The First Chapter: Cuba, Bats, and a Bold New Idea

I’m the father of 2 young kids. As a parent, it is important to me who are brought into their lives as role-models and mentors. I've decided to tell a story that demonstrates the character and values of the people on the team that Merlin Tuttle at MTBC has assembled and to show my appreciation for them.

Alexandria and Ryker Zeman, seated on the ground having been poking around in a small pond of fish while preparations take place in the background to capture, study, and photograph bats.

Diving deeper into understanding what Merlin Tuttle Bat Conservation (MTBC) is about, exploring their website, and what I could find of Merlin on YouTube, I discovered a video of Merlin speaking to some students in a classroom setting – at a university. In that video he told them 3 things that resonated clear and important in my own mind:

(1) do what you love,

(2) do well what you do,

(3) and learn how to tell stories and entertain.

These three things relate well to my own life philosophies:

(1) "be and do" from the heart and from deep sense of who I am,

(2) everyday grow in mastery, and

(3) share one's self with others in a way that attracts others and emboldens

collaboration.

~~~

Previously, when I was visiting Washington DC to attend a neuroscience conference, it was a serendipitous moment in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History when I met Teresa Nichta, who at the time was representing MTBC. She was in the middle of travels and she and I happened to be standing in front of the same bat exhibit. What garnered my attention was her “explorer’s attire”, grinning smile, and radiating enthusiasm. Toted behind her was a small well-travelled suite-case.

When we got to talking, she told me about the organization and how it relates to kids'

education. She described MTBC’s activities, values, the people involved, and she filled my mind with the prospect of exploring caves, photographing bats, kids' education, and resulting conservation that tends to happen in the presence of education. Most of what struck me was MTBC's motto:

Winning Friends, Not Battles

(What is much closer to truth is that they are Attracting Friends, Not Battles.)

For me, this brought to the surface many deeply-held feelings I have about life. I found myself compelled to learn more and find a way to work with MTBC.

My first foray into a collaboration with MTBC was to arrange for them a call into an elementary school near where I live in British Columbia, Canada-- Evergreen Independent School. We live in a region called the Cowichan Valley, located north of the nearest city, Victoria. We’re surrounded by organic farms, health-minded communities, and outdoor-oriented people.

Riding the coat-tails of the COVID normalization of video conferencing, we virtually brought 4 MTBC scientists, with deeply rooted interests in inspiring kids, from MTBC via the classroom, and into lives of grade 3, 4, and 5 students. Our objective was to open the kids' mind's-eyes, have them feel connected to the scientists, demonstrate to them that the MTBC resources and the likes of them are a simple "reach across the internet" away, and show them some really cool photographs of all sorts of families of bats. And to share with them, Merlin's message: (1) do what you love, (2) do well what you do, (3) and learn how to tell stories and entertain.

Myself (Philip Zeman), and remotely Teresa Nichta, Melissa Donnally, Danielle Cordani, and Duncan Hicks, meeting a class full of elementary school students.

~~~

For those of you reading this blog post to this point in my story, I must tell you, that this is really just the beginning of a larger journey and if you hold similar values and beliefs about mentoring kids and education, do reach out to stay in contact.

You see, at this time in my life, my family was struggling, filled with day-to-day uncertainty, and my children were unsure of many things, including themselves. What I felt was needed was some way for my kids and I to feel deeply connected and to feel safe. For them, I was searching for an opportunity to foster in them a belonging to a healthy larger group, and know that they can face and thrive through challenges.

Deeply reflecting, I found that the gift I most want to give to my kids is to be surrounded by role models and mentors that nurture the kids’ curiosity, strength, grit, creativity, resilience, and feelings of connectedness and belonging. I want for them to discover that such people exist in the world and that these people will help them grow.

Taking a leap of faith (and accepting a spontaneous invitation), myself and my son Ryker (age 10) and daughter Alexandria (age 7) found ourselves on a flight crossing North America on our way to Cuba to meet with the MTBC team -- to join the scientists and photographers, in caves, and in the jungle, studying, and photographing bats.

Taking some inspiration from Indiana Jones during the travel portion of his stories, I’ve

included this photograph of part of the North American continent taken while on our way to Cuba to join the MTBC team. This photo, and most of the others in this article have been taken by my 10 year-old son, Ryker.

All idealism and theory aside, there is a point at which all things are put to a test. I just did not know when that test would come...

Arriving at Juan Gualberto Gomaz Airport near Varadero, Cuba, we were greeted with hot humid air, the scent of diesel, and tropical rain, all wrapped in a cacophony of sounds the kids had never heard before. We were very warmly greeted by Melissa Donnelly (our first time meeting in person) and Yoel Monzon, his son, and others on the team. I can not fathom what was going through Ryker and Alexandria’s minds as they encountered all of this. And on top of all this, everyone was speaking a language they had not heard much of before -- Spanish.

