my brother's beautiful new daughter, when she's 20, things as we know it now will be long gone…

Connie Murphy
Our morning session started with meeting the scientists and technicians involved in our project. One of the primary things that became evident is that it will be a challenge for us to take what we learn in a scientific context, absorb it, and then translate it back to our business and our fellow employees. We later took a walk through part of the forest to see where one of plots we will establish will be and it was an amazing experience. You could smell the wet leaves from the earlier morning rain and the air was so clean. We have a great bunch of HSBC employees in our group and the Earthwatch team is dynamic, fun and knowledgeable. Will post more tomorrow!















Nicole Rousseau
It has been great getting to know the team--we are all from such diverse areas of HSBC-North America. We are in the beginning stages of our project, getting introduced to lead scientists, the lab and some of our field projects. Lead scientist Jess confessed today that some of the work will be doing will be tedious and boring (to chuckles all around), but I am excited just to work outdoors in the fresh air and the sunlight. After our safety course this morning, we are all now on the lookout for rabid animals, snakes, ticks and poison ivy. Hopefully I will escape these. Seriously, I am very excited for the next two weeks and all that we will learn here.

Nancy Starke
The morning was spent understanding the experiment as laid out by the head scientist Jess Parker and SERC director Tuck Hines. Our first afternoon in the field was spent staking out a plot which is 100 meters by 100 meter or better known as a hectacre. It took us several attempts to figure out exactly how to plot a 10-square meter over various forest terrains. I think we ended staking about 50 percent of the hectacre. I am sure we will talk through all the various ways in which we worked to determine the best way to start our day tomorrow. We had a good day of exercise in nice weather.

Bill Thomas
It's amazing what the scientists and staff here at Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) do and for how long they have been doing it. I was surprised at the breath of the research projects underway here. Running from measurement of CO2 and its effects on the environment to studying invasive species being dumped in our harbors by ships getting rid of ballast water. Our team hopes to take this information and find ways to join up with our colleagues at HSBC and promote environmental responsibility. If we don't take up the challenges, the next 20 years of change will probably be unpleasant and will impact us all.