Visitors from foreign nations lend a hand at Yuma wetlands projects

While politicians struggled to figure out world peace last week, 11 young dreamers from five nations came to Yuma and discovered their own global understanding by getting muddy, planting grass, and simply making great new friends.

The international volunteers came to Yuma through the American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit program that brings cultures together and cares for the environment by inviting foreign youth to assist conservation programs around the Southwest.

"It's really a great chance to get people to travel to America, bringing people together for a common aim," said Tom Wilson, the British leader of the work crew that came to Yuma. "You're bringing people together who maybe wouldn't meet in the normal walk of life."

Wilson's crew of volunteers spent last week in Yuma helping with revegetation efforts within this area's wetlands projects. They mostly spent their days ripping out invasive grasses, planting all kinds of stuff and learning about each other's corner of the earth by simply chatting as they shoveled and hoed. Yes, it turns out that there's no better way to get to know a stranger than breaking bread - and working the soil.

"Everyone is brought down to the same level to do physical work and I think that really brings down boundaries," Wilson said. "In people's home countries, when you meet someone, it takes a while to get to know them. With this program it's amazing how friendships blossom. The first day may be quiet, but by the third day everyone is just having a laugh and a joke and telling about things they have done and the dreams that they have."

Wilson's crew consisted of himself and a young woman from England, a woman from Germany, three women from Denmark, a man and woman from Sweden and a man from the Netherlands.

American Conservation Experience is based in Flagstaff and sends volunteers to conservation programs throughout Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. The age range is around 18 to 30, although most volunteers are in their 20s. Volunteers' visits to the US range in duration from a few weeks to several months.

The team's stay in Yuma was funded by the city of Yuma and the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. The volunteers stayed at St. Paul's Cultural Center, where they were doted on by Jay and Tina Clark. In most communities, volunteers camp in tents.

Fred Phillips, principle consultant for the Yuma East Wetlands, praised the colorful crew for all their hard work.

"They did a fantastic job," Phillips said. "They got as much work done as a paid crew would have done."

Phillips added that he talked to the crew in Flagstaff after they had left Yuma.

"They all said they missed Yuma," he shared. "They said the people in Yuma were so friendly and welcoming."

Again, it turns out that this conservation program is as much about people as it is plants. Wilson stressed that volunteers are often quite shocked at the level of openness and friendliness expressed by the American people.

"I've never been treated like this before in my life," Wilson said. "I'd like to say how welcome we've been made to feel here. The hospitality has been incredible. I'm pretty certain that when I got to drive people back to Flagstaff I'm going to find four slashed tires."

Wilson raved about how willing American people are to visit with and befriend strangers.

"I've lived in London and there's endless people from around the world there, but no one speaks. You don't converse with someone you don't know, which is a real shame," he said. "If I would try to change that I would seem like some maniac who wants to speak to people."

Volunteers who are drawn to the American Conservation Experience may not always start out as earth-minded advocated, but Wilson said they often leave with that passion at heart.

"It's more just people who are highly motivated, who want to make a difference and feel good about it," he said. "They probably really want to travel as well."

The U.S. is the clear choice for conservation programs, Wilson explained, because this country emphasizes such work on the land far more than any other nation.

"This program lets people see how the land is looked after here. There is a lot of investment in things like this here, while there's not as much in other countries," he said. "We get to work with people who have been doing this for years and they can teach us so much."

For fun during off hours, the volunteers were treated to barbecues and pizza parties. They also went sightseeing a bit and did a little hiking. But mostly they just hung out - and talked.

"You got 11 people with their own experiences and take on things. That really can fill an evening," Wilson said, smiling. "You end up talking about something that you maybe wouldn't discuss in your own country. It just ends up being intriguing to just listen to others - and learn."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at

dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.