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You've probably heard of "crowdsourcing," the very 21st-century term coined in 2006 in Wired magazine. This new word, a twist on the idea of outsourcing, describes the practice of posing a question or challenge to the public, and asking for individuals to contribute a small piece to the project goal. Successful examples of online crowdsourcing include Kickstarter, a fundraising website for individual projects; National Geographic's own search for the tomb of Genghis Khan; and the uber crowdsourcing phenomenon, Wikipedia.

All of which is to say, the concept and practice of crowdsourcing has found a place in 21st-century society. But recently, I've started noticing a crowdsourcing niche, one that has yet to be named but I believe deserves to be singled out as its own phenomenon. Let me give you some examples.

What do you get when you take a seasoned geography educator, send him on a multi-week adventure to the Amazon, and equip him with a blog to tell his story? Twenty-one days of inspired teaching moments and fascinating photographs!

We invite teachers and their students to follow along as Herb Thompson, better known to his colleagues and former students as "Geoman," travels from Nassau, Bahamas, to the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil, to it's terminus in Iquitos, Peru. Herb is a retired world geography teacher who has been a teaching consultant and co-coordinator for the National Geographic-supported Nevada Geographic Alliance for several decades.

Twenty-five years ago Herb embarked on a Semester at Sea adventure that changed his life and those of the many students who would benefit from his enlightened teachings about the world. Prior to his Semester at Sea experience Herb had traveled to one foreign country--Mexico--he has since visited 65.

 

For the annual National Geographic Education holiday party, event specialist Jamie Bosley led a team in creating festive decor from recycled materials. Windows and wreaths on the walls were constructed out of old carboard, newspaper, and paper towels; candle holders on tables came courtesy of used wine bottles, and table clothes were fashioned from flannel shirts.

For a number of people around the world, winter is a time of gift-giving. In the U.S., the holiday shopping season is often a madhouse of sales, checklists and wrapping paper. After a few decades of presents--every birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day--you end up with a whole lot of STUFF. That's why, this year, whatever the occasion, consider giving presents with a short-term presence, and take part in 'a usable feast.'

That means choosing items that are intended to be used up before next year's gift-giving season. This year I'm giving candles to my grandmother, fruit-infused oil and vinegar to my mom, concert tickets to my brother, a set of soaps to my dad, and hearty bean soup mix to my boyfriend (hopefully I'll get to help use up that one). Other gifts include notecards, jams and jellies, birdseed, hand lotion, and of course--a calendar!

What are some other use-uppable gifts?

Alison Michel
Associate Producer for National Geographic Education

During the question and answer period the children asked many thought provoking questions. One more surprisingly complex than the other:

• Why are National Geographic maps revised so often? Because features on the Earth, such as place-names, countries, and boundaries, change frequently.
• Why do you make so many different types of maps? Because maps are the best way to graphically tell stories about our Earth and the people who live on it.
• Have you used the Robinson Projection? Yes, the Robinson Projection, a map projection that minimizes size and shape distortion of all areas except for the polar regions, was the Society's flagship projection from 1988-1998.
  

Very interesting questions, coming from a group of fifth graders--none older than 10. I learned much from Mrs. Blythe's class that day. I learned, that a map, as some ten-year-olds see it, consist of more than colors, lines, and labels on a globe or on a flat sheet of paper. By that age, some have already developed good map reading skills while others have just begun to discover the inherent and wonderful intricacies of the art and science of cartography.

The 112th Congress needs to know that you support the Teaching Geography is Fundamanental Act. For more information go to: SpeakUpForGeography.org

Juan José Valdés
The Geographer
Director of Editorial and Research
National Geographic Maps

This blog-a-thon submission is an excerpt for the National Geographic News Watch blog. It is written by Andrew Howley as he documents a Tuscon BioBlitz Transect. To access the fully article, follow this link.

With seven days and more than 70 miles of walking and cataloging of plants and animals ahead of him, NG Explorer-in-Residence Mike Fay (right) looks out with Tucson desert vegetation expert and writer Jim Malusa (left) into the foothills of the Rincon Mountains to try to make an early identification of pine species from a distance.
Saguaro National Park consists of two large parks on either side of Tucson, Arizona. The east is very different from the west, and both are obviously different than the city between them. Still, the same birds, bugs, pollen, wind, and water are swirling about them all. They are all part of the same story.

