Heifer Global Village      

 

Become a part of an exciting program at the Howell Nature Center. Working as partners with Heifer International, the Nature Center is offering this exciting program. Bring your group to participate in a hands-on day or overnight program designed to educate children and adults about global issues. Through education that emphasizes experience, participants will gain a greater awareness of world hunger, poverty, and population issues.

 
 

Rural American Home

The Heifer Global Gateway is a
unique learning tool that
gives groups and
individuals an opportunity
to experience the realities
of life for most of
our world neighbors.
     

  Hunger is not only a problem in developing countries, but also
in the United States. Thirty-one million people live in
households that experience hunger or the risk of hunger.
Children learn to appreciate the benefits in their lives and how
they can make a difference!

Working in partnership with Heifer Project International, one of
the goals of the Howell Conference and Nature Center is to
educate people about the root causes of hunger and poverty.
Participants begin their experience with an orientation to
Heifer International and the Howell Conference & Nature Center.
Your group will participate in discussions on world hunger,
sustainable development and other global issues. A visit to our
Heifer Global Village will take you to houses that represent
Nepal, rural America, Africa, Urban Slums, Thailand, and
Shantytowns.		  
 
One out of every six children in rural America suffers in poverty. Many can't read because they don't have glasses. Drinking water is often contaminated. Many don't receive their basic immunizations
and few have health insurance.
 

Life in the Heifer Global Village
     
               Africa                        Urban Slums                    Thailand

Rural America
By U.S. standards you're poor. By Heifer Global Village standards, you’re well off. You have
the only supply of firewood and an indoor cooking stove. Cooking fuel is a concern for half the
worlds’ people.
 
Nepal
 Be a wealthy farmer, by community standards, as you live in your fine block-construction house. 
Your garden gives your family a supply of nutritious vegetables and your animals
provide labor and milk.
 
Urban Slums
 A simple dwelling with a dirt or wood floor is your home. Half the world’s population lives like
you. A half-cup of uncooked rice may be all you have to eat unless you can trade labor to
your wealthier neighbors.
 


Africa
 Your round home with a thatched roof is middle class by world standards. You have access
to milk and a good supply of fresh drinking water.

 
Shanty
Lacking adequate housing necessities, these homes are found in the U.S. on the border with
Mexico and in South America. A small portion of rice and eggs may be all you have to eat.
 
Thailand
Your traditional stilt-type construction can be found in the mountain of northern Thailand. The
area underneath your house is an "ideal" barn for your livestock.

Peru - coming!  A small barn and corral are now housing three new
Alpacas! 2008 will bring a mud brick house.


 
 

Programs for Everyone
 
  Global Village Tours: Our two-hour tour will begin with a short introduction to Heifer International and
the Howell Conference & Nature Center's mission. During the tour of the Heifer Global Village homes, world hunger and population issues will be highlighted.

Cultural Connections: During our half-day program, your group will experience the two-hour program
with the addition of a more in-depth look at world cultures. The focus will include the preparation of a
meal from the highlighted culture.

Global Gateway: For an interactive approach, our overnight program provides participants a first-hand
experience with global issues. Divided into "family" groups, given basic resources (representative of
what they may have if they actually lived in the country assigned), and placed into world sites, groups must trade to meet their basic needs, prepare their evening meal and settle in for the night. They are
truly immersed in the culture they are assigned to. This is a life-changing experience.

Global Challenge: The ultimate hands-on experience! This program includes our life-altering Global Gateway overnight program with the incredible challenge of our High Ropes experience. Just like the
Global Gateway, participants spend a day "living" the life of another culture with only basic resources.
This includes preparing an evening meal and sleeping in the village houses. The following afternoon you
will climb into tall pine trees to conquer obstacles made of rope and wood 25-35 feet above the ground.
You set your own personal challenge as you move from obstacle to obstacle and down the zip line.
Each task brings new challenges, thrills and fun. The obstacles in the Ropes Course are simply
different kinds of challenges than those faced by participants in the Global Village. The Course brings
home the opportunity to overcome difficult situations and have a great time doing it! Participants gain a
deeper sense of their commitment to each other, their communities and the world. You will leave
prepared to work together and take action for a world without hunger or poverty.

What Our Customers Say

"I loved the field trip! I experienced that some people aren't rich and some people are poor but most
people don't have anything. I loved the food. I feel bad for those that have barely any food. Sincerely, Ariana".

"Thank you very much for letting me come. My favorite part of Global Village was cooking the food because I love to cook. I also loved how we got to know about where people live. I hope one day I can come again. Sincerely, Emily",

"We enjoyed trading and learning a language. Phillip was a great leader even with a difficult
group due to big age differences. Excellent staff both for Heifer Global Village and the High
Ropes Course. Thanks to all the Nature Center staff for a great experience!"
                                                                  Webster United Church