![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bender-lib.american.edu\/pcca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/Diary_Photosindiary_JanMarch19650002-e1583340746551.jpg\")
Photo taken atop the mountain Cerro Punta looking towards El Hato de Volcan and Cosa Rica in the far background, March 1965. Eric Brookens, Panama 1964-1966, Box 1, Peace Corps Community Archives, American University Library.<\/p><\/div>\n
Brookens and Myklejord spent the spring and summer of 1965 exploring the mountain, collecting notes on the wildlife, vegetation, waterfalls, and volcanic craters at the summit. The U.S. Geological Survey<\/a> measures Volc\u00e1n Bar\u00fa at 3,475 meters\u2014the tallest mountain in Panama. The summit offers clear views of both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea on a clear day. After their hikes, Brookens jotted down five essentials to maintaining a successful national park: signs, flattened areas for camping, paved roads up the mountain, laws against burning and waste, establishing borders, and publicizing the park in tourist offices around Panama.<\/p>\n Plans for the park went public in May 1965, when Brookens traveled to David, the capital city of Chiriqu\u00ed Province, to meet with Governor Sitton about the project. Pleased with the idea, Sitton introduced Brookens to the Engineer Manuel Barrelier, chief of CAM<\/a> (an agency within Panama\u2019s Public Works Ministry)\u2014who had direct power over plans for a national park.<\/p>\n Notes for the National Park at Volcan Baru. Eric Brookens, Panama 1964-1966, Box 1, Peace Corps Community Archives, American University Library.<\/p><\/div>\n Brookens describes the meeting with Barrelier in his diary:<\/p>\n I presented the plan written out on the yellow sheet of paper, and between frequent interruptions he finally said that he thought he could work it out, but would like pictures of the planned areas and groups of people that might be willing to cooperate, such as the Boy Scouts. I told him I would try and work it out and return in a month or so to give him the pictures and a report on what I proposed. Everything seemed to be OK when I left, but I always try and cut myself from by too optimistic with the Panamanian government!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n To bolster their proposal, the volunteers joined forces with local groups, including a tree conservation club, \u201cLos Amigos del Arbol.\u201d They also connected with the Forest Service, the Director of Land Reform, the Department of Agriculture, and the Smithsonian Institute in the Canal Zone. \u00a0The proposal began:<\/p>\n \u201cHermosa Catarata Descubren en Volcan,\u201d La Razon, May 6, 1965. Eric C. Brookens, Panama 1964-1966, Box 1, Peace Corps Community Archives, American University Library.<\/p><\/div>\n North America, during more than a hundred years of intensive exploration and settlement of the wilderness, ruthlessly destroyed several of the once numerous species of animal life and beautiful forest areas. Fortunately today, conservation has reversed the trend of diminishing wildlife and forests through the use of national parks\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter hiking extensively around the area, seeing its wildlife, thick vegetation, a 400 foot waterfall, numerous extinct Volcanic craters at its top, and overall natural beauty; we want to present the thought to the Panamanian people of forming their first national park.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Brookens submitted a proposal to Barrelier in December 1965, with suggested steps to attract tourists and get the area ready for camping and hiking.<\/span><\/p>\n Plans for the park began to falter during the winter of 1965-1966 as Panamanian interest waned and the volunteers became involved with other projects. Brookens and Myklejord continued to hike the mountain, and used it for activities during a youth camp in February 1966. By their termination of service in July, plans for the national park had fallen by the wayside; however, Volc\u00e1n Bar\u00fa did acquire national park status in 1976. In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey<\/a> reported that the volcano is still active and expected to erupt again \u201cin the near or distant future.\u201d<\/p>\n References:<\/strong><\/p>\n David R. Sherrod, James W. Vallance, Arkin Tapia Espinoza, and John P. McGeehin, \u201cVolc\u00e1n Bar\u00fa: Eruptive History and Volcano-Hazards Assessment,\u201d 2008. (Accessed March 2, 2020). https:\/\/pubs.usgs.gov\/of\/2007\/1401\/<\/p>\n “Bar\u00fa”. Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. (Accessed March 2, 2020) https:\/\/volcano.si.edu\/volcano.cfm?vn=346010<\/p>\n![\"Yellow](\"http:\/\/bender-lib.american.edu\/pcca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/full-color-Diary_Myplansfornaitonalpark_cMay1965_0002.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/bender-lib.american.edu\/pcca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/Diary_NationalPark-article_cMay1965_0002.jpg\")