As part of the 2011 BioBlitz in Saguaro, NG Explorer-in-Residence (and University of Arizona alum) J. Michael Fay walked some 70 miles over the course of seven days on a transect across both parts of the park and the city between them, noting the first time he saw each plant species in an area, and identifying and tallying every bird he saw or heard along the way.

The photo gallery above takes you along moment by moment through open landscapes and close-up details. It shows many of the park rangers and local scientists who accompanied Mike for a few miles or days at a time, and reveals highlights of the experiences and knowledge they shared. Soon you will also be able to view the route in Google Earth and see Mike Fay's photos exactly where they were taken. By going through these features, you'll be able to develop a sense of what it is to experience Saguaro National Park or any place in this unique and exciting way.

But Why Walk?

A few mintues of walking with Mike Fay and it's clear that he is not out here as a feat of strength or to set a record or conquer a desert or a mountain. He's here to collect data. He picks an area that people think they know, draws a line across it on a map, and follows that line recording what he sees along the way. Taking this approach, the only way you're going to see everything and have time to write it all down is if you're walking. Any other mode of transport funnels you into existing pathways, gets you moving too fast, and keeps you too far away.

This blog-a-thon submission comes from Debbie Glade of Wandering Educators. Debbie reports on some great facts about America's National Parks as she encourages her readers to find the adventure in their own backyards! To read more from Debbie or to access this blog post directly, follow this link.

With summer approaching, many domestic and foreign travelers will be flocking to our National Parks for vacation. The vast landscapes, diverse climates and abundant wildlife America's extensive park system offers are nothing short of spectacular. There are so many options for visitors, that it is almost impossible to choose just one.

• The US National Park Service was established in 1916 through the National Park Service Act, while Woodrow Wilson was President.
• It is managed under the umbrella of the US Department of the Interior.
• Between 1901 and 1909, Franklin D. Roosevelt, known for his dedication to conservation, signed executive orders to establish 5 National Parks and many Historic Sites. He also signed the Antiquities Act, which made it easier for future Presidents to officially declare Historic Sites and Landmarks into the National Park Service.
• In order for a site to be officially named a National Park, it must follow an Executive Order from the President or be an act of Congress.
• There have been 18 Directors of the US National Park Service; in recent years, 2 have been women.
• It takes more than 21,000 employees and more than 145,000 volunteers to run our National Park System, which includes National Parks, Historical Sites and Monuments. The National Park Service could not operate without the help of volunteers.

• The annual budget for the US National Park System is over $2 billion.
• The complete US National Park System covers more than 84 million acres.
• Alaska and California are the states with the most National Parks; each of these states is home to 8 National Parks.
• The largest National Park is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, with more than 20,000 square miles or 13 million acres. It is known for its picturesque glacier landscapes and is home to many grizzly bears, caribou and Dall sheep.
• With only 9 square miles, the smallest National Park in land size is Arkansas' Hot Springs National Park. A former government operated clinic here was one of the first places in the US to treat patients with penicillin.
• Death Valley is the hottest National Park in the US. This desert reached a record-breaking 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913, making it one of the hottest places on earth.

This blog-a-thon submission is by Sandani, a youth enrolled in ChildFund's programs in Sri Lanka. Sandani writes about the way she views her community and the struggles she faces post the 2004 tsunami. To learn more about ChildFund International and to see more photos from Sandani check out the ChildFund website or follow this link.

The community I live in is Kirinda, situated in the Hambantota district of the southern province of Sri Lanka. It borders both Yala National Park and the sea. It is a community where Singhalese and Muslims live in harmony. Singhalese mainly engage in farming while Muslims do fishing.

Chena cultivation (slash and burn) is the livelihood of about 80 percent of the families in my area. This cultivation solely depends on monsoon rain received from October to February and intermittent showers in March and April. It is a struggle from the day of sowing to the day of harvesting. All the challenges in life that come one after the other like waves, we face with the little income earned from chena.

Though they used to, most of the farmers no longer cut and burn the jungle in Yala National Park. They try to do their farming in harmony with the animals and the environment now. The reason for this is that they know they too will be destroyed if the environment is gone.

