More: Playgrounds for Schools

Ya, the rumors are true: Aqua Safaris is expanding operations to Baja, Mexico! We are in the process of constructing a small, comfortable resort hotel. We are installing all the equipment needed to set up a small beach resort that will be operated, at least for now, part time some day soon. We expect to be open in March 2006 Mexico time (that means we really do not know when we will be open).

All the years donating equipment to the Mulegé Fire Department is paying off. Ten years ago, they said that they wanted to build me a house, and now we are building a hotel. We have hired most of the construction guys from the Volunteer Department, among others, to build the Resort. We currently have a crew of 20, and things are moving along at a good rate. We are running a how-to construction school: on-the-job paid training on how to build homes to US standards. This included rough framing with wood, plumbing that works with vents, use of power tools, nail guns, skill saws, table saws, chop saws, mig and gas welders, etc. Don’t get me wrong, these guys are skilled masons, plumbers and electricians, some with 20 years or more of experience and we are indeed learning from each other. The crew is learning how to build for the fist time to US standards on wood-frame homes. Upon the completion of the project, all participants who have completed training will be awarded construction certifications to aid in future employment. I, in turn, am brushing up on my Spanish. I am now able to ramble off the longest tirade of swear words! People are impressed as well as horrified. To me it doesn’t sound so bad in Spanish, and it defiantly gets a laugh.

We have a number of community projects on the slate: We are installing a Mulegé city playground donated by Hunt Construction with the tremendous help of Scott Belknap, Hunt Project Foreman. The mayor and locals are very happy with this city improvement idea. We will include photos of the new park as soon as we are done putting it together. We are also working on some important community projects and can use your help. We need the most help setting up a computer center for one of the main schools in Mulegé. We have set up 5 computers already and would like to set up a total of 15. The class sizes are 30 and this way the children can use the computer lab with a partner. If you have a working Pentium II or better that you would like to donate, (or your company would like to donate), please drop it off at Aqua Safaris and we will import it into Mexico. Please check and make sure they work before you drop them off. If the computers do not work well, it does us no good; we have no repair facilities or knowledge down here to fix them. Once we have enough for one school we would like to slowly install computer labs in the rest of the schools with the continued support of our friends.

We are also starting an English language school out at the beach for anyone who would like to come. So far we are focusing on kids. It is a lot of fun and we meet every Saturday afternoon for one hour followed by a beach picnic. We arrange, car pools for those that do not have cars; our beach is about 10 miles out of town—too far for most people.

People that have been a huge help with this project that need special thanks include:

• Mr. Scott Belknap who through tireless efforts has directed building materials our way that were otherwise destined for the land fill. This resort has been made possible through this enormous donation, thank you so much Scott!
And thanks to Hunt Construction for hiring top people like Scott and providing flexibility to recycle materials for a good cause.
• Mr. Jeff Martin of Ifland Engineering of Santa Cruz has been a tremendous support, not only as a conduit for recycled building materials but more immortally as an almost daily resource for engineering and building questions. If you ever need any engineering work call Ifland Engineering and ask for Jeff. Great person and friend.