At the conclusion of an evening of greetings, hugs, and working through some logistics, the kids and I went to our ‘home-stay’ and got some sleep in preparation for the jungle and cave experience that was scheduled for the next day. I fell asleep thinking about what that day would hold and how the kids would fare. I know there would be a "threshold moment" -- that point where the theory of two young kids and their dad travelling with scientists and photographers will be tested. Have I prepared them enough? Will they know they can do hard things. Is all of this even possible?

We were tested on our full first day with the science and photography team when someone in our very old VW van mentioned that we could not drive to the usual trail-head. The road was too muddy. Melissa gathered the group together and explained that because the road forward was blocked, this might double or triple our hiking distance for the day.

T'was the moment when my son Ryker realized that we would have to hike a long way

through the jungle.

His entire being froze and he let out a silent scream.

And the walk was going to be uphill.

And he learned his dad -- yes me -- had forgotten to pack him and his sister long-sleeved

shirts to keep off the insects that would fly onto his arms and nibble at him all day.

And I felt like I was about to let down the team of 10 or more people (who up to now had certainly been supportive, and I felt they were taking a big risk bringing this untested trio to join them in their important activities) and interfere with the day's planned work.

I decided to wear a T-shirt and then assigned my only 2 long-sleeved loose-fitting tops to the kids. I buttoned up these giant dress-shirts around them, rolled up the sleeves, and tied the lower left and right ends together in a knot. They looked like story-book pirates. And the grin I received from the eldest Cuban guide told me that I might be crazy, and yet resourceful. And he pointed out that I would be walking into the jungle with much skin exposed to the plants and insects.

On-site coordination of our first expedition into the jungle after Melissa announces that the planned hike into the caves will be 2 to 3 times longer than expected because the muddy road has blocked vehicle access. The top of Ryker’s helmet, holding the Go-Pro camera is visible at the bottom of the photo.

I am forever grateful and will never forget that moment when Teresa Nichta, stepped forward to speak with Ryker. She said to Ryker that she understood what it was like to have to walk, and not want to, and to be too hot. And that it seems like it was going to be hard. Teresa listened to Ryker sharing his feelings on the situation and accepted what he had to say. She was present with him, she showed she valued his perspective, and she believed him.

With the support of Teresa's empathy, Ryker put on his helmet with his “talisman” "Go-Pro camera attached, and started hiking the path up the hill ahead of Teresa, myself, and his sister.

I watched stunned and proud.

When walking through the jungles, Melissa and Teresa frequently gave their full attention to Ryker and Alexandria, pointing out various insects, describing the importance and role of them, creating memories within their minds that the kids can later use as a frame of reference to learn more about Biology, Neuroethology, and adventure. Anytime the kids had moments of hesitation or concern, Melissa and Teresa would join the kids in their perspective and mindset and by doing so made all challenges safe, less scary, and surmountable.

It was like being in a pod of dolphins, all swimming together and taking in the environment around. That feeling of belonging, acceptance, and psychological safety I had sought was ever present.

The whole multi-day trip was like this. We were in a pod of dolphins.

I use the specific reference to dolphins (swimming in a pod), because one model for

understanding coping styles in families experiencing difficult times is in reference to the likes of rhinos, kangaroos, ostriches, jellyfish, and dolphins. Dolphins are the ideal to strive for, as dolphins do, they seem to play together, and swim together in the same direction, without confusion.

At one point on our trip, Melissa spent time with each of the kids exclusively to share her enthusiasm for her life’s work, the work she has been doing with bats.

A captured bat, held by Melissa, while she shows and describes bat social behaviour and

anatomy to the kids.

Having prepared appropriately with safety precautions and vaccinations, Alexandria is given the opportunity to hold and then release the bat.

A shadow of Ryker and his Go-Pro as he explored deeper into a cave with Melissa, giving

him a private tour of nesting bats. Red lights are used instead of regular white-light headlamps so that the bats are not disturbed.

Melissa escorting Ryker deeper into a cave after having discussed the need to keep very

quite and use only red light illumination so that the bats are not disturbed. Ryker captured video of bats dwelling in holes and fissures in the ceiling and walls. As I reviewed the videos after the trip, what was notable to me was how the floor was crawling with large live insects.

Throughout the trip, the kids were additionally and most closely mentored by Alison Yates, Yelenny Pacheco, Maria Serrano, David Shuler, Yoel Monzon, Madelline Mathis, and Merlin Tuttle himself. (A lasting impression for my daughter Alexandria, is Alison Yates who shared her personal story of having discovered rare ladybugs in her back yard, photographing them, and then inspiring a larger and ultimately successful species recovery project; She then shared her love of frogs and her graduate work on the topic.)

This photograph is of a boa constrictor which captured our interest.