The farmers in my community still cultivate using traditional methods. They work both under the sun and rain, no difference. During the farming season all the family members go and stay in a temporary hut built in the cultivation area. This is mainly to protect and look after the crop. All the family members from child to father are involved in the farming. Children help parents in light work while parents do the hard. So the burden of farming is shared between all members of the family. They stay vigilant during night to protect the crops from wild animals such as elephants, boars, deer and cows. This is not a new thing. This is something our farmers have been struggling with for generations now.

Elephant attacks are a threat to many people in our area. The growing population in the village has encroached on the habitat of the elephants and these animals frequently roam around. They sometimes destroy houses and crops. There were number of deaths reported recently because of elephant attacks. Sometimes elephants also lose their lives.

This blog-a-thon excerpt comes from Johnathan Tourtellot, a National Geographic Fellow who writes for National Geographic's Daily News blog.  To access the complete article, follow this link.

In a major step forward, an International Congress in Arouca, northern Portugal, has just decided what "geotourism" means. It's been an issue. What, you never heard of geotourism? Read on. It's about the way we travel. Sometimes it's also about rocks.

Whose "Geo" Goes Into "Geotourism"?
Geographers and geologists usually get along. The two fields are so closely related that universities may put them in the same department. They share the same prefix, geo-, from the Greek, ge, Earth. And that's where the confusion started.

For the past 10 years or so, two different meanings for the neologism "geotourism" have both been growing in acceptance--in different parts of the world, for different reasons. One concept derives from geology. Dr. Thomas Hose, an English geologist, is said to have first proposed that tourism focused on geological features be called "geotourism." In tourism-industry parlance, that's a niche market.

The other concept derives from "geography." National Geographic has defined geotourism as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place--its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents." ("Environment" includes geology, of course, but it's not explicit.) This concept is an approach, rather than a focus on a single topic.

As the person who introduced that sense of the term, I am just a bit biased. The idea was for tourism to help protect places, but I knew some geologists didn't care for the alternate meaning. So when I accepted an invitation to keynote last week's international geological conference, I did so with some trepidation. The organizers wanted to "clarify" the meaning of geotourism. Would I be pelted with rock hammers? ...Keep reading this article here!

Photo Credit: Johnathan Tourtellot

Roni Jones is a liaison for the National Geographic Education Alliance program, and a teaching consultant with nearly 20 years of experience educating students and teachers. In her free time Roni likes to ride her bike, run, snowshoe, hike, and do just about anything outdoors.

Geography is a part of my everyday life.  Not only do I work for National Geographic and advocate for geography education, but I am constantly worried about booking travel, scheduling meetings, and participating in phone conferences across many different time zones.  A working knowledge of geography is vital to me in most situations.  However, today was different. Today I was inspired by geography, inspired by how beautiful my local community is!

Elizabeth Wolzak, an Instructional Designer for National Geographic Education, shared this map with our staff in honor of Geography Awareness Week. Elizabeth, whose parents are Dutch and American, was born in Guatemala and lived there until she was 19.


(From Fodors). "If you want to get the lay of the land before you head out to the country, this unusual relief map depicts Guatemala's precipitous topography. The layout is so immense--1,800 square meters, or 19,500 square feet--that your best view is from an observation tower. What makes it even more amazing is that it was completed in 1905, before satellite and aerial topography, and long before Google Earth. The flashy Spanish-language Web site focuses on the late-19th- and early-20th-century development and construction of the map, a labor of love of engineer (and amateur geographer) Francisco Vela (1859-1909). Altitudes are greatly exaggerated: horizontally, the map uses a 1:10,000 scale, but vertically, it's 1:2,000. The map lies several blocks north of the Old City, not far from the Cervecería Centro Americana and its brewery tour."

Elizabeth on her personal experiences with the Mapa en Relieve:

The Mapa en Relieve is one of the places my parents took all their foreign friends and family (mostly Dutch and American) that came to visit them. Writing about the Mapa en Relieve brings fond memories of the times that we climbed the tower to see the map. My father described the unique features of the Guatemalan territory. He used the map to explain the route we took every weekend on our way to the farm from Guatemala City to the Pacific coast, near Puerto de San José. I was amazed by the fact that there is a line of 29 volcanoes, one next to each other along the Pacific coast. One of the features that I liked the most was the Lake of Atitlán in the highlands of Guatemala. Three volcanoes surround the lake, it origin is volcanic and it doesn't flow into the ocean.