FEEDBACK FROM YEPS AND THEIR PARENTS

Feedback from our Young Explorers

What our previous participants’ parents had to say

Steve Maidment, South Africa

We have experienced nothing but slick, efficient, professionalism and everyone we have dealt with has been exceptionally friendly. Our son is home safe and sound with a very big grin permanently on his face. Apart from a grand adventure, which he can’t stop talking about, he has gained so much else – self confidence from flying around the world, integrating into a group of strangers in a strange place, dealing with media interviews and making presentations to his peers (which he will continue to do). He has spent time with a group of exceptional and highly motivated people, which can only benefit him in the way he approaches life. And he has made a bunch of new friends with different cultures, attitudes and life experiences.

We are extremely grateful for the opportunity, and for your care, enthusiasm and attentiveness. Thank you all so much.

Mark and Rene Celestin, USA

To the Mike Horn team. My wife, Rene and I want to thank you for providing such a fantastic life enriching opportunity for our son Garrett Celestin. Garrett has been deeply interested and involved in preserving the environment for the past couple of years and your program has helped to educate him to a much greater degree regarding the totality of environmental issues and the impact both good and bad humans have and can have on it. The selection camp in Switzerland was an incredible experience. The twin focus of environmental education and outdoor fitness experiences (recreation sounds too soft) challenged and helped to future develop his mind and body. He loved getting to know everyone involved, from your staff to all his fellow YEP's. The geographic diversity of the group made the experience even better as each brought their culture and perspective to the group. The rigor of your program and the quality of YEPs involved made the fact of him being selected to go to Malaysia as something Garrett will take with him forever. He knows he represents your program and his fellow YEP's from this point on.

Garrett took his Switzerland experiences with him to Malaysia and joined your staff and the other YEPs for a whole other level of environmental research and renewal. Living on Pangaea, working with you and your staff, over a dozen dives, researching and restoring coral reef environs, being involved in pollution control, assisting at the orangutan sanctuary and caving provided Garrett with an experience he can build on at home. Your staff was fantastic with Garrett in every way. The education they provided was top notch, whether it be on providing an excellent exposure to Malaysian culture, advanced dive training, coral reef knowledge, sailing instruction, the list goes on and on. The personal impact of each member of your staff was exceptionally inspirational for Garrett, especially all the experiences Garrett shared with Mike.

The pro-environmental vision and enthusiasm of the Mike Horn team has inspired Garrett to greater efforts now that he has returned home. He was well along in developing and implementing his own local environmental program called Project Silence prior to the Mike Horn experience. Now with the educational and human resources your team has provided he will be able to take his efforts to a much higher level. The connection to your team and all the YEP's will allow him to utilize their talents in his projects and allow him to join each of them in theirs. He is excited and committed to the earth's future and we appreciate everything your team has done and will continue to do to make this possible.

We wish you continued success in your project and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If there is some way for us to assist you in the future please do not hesitate to ask.