A moment captured as a few bats flew across the ceiling while we were exploring one of the caves. I love this photo because it captures an expression I don’t often see on the kids’ faces.

While on this trip, the kids and I spent time with other families and this gave Ryker and

Alexandria a chance to meet others their own age. Those Cuban families supporting

CUBABAT by either housing the team or providing meals and transport introduced their own children to Ryker and Alexandria. So, when we were not in the jungle or in caves, we were readily welcomed into the homes and families of others in Cuba. At one point, one of the Spanish-speaking children pulled out a smartphone and the Duolingo App.

She was learning English. Ryker and Alexandria's interest was suddenly piqued and the kids set to figuring out how to communicate.

I soon realized that we had been invited into a caring and supportive community of people drawn together, not just for conservation and education of bats, but for something larger. I felt their support and we seemed to belong there.

The larger telling of this story, I will share another time and perhaps in another venue.

For the purpose of this blog, there are 3 more clear moments on the trip that stand out that I will mention:

(1) When we were netting bats so that scientists could take measures to better understand health, habitat, and speciation, Ryker stood nearby filming while we were removing bats from the net. One particular bat became quite tangled and many of us worked to free it. Ryker was right there, close, in the dark, late at night, and with concern, using his video camera to capture the moment.

(2) What also stands out, was Alexandria’s pleasure photographing insects, boa constrictors, and tarantulas in the caves. Recalling her expressed love of doing this, I sense her feelings of pride. I have since connected with a Facebook Group called "Girls Who Click" that Allison Yates introduced us to and Alexandria and I will be sharing with them some of Alexandria's photographs.

(3) And lastly, while this trip was about bats, I must mention one particular other wildlife

encounter, which was one of frogs. These frogs were not afraid of kids, in the way they are in Canada. These frogs would jump on top of the kids, onto their arms, and even onto their heads. I know there are some fun photographs floating around of the kids and the frog taken by a few of the photographers.

In the late evening while others were focusing on capturing and studying bats, the kids encountered some frog that were very unlike those around our home in Canada. Rather than flee when noticed, these ones would hop on top of the kids and interact with them. Alison, having studied frogs as part of her graduate work, shared stories about how much fun they are and taught the kids how to safely handle them so that no frogs would be injured.

Alison showing Alexandria some of her photographs of Alexandria and her ‘pet’ frog.

On the flight home, the kids and I had time to talk about what we experienced, and I, as Dad, was given an opportunity to label their feelings of accomplishment, of overcoming things that were scary and still safe, of discovering that they can do hard things they never expected to encounter.

This is a lifestyle that is important to me to continue. And my mind's time has now gone to figuring out how to do that. How do we more readily assist and be part of the teams we are with, and how can I, as a scientist, writer, and speaker, bring significant value-- value enough that we continue to be invited along on this sort of journey often in the future.

~~~

Yesterday, the day before I wrote this blog post, Ryker's teacher showed me a drawing he had made. It was of a bat, flying over a landscape. The experience shows up in Ryker's shoolwork. Ryker speaks quite highly of Merlin with this friends and teachers and talks about his time with the scientists.

Alexandria has clearly developed a love of adventure and delights in physical challenges and special moments. This late summer she and I coasted on a paddle board late one evening on a skiff of bioluminescence, with a sky speckled with the luminous mast-top lights of anchored sailboats. She talks often about a story Merlin told her about capturing an Anaconda when he was a little more young and wily.

Merlin was very kind to both Ryker and Alexandria and shared his enthusiasm for his life

spent photographing and training all sorts of animals. I snapped this photograph as Merlin finished telling a story about how to capture an Anaconda and how years ago, when capturing one, he misjudged how big it actually was while struggling to hold onto it.

Meanwhile, back at Evergreen Independent School this Fall, Ryker will be presenting one of the videos he recorded when Melissa guided him through some deeper caves in a private tour (with only the red lights on to not disturb the bats).

Both kids are inspired.

They are more confident and seem to take more initiative when it comes to their interests and making things happen.

Both kids are continuing to learn Spanish, of their own will, using Duolingo and other internet resources.

As for me: I feel better. I feel like I've found some direction.

I found that there is an interest in the Cowichan Valley where we live to have bat houses built to increase the number of bats in the area to assist with pest control for the organic farms.

And I am finding myself surrounded by dads that deeply also want to connect with their

children and cultivate a bloom in their children with the ingredients of exploration, belonging, and mentorship. That feeling, being with my kids as if in a pod of dolphins, swimming and moving together in a way that feels entirely natural and easy-- I want to keep feeling that. I want to build on that.

~~~

Dr. Zeman is a signal processing engineer, scientist, speaker, and father. He seeks to continue to learn with, and embolden others, while living his best life. (philipmichaelzeman@gmail.com)