From the Appalachian Heartland to the Mayan Heartland. Ten years ago, the Arc of Appalachia decided to seek out a kindred organization in Central America at the far end of many of our breeding birds’ migration paths. We wanted to find a nonprofit that shared the same energy and passion as we have, and we wanted to find a nonprofit that not only worked to protect their native forests but also served their human communities. It took us a decade to find CCFC, but their stellar reputation inspired us to quickly pack our bags for Guatemala to see their work with our own eyes. We were smitten by CCFC’s incredible effectiveness, the similarities between our organizations, the beauty of the Mayan forests and the Mayan people, and the poignancy of the rate of deforestation CCFC is working against. And, of course, we were dazzled to see our beloved summer-breeding birds in their home habitat!

Like Family. Since that trip, CCFC and the Arc have remained tightly connected - exchanging ideas on nonprofit strategies, sharing bird observations and trends, expanding our knowledge of natural history, and inspiring each other on our mutual quest to preserve the “Forests of the Americas.” Now that our friendship is official, we want to share with our wider Arc community the potentially life-transforming experiences that regularly happen on CCFC’s campus in the Mayan Highlands, and their invitation to you to visit - following the same path of migration as so many of our birds. The 2025 trip is now open for registration and is limited to 12 people. Photo: Arc Volunteer Teri Gilligan, touches a moss-shrouded elder while walking through the cloud forest during our January 2024 pilgrimage.